The release of paramilitary prisoners under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement traumatised victims across Northern Ireland's religious divide. But as the peace process also led to the radical reform of policing – and the effective demise of the historic Royal Ulster Constabulary title – the impact on the 'RUC family' became an increasingly sensitive matter for the unionist community.
The RUC Widows' Association became the public voice for many relatives of police officers who said they were hurt by police reform, and the release of prisoners.
During the troubles 302 police officers were murdered and thousands injured, the vast majority by republicans.
Constable Victor Arbuckle (29) was the first RUC officer to be killed in the troubles, on October 12 1969.
The father-of-two from Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone, was shot by the UVF in the Shankill area of Belfast during riots sparked when loyalists took to the streets in protest at the Hunt report which recommended the disbandment of the B Specials and the disarming of the RUC.
Constable Gary Meyers, whose bereaved wife now chairs the RUC Widows' Association, was one of two RUC officers shot in the head from behind by IRA gunmen as the policemen patrolled in Chapel Lane close to the city centre in June 1990.
It was a Saturday afternoon and the officers were shot dead in front of several dozen lunchtime shoppers close to Queen Street RUC station. Mr Meyers (35) left behind a wife, Iona, and two small children.
The last police officer to be killed was Constable Frankie O'Reilly who was critically injured on September 5 1998 in a loyalist bomb attack in Portadown during a Drumcree protest.
The 30-year-old father-of-three died four weeks after the attack leaving a wife and three young children.
Within the last week Chief Constable Hugh Orde confirmed plans to establish a murder review team, set up to investigate the many unsolved murders of the troubles – including those of police officers.
