POLICEMAN Brett Forte's wife had spent months trying to protect the ex-girlfriend of armed thug Rick Maddison - the man who killed her husband in cold blood.

Senior Constable Susan Forte, a domestic violence ­liaison officer, had comforted and supported Maddison's former partner ever since she reported a frightening encounter with him in March.

Maddison had reportedly turned up at the woman's home, held a gun to his own head, pointed it at her while she held her young child and fired into the air.

The woman called police after the incident and she had previously reported that he had bashed and tortured her.

It led police to issue the warrants for Maddison's ­arrest, ultimately resulting in a low-speed pursuit last Monday that ended with him shooting Brett Forte dead on a dirt road near Gatton.

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About 5000 people are expected to pay their respects to the Darling Downs Tactical Crime Squad officer who was murdered on duty last Monday.

The Clive Berghofer Recreation Centre on Baker St at the University of Southern Queensland will seat 2000 people inside, with further seating outside for members of the public who wish to attend from 11am.