South Australia Police is "in shock, in pain and in grief" at the loss of an experienced police officer after a shooting at a rural property.
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Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig, 53, has been identified as the officer who was fatally shot during a confrontation with a man at a property in Senior, near Bordertown, about 11.20pm on November 16.
Police Commissioner Grant Stevens told reporters three police officers were called to the isolated property after reports of "the use of a firearm involving an animal".
He said the lone occupant, a 26-year-old man, confronted police when they arrived, allegedly shooting two of the officers.
Brevet Sergeant Doig died at the scene, while Sergeant Michael Hutchinson received non-life threatening injuries and was taken to hospital in Adelaide.
The third officer Constable Rebekah Cass was not injured, Commissioner Stevens said.
"The 26-year-old man was shot by police and he's also been conveyed to [hospital in] Adelaide and is under police guard," he said.
"The two officers Michael Hutchinson and Rebekah Cass both provided assistance to Jason and the 26-year-old man at the scene prior to other help arriving."
It has been more than 20 years since a serving police officer has died in the line of duty in South Australia.
'No one is left untouched by this tragic incident'
Brevet Sergeant Doig was the officer in charge of Lucindale Police Station, more than 100km south of Senior.
He was a career police officer, joining the force in 1989 and was "highly respected by his peers", Commissioner Stevens said.
"I can speak on behalf of the police officers here in the south-east and the remainder of the SA police, the fact no one is left untouched by this tragic incident," he said.
"I can only offer my most sincere condolences to Jason's family and we're all hoping Michael recovers quickly from his injuries."
Commissioner Stevens said the incident would be subject to a full investigation by the Major Crimes Unit.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas announced flags would be flown at half-mast at official state locations as a mark of respect.
"It is a great tragedy that a good man at the age of 53 has lost his life in service of our state, in what would otherwise seem like a perfectly routine day in the job," he said.
"There are two other officers who demonstrated great bravery, they both deserve our thanks and high praise for doing everything they could at the scene."
Police minister Joe Szakacs said colleagues of Brevet Sergeant Doig had described him as "an incredible man who loved his job".
"He loved what it meant to be a country cop and he served with the most extraordinary pride in the service to his local community.
"It is very safe to say that Jason will be extraordinarily missed."
Mr Malinauskas and Mr Szakacs said they would speak with the officer's immediate family, his mother and brother living in regional Victoria, at an appropriate time.
In a statement, Police Association of South Australia president Mark Carroll said policing had "lost a brother" and were a "family in shock, in pain and in grief".
"Never should a police officer - committed to his duty, his colleagues, and his community - die in circumstances like these," he said.
"Today, the collective heart of the nation's police is broken and, right now, it feels broken beyond repair."
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Mr Carroll said the organisation would support Brevet Sergeant Doig's family, the other affected officers and the wider policing family.
"And I make crystal clear our intention, as police and as a union, not to allow Jason or his family to be cheated of a scintilla of the justice they're determined to be owed," he said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese offered his condolences to the family of Brevet Sergeant Doig and said his heart went out to his loved ones and the SA Police community.
Major crime detectives, forensic police and internal investigators are at the scene.
