Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig and his colleagues Michael Hutchinson and Rebekah Cass went to a property in the rural community of Senior near the Victorian border about 11.20pm on Thursday to investigate an incident.
They were confronted by an armed man and Sergeant Doig, 53, was shot.
His colleagues and paramedics attempted to save the police force member of 34 years, but he died at the scene.
A heinous act of violence has taken the life of a SAPOL Officer, and seriously injured another. This is unthinkable, tragic and shocking. — Joe Szakacs MP (@joe_szakacs) I've been in communication with the Police Commissioner through the night, and I have expressed the full support of all South Australians.November 16, 2023
Sergeant Hutchinson, 59, was also shot and sustained non-life-threatening injuries. He was taken to Adelaide for treatment. Constable Cass, 31, was uninjured.
The male suspect, 26, was shot by police and sustained serious life-threatening injuries.
He was treated at the scene before being flown to an Adelaide hospital where he remains under police guard.
"This is a devastating day for South Australian Police," Police Commissioner Grant Stevens told reporters on Friday.
"This is a tragic event that will have wide-ranging effects not just for police but people who rely on police for the safety and security they enjoy in our community.
"I can only offer my sincerest condolences to Jason's family and we hope Michael recovers quickly from his injuries."
Mr Stevens said the officers were investigating a report about the use of a firearm involving an animal.
The full circumstances of the incident will be the focus of a commissioner's inquiry, with major crime detectives, forensic response and internal investigation officers still at the scene on Friday.
Mr Stevens said officer safety was paramount.
"We provide the right tools, equipment and training so they can do their job as safely as possible, but you cannot get past the reality that police are often involved in dealing with violent offenders and the reason for that violence is wide-ranging," he said.
Sergeant Doig was a career police officer who had served in the force since 1989.
The last SA police officer to be killed on duty was Senior Constable Bogdan Sobczak, a motorcycle officer who died in a road crash in 2002, SA Police said.
SA Police Minister Joe Szakacs said Sergeant Doig had lost his life through a "heinous act of violence".
"This is unthinkable, tragic and shocking," he posted on X, formerly known Twitter.
SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said he has been briefed about the "terrible news" and will have more to say.
This morning I was briefed by Commissioner Stevens about the overnight incident in Senior in the states South-East & the terrible news that a SA Police Officer has died while on duty serving our community. — Peter Malinauskas (@PMalinauskasMP) I will have more to say about this tragic news later this morning.November 16, 2023
Foreign Minister and SA Senator Penny Wong said her thoughts were with the slain officer's loved ones and the police community.
"Every day, police risk their lives to keep us all safe," she posted on X.
"I'm devastated for the family of a South Australian officer killed while protecting our community.
"We hope for the full recovery of his injured colleague."
Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the community should stop and pause to say thank you to police officers for the work they do.
"A person has died and a family have lost a loved one," he told Nine's Today Show.
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