Workers from a nearby hotel tried desperately to save Mr Stretch, but he had extensive head injuries and died at the scene.
Mr Stretch is one of 29 officers who have been killed in the line of duty as a result of a criminal act. They, alongside police staff who have died in the past year, will be remembered today at services around New Zealand as part of Australasian and South Pacific Police Remembrance Day.
For Mr Stretch's sister Winsome, it will be a bittersweet day. "It's actually my birthday. The first remembrance ceremony we went to was for the unveiling of Murray's plaque at Police College. It was my birthday that day too. I will celebrate my birthday, but I will be thinking of Murray."
Ms Stretch spoke to her brother just before he was sent to investigate the burglary.
"He was at home, talking to me and lying on the couch in front of the fire. He said, 'I've got to go, sis, love you, the State of Origin is starting'," she recalled.
"I said, 'OK, love you too, bye'. A while later, another brother rang me and said, 'Murray's been killed'."
Ms Stretch replied "Murray who?", not comprehending that the man she had chatted to earlier could be anywhere but on the couch watching his beloved league.
"He said, 'Our Murray'. I couldn't imagine how he could have been killed lying on the couch at home. My brother said Murray had been called out and had been murdered."
Ms Stretch said her brother's death was devastating.
"There aren't any words to describe it. Nothing prepares you for it ... There's nothing like it."
Fifteen years on, Mr Stretch's family are still heartbroken.
His sister said he did not hesitate to respond to the call - he never did.
"I think police officers will always go and always try to help. There are many situations that every police officer faces that they think, 'This could be dangerous'. But every time they go out and rise to the occasion."
Ms Stretch said she supported Remembrance Day and hoped it gave people an insight into how lucky they were to have police men and women protecting them.
Carlos Namana pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 16 years. He will be considered for parole in May.
Fallen since 2002
Senior Constable Len Snee - May 7, 2009, Napier.
Shot and fatally wounded while carrying out a routine search warrant at the home of Jan Molenaar.
Sergeant Don Wilkinson - September 11, 2008, Mangere.
Undercover officer fatally shot while trying to install a tracking device on a vehicle outside a suspected P lab.
Sergeant Derek Wootton - July 11, 2008, Titahi Bay.
Struck by a vehicle as he laid road spikes to stop a vehicle being pursued by police after a serious assault and carjacking.
Detective Constable Duncan Taylor - July 5, 2002, Rongotea.
Shot and killed when he and his partner attempted to stop a juvenile to question him about a property offence.
Tribute to the brave
• Australasian and South Pacific Police Remembrance Day today recognises officers who have been killed in the line of duty and all serving, former and retired police members who have died in the past year.
• The official national service will be held at the Royal New Zealand Police College in Porirua, but most districts will also hold their own services under the guidance of their police chaplains.
• A total of 92 serving, former and retired staff members will be remembered at this year's service.
• Officers who have been slain or died on duty from Australia and Papua New Guinea will also be remembered.
The fallen
Senior Constable Len Snee
7 May 2009, Napier
Shot and fatally wounded while carrying out a routine search warrant at the home of Jan Molenaar.
Sergeant Don Wilkinson
11 September 2008, Mangere
Undercover officer fatally shot while trying to install a tracking device on a vehicle outside a suspected P lab.
Sergeant Derek Wootton
11 July 2008, Titahi Bay
Struck by a vehicle as he laid road spikes to stop a vehicle being pursued by police after a serious assault and carjacking.
Detective Constable Duncan Taylor
5 July 2002, Rongotea
Shot and killed when he and his partner attempted to stop a juvenile to question him about a property offence.
Constable Lester Murray Stretch
26 May 1999, Mangakino
Beaten to death as he tried to arrest a youth who had burgled a local store.
Constable Glenn Arthur McKibben
21 April 1996, Flaxmere
Shot by an occupant of a passing vehicle while standing beside his patrol car.
Sergeant Stewart Graeme Guthrie
13 November 1990, Aramoana
One of 12 people killed by David Gray who went on a shooting rampage in the small Otago town. Posthumously awarded George Cross 1992.
Senior Constable Peter Morris Umbers
27 May 1990, Ranfurly
Fatally bashed with his own baton when he stopped a robbery suspect. Posthumously awarded George Medal.
Traffic Officer Robin James Dudding
7 April 1986, Rotorua
Shot dead after he was taken hostage at Lake Rotoiti a teen who fired shots at police. Posthumously awarded George Medal.
Traffic Officer Barry Yorston Gibson
13 June 1977, New Plymouth
Assaulted by a man at a routine traffic stop. He never regained consciousness and died of head injuries a week later.
Constable Peter William Murphy
25 September 1976, Invercargill
Shot by a man during the burglary of a sports shop.
Sergeant Gilbert Peter Arcus
4 February 1970, Tauranga
While trying to placate a mentally disturbed woman, he was assaulted and suffered a skull fracture and died an hour later.
Constable Donald Richard Stokes
15 August 1966, Dunedin
While trying to prevent the escape of two prisoners he was beaten to death with a broom handle at the Dunedin Police cells
Constable Bryan Leslie Schultz and Constable James Thomas Richardson
3 February 1963, Lower Hutt
Fatally shot while still in their vehicle outside an address where a domestic dispute had been reported. Both men died instantly.
Detective Sergeant Neville Wilson Power and Detective Inspector Wallace Chalmers
6 January 1963, Waitakere Ranges
Shot dead while attending a shooting in West Auckland. Both were posthumously awarded Queen's Police Medal
Sergeant William Shore Hughes
27 May 1951, Otaki
Shot dead as he tried to protect female occupants of a house from an armed man during a domestic dispute.
Traffic Officer John Kehoe
31 January 1949, Whakatane
Fatally shot after pursuing a motorcycle from the main street to outside the town for excess speed.
Constable Edward Mark Best, Sergeant William Cooper, Constable Frederick William Jordan, Constable Percy Campbell Tulloch
11 October 1941, Koiterangi near Hokitika
Shot dead while trying to apprehend farmer Stanley Graham. Best died three days later, the others died instantly. Graham killed eight people in total.
Constable Thomas Heeps
21 October 1934, Hamilton
He located a man being sought for killing four people in the Otorohanga area and was shot twice while attempting to return him to the police station.
Constable James Dorgan
27 August 1921, Timaru
Shot four times while investigating a shop burglary and died at the scene fifteen minutes later.
Constable John Doyle
6 October 1919, Manawatu
Assaulted and died two days later as a result of the injuries he had received.
Constable Vivian Dudding
6 October 1919, Wellington
While attending a domestic dispute, he was shot in the head by the woman's ex husband.
Sergeant John Patrick Hackett McGuire
14 April 1910, Palmerston North
Shot in the stomach during the hunt for an escaped burglar, he died four days later.
Constable Neil McLeod
30 July 1890, Dargaville
A man who had been removed from a passenger steam ship responded by shooting at the vessel with a pistol as it departed . He fatally wounded Constable McLeod.
• For more on the fallen officers, including photos, go here: http://www.police.govt.nz/about-us/history/memorial
