Just 100 mourners were allowed to attend the funeral service north of Brisbane due to pandemic restrictions, but row upon row of his colleagues stood outside, watching a live stream of his service.

Some held umbrellas, other stood out in the rain, as family, friends and a smaller circle of officers listened to Commissioner Katarina Carroll thank the officer for the dedicated service he gave to the Queensland community.

By her side was Snr Const Masters flag-draped coffin, adorned with white and purple flowers and the ashes of his beloved police service horse, Manny, whose death the officer never quite got over.

In the pews were his grieving wife Sharon and son Jack.

“Dave left his mark on the community he served,” Carroll told mourners.

“He will be remembered by the victims and families to whom he brought comfort and support. His passing is a tragic loss of an exceptional police officer.”

Masters was responding to a suspected stolen vehicle when he was struck on the Bruce Highway at Burpengary, north of Brisbane, about 3am on June 26.

The alleged driver of that car, 33-year-old Skye Anne Wallis, and her alleged passenger, 24-year-old Kari O’Brien, have both been charged with murder and are in custody awaiting their next court dates.

Carroll told mourners how Masters had studied at TAFE after days working as a mechanic to get into the police academy, and how after years of service he attained his dream job as a member of the mounted unit.

It was a job that had everything he ever wanted, and reflected his life long love for horses that began as a four-year-old when his parents bought him his first steed.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with you now and always,” Carroll told Sharon, Jack and their extended family.

“He served with honour and it is we who are honoured to have known and served with him.”

Best friend Wayne Thompson delivered a eulogy that spoke of Masters’ intense drive to serve the community, to help, of his good humour and infectious smile, and his intense love for his family.

“Sharon, Dave’s wife, is devastated in losing the love of her life. He was her rock, her protector, her partner in life,” he said.

“Dave was doting father. He was immensely proud of his son.

“Life will never be the same. There was only one Dave.”

Thompson spoke of the pride his mate felt when he joined the mounted unit in 2015, and of the special bond he had with his service horse Manny.

Sadly Manny died after being kicked by another horse, and Masters had him cremated and kept a lock of his mane.

“This loss devastated Dave. Manny’s ashes and mane are on Dave’s coffin today,” he said.

Thompson told family members to take strength from the knowledge their grief was shared by so many others.

“We all take comfort in the knowledge that Dave is riding high in the sky, on Manny, patrolling the heavens.”

Officers will finish the tribute with an honour guard involving the officers who stood steadfastly in the rain to watch a service they could not physically attend due to COVID restrictions.