A veteran police officer shot dead at a rural property has been remembered as a respected colleague and a passionate cyclist who raised money for charities.

Tasmania's tight-knit northwest community has been left reeling after the death of Constable Keith Anthony Smith on Monday, the first fatal shooting of an officer in the island state in more than a century.

The 57-year-old, who had served in the police force for 25 years, was shot as he approached a property at North Motton while delivering a court-ordered home repossession warrant.

A 46-year-old man, the resident of the property, remains under police guard in hospital, but is yet to be charged.

Tasmania Police released Constable Smith's name with permission from his family. 

He has been remembered as a highly regarded and dedicated officer across his 25 years of police service.

"Keith was a respected and committed officer, and his loss will be deeply felt across our policing family and the wider community," Tasmania Police Commissioner Donna Adams said.

"My heart goes out to Keith's wife and family," she said.

"We will be supporting them in every way we can during this incredibly difficult time.

"The blue family will come together today, and over the next days and weeks. (We) will support the family and each other." 

Constable Smith, a passionate cyclist, had worked at the nearby Ulverstone Police Station for the past five years after joining the force in 2000. 

The scene of the shooting at a rural property in northwest Tasmania. – ABC via AAP

He received the commissioner's medal in 2011 and 20-year clasp in 2021, as well as the national police service medal in 2016.

Crime scene investigators returned to the property on Tuesday after battling windy, rainy weather at the scene on Monday night. 

"While no other staff have been injured in this terrible incident, all will be impacted by their involvement in such a tragic event," Adams said.

Constable Smith was killed as he approached the house after leaving his car, allegedly shot by a man who lived at the property.

It is understood to be the first fatal shooting of a police officer in Tasmania since 1922. 

Another officer fired at the alleged offender, who was struck in the hand and surrendered, police said. 

Officers were at the property in the rural area of North Motton to serve a court-approved warrant to repossess the home, Adams said. 

A special operations group that travelled to the property with the two officers was understood to be at the entrance to the driveway, further away from the home. 

Police professional standards and the coroner will investigate the death.

"We will review every aspect of this response and if changes need to be made, they will be made," Adams said. 

She praised the second officer's bravery and gave her heartfelt condolences to the man's family, friends and colleagues. 

The visit to the house was part of "routine" duties, she said. 

"To every police officer, we know policing can be risky but we expect every officer to finish their shift and come home to their family," she said. 

A tribute left for Constable Keith Anthony Smith. – AAP

"I've been a police officer for 38 year and I've never seen an incident like this."

North Motton is home to a few hundred people and is about a 15-minute drive south from the coast.

"This is a tragedy. We will wrap our arms around our colleagues," Police Association Tasmania president Shane Tilley said. 

"There are going to be some difficult weeks and months ahead." 

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the "love of an entire state" was with the officer's family and friends. 

"You will have every possible support made available, as we come to grips with this heartbreaking tragedy," he posted on social media.