Stephen John LEACH

13/01/2014

Stephen John LEACH

AKA Steve

New South Wales Police Force

Joined NSWPF via Police Cadets on 24 November 1966

Redfern Academy Class # 132

Cadet # 2538

Regd. # 15543

Rank: NSW Police Cadet – commenced training at Redfern Police Academy 24 November 1969 ( aged 16 years & 27 days )

Probationary Constable – appointed 28 October 1972 ( aged 19 years )

Constable – appointed

Constable 1st Class – appointed 28 October 1977

Detective – appointed

Senior Constable – appointed

Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed 21 February 1988

Sergeant 2nd Class – appointed

Final Rank: Detective Sergeant

Stations: ?, Homicide Squad – Headquarters – Parramatta

Service: From 24 November 1969 to 3 August 2004 = 34 years, 8 months & 10 days Service

Awards: National Medal – granted 14 December 1988 ( Det Sgt )

1st Clasp to the National Medal – granted 28 May 1999 ( Det Sgt )

Commissioner’s Commendation ( posthumously ) ” In recognition of his tenacity, dedication and commitment “

Cause: Depression – Suicide – Service firearm – In armoury

Event Location: NSW Police HQ, Parramatta – In the armoury

Event date: Tuesday 3 August 2004 ( Off Duty )

Born: Wednesday 28 October 1953

Died: Tuesday 3 August 2004

Age: 50 years, 9 months & 6 days

Funeral: ? August 2004

Grave stone location: Castlebrook Memorial Park

Location: Stations of the Cross

Section: Cross

Lot: 40

Lat/Long: -33.69279, 150.92183

Steve LEACH

And in August 2004, Detective Sergeant Steve Leach killed himself with his pistol at police headquarters at Parramatta.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/suicidal-officer-with-a-gun-but-this-time-tragedy-averted/2007/04/30/1177788058862.html

Stephen John LEACH - grave stone — Stephen John LEACH – grave stone.
Castlebrook Memorial Park Cemetery & Crematorium
Castlebrook Memorial Park, Windsor Rd, Rouse Hill, NSW

Steve is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance in Canberra

( checked 040822 )

NSW Police Academy

Detectives’ Course 1 of 1981

2 February – 24 April 1981Back Row ( L – R ):

G. KIPPAX, G. GREEN, B. RITCHIE, A. LONGSON, T. GRIFFITHS, Colin ILES # 15334, K. FITZGERALD, Stephen LEACH # 15543, G. DUCKER, B. REID,

Third Row:

Barry PASSLOW # 14109, J. GARVEY, K. O’BRYAN, E. FREEMAN, G. DISKIN, G. SMART, B. PECK, S. ST JOHN, J. KHALIFEH, A. PEARMAN, J. INNES, D. CHAPMAN.

Second Row:

D. LINDSAY, R. BOWLES, G. MARTIN, B. DICKSON, I. CAMERON, G. ACTON, F. VENTURI, P. DUNN, Michael McGANN # 16758, J. RAND, P. LONG, Steve PACKER, A. THOMAS

Front Row:

I. MURRAY, G. THOMPSON, R. JENKINS ( Inst. ), R. CLAMP ( Inst. ), P. MEEHAN ( Inst. ), N. GOULD ( Director ), L. BAKER, ( Inst. ), R. MYATT ( Inst. ), P. WALTER ( Inst. ), C. McDONALD, I. McDONALD

Policeman shot dead at station

August 3, 2004 – 7:33PM

One of NSW top police investigators was found shot dead in the state’s police headquarters today, shattering his family, friends and colleagues around the world.

Detective Sergeant Steve Leach, 51, an internationally recognised officer who helped investigate former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic on behalf of the United Nations, was found with a single gunshot wound to the head shortly before midday.

Among his local achievements, Det Sgt Leach was instrumental in the arrest of backpacker murderer Ivan Milat and the investigations into missing Sydney school girl Samantha Knight.

NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney rushed to Parramatta upon hearing the news and, while he declined to speculate on the cause of death, said it was not believed to be suspicious.

The detective sergeant was not working today, having returned to NSW from The Hague in the Netherlands only in recent months.

Det Sgt Leach had been on sick leave after sustaining an undisclosed physical injury while overseas, but he had been due to recommence his employment with the NSW Police soon.

The Commissioner said investigations into the death had begun using a specialist team from Bankstown police, who would prepare a report for the Coroner.

“These are very tragic circumstances not only for the officer concerned and his family but equally as important, for his colleagues,” Mr Moroney said.

“I’m sure he will be remembered not only in the coming days . . . but certainly in years to come as one of the most experienced detectives we have (had) here in NSW, and we are the poorer for his loss today.”

Mr Moroney said the married officer had two children who, along with his colleagues, were “understandably very distraught” at the news of his passing.

“He was a very popular colleague and highly respected, not only in terms of his detective skills but certainly the specialist skills that he brought to criminal investigations here in NSW,” he said.

The officer’s colleagues at the NSW State Crime Command in Parramatta were being counselled by police chaplain Barry Dwyer.

Another police officer also was mourned today – Senior Constable Ian Ross Dennis, based in Walgett, north-west NSW, who died in hospital after a short battle with an illness, aged 47.

Mr Moroney paid tribute to both officers, saying they had been outstanding servants of the police force.

“It’s important on these occasions that we honour and acknowledge that service and that commitment,” he said.

“It’s a very sad day for the organisation to lose officers of this calibre who have selflessly served the people of this state to the very best of their skill and ability.

“And that’s all I could ever ask them to do.”

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/08/03/1091476465269.html?from=storylhs

Detective who shot himself bore grief of many

By Les Kennedy
August 4, 2004

Homicide Detective Steve Leach, left, and another detective escort the backpacker killer Ivan Milat from his home in 1994. Photo: Rick Stevens — Homicide detective Steve Leach, left, and another detective escort the backpacker killer Ivan Milat from his home in 1994. Photo: Rick Stevens

There are few moments of joy in the life of a homicide investigator, and most of those are with their families.

Steve Leach had borne the grief of many, but yesterday it was the turn of his colleagues to face his own violent death.

Detective Senior Sergeant Leach, one of the state’s most experienced homicide detectives, took his life with his own handgun in the heart of the new NSW Police headquarters in Parramatta.

Nobody, it appears, saw such a tragedy coming.

Sergeant Leach had been on sick leave since early June, the result of a car accident in Europe that left him with leg injuries.

He had recently applied to be pensioned off as hurt on duty but those who encountered him recently had found him apparently cheery and looking forward to an early retirement.

He was still on sick report when he walked into the police building yesterday. He went into the soundproof weapons storage room; no one had been expecting him and no one heard the shot. Another officer found his body about noon.

When family, friends and colleagues looked at the life of Steve Leach, they saw an extraordinary career that began when he joined the force as a 16-year-old cadet in 1969.

He was a second-generation cop. Over 35 years, he played a role in some of the state’s most notorious cases and found his way as far afield as Bosnia, where he investigated war crimes.

Along the way he offered support to the families of victims and perpetrators alike. He even lent his shoulder to Shirley Soir, the sister of the backpacker killer Ivan Milat, who collapsed while sitting next to him in court on the day in May 1994 that her brother was charged with seven murders.

Ten days earlier, the burly detective had walked into police history as one of two detectives who arrested Milat at his Eagle Vale home.

In that case he led the search for the weapon, a Ruger 10/22, of which there were more than 100,000 imported into Australia.

He was often given tough tasks, such as the long investigation into the disappearance of the Bondi schoolgirl Samantha Knight.

In recent years, he was seconded to the European War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague. His team in the Netherlands charged the former Yugoslav president, Slobodan Milosevic, whose war crimes trial is still before the international court.

Sergeant Leach spent more than two years walking through massacre sites and talking to survivors.

He came back to Sydney last year, returning to the homicide squad and recalling good times in Europe with his wife Christine, a schoolteacher.

He was chuffed that one of his two sons had also joined the police force, while the other had signed up for the army.

The Police Commissioner, Ken Moroney, remembered a detective of impeccable character.

“I’m sure he will be remembered, not only in the coming days … but certainly in years to come, as one of the most experienced detectives we have [had] here in NSW, and we are the poorer for his loss today.”

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/08/03/1091476494599.html

Colleagues grieve for a lauded detective

By Les Kennedy
August 4, 2004

Homicide detective Steve Leach, left, takes Ivan Milat into custody in 1994.

Apart from time spent with their families, there are few moments of joy in the lives of homicide investigators.

They see the grief of others and are expected to bear their own feelings inwardly. Steve Leach had borne the grief of many – until yesterday. Now his colleagues are facing the tragedy of his own violent death.

Detective Senior Sergeant Leach, one of the Australia’s most experienced homicide detectives, took his life with his own handgun in the heart of the new NSW Police Headquarters in Parramatta.

It seems nobody saw it coming. When family, friends and colleagues looked at the life of 51-year-old Senior Sergeant Leach, what they saw was an extraordinary career that began when he joined the force as a 16-year-old cadet in 1969.

He was a second-generation police officer who, over 35 years, played key roles in some of Australia’s most high-profile and most horrific cases.

His talents were also sought internationally. He was seconded to the European War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague to investigate the killing fields of Bosnia, and was instrumental in the arrest of former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic, who is facing genocide charges.

But the hard-nosed detective also had a gift for empathy and gave his support to the families of victims and perpetrators alike.

He even lent his shoulder to Shirley Soir, the sister of Ivan Milat, who collapsed while sitting next to him in court on the day in May 1994 when her brother was charged with the murders of seven backpackers.

Ten days earlier, he walked into police history as one of two detectives who arrested Milat.

He was often asked to investigate cases where the trails had seemingly run cold, such as the 1986 disappearance of Bondi schoolgirl Samantha Knight. But by the time his team had secured the conviction of Michael Guider, Senior Sergeant Leach was in Bosnia, walking through massacre sites, talking to survivors.

He returned to Sydney last year, speaking only of the good times in Europe with his wife Christine, a school teacher. He was chuffed that one of his two sons had joined the force, while the other had joined the army.

But he had been on sick leave since early June after injuring his legs in a car crash in Europe. He had recently applied to be pensioned off as hurt on duty, but had appeared upbeat planning for his early retirement.

Senior Sergeant Leach was on leave when he arrived at police headquarters yesterday, went into the sound-proof weapon storage room and took his gun. No one heard the shot. Another officer found his body at noon.

One shocked colleague and mate said: “There you go, buddy. The futility of it all. We are all feeling that empty feeling. Why?”

Those needing assistance can reach Suicide Helpline Victoria on 1300 651 251, Lifeline on 131 114 (both 24-hour lines), SANE on 1800 688 382 or Kids Help Line on 1800 551 800.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/08/03/1091476497108.html

Top cop found shot dead

August 4, 2004 — 5.09am

One of NSW’s top police investigators was found shot dead in the state’s police headquarters today, shattering his family, friends and colleagues around the world.

Detective Sergeant Steve Leach, 51, an internationally recognised officer who helped investigate former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic on behalf of the United Nations, was found with a single gunshot wound to the head shortly before midday.

Among his local achievements, Det Sgt Leach was instrumental in the arrest of backpacker murderer Ivan Milat and the investigations into missing Sydney school girl Samantha Knight.

NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney rushed to Parramatta upon hearing the news and, while he declined to speculate on the cause of death, said it was not believed to be suspicious.

The detective sergeant was not working today, having returned to NSW from The Hague in the Netherlands only in recent months.

Top cop found shot dead

Steve Leach Memorial

by Kevin Caruso

Detective Sergeant Steve Leach, from Sydney, Australia, was a well-known, veteran police officer with 35 years of experience.

Steve Leach was so highly respected by his fellow officers that they referred to him as “a policeman’s policeman.”

He was assigned some of Australia’s most horrific crimes. And he arrested serial killer Ivan Milat (see picture above), who murdered seven people between 1989 and 1992.

He also worked in Serbia and Montenegro from 2000 to 2003 as an investigator for the European War Crimes Tribunal, in which he had to view sites where massacres occurred, and then interview survivors.

Steve was an extremely strong man, both physically and mentally, and handled all of his assignments with the highest levels of integrity, courage, intelligence, and competence.

He was also highly ambitious and believed that he should have received a higher rank than detective sergeant.

And he was frustrated by what he believed was a ridiculous and unfair promotion system in which he and other officers were forced to engage in “role play” during their promotion examinations.

In March, Steve applied for a newly created position as inspector at the coroner’s office, but the job was given to a much younger officer who had only a fraction of Steve’s experience.

Steve was furious and appealed the decision.

Unbelievably, Steve lost the appeal.

And soon afterwards, he became depressed.

On August 2, 2004, Steve, who was off-duty at the time, calmly walked into the police station, went to the armory room, obtained his service handgun, and shot himself in the head.

He was 51.

Steve’s fellow police officers were shocked, and immediately blamed the idiotic promotion system.

One outraged officer did not mince words when he described the promotion system as “bullshit.” He went on the say, “The promotions system is the only thing that was upsetting this very calm, [great police officer]. The current system is promoting people with just 12 years of experience over someone with 35 years of experience – this just destroys people like Steve Leach.”

Steve was one of the greatest police officers in Australia’s history.

Everyone loved and respected him.

And he made the streets safer because of his hard work.

He was a dedicated, superstar cop who loved his job and who loved to help people.

He was a hero.

http://www.suicide.org/memorials/steve-leach.html

A rank way to treat the cops Transcript
ADAM SHAND: Steve Leach was the model of what a detective should be – tough, uncompromising in his pursuit of crime, but fair and compassionate. He kept his own counsel as he served others right up to the day he took his own life.
KEN MORONEY, NSW POLICE COMMISSIONER: A very sad day for the organisation to lose officers of this quality and this calibre who’ve selflessly served the people of this state to the very best of their skill and ability.
ADAM SHAND: In 31 years of service, Steve Leach had worked some of NSW’s most difficult cases. He had seen the dark side of humanity, arresting backpacker murderer Ivan Milat, and solving the abduction of school girl Samantha Knight. In Leach’s death, his comrades saw their own images. At his funeral, the priest said that no-one should speculate on Leach’s own untold story.
GARY HESKET, FORMER NSW DETECTIVE: I looked in the church. I could see a lot of young police there with promotion on their shoulders. I saw a lot of older police there, experienced heads. And not at the same level. “Don’t speculate”, I thought to myself. I thought, “That’s just saying we should never ever speak about this matter ever again.”
ADAM SHAND: No-one will ever know why, at the age of 51, Steve Leach lost hope that day. But many senior detectives can trace their own disillusion back to the massive changes introduced after the Wood Royal Commission into police corruption in the mid-1990s. The Commissioner recommended a complete overhaul of the force’s management style. A new promotion system was introduced that no longer ensured progress through the ranks based on years of service.
MARK FENLON, FORMER POLICE SERGEANT: It’s had a huge detrimental effect on morale. It’s had a huge detrimental effect upon police officers with experience who have been disenfranchised by the process. Who have been and are continue to seek exit from the police force at the earliest opportunity. And this has left a huge void in the organisation in terms of experience, in terms of training and development of younger police, in terms of expertise to deal with crime, which can’t be replaced.
ADAM SHAND: Gary Hesket left the force a year ago after three decades in the job. He keeps up with his mates through his role in as a trainer in the police rugby league competition.
GARY HESKET: This is good for the camaraderie, the esprit de corps. It’s the best things they could do after working in the police environment they’re in – get out here and have a game amongst each other.
ADAM SHAND: You pick up the paper and see Steve Leach has committed suicide. What did that mean to you when you heard that?
GARY HESKET: The first question I asked was, “Was he passed over for promotion?” And the word that came back to me was ‘yes’.
ADAM SHAND: Like Steve Leach, Gary Hesket devoted his life to catching villains. He was a natural-born detective, voted policeman of the year in 2001 by his local community in western Sydney.
GARY HESKET: Then you’re told, “Well, Gary, if you want to be promoted, the best thing you can do is forget about police work, find a desk somewhere and hide and do yourself a degree or diploma because that’s the only way you’re going to get promoted in the future of NSW Police.”
ADAM SHAND: Hesket says many of his generation of detectives have simply been dumped on the scrap heap.
GARY HESKET: But at the end of the time when you put in 35 years, where is your reward? Where is your reward?
ADAM SHAND: On the day his family and comrades farewelled Steve Leach, NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney awarded him a ribbon recognising his achievement in solving 15-year-old mystery of Samantha Knight’s disappearance.
GARY HESKET: And he did a magnificent job and he solved it, and now, posthumously, Mr Moroney is giving him a medal for that. Why wasn’t he given a medal when the case was solved, while he was alive?
ADAM SHAND: When Leach was seconded as a war crimes investigator to the former Yugoslavia, he won praise for a difficult job. On his return to Australia, he expected a promotion to finish his career as a commissioned officer.
MICK KENNEDY, FORMER NSW DETECTIVE: And the reason he couldn’t get promoted was he could do the job but he couldn’t pretend he could do the job. He couldn’t get through the assessment stuff, I suppose, or the role play nonsense. I was a detective for 20 years in the NSW Police…
ADAM SHAND: These days Mick Kennedy is researching trends in modern policing for a PhD. He believes the root of the crisis facing Steve Leach’s generation is a lack of support for field officers.
MICK KENNEDY: He didn’t kill himself because he was working in the evils and the horrors of criminal investigation, because that’s part and parcel of the work that you can deal with. You insulate yourself from it, you deal with that. But all of the time that you’re dealing with those murky, dirty hands areas of working it needs to be constantly reinforced that you’re dependent upon your organisation to support you in times of crisis or when things go bad.
ADAM SHAND: When Kennedy faced his own crisis, he found there was no-one to turn to.
MICK KENNEDY: I was in this house some years ago and I had my 38 on the bed and I was in despair over a range of issues. And I was thinking seriously, “Well, the best thing I could do is to kill myself”, so I ring the police medical officer and I got through to a woman who couldn’t speak English. I was on the phone with her for 20 minutes telling her that I was considering shooting myself and I’d like to speak to someone about it. In the end, I hung up in disgust because I couldn’t speak to anyone. Now I thought, “God, almighty! I can’t even try to attract attention. No-one’s interested! No-one really cares”, you know?
ADAM SHAND: Faced with growing criticism, the NSW Government asked former Assistant Commissioner Geoff Schuberg to investigate the promotions system. He found many detectives had lost their sense of purpose in the job.
GEOFF SCHUBERG, FORMER ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER: And one of the great problems in the system was that a number of police were applying for positions outside their area of expertise and winning them and they were put in a position where they were supervising and managing police when they had no experience or previous qualifications to do so.
ADAM SHAND: Promotion, it seemed to Schoenberg, had become more important to the rank and file than the job itself.
GEOFF SCHUBERG: Police really took their eye off the game of catching crooks and the promotions race seemed to be the main topic of the day, where people simply talked about positions that were being advertised, positions which they were applying for. There was a lot of resentment. There was a lot of drop in morale because of people who were applying for positions and couldn’t even get interviews. And I think that’s still very much the case.
ADAM SHAND: Crime reporter Steve Barrett has been watching this generation of police officers for over 20 years. He’s seen the job consume too many of them.
STEVE BARRETT, CRIME REPORTER: There was another detective inspector up at one of the stations in the Newcastle area who, with his service pistol, shot himself in the police station. Till this day, that family doesn’t know what happened to that person, why he took his own life. And you really have got to say to yourself, “What is this all about? Why is this happening?”
ADAM SHAND: The Wood Royal Commission identified this generation of detectives as fertile ground for corruption, and set about purging its ranks.
STEVE BARRETT: I mean, there was some very good work done by the Royal Commission but there was also some work where evidence was put before the Commission which was just, quite frankly, not true. And there was bad collateral damage and when you look at what’s happened, you think to yourself, “Well, a lot of police did down tools.” There’s no doubt about that. Then you see all these gangs growing up around Sydney – and I suppose it’s bit like if you don’t weed the garden, you’re going to get weeds.
MARK FENLON: And this is reflected in the crime clear-up rates for NSW. They’re the lowest in the country. Around about 12 percent of robberies are being solved within the first 90 days of the offence occurring. 5 percent of break and enters within the same period. It’s scandalous. That’s how this policy is impacting and has impacted and will continue to impact on policing in this State.
ADAM SHAND: Old-style cops say policing has become a numbers game these days. In crime statistics, a bust for a broken window counts for the same as a murder. The critics say it is the same wherever the police have moved from a paramilitary-based model free enterprise-style management – commanders are forced to strive for quantitative outcomes like managers in a boardroom.
MICK KENNEDY: The problem is that productivity is measured, in policing terms, in terms of arrests, and they say, “That’s great.” But it’s about trivial arrests. What they do, you get a senior commander and have a meeting and he humiliates everybody by yelling at them and screaming at them, “Why aren’t your – why aren’t your arrest rates up? How come my stolen vehicles is down?” You say, “We don’t have any staff. I’m not interested in that!” And it’s humiliating, and it’s a humiliating process and it is a degrading.
ADAM SHAND: Kennedy says the older detectives often find the pressure intolerable as they watch younger colleagues ride a desk to the top. He says the promotions system rewards those that work it. You gather merit points from education and role playing sessions where officers must show a grasp of the new language and politics of community policing. For an undercover detective, this is the theatre of the absurd.
MICK KENNEDY: I had been doing undercover work for far too long. I had a twitch. I had a stutter. My hair was dropping out. I had psoriasis all over my hands and I have no doubt if I had have killed myself some idiot would say, “But, mate, he was just a bit tired, We didn’t know he had any real problems.”
ADAM SHAND: Former sergeant Mark Fenlon served for 20 years. He left the force reluctantly after a distinguished career.
MARK FENLON: I had to get out of policing. I blew the whistle on promotions corruption in 1999. Nothing was done in relation to the complaints I made. The promotions system, it’s allowed people who haven’t got the qualifications, the experience, to gain promotion to gain positions – senior positions within the organisation – to lead the organisation.
ADAM SHAND: Although his complaints were investigated, the system remains relatively unchanged and Mark Fenlon says its major faults are beginning to show.
MARK FENLON: No better example than recently would be Redfern, where there were two images that is stuck in my mind. One was of police being directed to line up across a street and be subjected to bottles being thrown at them, Molotov cocktails being thrown at them. The other image is that there were perhaps half-a-dozen senior officers in the background in the background with mobile phones to their ears looking for a direction, looking for some guidance in relation to what to do with the situation.
RON STEPHENSON, FORMER POLICE SUPERINTENDENT: In my day – and I’m not blowing my trumpet – but if you were placed in that situation, if you were in arm’s length away from some of the offenders, they’d be in the back of the truck and charged with assault, indecent language, offensive behaviour, whatever the matter was.
ADAM SHAND: Inspector Ron Stephenson was the officer in charge the day, in 1984, when two bikie gangs, the Bandidos and the Comancheros, squared off in the car park of the Viking Tavern, in Milperra. Seven people already lay dead and experience told Stephenson that, without quick thinking, the murderers would walk free.
RON STEPHENSON: A decision would be made that they’d be rounded up, interviewed, and charged. They were only charged that day with offensive behaviour and cause of fray but, three weeks later, after we’d worked out the full picture, we raided simultaneously 43 homes, arrested 43 bikers and charged them with 301 charges of murder.
ADAM SHAND: But just how you restore confidence in a force that has lost so much in terms of experience is another matter. More than half of NSW police have been in the job for less than five years. Training simulation exercises like this one are now a key measure of competence and suitability for promotion.
STEVE BARRETT: I can tell you about another guy who was the boss of homicide for five years. In the north-west of Sydney. And he had to go to an assessment testing centre for a day, where they role play. And, I don’t know – because he wasn’t a good actor, he didn’t get promoted. Now, he just walked away. He’s gone. So all this experience over years and years and years of hard slog for the taxpayer of NSW has just gone like that.
ADAM SHAND: But NSW Police Minister John Watkins denies the service is in crisis, that many more officers like Steve Leach are at risk. He insists morale in the force is at its highest since the Wood Royal Commission clean out.
JOHN WATKINS, NSW POLICE MINISTER: The separation rate for NSW Police is the lowest it’s been for eight years and the actual resignation rate is the lowest it’s been for 10 years. It’s a very stable force in NSW and morale is the highest it’s been for a generation.
ADAM SHAND: But the Minister does accept the need for a review of the promotions system. He chairs a working party of detectives which is discussing the problem.
JOHN WATKINS: There was a working party, the Schuberg working party, that’s reported to me. I’ve given that to the Anderson working party to report to me by the end of this year for legislative changes to be put in place so a new promotions system can be up and running from 1 July, 2005.
ADAM SHAND: Victoria Police Service has also established a merit-based promotion system, which favours education over experience. There are morale issues in Victoria as a result, but the greater problem is a war on corruption.
CHRISTINE NIXON, CHIEF COMMISSIONER, VICTORIA POLICE: I did come to Victoria Police with an understanding there was corruption here. It’s the kind of attitude Victoria Police had that they didn’t have corruption really was a bit of a myth.
ADAM SHAND: Unlike NSW, where the Royal Commission fast-tracked a clean out of bent coppers, Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon’s management team is driving reform.
CHRISTINE NIXON: In policing, there will always be corruption. What you have to do is figure out where the high-risk areas are, where the likelihood of that corruption is to occur and to try change the systems and practices or, in fact, focus on people who might be working in those areas.
ADAM SHAND: Nixon has identified so-called legends in the force which, she says, have set bad examples for young officers. Though he left the force nearly 20 years ago, Brian Murphy is still Victoria’s most feared and revered officer – a legend amongst crims and coppers. Back in 1971, Murphy was charged with the killing of a suspect in custody. Although he was acquitted, he found the incident gave him an unhealthy reputation amongst some junior officers.
BRIAN MURPHY, FORMER VICTORIAN POLICE OFFICER: There would be a lot of young people think, “Well, Murphy did it and got away with it. I’ll try do what he did or what he was involved in, something similar.” And it’s not always a good thing.
ADAM SHAND: Should you have been gone back in the force, do you think?
BRIAN MURPHY: From time to time I think that it was most probably a bad move that I did go back in, but I couldn’t think of doing anything else than police work.
ADAM SHAND: When Murphy returned to duty he was given a new role. Leading a small team known as “Murphy’s Marauders”, he took on the villains in their own pubs, sending a message of fear through the underworld. It was an old-school, often violent, method that, although successful, is certainly not endorsed in today’s force.
BRIAN MURPHY: If somebody is arrested and he received a certain amount of corporal punishment, it would most probably be as a result of an assault on the policeman first. And policemen are permitted, the same as anybody else in the community, to prevent an assault, to use force, more than what is being used on them.
ADAM SHAND: Some Victorian police feel the pendulum has swung too far. Officers now feel powerless in the face of criminals who have exploited the new, sensitive approach to police enforcement.
CHRISTINE NIXON: I guess I don’t quite see that and I have a lot of contact with police. Australia has this kind of way of seeing villains as the heroes – Ned Kelly, I suppose, Roger Rogerson in NSW, and Brian Murphy is another. I don’t think they see them as the heroes, the real heroes in policing. I think they see them as people who just behaved and were of their time. What we have to do now is live within the legal boundaries.
ADAM SHAND: But Brian Murphy believes some officers are being used as political pawns as management seeks to reassure the public of the integrity of the service. He could see the writing on the wall and took early retirement. He finds himself counselling many young officers unsure of their future career direction.
BRIAN MURPHY: And a lot of them have left the job and rue the day they ever left because it’s a big, hard, cold world out there and the wages they were getting on numerous occasions they’ve found wanting and they get outside. They haven’t got the camaraderie, they haven’t got the protection of the government behind them.
ADAM SHAND: Maybe the job isn’t what it used to be, and many would say that’s a step forward. But men like Gary Hesket feel they’ve been let down by an administration that’s changed the rules in the middle of the game.
GARY HESKET: At the end of my days, for all the hard work you did, they take your badge, they take your ID. There’s nothing. You’re stripped. At the end of your days, who are you? You’ve given all these years of service. You just walk away and there’s this wealth of experience just sitting out there just wasting away and dying away.Click here for a printer-friendly version.http://sgp1.paddington.ninemsn.com.au/sunday/feature_stories/transcript_1687.asp

RIP Detective Senior Sergeant Leach

leggingsandlace

Silver Member

Join Date: May 2004

Posts: 1,253

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/…476494599.html

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_…55E421,00.html

An unbelievably tragic death.

He brought Ivan Milat to justice. He worked on the disappearance of nine-year-old schoolgirl Samantha Knight and the death of Sydney mother Zoe Zou, who died last November. He recently spent two years walking through massacre sites and talking to victims of Slobodan Milosevic for the European War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague.

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04-08-2004, 10:44 AM	#2
mdo ♥♥ pEeK-a-bOo ♥♥ Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,633	i know.. i heard bout that yesterday noone knows why he done it.. and his got a family and kids too… so sad…. my condolence goes out to them all..R. I . P.
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04-08-2004, 10:54 AM	#3
SoniaMurphy Platinum Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,411	It is very very sad that such an important man within the Australian justice system has gone. I can’t imagine the things he must have seen over his 35 years as a policeman. Obviously it was to much for him in the end. RIP
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04-08-2004, 11:01 AM	#4
Bambie New Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 48	i just read about this. how tragic. he helped so many people by bringing people like ivan milat to justice, and it just got too much. it’s awful. my heart goes out to his family, friends and colleagues.
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04-08-2004, 11:02 AM	#5
sultry Banned Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 2,469	It is so sad and the worst part is the not knowing. Perhaps we could also say RIP to Senior Constable Ian Ross Dennis? http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/media/d…ectionID=media Another fine Police Officer taken from us too early. If only there were more out there like him.
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04-08-2004, 11:12 AM	#6
Sambellina Bronze Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 233	Zoe Zou was my friend. I hope this doesn’t effect the trial of the accussed.
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04-08-2004, 11:12 AM	#7
Sambellina Bronze Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 233	Edit: double post <font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Sambellina on 2004-08-04 12:13 ]</font>
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04-08-2004, 11:13 AM	#8
Emily-May Wildlife Warrior – Sadly Missed Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,898	corrupt maybe?
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04-08-2004, 11:15 AM	#9
Elemi Gold Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,766	I saw him talk about the backpacker murders in Adelaide when I was in first year doing a forensic and analytical chemistry course and he inspired me to finish my degree. I am quite that he’s gone – he was an amazing speaker and a tenacious investigator. E
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04-08-2004, 11:16 AM	#10
Nightshade The heart ages last . . Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 4,556	What this the one who dies under sus circumstances? It is so sad how all these people who do wonderful things for their community usually don’t have outlets for how they are feeling/coping with everything they have seen. __________________ Her Most Noble Lady Nightshade the Precocious of Kesslington under Ox – Going to Paris for my birthday!!

04-08-2004, 11:20 AM	#11
Vogue_Chic04 Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 4,898	It just about breaks my heart to read things like this… As someone who dreams of becoming a police officer one day, I’m glad to know that there are such fine members of the police force within Australia and to know that their hard work and compassion in the job has assisted so many people and has set a respected precedent for future officers. It’s important to commend and appreciate our nation’s police officers to help dispell the hostile attitude many members of public have against police officers – we often quickly forget that there are real people and families beneith the blue uniform. My dad was friends with a member of the Victorian Police force who was killed while on duty, it’s upsetting to remember the sadness that his death had on our family as his friends, let alone what it must be like for immediate family.. My heart and prayers go out to both families – especially Snr Det. Leach’s son.
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04-08-2004, 11:29 AM

#12

Vogue_Chic04

Platinum Member

Join Date: Jul 2003

Posts: 4,898

Quote:

On 2004-08-04 12:12, Sambellina wrote:
Zoe Zou was my friend. I hope this doesn’t effect the trial of the accussed.

How heart-breaking for you… I do doubt that it will effect the outcome of the case – but most likely a collegue of Snr Det. Leach will be presenting any facts and evidence.

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04-08-2004, 12:03 PM	#13
~erika~ 14860649 Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 1,483	thats awful. R.I.P
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04-08-2004, 12:12 PM

#14

leggingsandlace

Silver Member

Join Date: May 2004

Posts: 1,253

Quote:

On 2004-08-04 12:02, sultry wrote:
It is so sad and the worst part is the not knowing.Perhaps we could also say RIP to Senior Constable Ian Ross Dennis?http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/media/d…ectionID=mediaAnother fine Police Officer taken from us too early. If only there were more out there like him.

Thank you very much for that link.

I can’t believe the police force lost two such fine men in the space of only a few hours.

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05-08-2004, 09:23 AM

#15

generictypegirl

Banned

Join Date: Jul 2004

Posts: 1,284

Quote:

On 2004-08-04 12:13, Emily-May wrote:
corrupt maybe?

Do you mean maybe he was corrupt or he saw too much corruption? Regardless, it’s tragic the amount of police officers who end up comitting suicide because of the stress involved with their job or the ‘inner workings’ of police culture. A truly fine police officer who potentially saved a lot of people’s lives

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Further reading: http://researchdirect.uws.edu.au/islandora/object/uws%3A3679/datastream/PDF/view

[codepeople-post-map] Location of Cremation plaque

First published 13 January 2014.

Updated 26 July 2025 with Class photo, and links, of Detective course.

Patrick John CLEARY

13/01/2014

Patrick John CLEARY

AKA ?

Late of Mt. Colah, NSW

“possible” relation in ‘the job’: ?

NSW Goulburn Police Academy – Class # DPP 03 ( Class 277 )

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. # 34???

Rank: Commenced Training at Goulburn Police Academy on Monday ? ? ?

Probationary Constable- appointed Friday 3 September 1999 ( aged 20 years, 4 months, 24 days )

Constable – appointed ? ? ?

Constable 1st Class – appointed ? ? ?

Detective – appointed ? ? 2004 ( YES )

Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ?

Leading Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ? ( N/A )

Final Rank: = Detective Senior Constable

Stations: ?, Chatswood JIRT office – Death

Service: From ? ? 1999 to 24 November 2005 = 6 years Service

Retirement / Leaving age: = 30 years, 8 months, 20 days

Time in Retirement from Police: 0

Awards: No Find on Australian Honours system

Born: Tuesday 4 March 1975

Died on: Thursday 24 November 2005 during the morning

Age: 30 years, 8 months, 20 days

Organ Donor: Y / N / ?

Cause: Depression – Suicide – Departmental Firearm

Event location: at Chatswood JIRT office – opposite Chatswood Police Station, NSW

Event date: Thursday 24 November 2005

Funeral date: ? ? ?

Funeral location: ?

LIVE STREAM PIN: TBA Email: TBA

( click here to see Cornona19 Virus Pandemic rules – this will be a limited numbers Funeral )

any Future Wake location: ???

any Future Wake date: ???

( Due to current Govt. restrictions on ‘Gatherings’ due to Corona19 Virus Pandemic, some families may wish to have a Memorial Service / Wake with friends and family at a later date )

Funeral Parlour: ?

Buried at: Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens & Crematorium,

Grave: Portion: North East Terrace, Garden Plinth, Row: 5, Plot: 86 ?

GPS: -33.793889 – 151.154167

Patrick John CLEARY, Patrick CLEARY, Pat CLEARY: In Loving Memory of Patrick John CLEARY 4 March 1975 - 24 November 2005. Loved and remembered by Family and Friends. May you Rest In Peace. — Photo Credit: Lynn Lucas – **Sept. 2022**

Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?

Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( April 2022 )

Patrick CLEARY, Pat CLEARY

PAT is NOT mentioned on the NSW Police Wall of Remembrance * BUT SHOULD BE ( last checked 3 Aug. 2025 )

PAT is NOT mentioned on the National Police Wall of Remembrance, Canberra ( last checked 130922 / 170723 / 3 Aug. 2025 ) *NEED MORE INFO

PAT IS NOT mentioned on the Sydney Police Centre Memorial Wall, Surry Hills ( Sept. 2022 / 170723 / 3 Aug. 2025 )

FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

May they forever Rest In Peace

https://www.facebook.com/groups/AustralianPolice.com.au/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NSWFallenPolice/

Australian Police YouTube Channel

At Chatswood police station in November 2005, Detective Senior Constable Patrick Cleary shot himself dead before colleagues arrived for work.

Patrick is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance

Again a policeman clocks on, kills himself

By Les Kennedy
November 25, 2005

What possesses some people to do the unspeakable to little children – even their own?

Patrick Cleary was a police officer who plunged into the dark secrets of families to catch sex offenders or those who preyed on and cruelly abused children.

Yesterday, barely six years after joining the NSW Police Service, and three years after becoming a detective, the 31-year-old was found shot dead in an apparent suicide.

The Police Operations Commander, Deputy Commissioner Andrew Scipione, said the death marked a sad day for the NSW Police. At least three other officers in the past four years have taken their own lives in stations with their own service weapons.

“Today is a very tragic day for the NSW Police Force. We have lost a very, very good officer,” Mr Scipione said. “At this stage I might indicate that there appear to be no suspicious circumstances and it has just been a terrible, terrible tragedy. I am told he was a first-class officer, and that is a real loss to us.”

Detective Cleary, who grew up on Sydney’s northern beaches, had since July been in charge of the Chatswood Joint Investigation Response Team, comprising four detectives and four investigators from the Department of Community Services.

The unit had responsibility for investigating all child abuse cases from North Sydney to Hornsby, on Sydney’s outskirts.

The tight-knit unit which dealt with the stuff of nightmares – little children recounting their ordeals at the hands of abusers – coped by reassuring themselves that whatever the outcome, even traumatic family separations, they were protecting the weak.

But police said yesterday that no one recognised the emotional turmoil within Detective Cleary.

His death, which has shocked officers in all nine metropolitan joint investigation response teams as well as the 60-officer Child Protection and Serious Sex Crimes Squad at Parramatta, is the subject of an intensive investigation by a critical incident team from the homicide squad.

But Mr Scipione, who addressed Detective Cleary’s distraught colleagues, said the death was not being treated as suspicious.

He said the officers and the DOCS investigators who worked with Detective Cleary were receiving counselling.

Those in the response teams received counselling every three months to determine how they were coping, but this would now be reviewed.

“No one ever knows why these tragedies happen. We may never know,” he said.

Detective Cleary’s widowed mother was comforted by the head of the Child Protection and Serious Sex Crimes Squad, Helen Begg, who broke the news to her at her home yesterday.

Police said it appeared Detective Cleary had arrived early for work, disconnecting the alarm to the office.

He had been dead for up to an hour before his body was found. There was a single gunshot wound to the head.

A co-worker found him in a room away from his office at 8.45am. Lying beside his body was his Glock semi-automatic service pistol. There was no note.

Police said Detective Cleary had graduated from the police academy in September 1999.

For the three years he worked at Dee Why and Manly police before joining the Chatswood JIRT team as a Senior Constable.

“He dealt with the problems of fragile young people, taking it in. It’s not a good thing,” one officer said yesterday.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/11/24/1132703316805.html?from=rss

Newcastle Anglican diocese business manager John Cleary’s work is his late detective brother’s legacy

By Joanne McCarthy

Updated December 6 2017 – 7:12pm, first published November 23 2016 – 11:00am

JOHN Cleary carried a photo of his late brother Pat with him as he gave evidence on Wednesday about the Anglican Church’s shocking history of child sexual abuse in the Hunter region.

The rest of this story is behind a pay wall with the Newcastle Herald.

Patrick CLEARY - NSWPF - Suicide - 24 November 2005 ( in uniform ). His brother - John CLEARY in striped tie. — Patrick CLEARY – NSWPF – Suicide – 24 November 2005 ( in uniform ). His brother – John CLEARY in striped tie.

Newcastle Anglican diocese business manager John Cleary’s work is his late detective brother’s legacy | Newcastle Herald | Newcastle, NSW

Nothing further, than what is recorded above, is known about this person at the time of publication and further information and photos would be appreciated.

**********

Cal
13 January 2014

Updated 3 August 2025 – Still NOT mentioned on any Police Memorial Wall.

Glenn Howard STIRTON

13/01/2014

Glenn Howard STIRTON, VA

aka Lenny

late of Thurgoona ( Albury ) formerly of Central Coast

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. # 20706

Rank: Sergeant

Stations: Albury, NSW

Service: From ? to 21 December 2012

Awards: National Medal – granted 20 November 1998

Valor Award – granted August 2012

Born: 10 September 1960

Died on: Thursday 20 December 2012

Cause: Suicide – Service firearm

Event location: Albury Police Station

Age: 52 old

Funeral date: Friday 28 December 2012 @ 2.30pm

Funeral location: Hillside Chapel, Palmdale Lawn Cemetery and Memorial Park, Palmdale Road, Palmdale

Buried at: ?

Sgt Glenn Stirton with his valour award in August 2012

[alert_yellow]GLENN is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_yellow] *NEED MORE INFO

http://www.bordermail.com.au/story/1201 … cer/?cs=11

A CRITICAL incident investigation is under way into the sudden death of decorated Albury police officer Glenn Stirton.

Sgt Stirton, a police officer for more than 30 years, died after an incident at the Albury police station on Thursday.

In August, Sgt Stirton received the highest honour for bravery that can be conferred by the NSW Police Commissioner for foiling what police suspect was destined to be a massacre.

Sgt Stirton is the husband of Albury local area commander ( Supt. ) Beth Stirton, who has gone on immediate leave.

Three ambulance crews rushed to the scene after an emergency call from the station.

Officers from the Deniliquin local area command will investigate the circumstances of Sgt Stirton’s death and prepare a report for the coroner.

Acting Southern Region commander Gary Worboys said the force extended its deepest sympathy and condolences to Sgt Stirton’s family “and the wider police family”.

“Welfare support and counselling has been offered to the officer’s family and colleagues. Police will continue to do their job in this difficult time,” acting Assistant Commissioner Worboys said.

Wagga Superintendent Dave Simmons has been brought in to assist the command.

From Monday, Detective Insp Brad Blanchard will act as Albury local area commander while Supt Stirton is on leave.

Sgt Stirton’s bravery was outlined when Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione presented the NSW Police Force Valour Award to him during a ceremony at the police force academy at Goulburn.

Sgt Stirton and a colleague had gone to get lunch at the Eastwood Shopping centre in Sydney’s north in 2008.

While on their way, they were asked to check on reports of a man acting suspiciously at the centre.

Sgt Stirton and his colleague followed the man out of the centre and asked him to stop. He ignored their directions, pulled a pistol from his waistband and fired at the officers, narrowly missing the pair, who returned fire.

The man, Christopher Benardos, turned the gun on himself, and later died in hospital without regaining consciousness.

“It was nice to be recognised, although it is under tragic circumstances,” Sgt Stirton said at the time of the award.

Sgt Stirton transferred to Albury six months ago to join his wife.

If you need help, telephone Lifeline: 13 11 14, Kids Help Line: 1800 551 800, NSW Rural Mental Health Support Line: 1800 201 123, Upper Hume Community Health Service: 1800 657 573.

STIRTON, Glenn Howard

STIRTON, SGT VA Glenn Howard (Lenny) 10/9/1960 – 20/12/2012 Aged 52 years Late of Thurgoona (Albury). Formerly of the Central Coast Loved husband of Beth (Beryl). Loved father of Rachael & Tim. Much loved son of Mark and Maisie Stirton. Brother of Anthony and Rodney (deceased). Proud, Respected and Courageous member of the NSW Police family for 30 years. When once you have tasted flight, You will forever walk with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return. Flying above us forever The Funeral Service for GLENN will be held Friday, 28th December 2012, in the Hillside Chapel, Palmdale Lawn Cemetery and Memorial Park, Palmdale Road, Palmdale, commencing at 2.30pm. CREIGHTONS FUNERAL SERVICE Central Coast 4324-1533 ”Proudly Australian’

Obituaries

Published in The Daily Telegraph on 27/12/2012

http://tributes.dailytelegraph.com.au/archivenotice/2509613/view?random=1443460373767

Officer honoured for bravery

Jessica Grewal | 28th Aug 2012 4:00 PM

Sergeant Glenn Stirton has been honoured with a valour award.

A POLICE officer, who dodged bullets to protect Sydney shoppers from a shooter four years ago, has been honoured with a valour award.

Sergeant Glenn Stirton ran at an armed offender at an Eastwood shopping centre on March 10, 2008.

He and his partner narrowly missed several shots fired their way.

They returned fire but the shooter turned his gun on himself and later died from his injuries.

NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione presented Sgt Stirton with the Valour Award, the highest honour an officer can receive for bravery, at last week’s attestation ceremony at the Goulburn Academy.

http://www.northernstar.com.au/news/officer-honoured-bravery/1522115/

Rachael Gai WILSON

13/01/2014

Rachael Gai Wilson

Constable

New South Wales Police Force

Class 266

Registered #: ?????

Died at Rydalmere, NSW,

Service: From ? ? 1996 to 22 September 1999 = 3 years Service

24 old

Suicide – shot – Service Pistol to chest

Stationed: Mt Druitt, Quaker’s Hill, Seven Hills, Penrith, Ermington Police Station – Plain clothes – Anti Theft Squad – Death

Funeral: Winston Hills on 28 September 1999

Rachael Gail WILSON, Rachael WILSON

Rachael was a plain clothes constable performing proactive duties at Ermington, NSW.

Rachael suffered psychological injuries which were later declined by the insurer.

She slipped into a greater depression and subsequently died from a self inflicted gun shot wound from her own Service weapon, whilst On Duty, after she drove to Eric Primrose Reserve, Rydalmere.

A beautiful smile no longer shines, but her light lives on in the hearts of her loved ones and friends.

May Rachael forever Rest In Peace.

Morgan James HILL

13/01/2014

Morgan James HILL

New South Wales Police Force

Goulburn Police Academy Class # ???

Regd. # 40683

Rank: Commenced Training at Goulburn Police Academy on ? ? ?

Probationary Constable – appointed ? ? ?

Constable – appointed ? ? ?

Constable 1st Class – appointed ? ? ?

Final Rank: Constable 1st Class

Stations: Waverley

Awards: Commissioner’s Unit Citation for actions on Sunday 11 December 2005

Service: From 29 April 2005 to 27 March 2009 = 3+ years Service

Born: Tuesday 25 January 1983

Died: Friday 27 March 2009

Age: 26 years, 2 months, 2 days old

Cause: Severe PTSD – Suicide – self inflicted gunshot wound, with Service Glock, at Fishermans Rd, Malabar

Funeral date: Thursday 2 April 2009

Funeral location: Our Lady of Sacred Heart Church, 193 Avoca St, Randwick

Grave location: Ashes Interned at Botany Cemetery on 25 January 2010

RC6 – Roman Catholic FM 6 – 560

Morgan commenced his shift at Waverley Police Station at 8pm on the evening of 27 March 2009.

At 8.39pm, at Fisherman’s Road, Malabar, in his private vehicle, Morgan ended his life whilst suffering severe depression induced by the effects of anti-depressant medication he had been prescribed.

Morgan was born on 25 January 1983 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 29 April, 2005.

He was 26 years of age at the time of his death by suicide and stationed at Waverley, Eastern Suburbs Local Area Command.

~~Morgan is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance But Should be~~

MORGAN ( as of 2017 ) IS mentioned on the NSW Police Wall of Remembrance

* Stemming from the continued work of the wives of four Fallen NSW Police to Suicide – those four names will now be included in the newly refurbished NSW Police Wall of Remembrance, Sydney, as of 2017

Congratulations to those family members who fought the fight to right this wrong.

*

Police Officer Suicide Should Be Included on The Wall Of Remembrance added 4 new photos — feeling accomplished.

Wednesday 15 March 2017

Commissioner Scipione has telephoned each of us today to advise that our loved ones names are being added to the replacement NSW Police Force Wall of Remembrance, to be unveiled in the next few weeks.

We would like to thank everyone who has offered support over a long and difficult journey and truly hope this sets a precedent for all police departments, not only in Australia but the global policing community.

It is so very important to remember that policing can and often does have a detrimental effect on those who serve.

We believe that the inclusion of suicide deaths, stemming from a work related psychological injury, is the most compassionate way of showing that the police hierarchy truly cares.

The following names will be added:

Detective Sergeant Ashley Bryant

Sergeant Tom Galvin

Senior Constable Scott Nicholson

Constable Morgan Hill

#OneWallForAll

Support Aussie Cops

6 hrs · ( Thursday 24 March 2016 )

7 years ago this Easter Sunday, on 27 March, we lost our only brother and son, Morgan Hill. He took his life on duty that night. I would never wish this type of grief on another family. What has made it worse than losing Morgan though is being subjected to the stigma attached to suicide. With every year that goes by this is reinforced by NSW Police that Morgan’s death (and many before and since) are not worthy of the respect they deserve, because of HOW they died. But…we will continue to highlight this injustice and the shame is not on Morgan or our family…it is actually on YOU – the high ranking officials of the NSW Police Force – and leaders of any Force – that perpetuates this stigma by specifically excluding them from your Wall of Remembrance!

Constable Morgan James HILL – Suicide – 27 March 2009 – Coroners report – 9 Sept 2011

The response, from the Commissioner of Police, to the above Coroners report:

On 2 April 2012, Police Commissioner AP Scipione APM advised the Coroner as follows:

“The NSW Police Force established a Self Harm Prevention Advisory Panel (the Panel) in 2010, following a recommendation of the Deputy State Coroner Dillon in 2009 arising from the death of Sgt Ian Muir. The role of the Panel was recently reviewed and amendments are currently being made to its charter to oversight the NSW Police Force response to Recommendations in all coronial matters involving self-harm by police officers.”

http://www.lsb.justice.nsw.gov.au/agdbasev7wr/_assets/lsb/m500001l1/coronersrecommendationsjune2011to%20december%202011.doc

In Loving Memory of Officer Morgan Hill, Australia, 2009

Morgans Hill

Twenty six years old that day
the sun refused to shine.
On a back street in Australia
in the year two thousand nine.

Haunted by his killer
named PTSD.
He longed just for peace of mind
he longed to just be free.

He told them of the pain inside
it hurt too much to bear.
They put him on restricted duty
to show how much they care.

They followed their procedure
and showed him what they think.
He could return to work again
once cleared by their shrink.

Just a short time later
from all he had endured.
Glory hallelujah
the shrink said he was cured.

Just four short days later
he could not bear the load.
He parked his car in silence
just right off the road.

He should have been dreaming dreams
of children or a wife.
The sun moved quietly behind the clouds
and Morgan took his life.

The bright eyed little boy they knew
his sisters there were four.
Left with such an emptiness
not like it was before.

So they do the best they can
they loved him like no other.
But not a day passes by
they don’t think about their brother.

Edwin C Hofert

I’d just like to say that it’s my hope sometime down the road after Code Nine has met with much success and people are being helped instead of silenced. I hope I never have to write another poem like this again. Because ending stories like this is what they’re all about. Please remember Mr Hills family and friends in prayer and ask that they be comforted by the memories they treasure. And not haunted by the way his life so suddenly ended. Thanks to all of you for praying. Sincerely Edwin C Hofert

This poem is one of a series of poems written by me for Code Nine Officer Needs Assistance And is intended to honor the fallen officers and their families that are to be featured in the finished documentary. As well as all others.

To learn more about Code Nine and their efforts to fight against PTSD go to
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php…

https://www.facebook.com/HeartWhispererfanclub.edhofert/timeline

NSW Police Force

Commissioner’s Unit Citation

Awarded to Constable Morgan Hill

Awarded for outstanding bravery and devotion to duty as a member of the New South Wales Police Force response to civil disorder within the Miranda, Eastern Beaches, St George, and Campsie Local Area Commands.

On Sunday, 11 December 2005, a protracted public order management policing operation commenced in response to a major civil disorder situation in the Cronulla area. The ensuing violent civil disorder continued in Cronulla and other areas, including Maroubra, Brighton, and Campsie, until Tuesday, 13 December 2005, when the situation was brought under control, with peace and good order restored by members of the Force.

The dedication and devotion to duty rendered by these police who were on the frontline throughout this protracted and dangerous policing response and operation exemplifies the courage, expertise, professionalism and commitment of the New South Wales Police Force.

While protecting members of the community and property from rioters, officers were subjected to various forms of assaults and missile attacks. These members of the Force, many of whom sustained injury, remained steadfast in the performance of their duty.

Constable Hill warrants due recognition for his courage and meritourious service during this period of civil unrest and thus is highly commended.

A P Scipione APM

Commissioner of Police

Dated 18 September 2008 but NOT signed.

‘Despite the above Commendation being dated 18 September 2008 ( 6 months before Morgan’s death ), the Certificate was handed to the family Posthumously on the very same day that they were also handed documentation stating that Morgan was NOT going to be mentioned on the Wall of Police Remembrance due to the fact he suicided.

These documents were not given to the family until late 2010.’

Today Tonight TV programme Channel 7, aired this show on Wednesday 23 July 2014.

The below comments were copied and pasted from the TodayTonightadelaide website on 23 March 2016

http://www.todaytonightadelaide.com.au/stories/police-suicide

Jean Simpson says: The Government should be looking at a change in the whole health system , to ask the question why are so many young , old , just so many of the population coming down with Depression , (The Back Dog) . Definitely more counselling services. As well as the government ,we should all try to be more considerate , compassionate to all in society , there is so much suffering out there , and so many issues to deal with today than there was a few years ago. Teresa Cranes comments about the corruption , threats and underhanded dealings within the force has been talked about for as long as i can remember. It makes me really sad to see the young adults of today joining the force with all good intent , with a passion to help our society , only to find that they go to work each day fighting against an epidemic of corruption within there own work place. Like Teresa on this page i knew of an elderly Sergeant who has now retired , because he was told to take an early retirement . To find someone in the force that is not corrupt would be a hard task. How does the average person tell who is who anymore? So sorry for the ones that are trying to make this world a better place , for the opinion of a lot of people is that unfortunately they get tarred with the same brush , one can only imagine the affect on the innocent ones , Wow what a fight they have on there hands ! Love and light to all .
2 years ago : 4 likes
Amanda Schultz says: Teresa Crane you got it spot on! My dad took hi s life in 1981, right in those good old corrupt years! Made a boss aged 32. Took his life aged 37. Left a wife and three daughters. What else do you do when your “boys” are on the take and the bosses buried their heads? I think there needs to be Royal Commissions to make the brass accountable and expose those we know were hypocrites and criminals. SA Police took a good man and destroyed him and his family….we live with it everyday.
2 years ago : 0 likes
Peter Roberts says: Very interesting story and definitely needs looking into
2 years ago : 1 likes
Heather Johns says: It’s unfortunate that they aren’t required to debrief or to talk about an issue without being labelled. It is not just police, fire, ambos, we see it a huge amount in defence too. Why can’t we remove the stigma of PTSD & depression & help those in need as they are helping us? Where is the government funding for more counselling services?
2 years ago : 0 likes
Ross Beckley says: Great story and thanks for making this public. All emergency service personnel are suffering silently and their organisational management need to start addressing these concerns raised in this story.
2 years ago : 1 likes
Trevor Hardy says: SAPOL officers need to find themselves a good private psychologist and see them regularly. You can work through problems and if SAPOL are going to continue to sweep the problems under the carpet, then members need to do it for themselves. Or quit. No job in this Universe is worth killing yourself over.
2 years ago : 0 likes
Jessica Courtney Evans says: Yep…. Someone I’m my family was an officer in nz and took his own life. It’s tragic and awful. They need more support….
2 years ago : 1 likes
Tanya Eldridge-Tregenza says: It’s no bloody secret it’s been happy for a long time.
2 years ago : 1 likes
Lynette Millowick says: Missed out on story was working
2 years ago : 1 likes
Clare Heiss says: Oh poo!! Was really looking forward to seeing it! Thanks for letting us know though!
2 years ago : 3 likes
Today Tonight Adelaide says: Unfortunately we cannot load the video until it has aired in Perth – at the moment it looks like it may run tomorrow so the video won’t be online until Monday morning
2 years ago : 2 likes
Berrick Boland says: Today Tonight, rocks.
2 years ago : 4 likes
Lauren Busbridge says: Same with paramedics!!!!!
2 years ago : 4 likes
Today Tonight Adelaide says: The video will be uploaded tomorrow
2 years ago : 1 likes
Clare Heiss says: I can’t find the story in this link @TodayTonight
2 years ago : 2 likes
Ann Krieg says: PTSD needs to be told and understood. We need to know what and how it happens and to whom. The service men, whether police, or army or navy or air, or whether it is from work and a bad boss or bad experience from an accident, we need to know. 🙂
2 years ago : 3 likes
Berrick Boland says: The Forgotten 300 Facebook page come on and like us for the families of PTSD and Police suicide victims.
2 years ago : 12 likes
Anne Heinrich says: Well I am only one of many people I know who admire the police for their kindness and care of those in need, their patience and persistence and tenacious spirit to keep people alive! Maybe if more people told them so (and I include the media) they might feel more appreciated and needed. Don’t give up guys- there are lots of us who think you’re great!
2 years ago : 2 likes
Sandy McLellan says: I have known many Policeman, but one in particular tells me of the many who simply cannot cope with the ghastly things they have to deal with. We have NO idea how bad it is, very sad. They put their lives on the line for us all the time. Maybe they need much more support on the job and from us, the public.
2 years ago : 3 likes
Tony Crowley says: They should cover SAPOL . We are not clean either
2 years ago : 10 likes
John Hirst says: Be good to see it’s getting some publicity and not ‘swept under the carpet’. Lost a few good colleagues from this and there are so many more stepping close to the line with little or no support from the employer. Tony Crowley for your info.

Posted Monday 20 June 2016:

CORONERS COURT

Morgan James Hill:

Deputy State Coroner Mitchell On 9 September 2011 at Glebe and Parramatta

FINDINGS.

I find that Morgan Hill who was born on 25 January 1983 died at Fishermans Road Malabar NSW at about 8.39 pm on 27 March 2009 of a gunshot wound to the head, self inflicted while suffering severe depression.

RECOMMENDATIONS;

That a psychiatrist or psychiatrists be employed in the Health and Well being Unit of Welfare Safety Command or retained so as to ensure qualified psychiatric oversight of all police fitness assessments where mental health or emotional stability are an issue.

2. That appropriate criteria be developed and established to guide and inform police medical officers in assessing the fitness of police officers for various duties within the police force and the fitness of police officers to have possession of a firearm.

3. In particular, that the criteria so developed and established provide that fitness for duty and to carry a firearm is not merely a matter of the absence of a diagnosable psychiatric condition or mental illness.

4. That police medical officer be encouraged to explore with police officers referred by commanders for a fitness assessment the history of that officer and any current or recent medical diagnoses and treatment plan or plans and the identity of that officer’s medical practitioner and to seek the consent of the police officer to that medical practitioner providing appropriate medical information to the police medical officer and that unwillingness to provide that consent be among the matters to be reported to the referring commander.

5. That psychologists assisting in the preparation of fitness assessments be accorded independence from police medical officers.

6. That police medical officer be reminded of the provisions of the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 and, so far as the provision of information to commanding officers is concerned, be encouraged to act in accordance with its terms.

7. That the practice of placing reliance on psychological tests in the preparation of fitness assessments be reviewed by an independent expert.

8. That the freedom of commanding officers to make their decisions as to the removal or restoration of firearms informed by considerations other than those dealt with by police medical officers be encouraged.

9. That commanding officers be reminded of their entitlement to the provision of information pursuant to the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002.

10. That consideration be given to the establishment of a mentoring system of young officers by more senior officers with a view to the guidance, support and oversight of the performance of those young officers.

RESPONSE

On 2 April 2012, Police Commissioner AP Scipione AMP advised the Coroner as follows:

“The NSW Police Force established a Self Harm Prevention Advisory Panel (the Panel) in 2010, following a recommendation of the Deputy State Coroner Dillon in 2009 arising from the death of Sgt Ian Muir.

The role of the Panel was recently reviewed and amendments are currently being made to its charter to oversight the NSW Police Force response to Recommendations in all coronial matters involving self-harm by police officers.

”Please click here to link to a table which sets out the full Police Force response to the recommendations made by Coroner Mitchell. (Unavailable)

Denise Hodder This is hideous that these precious lives are lost and no one in power seems to care ….?

Like · Reply · 5 · 15 hrs

Clare Heiss I can tell you, as Morgan’s sister, whom attended this inquest for the two weeks duration it ran, that our family have not once heard about any follow up to these recommendations. Furthermore my parents were invited to be on the “self harm committee” when it began, BEFORE the inquest mind you, but attended maybe two meetings and as far as we know either does not exist anymore or is called something else, but either way we have not been asked to continue to be a part of the panel in terms of reviewing the recommendations made by then Coroner Scott Mitchell (now deceased) nor any ongoing consultation as a family who have lost a police officer to suicide.

Like · Reply · 9 · 15 hrs

Barbara June Sounds like a continuing disgrace of the well known…. I am sorry for your families sad sad loss Clare Heiss….

Like · Reply · 2 · 8 hrs

Clare Heiss Barbara June thank you

Like · Reply · 8 hrs

Benyameen Levinstein Total Negligence!

Really feel for your family loss Clare Heiss…

Like · Reply · 2 · 6 hrs

Clare Heiss Janet Hill

Like · Reply · 3 · 15 hrs

Janet Hill We were invited to present at the inaugural Self Harm Prevention Committee in Dec 2009.

Like · Reply · 2 · 13 hrs

Berrick Boland What happened to the so-called committee now?

Like · Reply · 1 · 13 hrs

Clare Heiss Exactly

Like · Reply · 1 · 13 hrs

Dimmy Nicholson It’s just mind numbing to think despite these findings your family have not been kept up to date regarding any changes!!!! ???

Like · Reply · 6 · 13 hrs

Clare Heiss What changes?!! ?

Like · Reply · 1 · 13 hrs

Dimmy Nicholson Clare Heiss exactly my point!! That’s why no contact because there is no changes 🙁

Like · Reply · 2 · 13 hrs

Barbara June Continuing to be continued!

Like · Reply · 8 hrs

Kimberley Galvin The panel.. As its called.. Please show me any person who knows who was on it? Or been contacted by the ( panel)

Like · Reply · 3 · 7 hrs

Derek Smith Disgraceful they are! ?? Sorry for your losses.

Like · Reply · 2 · 7 hrs

Carolyn Allan Smart ?????????

Like · Reply · 1 hr

David James RIXON VA BM

13/01/2014

David James RIXON, VA BM

New South Wales Police Force

Goulburn Police Academy Class # 247

Regd. # 27947

Rank: Commenced Training at Goulburn Police Academy as a Junior Trainee on Sunday 28 October 1990 ( aged 19 years, 2 months, 30 days )

Probationary Constable – appointed 26 April 1991 ( aged 19 years, 8 months, 26 days )

Constable – appointed 26 April 1992

Senior Constable – death

Stations: Hamilton, Belmont G.D’s, Waratah HWP from 12 February 1995, Gunnedah HWP from 7 May 1995, then Tamworth HWP from 14 July 1996 – Death

Served: From 28 October 1990 to 2 March 2012 = 21 years, 4 months & 3 days Service

Awards: Commissioners Valour Award ( VA ) – posthumously

Bravery Medal ( BM ) – posthumously awarded

Born: Saturday 31 July 1971

Died: Friday 2 March 2012

Age: 40 years & 7 months

Cause: Shot – Murdered

Event location: outside 10 – 12 Lorraine Street, West Tamworth, NSW

Funeral date: Thursday 8 March 2012 @ 10.30am

Funeral location: St Paul`s Anglican Church, Church St. Tamworth

Grave location: lawn portion of the Tamworth Regional Council Cemetery, Showground Rd. Tamworth.

GPS: -31.0903969, 150.9007111

David IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance

SenCon-David-Rixon

memorial plaque at the front of Tamworth Police Station.

SenCon David Rixon
Senior Constable

Father of six, shot and killed at Tamworth, NSW, Australia, today Friday 2 March 2012. May you forever Rest In Peace with the rest of our Brothers and Sisters who have paid the ultimate price in Policing.

There is a memorial fund to support the family of S/C Rixon who are dealing with a loss at this time. Donations can be made to this fund with the following details: Account name: David Rixon Memorial Fund, Account number : 269978 (add S1 at the end for Internal transfer by PCU members) Police Credit Union BSB: 815000

David and Fiona Rixon have six children.

David James RIXON - touch pad at National Police Wall of Remembrance, ACT — David James RIXON – touch pad at National Police Wall of Remembrance, ACT

Details of Death:

Shortly before 0800hr on Friday, 2 March 2012, Senior Constable Rixon from Tamworth Highway Patrol stopped and spoke to the driver of a vehicle at 10-12 Lorraine Street, West Tamworth for the purposes of a random breath test. As Senior Constable Rixon approached the vehicle, the offender drew a firearm and shot him. Senior Constable Rixon was able to return fire from his service pistol, which hit the offender. Senior Constable Rixon was able to place a handcuff on the offender, before he collapsed from his injuries and died at the scene. He was unable to be revived.

Senior Constable Rixon joined the New South Wales Police Service as a Trainee on 28 October 1990 and was attested as a probationary Constable at the New South Wales Police Academy, Goulburn on 26 April 1991.

He was initially posted to Hamilton Patrol in Newcastle and soon after was posted to Belmont Patrol.

He was confirmed as Constable on 26 April 1992.

He commenced duties in Highway Patrol at Waratah in the Hunter area on 12 February 1995, and shortly afterwards, on 7 May 1995, he transferred to Gunnedah Highway Patrol.

On 14 July 1996, Senior Constable Rixon transferred to Tamworth Highway Patrol, where he remained posted until the time of his death.

He was posthumously awarded the Commissioner‘s Valour Award.

RIXON, David James
Dearly loved husband of Fiona
Loving father of Renae, Jemma, Scott, Mathew, Hayley and Patrick.

Loved son, stepson and son-in-law of Gwen & Max Russell, Ken Rixon, Kathryn & Robert Brooking, loved step brother and brother-in-law of Katie and Beau, Tammy, Leanne (dec), Rachelle, Nadina and Damien.
The relatives and friends of David Rixon were respectfully invited to attend his funeral.

The Service was appointed to commence at 10.30 am, Thursday, 8th March, 2012, at St Paul`s Anglican Church, Church St. Tamworth, thence for interment in the lawn portion of the Tamworth Regional Council Cemetery, Showground Rd. Tamworth.

Presented to the family.

The inscription reads:

27947
Senior Constable
David James Rixon
Oxley Local Area Command
NSW Police Force
2nd March 2012

* * * * *See flyer for a huge fund-raising evening that we are holding at City Diggers Club, Wollongong, on the 2 June. As you can see the entertainment line up is unbelievable.Please feel free to share this flyer with your friends. $5,000 from the evening will be donated to the Senior Constable David Rixon Memorial Fund. David left behind a wife and 6 children when he was tragically killed recently. His friends from within the New South Wales Police have set a target of $1,000,000. This is our way of showing support. Please do not put off getting your tickets as we are capping the evening at 250.

It was meant to be a regular day for Tamworth police officer and father-of-six David Rixon.

The NSW highway patrol officer was carrying out a routine breath check in 2012 when the driver, Michael Jacobs, pulled out a revolver and shot him in the chest.

He returned fire, hitting Jacobs in the abdomen, leg and shoulder, called for back-up and handcuffed Jacobs before collapsing.

His killer went on to receive life-saving surgery and a life sentence.

But Senior Constable Rixon died at the scene, leaving behind a heartbroken wife and six children.

Three years later, he has been honoured for his bravery.

Sen Const Rixon is one of 25 people to receive an Australian Bravery Decoration on Wednesday from Governor-General Peter Cosgrove.

Mr Cosgrove says Sen Const Rixon and the other recipients are a source of courage, support and inspiration, but he acknowledged there can be devastating consequences resulting from their bravery.

“Sadly, there are those whose brave acts mean they are no longer with us,” he said.

“Today, to their families, I express the nation’s sadness at your loss but pride in your loved ones’ actions.”

The Australian Bravery Decorations recognise acts of bravery by members of the community who selflessly put themselves in jeopardy to protect the lives or property of others.

The recipients are nominated by members of the public, with the governor-general deciding the awards.

They vary from Mustafa Ruhi Akkan and Nattapat Penpanussak, who helped police apprehend a man who stabbed three backpackers in 2000, to Jamie Alan Strong, for helping rescue two people trapped in a burning house in 2014.

One of the highest honours, the Star of Courage, is awarded to a 21-year-old RAAF pilot named James Wallace Hocking.

In 1944, he saved his crew and the English township of March by flying his stricken bomber away from civilian danger. He died when the plane crashed into a nearby field.

There are four levels of decoration and a Group Bravery Citation, an award for a group of people involved in a single incident. They are the Cross of Valour, the Star of Courage, the Bravery Medal, Commendation for Brave Effort and the Group Bravery Citation.

AWARDS SINCE 1975

5 Cross of Valour

146 Star of Courage

1217 Bravery Medals

1926 Commendations for Brave Conduct

157 Group Bravery Citations

7 News Sydney

National Bravery Awards: Tamworth Police Officer David Rixon honoured after on-duty death.

STORY: http://yhoo.it/1J2dT4F

Police Commissioner statement: “The NSW Police Force Commissioner, Andrew Scipione, has commended Senior Constable David Rixon for his service as a NSW Police Officer, following the announcement that he will receive a posthumous Australian Bravery Award.

Snr Cst Rixon died after being shot during what should have been a routine traffic stop in Tamworth on 2 March 2012.

Snr Cst Rixon stopped the man, believing him to be a disqualified driver, when the man produced a gun and shot him.

Despite being critically injured, Snr Cst Rixon returned fire and arrested the man.

Commissioner Scipione said Snr Cst Rixon was a deserving recipient of a posthumous Australian Bravery Award.

“Snr Cst Rixon died under tragic circumstances while protecting the community in what should have been a routine traffic stop,” Commissioner Scipione said.

“His death affected his family, friends, the local community, and the entire NSW Police Force; and today’s award is testament to the fact that his sacrifice will never be forgotten.

“Snr Cst Rixon’s courage and conviction under incredibly difficult circumstances continues to inspire us and strengthen our resolve to protect the community,” Commissioner Scipione said.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Police Troy Grant said this award is testament to the courage and dedication the men and women of the NSW Police Force display every day.

“Senior Constable Rixon put his life on the line to protect the community and he paid the ultimate price. “This award recognises his actions and his bravery on that day. “My thoughts are with Senior Constable Rixon‘s family and the NSW Police Force.”

https://au.news.yahoo.com/nsw/a/29293039/nsw-policeman-honoured-after-on-duty-death/

An officer and a gentleman: Remembering Senior Constable David Rixon a year on

By Kitty Hill

March 1, 2013, noon

A SOMBRE anniversary falls today as police officers and community members join the family in remembering fallen Tamworth police officer Senior Constable David Rixon a year after his death.

On March 2, 2012, Senior Constable Rixon was fatally shot on a routine traffic stop in West Tamworth.

Senior Constable Rixon’s wife Fiona and their children will be joined by officers from across the state to mark the anniversary, many of whom have spent the past week completing a charity walk in his honour.

Officers will form a sombre march to Tamworth Police Station to arrive at 8am, where the flag will be lowered to stand at half mast.

NSW Police Commissioner, Andrew Scipione, will unveil a plaque honouring Senior Constable Rixon, during a ceremony at Tamworth Community Centre at 11am.

Fiona Rixon said she will take a private moment during the day to remember her husband, the man who she described as her “other half”.

“He was my best friend, we did absolutely everything together, everything,” she said.

About 60 police officers of the 140 who walked arrived in Tamworth last night after a 370km journey titled “Our Mates, Our Families,” which began in Wyong last Monday.

Rainy weather welcomed the walkers as they completed the last few kilometres of their 10-day trek, ending at the Longyard Hotel.

Senior Constable Rixon’s stepdaughter and Probationary Constable Jemma Galea, who walked alongside four officers from the Oxley Local Area Command, said today’s memorial services would be bittersweet for her and her family.

“I guess it’s hard to say how it will affect you until the day,” Probationary Constable Galea said.

Completing the last of the walk alongside her mother yesterday, she was wearing the bright pink cap she wore for the the duration of the walk.

The cap was the subject of a personal joke between her and her stepfather.

“David said to me when I bought it, ‘When are you ever going to wear that hat?’” Probationary Constable Galea said.

“So now I wear it, to remember him.”

Senior Constable David Rixon's stepdaughter and probationary constable Jemma Galea who wore a bright pink cap as a joke between her and David. Photo: Marina Neil — Senior Constable David Rixon’s stepdaughter and probationary constable Jemma Galea who wore a bright pink cap as a joke between her and David. Photo: Marina Neil

Ms Galea said the walk was harder than expected, and she was full of “sore muscles, blisters and a bit of sunburn”, and everyone was looking forward to a hot shower before the fundraising event at Wests’ Diggers last night.

The walkers camped along the way, passing through six police local area commands, many of whom sent officers to Tamworth to help out in the days and weeks after the tragedy.

Organising police from Tuggerah Lakes said they were inspired by the Cooee recruitment march, a famous walk that began in Gilgandra in 1915 with 35 men, its ranks swelling to 265 by its end in Sydney, all eager to join the Australian war effort for WWI.

Oxley Local Area Commander Superintendent Clint Pheeney said his officers were honoured to take part in the walk, and ceremony, to remember their former colleague.

“David’s death was heartbreaking for all of us at Oxley Local Area Command,” Superintendent Pheeney said.

“But when a police officer is killed it’s not only the local police and their immediate colleagues who are touched, it’s the entire police force and community as a whole.”

“I’m extremely proud of all the officers who have taken part in the gruelling walk as it shows their resolve and determination to honour their mate, and to raise funds for not only his family, but the families of other fallen officers.

“I’m particularly proud of all of David’s colleagues here at Tamworth who have continued to do their job on a daily basis since his death, even though all their hearts have been broken.

“David has never been far from our minds and this will certainly be the case tomorrow, especially during the ceremony. The plaque will serve as a permanent honour to him in the community and one I’m sure all who knew him will be extremely proud of.”

Commissioner Scipione said the relay-style walk from Wyong Police Station to Tamworth was raising money for both the NSW Police Legacy and the David Rixon Memorial Fund.

“Last year we experienced the tragedy of losing two of our officers and so we all have extremely heavy hearts today,” Commissioner Scipione said. “However the ceremony gives us the opportunity to reflect on Senior Constable Rixon’s life and career, and to remember the outstanding husband, father, friend and colleague that he was.

“The walk and ceremony are testimony to the honour that exists among those who have chosen to become part of the police profession. It also demonstrates our respect, our grief and our resolve to continue, despite the hardships that may confront us.”

The official ceremony will take place at 11am at Tamworth Community Centre in Darling St.

Michael Allan Jacobs becomes first person jailed for life without parole for killing police officer, Senior Constable David Rixon

Amy Dale, Chief Court Reporter
The Daily Telegraph
October 04, 20132:45PM

THE man who shot Senior Constable David Rixon has become the first person jailed for the term of his natural life for murdering a police officer.

Michael Allan Jacobs has this afternoon been sentenced to life with no parole for murdering Sen-Constable Rixon, the crime described by Justice Richard Button as “a life irrevocably taken”.

Jacobs is the first person to be convicted of murdering a police officer since the O’Farrell government introduced legislation in 2011 to ensure such an offence is punished by a sentence of life with no parole.

He said the murder of a police officer “is a direct assault on the system of parliamentary democracy and the rule of law.”

“The offender informed the intention to kill him,” Justice Button said.

“That intention may have been held utterly fleetingly and irrationally … but it has been established to a criminal standard.”

Court artist sketch of Michael Allen Jocobs.

Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione and NSW Police Minister Mike Gallacher joined more than 20 police officers in court for the landmark sentence.

Sen-Constable Rixon was shot once in the chest with a bullet fired from a .38 calibre revolver after approaching Jacobs’ stopped Holden Statesman for a random breath test early on March 2 last year.

The policeman returned fire and hit Jacobs three times, leaving the man with “an out of control drug addiction” critically wounded, before he collapsed from his injuries.

“The offender almost died from his injuries,” Justice Button said, adding that in his dying moments Sen-Constable Rixon had handcuffed Jacobs to arrest him.

The court heard Jacobs screamed “ah die, I’m sorry sir, sorry” just after the shooting and while “lying gravely wounded could be heard repeatedly saying ‘I’m sorry.'”

But Justice Button said he couldn’t be more satisfied “that the offender is responsible for this murder.”

Police arrived shortly after the shooting but Sen-Constable Rixon couldn’t be revived, while Jacobs received lifesaving surgery and eventually recovered after spending more than a month in hospital.

The Crown claimed he was high on ice at the time, making him more prone to aggression, and shot the policeman to avoid being locked up and convicted for repeatedly driving unlicensed.

Justice Button said of Jacobs‘s motive to avoid “being briefly refused bail or at worst a sentence of a matter of months … the offender saw fit to fire a handgun at a police officer.”

He said Sen-Constable Rixon would have had “less than a second before the shot was fired.”

David Rixon murder: Michael Jacobs gets life in jail

Date October 4, 2013

Paul Bibby

Court Reporter

The sun had only recently risen over the roof of Tamworth police station when the white, dark-windowed bus arrived.

One by one about 30 officers filed on and settled in for a six-hour journey that they hoped would end with justice for a fallen comrade and perhaps a small measure of closure for those left behind.

Eight hours and 400 kilometres later, a NSW Supreme Court Justice gave the family, friends and colleagues of murdered police officer Senior Constable David Rixon the result they desired – a life sentence for the man responsible for his death.

In a landmark decision, Michael Alan Jacobs, 49, became the first person sentenced to life in prison under new laws requiring a mandatory life sentence for anyone who murders an on-duty police officer in NSW.

”Let this serve as an example to all those in the future who think it’s OK to harm our police officers,” NSW Police Minister Mike Gallacher said after the sentence was handed down.

”This decision today draws a line in the sand.”

NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione after the sentencing at Darlinghurst Courts with Fiona Rixon, (and family) wife of Senior Constable David Rixon and his colleagues from Oxley LAC. Photo: Dallas Kilponen

Nearly a quarter of the Oxley Local Area Command were present to hear the sentence, forming a guard of honour as Senior Constable Rixon‘s widow, Fiona Rixon, and their children left the court.

”I’m very proud of my children – we’ve been through this hurricane, tornado, roller-coaster ride, whatever you want to call it, for the last 18 months,” an emotional Mrs Rixon said.

”Hopefully now life will be a little bit more quiet.”

NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione with a family member after the sentencing at Darlinghurst Courts. Senior Constable David Rixon was killed while on duty. Photo: Dallas Kilponen

On March 2 last year, Jacobs shot and killed Senior Constable Rixon, a 40-year-old father of six, during what was to have been a regulation breath test on Lorraine Street, West Tamworth.

During a month-long trial earlier this year, the court was told that the experienced highway patrolman had recognised Jacobs as a disqualified driver and followed him from nearby Gunnedah Road to the quiet side street.

Senior Constable Rixon’s police microphone recorded him saying ”G’day mate, how you going?”

In an increasingly distressed voice he is then heard to say: ”I’m just gonna breath test you, buddy.”

Jacobs then fired a single shot from a .38 calibre pistol that went straight through Constable Rixon’s left wrist and into his chest, puncturing his heart and lung.

The officer returned fire, hitting Jacobs in the leg, abdomen and shoulder. He collapsed soon after.

Jacobs is heard to say ”die … I’m sorry sir, sorry, sorry”.

The officer’s last act was to handcuff his killer.

Jacobs later claimed that it was not he but a local drug dealer, Terrence James Price, who fired the fatal shot after the policeman ”interrupted” them in the middle of a drug deal, but this was rejected by the jury.

In sentencing Jacobs to life in prison, Justice Richard Button said the 49-year-old had no apparent motive for committing the crime and had shown little or no remorse.

”It is almost impossible to believe that, in order to avoid a short period of being denied bail or, at worst, a sentence of a matter of months for driving whilst disqualified, the offender saw fit to fire a handgun at a police officer,” he said.

”The murder of a police officer in such circumstances is a direct assault upon our system of parliamentary democracy and the rule of law.”

As well as providing some relief to Senior Constable Rixon’s family and fellow officers, the life sentence represents a landmark decision for the state’s mandatory life sentencing laws.

Jacobs’ case was seen by many as a test of the laws, introduced in 2011, which require judges to impose a life sentence on any offender found guilty of murdering an on-duty police officer.

Crucially, Justice Button found that Jacobs’ crime met all the criteria set out in the mandatory life sentence legislation, including that he had acted with the intention to kill the officer.

”That intention may have been held only fleetingly and utterly irrationally, but nevertheless I consider that it has been established to the criminal standard,” he said.

”The result is that the mandatory life sentence is to be imposed.”

Parliament of New South Wales

Legislative Council

NATIONAL POLICE REMEMBRANCE DAY – 2012

Page: 15631

The Hon. MELINDA PAVEY: My question is addressed to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Will the Minister inform the House about National Police Remembrance Day?

The Hon. MICHAEL GALLACHER: I thank the honourable member for her question and I again welcome the opportunity to share the details of this significant day for the New South Wales Police Force with the wider community. National Police Remembrance Day was observed on Friday 28 September 2012. It is a day held in memory of police officers across the country who have died in the line of duty. On that day I had the honour of attending a service held at the New South Wales Police Wall of Remembrance in the Domain at which the 251 officers who have given their lives to protect the people of New South Wales since the formation of the New South Wales Police Force 150 years ago were rightly honoured.

It was a solemn reflection of the ultimate sacrifice those officers made and their legacy. The service included special acknowledgement of Senior Constable David Rixon, who was killed on 2 March 2012 whilst on duty in Tamworth. Senior Constable Rixon‘s tragic death was a salient reminder of the dedication police give to the service and protection of our communities. In upholding the law and keeping the people of New South Wales safe, police put their lives on the line on a daily basis. National Police Remembrance Day honours the courage and bravery of all police officers across the country. It is also an important day to remember police officers who have lost their lives as a result of illness and in other circumstances.

National Police Remembrance Day recognises the families of all serving police officers and the families of those who did not make it home at the end of their shift. New South Wales Police Legacy is a not-for-profit organisation that looks after the families of deceased police officers in New South Wales. The organisation does an invaluable job providing financial and emotional support to more than 1,000 widows and widowers and 200 children across New South Wales. Importantly, New South Wales Police Legacy ensures that these families remain part of the wider police family. The police family is a close-knit group of people who support each other and their families.

Also in attendance at the service at the Wall of Remembrance was 12-year-old Elayna Day and her grandmother. Elayna was only six years old when her father, Sergeant Graham Clifford Day, died but she remains a firm member of the police family. She is the proud recipient of the 2012 Commissioner’s Scholarship. The New South Wales Police Legacy scholarship will assist Elayna as she enters high school next year to pursue her dream of becoming a veterinarian. She is a prime example of the fine work undertaken by New South Wales Police Legacy in supporting the families of our fallen police officers. The need for an organisation like Police Legacy highlights the risks associated with being a police officer. It is a difficult, stressful and dangerous job. In informing the House on the significance of National Police Remembrance Day, I would like to take this opportunity to thank police officers across the State, all of whom are serving and protecting the people of New South Wales. Their commitment is acknowledged and respected, their bravery and courage is honoured and admired and I thank them for their contribution in ensuring that we have a safe community.

http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LC20121016019

Robert Wayne TAIT

13/01/2014

Robert Wayne TAIT

aka Bob

New South Wales Police Force

Joined via the NSW Police Cadets on 24 February 1964

NSW Police Academy – Redfern – Class 106

Cadet # 1927

Regd. # 11786

Rank: NSW Police Cadet – commenced 24 February 1964 ( aged 16 years, 11 months, 5 days )

Probationary Constable – appointed 19 March 1966 ( aged 19 years, 0 months, 0 days )

Constable – appointed 19 March 1967

Constable 1st Class – appointed ? ? ?

Senior Constable – appointed 19 March 1975

Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed 27 March 1982

Inspector – death

Stations: ?, Northern District ( 1966+ ), ?, Narrabri – Patrol Commander

Awards: National Medal – granted 23 October 1981 ( SenCon )

1st Clasp to the National Medal – granted 28 May 1992 ( SenSgt )

Service: From 24 February 1964 to 29 March 1996 = 32 years, 1 month, 5 days Service

Age at Leaving: 49 years, 0 months, 10 days

Time in Retirement: 0

Born: Wednesday 19 March 1947

Died: Friday 29 March 1996

Age: 49 years, 0 months, 10 days

Cause: Illness – Depression – Suicide – Service revolver – In a Police Station

Event location: Narrabri Police Station, NSW

Funeral: Narrabri Lawn Cemetery, Gunnedah Rd ( Kamilaroi Hwy ), Narrabri, NSW

Grave: Portion A2, Row Q

Cremated: ?

Robert is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance * BUT SHOULD BE

Robert Wayne TAIT headstone - Narrabri Lawn Cemetery. Portion A2, row Q — Robert Wayne TAIT headstone – Narrabri Lawn Cemetery. Portion A2, Row Q

Robert Wayne TAIT - Grave — Robert Wayne TAIT – Grave

Robert Wayne TAIT - Memorial Stone outside of Narrabri Police Station. Rob's mother also planted an Olive Tree there at the same time. 29 September 2002 — Robert Wayne TAIT – Memorial Stone outside of Narrabri Police Station. Rob’s mother also planted an Olive Tree there at the same time. 29 September 2002

In 1996 Inspector Bob Tait was the officer in charge of police at Narrabri. On the morning of Friday 29 March of that year he ended his own life at the Narrabri Police Station.

The Northern Daily Leader of 30 March, 1996 reported the death.

Stunned colleagues and the Narrabri community are this morning trying to come to terms with why such a respected policeman would kill himself. Inspector Robert Tait, 49, went to work yesterday morning, where he had been serving as the patrol commander, walked into an unoccupied office, took his service revolver and ended his life.

The inspector joined the New South Wales Police Force on 24 February, 1964 as a cadet, and was sworn in on 19 March, 1966. At the time of his death he was stationed at Narrabri, where he was the patrol commander.

Class 106 - Redfern Police Academy - Sworn In 4 April 1966. This Group are the Cadets from that Class.Rear ( L - R ): Alan CHAMPION # 11922, Tony ANTUNAK # 11920, H.M. ' Max ' McKINNON # 11919, Ray ADAMS # 11785, Maurie GREEN # 11784, Mal BRAMMER # 11921, Mick JONES # 11783 Front ( L- R ): Phil MARTIN # 11788, Keith BYRNES # 11787, Mick BAMENT # 11917, Robert TAIT # 11786, Jim WOODEN # 11918, Lee RANKIN # 11924 — Class 106 – Redfern Police Academy – Sworn In 4 April 1966. This Group are the Cadets from that Class.
Rear ( L – R ):
Alan **CHAMPION ( R.I.P. )** # 11922, Tony **ANTUNAK** # 11920, H.M. ‘ Max ‘ **McKINNON** # 11919, Ray **ADAMS** # 11785, Maurie **GREEN** # 11784, Mal **BRAMMER** # 11921, Mick **JONES** # 11783
Front ( L- R ):
Phil **MARTIN** # 11788, Keith **BYRNES** # 11787, Mick **BAMENT** # 11917, Robert **TAIT** # 11786, Jim **WOODEN ( R.I.P. )** # 11918, Lee **RANKIN** # 11924

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/holding-judgement/2007/06/08/1181089328815.html?page=fullpage

June 9, 2007

It took up 451 hearing days, heard from 902 public witnesses and cost an estimated $64 million. Malcolm Brown reports on the Wood royal commission, 10 years on.

It began on June 15, 1995, when an unnamed Annandale detective jumped to his death from the seventh floor of a building, apparently through fear of the Wood royal commission. The detective’s suicide was followed by those of Ray Jenkins, a dog trainer (July 10), and Inspector Robert Tait, the acting patrol commander at Narrabri ( March 29, 1996 ). Nineteen days later a former Wollongong alderman, Brian Tobin, gassed himself.

On May 8 the same year, Peter Foretic gassed himself the day after giving evidence about paedophile. On September 23, Detective Senior Constable Wayne Johnson shot himself and his estranged wife after being adversely named in the royal commission. On November 4, David Yeldham, a retired judge about to face the royal commission on questions of sexual impropriety, killed himself. A month later Danny Caines, a plumber and police confidant, committed suicide at Forster, on the North Coast.

Altogether, 12 people enmeshed in the Wood royal commission took their own lives. Scores of others were so profoundly affected by proceedings that their supporters and families believe it shortened their lives. A former detective, Greg Jensen, suffered a recurrence of the stomach cancer that ultimately ended his life, while another former detective, Ray McDougall, who faced the threat that commission investigators might expose his extramarital affair if he did not co-operate, succumbed to motor neurone disease.

There is no doubt that the Royal Commission into the NSW Police Service, headed by the Supreme Court judge James Wood, purged the force of a roll call of rotters. A total of 284 police officers were adversely named, 46 briefs of evidence were sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions and by 2001 nine officers had pleaded guilty to corruption offences and three not guilty. Seven police officers received jail sentences, including the former Gosford drug squad chief Wayne Eade and a former chief of detectives, Graham “Chook” Fowler.

Several high-profile police ended their careers in disgrace, including Ray Donaldson, an assistant commissioner, whose contract was not renewed, and Bob Lysaught, the commissioner’s chief of staff, whose contract was torn up. Charges against 14 officers were dismissed because of irregularities in search warrants and their execution.

That left the question of what to do with police who were on the nose but who could not be brought to account by normal means. The solution was the creation of section 181B of the Police Service Act, under which the police commissioner could dismiss an officer on the basis of what had come out of the royal commission. Section 181D allowed the police commissioner to serve an officer with a notice indicating that he “does not have confidence in the police officer’s suitability to continue as a police officer”. The officer could show cause as to why he should be retained, and if dismissed could appeal to the Industrial Relations Tribunal.

In the wake of the two legislative changes, 380 officers were targeted for dismissal or internal investigation. By March 1998, 19 police officers had been dismissed under section 181B and three under 181D. Another had been dismissed under a separate provision of the act, 14 had resigned, four had been medically discharged and 15 had been given performance warning notices. Others were under consideration, and as the Police Integrity Commission – a legacy of the royal commission which became a permanent watchdog – has demonstrated, even officers who had been corrupt many years before were not necessarily in the clear.The former independent MP John Hatton, who was instrumental in setting up the royal commission, said he thought the Police Integrity Commission was the royal commission’s “greatest achievement”. The Child Protection Enforcement Agency, which launched a purge of sex offenders, is another positive legacy of the royal commission.But 10 years on, was the exercise worth it?To some there were considerable benefits. Some appalling malpractice – known as “process” or “noble cause” corruption – prompted Wood to wonder at one point about the quality of a lot of police evidence he had accepted over the years.Despite this, many officers still believe the royal commission was too puritanical. They claim the investigators, not able to grapple with the really big issues, jumped on anything they could: “They had to have runs on the board,” says Michael McGann, who as a policeman in 1984 participated in the so-called Kareela Cat Burglar case, in which police used mace on an uncooperative thief and sex offender. To some critics this treatment did no serious harm and only required a word of caution. But under the spotlight of the royal commission 12 years later, it ended the careers of high-flying police such as John Garvey, Brian Harding and Steve York.A decade later, Harding works in corporate security but insists that the real sting was that the investigators had fabricated evidence. When that finally came out, he says, the group received a confidential settlement, but it did little to redress the feelings of outrage.

Another former policeman, Dr Michael Kennedy, says the commission was a political response to the police commissioner, Tony Lauer, bringing about the downfall of the then police minister, Ted Pickering.

The attorney-general, ministry and judiciary took little responsibility for the state of the force, Kennedy says, while the responsibility of the police rank-and-file grew to “the size of a Pacific driftnet”. “I don’t think the royal commission contributed anything to the reform process except to provide a template for double standards,” he says.

“Chook Fowler put $200 into his pocket from Louis Bayeh. Chook was a lazy, good-for-nothing drunk. But he was put into the same category as Ray Williams and HIH.”McGann says that against the string of petty corrupt activities uncovered, “you have to look at what the government did and did not do with gambling and vice, over the decades. There have been direct links to Parliament for 50 or 60 years. That is hypocrisy.”The critics’ view is that the royal commission has left a demoralised police force, tarnished and rudderless, with limited operational effectiveness and the problem of corruption unsolved. Seven police officers have taken their lives since 2001, including two this year.”It highlights the fact that the structure no longer takes in the needs of the NSW police force,” says Mike Gallacher, the Opposition police spokesman, and a former internal affairs police officer.Gallacher believes, as does the NSW Police Commissioner, Ken Moroney, that the tentacles of corruption no longer spread to embrace entire squads or larger units. But it does not prevent low-level incidents of corruption and there are continuing nests of corruption.In its most recent report, the Police Integrity Commission said it had undertaken 21 major investigations in 2005-06. These dealt with extortion, theft, unauthorised disclosure of confidential government information and perverting the course of justice, police brutality and the handling of $250,000 stolen from automatic teller machines. The then police integrity commissioner, Terry Griffin, said there had been 51 investigations in the 12 months, compared with 44 in 2004-05, and the 1141 written complaints represented a 15 per cent increase.Moroney says all these reports are disappointing, but one of the significant statistics was the number of police who were reporting on other police. “You go back a decade and the number of informants who were police was 5 to 10 per cent,” he says. “In the Ombudsman’s last report, that figure was 49 per cent.”The mechanism for dealing with internal complaints has been expedited: “I have not been afraid to use a section 181D notice,” Moroney says.He believes there is a different mentality in the force. A video of the royal commission had been shown at a recent reunion dinner of the old criminal investigation branch. “It is part of our history. But the interesting thing is that when Chookie came onto the screen, everyone booed. That was a signal to the Fowlers and the Eades that those found to have acted corruptly would not be accepted.”

However, Moroney accepts that corruption is not a thing of the past. “In the contemporary period, there are huge monies to be made from the illicit drug environment. You are talking in some cases of millions of dollars. It is the greatest menace in society today. And the greatest menace to officers is drug money. That is why rotation of officers out of specialist squads on a regular basis is important.”Taking over as commissioner five years ago, he had brought a low-key “Uncle Ken” influence, sorely needed, and had had to balance the principles of police accountability against the public demand for law and order, and the task has been awkward.A senior counsel told the Herald this week that the focus on integrity, scrutiny of professional standards and attacks by defence lawyers meant that talented police prepared to do the dirty work were deterred. “In the old days the best and the brightest went into plain-clothes,” he said. “But when the police perceive that when they have to go the extra yard [to get convictions], they are crucified – ‘Why should I go to plain-clothes when I can just get some uniform job with a 12-hour shift, and a second job?”‘Clive Small, a former assistant commissioner who set up crime agencies and established the child protection unit, says that after so many detectives were disgraced in the royal commission, the police force sought to take the spotlight off detectives and put more of the onus of responsibility for crime control onto local area commands. Crime agencies had a continual battle to keep up to strength. Regionalising responsibility for crime control reflected a lack of understanding. “A lot of crime spreads through the metropolitan area, across the state and across the nation,” he says.Kennedy, now a university lecturer, says the “business model” approach is incompatible with good police work. “We cannot expect police to behave like they are in the private sector, where competence is measured in terms of productivity,” he says.Kennedy attended the recent CIB reunion dinner and sat at a table with former drug squad detectives who remained friends of Wayne Eade. He takes issue with Moroney‘s claim that people at the dinner made catcalls when Fowler came on screen. “No one supported Chook,” he says. “But the animosity of the crowd was directed straight at Justice Wood and his commission.”Clive Small, who was also at the dinner, says: “I think it is really a matter of interpretation who they were booing. There were things the royal commission did not take care about. There was a lot of collateral damage. And the implementation [of its recommendations] has been pretty ordinary.”

CRUSADER WHO MADE THE CALL

JOHN HATTON well remembers the audience on May 11, 1994, when he made his speech calling for a royal commission into the NSW Police Service. MPs were listening, of course, but it was a gallery above him, packed with the “top brass of the police force – the commissioner himself, the deputy commissioner, superintendents – they were an intimidating force on the Parliament”.

“They thought they could stare down the Labor Party support for my motion,” Hatton, now retired, says. “It was probably the best indicator of the way in which the police force thought they could control the agenda.”

Hatton won the day, putting paid to a claim by then police commissioner, Tony Lauer, that “systemic corruption” was “a figment of the political imagination”. Hearings started on November 24, 1994, and Justice James Wood delivered his final report on August 26, 1997.

Ten years later, Hatton believes he was vindicated. He says Wood was “the right man” to head the commission and the recruitment of interstate police was crucial, along with the decision to use phone taps and surveillance.

The 11 volumes of material Hatton gave the royal commission had been accumulated over 14 years, he says, from the time he had first spoken up. He had received information on illegal gambling, drug trafficking and police involvement with the mafia.

There had been earlier moves to address police corruption, including inquiries by the Independent Commission Against Corruption, but these had only scratched the surface. “I can remember on one occasion I reported a death threat which had to do with the McKay murder in Griffith and 48 hours later the bloke who had given the information was threatened by a shotgun at his door in Queensland,” Hatton says.

The royal commission came into being because Hatton and other independent MPs held the balance of power in Parliament. The Labor Party may have had high public motives, but also saw a chance to attack the Fahey government. Labor stipulated that an inquiry into police protection of paedophiles, previously in the hands of the ICAC, become part of the royal commission.

The process of gathering information was helped greatly by Trevor Haken, a detective who became an informer and covert investigator as part of a deal to avoid being prosecuted himself.

Hatton says Haken‘s entry was “out of the blue”. Though useful, in the long term it had had a detrimental effect on the fight against corruption. Living in fear and watching his back, Haken had provided “the greatest disincentive for someone coming forward to finger corruption in the system”.

Malcolm Brown

i. ROBERT TAIT

Inspector Tait was a member stationed at Narrabri in 1996. Tait received a letter from the Royal Commission, which set out:

“This is to notify you that evidence will be adduced shortly from a witness who is to be called to give evidence before the Royal Commission into the NSW Police Service to the effect that you did fail to report or investigate complaints of criminal conduct.”

There is ample evidence to support the change in TAIT ‘s demeanour and behaviour following receipt of this letter. He was seen by the Police Psychologist and his own Doctor but on the 26-3-96 he shot himself in his office with his service revolver. He left a note clearly indicating how tortured he had become as a result of being named.

http://unionsafe.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/NileInquirySubmission.doc

Adam David BROOK

13/01/2014

Adam David BROOK

New South Wales Police Force

Son of Richard ‘Dick’ BROOK, NSWPF # 9570 ( R.I.P. )

Started at Goulburn Academy with Class 246 on 29 July 1990.

Attested with Class 246 on 25 January 1991.

Regd. # 28037

Rank: Constable

Stations: Corrimal ( 82 Division )( GDs ), Bulli ( 82 Division )( GDs ) – Death

Service: From 29 July 1990 to 28 February 1993 = 2+ years Service

Awards: Nil

Adam David BROOK 02 - NSWPF 28037 - Died 28 February 1993 — Adam David BROOK

Born: ? ? 1969

Died: Sunday 28 February 1993

Cause: Suicide – firearm – Service revolver

Event location: inside Bulli Police Station

Age: 24

Funeral date: ? March 1993

Funeral location: Wollongong Memorial Gardens, Berkeley Rd, Berkeley, NSW

Buried at: 1st Rose Garden 12, plot 398A

GPS: -34.4646973 150.8534931

http://austcemindex.com/inscription.php?id=1133597

Constable Brook died as a result of a self-inflicted bullet wound at the Bulli Police Station locker room on 30 April, 1993.

Adam is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance

Location of Event: [codepeople-post-map]

May you forever Rest In Peace

Adam David BROOK 01 - NSWPF 28037 - Died 28 February 1993 — Adam David BROOK

First published on 22 September 2013

Updated 19 March 2026

Juan Carlos HERNANDEZ

13/01/2014

Juan Carlos HERNANDEZ

AKA CARL, CARLOS, BOMBHEAD & ROCKY

Late of ?

NSW Goulburn Academy Class # 226

New South Wales Police Force

Probationary Constable # 98201

Regd. # 23642

Uniform # 1583

Rank: Commenced Training at the Goulburn Police Academy on 18 February 1987

Probationary Constable – appointed 15 May 1987

Constable – appointed 15 May 1988

Constable 1st Class – appointed

Final Rank = Constable 1st Class

Stations: ?, Paddington ( 10 Division ), State Protection Group Sydney ( SPG ) – Death

Service: From 18 February 1987 to 1 December 1992 = 5+ years Service

Awards: No find on It’s An Honour

Born: 28 July 1959

Died on: Tuesday 1 December 1992 @ St Vincent’s Hospital, Darlinghurst

Age: 33 years, 4 months, 3 days

Cause: Accidentally Shot at Redfern SPG

Event location: Redfern Police Academy

Event date: Tuesday 1 December 1992

Funeral date: 4 December 1992

Funeral location: ?

Wake location: ?

Funeral Parlour: ?

Buried at: Cremated. Ashes collected. Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park, Matraville

Memorial located at: ?

CARL IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance

Funeral location: TBA

FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

In 1992 Constable Hernandez was a member of the State Protection Group and a qualified firearms instructor. He was accidentally shot in the chest while testing police in their annual firearms proficiency tests at the Redfern Police Complex. Following emergency surgery Constable Hernandez died at St Vincent’s Hospital, Darlinghurst the same day as the accident.

The constable was born in 1959 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 18 February, 1987. At the time of his death he was attached to the State Protection Group.

Touch Plate at the National Police Wall of Remembrance, Canberra - HERNANDEZ — Touch Plate at the National Police Wall of Remembrance, Canberra

Kelvin Harband‎NSW Fallen Police New Member · 13 hrs · Juan Hernandez was accidentally shot in the chest while doing firearms training as an Instructor at the Redfern Police Academy on 1 December 1992. Emergency surgery was unable to save his life and he passed on that same day. Juan and I went through the Academy together in 1987 and he will always be remembered and a great bloke whose life was cut way to short by the tragic accident. Juan is in the middle squatting down in this photo which was taken on the day of our attestation. — **Photo credit: Kelvin Harband**‎ NSW Fallen Police New Member · **Juan Hernande**z was accidentally shot in the chest while doing firearms training as an Instructor at the Redfern Police Academy on 1 December 1992. Emergency surgery was unable to save his life and he passed on that same day. Juan and I went through the Academy together in 1987 and he will always be remembered and a great bloke whose life was cut way to short by the tragic accident. Juan is in the middle squatting down in this photo which was taken on the day of our attestation ( 15 May 1987 ).

Carl is also credited with designing the TOU insignia – which was maintained in respect to his.

Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995),

Tuesday 1 December 1992, page 4

IN BRIEF

Policeman shot dead

SYDNEY: A police weapons training instructor was fatally wounded by another officer during a gun training session yesterday.

Constable Juan Carlos Hernandez, 33, an instructor with the elite State Protection Group, died in hospital several hours after being shot in the chest at the old Police Academy at Redfern.

Constable Hernandez was supervising about 15 officers at a training session when a .38 calibre police-issue revolver discharged, wounding him in the chest.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126959025

[blockquote]

Carl.

Juan Carlos Hernandez,
Carl was how I knew you,
I will never forget,
What you helped me through.

To walk into a room,
When I was very young,
My first days in the job,
To see death, just wrong.

I was only 19 years old,
In the job for a few weeks,
In morbid fascination,
What no one really seeks.

I stood in disbelief,
Waiting for him to breath,
But he did not move,
It was hard for me to believe.

As we left the room,
You stopped me for a while,
And asked if I was ok,
Then you gave me a smile.

A smile because you knew,
It was not one of joy,
To tell me it would be ok,
I was no longer just a boy.

Death I had just seen,
Even if for the first time,
With the strength you showed me,
I would be just fine.

In shock a few years later,
I heard you had been lost,
In a twisted circumstance,
Your family paid the cost.

You were loyal to the end,
That is what I heard,
You were the ultimate Man,
So to deny your last words, absurd.

You died loving what you did,
A Policeman you will always be,
Did not matter your end,
You are now free.

I can’t believe,
It’s over 20 years,
Since I sat with you,
Had a few beers.

For years you have rested,
In the ultimate peace,
Having died in the line of duty,
But your memory does not cease.

You will never be forgotten,
Not while I still stand,
I will never ever forget,
When as a 19 year old you held my hand.

Thank you
Brother in Blue.

Died in the line of duty
1st December 1992.

[/blockquote]

Penned by Brendo Greysie ( 2014 )

Police Attestation Ceremony

Speakers	Cusack The Hon Catherine; Gallacher The Hon Michael
Business	Questions Without Notice, QWN

POLICE ATTESTATION CEREMONY

Page: 22733

The Hon. CATHERINE CUSACK: My question is addressed to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Will the Minister inform the House about the newest recruits to the New South Wales Police Force?

The Hon. MICHAEL GALLACHER: I thank the honourable member for her question. Last Friday, 23 August 2013, it was my great pleasure to attend the attestation ceremony for class 319 at the Goulburn Police Academy. I assure members that the calibre of probationary constables coming through the doors of the academy to pursue challenging and rewarding careers as police officers in this State remains very high indeed. They passed the stringent physical and academic tests, and have demonstrated the commitment and character befitting their new role. These qualities were no more visible than when the commissioner’s valour award was presented to Senior Constable Justin Knight on the parade ground last Friday. The award was conferred for conspicuous merit and exceptional bravery when an offender armed with a sawn-off rifle fired at Senior Constable Knight with intent to murder on 20 January 2007 at Eveleigh Street, Redfern—the Block.

In the course of pursuing a suspect, Constable Knight alighted from his vehicle and pursued an offender on foot, calling for him to stop. The offender produced a sawn-off rifle and, despite the risk, Constable Knight continued to follow him. The offender fired a number of shots at Constable Knight, narrowly missing him. The constable felt one of the projectiles go past his arm and thought that he had been shot. Being aware of the sensitivity of the local community towards police and despite the escalated danger, Constable Knight did not respond by firing his service firearm. The offender fled the scene, but was later identified and charged with attempted murder of a police officer. The offender was subsequently convicted.

I ask members to reflect on those circumstances and whether we would have acted with the same level of commitment, bravery and judgement as Constable Knight on that occasion. Too often the community reacts to instances where police officers have been accused of wrongdoing, but the events of that night in 2007 remind us of the challenges and risks faced by officers of the NSW Police Force, in this case potentially quite deadly. I am confident that Senior Constable Knight’s example will flow through to the 161 probationary constables who attested and have joined a force with record authorised strength in this State.

A number of the new police officers deserve special mention. The winner of the Robert Brotherson award for the highest level of academic achievement was Probationary Constable Natalie Martin. The winners of the Steven Roser memorial award for the highest male and female achievers in physical training were Probationary Constable Mitchell Thompson and Probationary Constable Guilhermina El-Mir. The Juan Carlos Hernandez award, given to the student with the highest marksmanship score, went to probationary constables David Edwards, Anton Sahyoun and Shanahan Toering—all three tied for that award. Probationary Constable Toering also received the award for the highest achiever in the Simulated Policing Acquiring Competence program.

One of the many proud parents at the attestation was Detective Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis, whose son Daniel is now a probationary constable and commences his career at City Central Local Area Command. It was terrific to see 23 members of the attestation of class 319 identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, of which 16 were graduates of the Indigenous Police Recruiting Our Way [IPROWD] program that I have spoken about in this forum. Congratulations to them. I had the pleasure of witnessing the graduation of 13 dog teams from the State Protection Group Dog Unit. Some were general purpose dogs and others, obviously, were sniffer dogs. That is good news for Byron Bay and its former mayor, the Hon. Jan Barham. The attestation parades provide an opportunity— [Time expired.]

The Hon. CATHERINE CUSACK: I ask a supplementary question. Will the Minister elucidate his answer?

The Hon. MICHAEL GALLACHER: I pay respect to the following five officers who retired from the NSW Police Force, taking with them collectively 190-plus years: Superintendent Ben Feszczuk, Detective Superintendent Col Dyson, APM, Superintendent Ray Filewood, Detective Inspector Dennis Clarke, APM, and Inspector Leslie Dickens. All five officers led the parade on Friday. It was an incredibly proud moment for them, their families and the communities they have represented in just short of 200 years of policing. As I said to the graduating class, “If you want to look for role models, look at these five as a classic example of what you can give back to a community that will give you so much more.”

https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LC20130827015

NSW Police Force Newly Attested Officers

Speakers	Cusack The Hon Catherine; Gallacher The Hon Michael
Business	Questions Without Notice, QWN

NSW POLICE FORCE NEWLY ATTESTED OFFICERS

Page: 20006

The Hon. CATHERINE CUSACK: My question is addressed to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Will the Minister inform the House about the newest recruits to the NSW Police Force? The Hon. MICHAEL GALLACHER: On 3 May it was a great pleasure to attend the attestation ceremony for class 318 at the Goulburn Police Academy, and I can assure the House that the calibre of probationary constables coming through the academy to pursue a challenging and rewarding career as a New South Wales police officer remains high. All attesting officers have made it through physical and academic tests, and, most importantly, they have demonstrated the commitment and character of people prepared to ensure the safety and security of the community they will serve. The 202 probationary constables who attested have joined a police force now boasting a record authorised strength of 16,176. As members opposite know full well, we have been increasing the authorised strength of the NSW Police Force since we took office. After the further increase this month of 80 positions from the May class, we have boosted the authorised strength by 370, and we are on our way to increasing the force by a total of 859 positions, to a record authorised strength of 16,665 officers in August 2015. This month 50 additional positions were added to the Police Transport Command, bringing its authorised strength to 401. We have also added 30 positions to the authorised strength of the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, bringing it to 1,295. That makes an increase of 50 new authorised positions to this command, and that is halfway to our commitment to increase the strength of the command by 100. While another 202 probationary constables have been drawn to this career, I am equally pleased with how many officers stay in this exciting and rewarding profession. Indeed, there is such demand for a career in policing that the NSW Police Force has implemented a freeze on new applications. Members opposite have mischievously tried to claim that this is a sign of cuts to the Police Force. That is as far from the truth as members opposite could possibly get. Thanks to the Government making the necessary reforms to the Death and Disability Scheme set up by members opposite and restoring the confidence of serving police officers by ensuring that they will have the back-up they need, I am advised that attrition within the Police Force is currently averaging about 40 officers a month, down from the average of 70 under the previous administration. Therefore, it stands to reason that if fewer officers are leaving the force, fewer replacements are needed. Under Labor, the NSW Police Force was faced with more than 800 officers on long-term sick leave and officers leaving the force at such a rate that police could not recruit fast enough to plug the holes. Placing a temporary freeze on new applications will ensure that potential applicants do not need to spend application fees, which easily total $500, including on such items as medical certificates, when there is a substantial wait before their application can be considered. We are getting on with the job of ensuring that the NSW Police Force is better resourced, better equipped and better supported than ever before. Members opposite are peddling misinformation and seeking to undermine the community’s confidence in a police force experiencing record numbers. A number of the new police officers deserve special mention. The winner of the Robert Brotherson Award for the highest level of academic achievement was Probationary Constable Thomas Stillwell. The winners of the Steven Roser Memorial Award for the highest male and female achievers in physical training were Probationary Constable Adam Splithof and Probationary Constable Caitlin Billingham. The Juan Carlos Hernandez Award, given to the student with the highest marksmanship score, went to Probationary Constable Matthew Skellern. [Time expired.]

The Hon. CATHERINE CUSACK: I ask a supplementary question. Will the Minister elucidate his answer?

The Hon. MICHAEL GALLACHER: I am sure that all members would like to hear about these outstanding young probationary constables, including Probationary Constable Nathan Dechaufepie, who was the recipient of the Simulated Policing Acquiring Confidence Award. These officers can be proud of their achievements. Their families can be proud of them and, most importantly, their communities are proud of them. I am sure that the House will join me in wishing our newest police officers all the very best for their careers in the NSW Police Force.

Speakers	MacDonald Mr Scot; Gallacher The Hon Michael
Business	Questions Without Notice, QWN

POLICE GRADUATIONS

Page: 416

The Hon. SCOT MacDONALD: My question is addressed to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Will the Minister inform the House of the results of the latest police attestation?

The Hon. MICHAEL GALLACHER: I apologise to the House for my inability to be here last Friday. I had a very important role to fulfil as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services at the graduation of class 312 at the Police Academy in Goulburn. It was my first in my new role as Minister for Police and Emergency Services. One of the first things I had an opportunity to announce down there was clarification of the uncertainty that exists around the name of the organisation.

The Hon. Duncan Gay: It was well received.

The Hon. MICHAEL GALLACHER: It was well received. It will now return to its former name of the New South Wales Police Academy, not the police college. That announcement was very well received by the sworn officers. The attestation certainly brought back memories of when I was in a similar position, standing on the parade ground at Redfern more than 30 years ago. Whilst a lot of things have changed in policing, a lot of things have not. Obviously the equipment, the cars and the uniform have changed, but certainly one thing that has not changed is the high calibre of probationary constables coming through the academy. They are required to pass through a tough course, both physically and academically, to prove they can cut the mustard as officers in the New South Wales Police Force. Who knows, even Eric Roozendaal might apply to join the New South Wales Police Force—although he may not pass the integrity test.

They are men and women who are prepared to do their best for the people of this State and who will undertake this job on a daily basis, often in the most difficult of circumstances. The 111 probationary constables who attested at the ceremony have joined more than 15,000 officers in the Police Force. They come from all walks of life. Over 22 per cent of those who attested are women. Forty per cent come from outside metropolitan Sydney. Sixteen were born overseas, in countries such as Russia, Germany, Malaysia, China and even Botswana. They speak Arabic, Greek, Cantonese, Armenian, Dari, and Khmer. They will be posted to 59 local area commands across the State, from Albury in the south, to Richmond in the north, from Barrier in the west to the heart of Sydney. Forty-four of the officers have been assigned to non-metropolitan or rural regions.

Irrespective of where they have been posted they are on the front line. They stand between the community and the dangers of crime and other antisocial behaviour. A number of these new police officers deserve special mention. Firstly, the winner of the Robert Brotherson Award for the highest level of academic achievement was Probationary Constable Stephanie Hill. The winners of the Steven Roser Memorial Award for the highest male and female achievers in physical training were Probationary Constable John Feuerstein and Probationary Constable Sandra Chaban. The Juan Carlos Hernandez Award, given to the student with the highest marksmanship score, was Probationary Constable James Patrick. Probationary Constable Jessica Agland was the recipient of the Simulated Policing Acquiring Confidence Award.

I met some of the officers on Friday and I can confidently say that the New South Wales Police Force has a strong future. These officers can be proud of their achievements. Their family and friends can be proud of them for all the hard work they have put in to get there. The people of New South Wales can be proud of these people for choosing a selfless profession, dedicating their working lives to ensuring the safety and protection of the community. I am sure all members of the House will join me in wishing our newest police officers all the very best for their careers in the New South Wales Police Force.

https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LC20110509023?open&refNavID=HA8_1

Peter TICKLE

13/01/2014

Peter TICKLE

aka Ticko

NSW Police Force

Regd. # ?

Rank: Senior Constable

Stations: Tactical Response Group

Awards: ?

Service: From 26 June 1978 to 17 December 1990 = 12+ years Service

Born: 1954

Died: 17 December 1990

Age: 35 – 36

Cause: Illness – Suicide – firearm

Location of event: ?

Funeral date: ?

Funeral location: ?

Grave location: ?

CANBERRA - NATIONAL POLICE WALL OF REMEMBRANCE TOUCH PLATE. NSWPF SUICIDE THAT " IS " MENTIONED ON THE POLICE WALL OF REMEMBRANCE. — CANBERRA – NATIONAL POLICE WALL OF REMEMBRANCE TOUCH PLATE.
NSWPF SUICIDE THAT ” IS ” MENTIONED ON THE POLICE WALL OF REMEMBRANCE.

[alert_green]Peter IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_green]

Constable Tickle was a member of the Police Tactical Response Group and following a barrage of ill-informed and inaccurate media attacks on the squad he tragically took his own life on 17 December, 1990.

The constable was born in 1954 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 26 June, 1978. At the time of his death he was attached to the Tactical Response Group.

Full name is ‘possibly‘ Peter WAYNE Tickle.

There are many on this site that served with SenCon Peter Tickle in the TRG. Peter was an excellent copper who was totally dedicated to the job and his workmates. I can’t even begin to count the number of times he went through doors with a shotgun in his hands or was involved in riots at Bathurst, our States Gaols etc. He was one of the bravest coppers I ever worked with and you could always count on him having your back no matter what the odds. It was because of this dedication to his mates that drove him to suicide. TRG were under heavy pressure from Pollies, The Bosses and the Media after the Darren Brennan shooting. Peter was asked to attend a school to show the kids some Police equipment. ONE parent complained to the Media that he had allowed ‘innocent’ little children to play with a fully loaded shotgun (the shotgun was innocuous and unloaded) but the Media had a field day. Peter came under extreme pressure from management and felt that he had brought more pressure on the Group and had seriously let his workmates down. He believed that because of this TRG would be disbanded. His dedication to his mates and the Group was overwhelming and he took his own life. Does the act of doing this wipe out all the brave and excellent work he did as a copper ? Does his service and dedication deserve to be commemorated ? I believe it does.

Friday 21 August 2015 – Barry Lewis

Stephen John LEACH