Mark John BURNS
Mark John BURNS
AKA Mark BURNS, Burnsey, Burnsy
* Nickname: ?
Late of ?
Relations in ‘the job’ ?
“possible” relation in ‘the job‘: ?
NSW Police Training Centre – Redfern – Class # 177
New South Wales Police Force
ProCst # 94292
Regd. # 20008
Rank: Commenced Training at Redfern Police Academy on Monday 12 October 1981 ( aged 19 years, 1 months, 8 days )
Probationary Constable – appointed Friday 8 January 1982 ( aged 19 years, 4 months, 4 days )
Probationary Constable – appointed 8 January 1983
Detective – appointed ? ? ?
Constable 1st Class – appointed 8 January 1987
Final Rank: = Constable 1st Class
Stations: ?, State Drug Crime Commission ( forerunner to the current NSW Crime Commission ) – Death.
Service ( From Training Date ) period: From Monday 12 October 1981 to 17 March 1988 = 6 years, 5 months, 5 days Service
Time employed ( Paid ) with NSW Police: From: Monday 12 October 1981 to 17 March 1988 = 6 years, 5 months, 5 days Service
Time in Retirement from Police: 0 years, 0 months, 0 days
Age at Retirement / Leaving: = 25 years, 6 months, 13 days
Awards: No Find on the Australian Honours system
Born: Tuesday 4 September 1962 in Caringbah, NSW
Died on: Thursday 17 March 1988 during the a.m.
Age: 25 years, 6 months, 13 days
Organ Donor: Y / N / ?
Cause: MVA, Front passenger – On Duty – Non Urgent
Event location: Tamworth Hospital, Tamworth, NSW
Event / Diagnosis date: Wednesday 16 March 1988
Funeral date: ? ? ?
Funeral location: ?
LIVE STREAM ?
Wake location: ?
Wake date: ???
Funeral Parlour: ?
Buried at: Woronora Cemetery, Linden St, Sutherland, NSW
Grave Location: Section: RC Row: Plaque Lawn 2 Plot: 905
Grave GPS: ?, ?
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at:
August 2000: Overview of Liverpool ‘I’ District Bulls Police Rugby League
Football Club, later known as the Macarthur Bulls Police Rugby League
Football Club. Liverpool ‘I’ District Police Rugby League was an inaugural
member of the NSW Police Rugby League Competition formed in 1970.
The teams later competed annually for the ‘Fred Hanson Shield’ – he was
Police Commissioner 1972 to 1976. The team was co-ordinated from the Liverpool
Detectives Office by Detective Sergeants Leo Purcell, Jack Hilder and assisted by
Detective Senior Constable Pat Casey. Another local, Detective
Sergeant Frank Owens was a keen supporter of the Police Rugby
League, but sadly he suffered a heart attack and died whilst watching a
game at Moore Park, in May 1970. Liverpool Detectives decided to
donate a ‘Shield’ honouring Frank Owens, which they named the ‘Frank
Owens Memorial Best and Fairest Trophy’. Mrs Owens attended the Clubs presentation
nights for several years presenting the trophy in memory of her husband. Around 1975,
the Club was co-ordinated from Green Valley Police Station by Mel Clews, Fred Whitton,
Barry Ryan, Alan Stephens, Mick Rees, Colin Cameron and Stephen Reeves.
The ‘Frank Owens Shield‘ remained until 1989, when a new shield was struck honouring Constable
1/c. Mark Burns, a former player who was tragically killed in a motor vehicle collision,
whilst on duty.
The shield was donated by Stephen Reeves and named
the ‘Mark Shrimpy Burns Memorial Best and Fairest Shield‘ and was
presented until 2019.
In 2020 a new shield was struck and renamed the
‘Steve Reeves Best and Fairest Player Shield’. Bulls President, Ryan
Crossingham (Detective) and his committee met to rename this shield
and various names were put forward. In the end they selected the ‘Steve Reeves Best
and Fairest Player Shield ‘. The following criteria assisted in their decision. Stephen
Reeves was a Life Member, past President, player, captain, coach and representative
player who played for the Club between 1972 and 1988. Previously, Reeves was named
as a member of the Clubs greatest team.
Ref: Excerpt from the book Liverpool Police Time Line ( 1788 – 2022 ) page 1081 by Retired Insp. Joe Stanioch.
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( January 2026 )
MARK IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance
AKA Mark BURNS, Burnsey, Burnsy
Touch Plate at the National Police Remembrance Wall, Canberra
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/
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Australian Police YouTube Channel
On 16 March, 1988 Constable Zucchetti was driving along the Oxley Highway, Tamworth. Constable Burns was a passenger in the vehicle.
At the time both were attached to the State Drug Crime Commission and were engaged in an operation in the area.
While negotiating a right hand bend in the highway the vehicle crossed onto the incorrect side of the road and collided with a semi trailer.
Constable Zucchetti was killed instantly and Constable Burns died the following morning in the Tamworth District Hospital.
Constable Zucchetti was born in 1959 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 14 January, 1980. At the time of his death he was attached to the State Drug Crime Commission ( forerunner to the current NSW Crime Commission ).
Constable Burns was born in 1962 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 12 October, 1981. At the time of his death he was attached to the State Drug Crime Commission ( forerunner to the current NSW Crime Commission ).
Source: Beyond Courage ( Edition 4 ) by Retired NSWPF Sgt Danny Webster.
Constable 1st Class Mark Burns (1962 – 1988)
Constable’s 1st Class Mark Burns and Class Craig Zucchetti were attached to the State Drug Crime Commission (forerunner to the current NSW Crime Commission). Both officers had been selected to this branch because to their tenacity and proven investigation skills.
On Wednesday 16 March 1988, they were part of a large team of police who were performing surveillance duties on a major crime syndicate in the state’s north-west.
About midday Craig and Mark were travelling together in an unmarked police vehicle along the Oxley Highway just outside of Tamworth when they were involved in a head on crash with a truck.
Craig was killed instantly.
Following the arrival of emergency services Mark was taken to Tamworth District Hospital in a critical condition. He passed away from his injuries the following day without regaining consciousness.
So as to not compromise the investigation the officers had been working on, only very limited details of the crash was publicly released at the time.
Mark was also a sports enthusiast and had played representative football for the NSWPF.
At the time of their deaths the Police Commissioner at the time was quoted as saying, “Policing is a unique profession which places great demands upon those fortunate enough to heed its calling as a career. The very fact that two fine young officers lost their lives in the course of their duty serves as a poignant reminder of the inherent dangers which go hand in hand with police service.”
* Story behind any Nickname:
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.
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First published, on this site, on 5 January 2014.
Updated 2 January 2026 with photos, dates and calculations.
