John Benjamin HUTCHINS  

AKA John HUTCHINS, HUTCHO 

Late of  ?

NSW Redfern Police Academy Class #  130 

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. #  15193  

Rank:  Commenced Training at Redfern Police Academy on Monday 14 February 1972 ( aged 20 years, 2 months, 27 days )

Probationary Constable – appointed 27 March 1972 ( aged 20 years, 4 months, 9 days )  

Constable – appointed 27 March 1973  

Constable 1st Class – appointed 27 March 1977  

Detective – appointed ? ? ?

Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ? ( YES )  

Final Rank =  Senior Constable

Stations:  ?, Regents St Police Stn ( 2 Division ), Balmain ( 8 Division ), Five Dock ( 9 Division ), Police Communications Branch – VKG1 ( 20 Division ) – Death  

Service:  From 14 February1972   to 17 November 1983   =  11 years, 9 months, 3 days Service

Age at Retirement:  31 years, 11 months, 30 days

Time in Retirement:  0 years, 0 months, 0 days

Awards:  No Find on Australian Honours

Born: Sunday 18 November 1951 , Drummoyne, NSW

Died on:  Thursday 17 November 1983 ( 1 day before his 32nd birthday )  

Age:   31 years, 11 months, 30 days  

Cause:  MVA – Motor cycle Rider – ( proceeding to duty at VKG1 ) 

Event location:  ( Glebe Island Bridge ) Victoria Rd , Ryde, NSW

Event date:  Thursday 17 November 1983 

Funeral date:  ? ? ?

Funeral location:  Northern Suburbs Crematorium, 199 Delhi Rd, North Ryde, NSW  

Funeral Parlour: ?

Buried at: Cremated at Northern Suburbs Crematorium, 199 Delhi Rd, North Ryde, NSW, and Ashes collected by family.

Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at:  Sydney Wall for Police Remembrance, Canberra Wall of Remembrance  

Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( July 2020 )

JOHN IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance

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

About 12.25pm on 17 November, 1983 Senior Constable Hutchins was riding his motor cycle to work along Victoria Road, Ryde.

He failed to notice a vehicle that was stationary in front of him and collided with the rear of the vehicle.

Senior Constable Hutchins was conveyed to the Ryde Hospital where he was found to be dead on arrival.

The constable was born in 1951 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 14 February, 1972. At the time of his death he was attached to the Police Communications Branch.

Source:  Beyond Courage

Published 22 September 2013

Revisited and updated on 15 July 2025.

Mark Joseph KOHUTEK

AKA ?

Late of ?

Father to Nathan KOHUTEK # 46086

NSW Redfern Police Academy Class # 152

NSW Police Cadet # 3063

New South Wales Police Force

Uniform # 6668  

Regd. #  17394

Rank:  NSW Police Cadet – commenced 8 July 1974 ( aged 16 years, 7 months, 5 days )

Probationary Constable – appointed  3 October 1976 ( 18 years, 10 months, 0 days )  

Constable – appointed  3 October 1977

Constable 1st Class – appointed ?

Final Rank = Constable 1st Class

Stations: ?, Traffic Branch – Nth Sydney HWP – Death

Service: From   8 July 1974   to   4 March 1982 = 7 years, 7 months, 24 days Service

Age at Retirement / Leaving:  24 years, 3 months, 1 days

Time in Retirement:  0

Awards:  No Find on Australian Honours

Born:  Tuesday  3 December 1957 in Lambeth, England 

Died on:  Thursday  4 March 1982  about 5am

Age:  24 yrs  3 mths  1 day

Cause:  Injuries, MVA – Rider – Police Bike – wet weather

Event location:  Berowra Tollway, Mt White, NSW

( approx. 1km south of Mt White exit – south bound )

Event date:  Thursday  4 March 1982 about 5am

Funeral date: ? March 1982   

Funeral location: ?

Wake location: ?

Funeral Parlour: ?

Buried at:  Rookwood Cemetery, Lidcombe, NSW

Memorial Garden 10, Position 411

Memorial located at: ?

MARK IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance

exact Grave location: TBA

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

About 5am on 4 March, 1982 Constable Kohutek was riding a police solo motor cycle along the Berowra Tollway between Newcastle and Sydney on his journey to the Sydney Harbour Bridge for the ‘bridge lane change’ system. As he was negotiating a sweeping bend, in the rain, about a kilometre south of the Mt White exit the cycle crashed into a rock median strip. As a result Constable Kohutek sustained fatal head and internal injuries.

The constable was born in 1957 and joined the New South Wales Police Force as a cadet on 8 July, 1974. He was sworn in on 3 October, 1976. At the time of his death he was attached to the Traffic Branch, North Sydney ( under the Sydney Harbour Bridge ).

Approx. location of collision:  [codepeople-post-map]

                                                     NSW Police Cadets – Class 9, Phase III ( L – R )     Back Row: Phil VICKERY, Mick COWNIE, Walter KOENIG, Greg CALLANDER ( 17463 ), Glen MORRIS, Mike KNOWLES # 17558 ( R.I.P. ), Ivor PEDERSEN

Middle Row: Mark KOHUTEK # 17394 ( R.I.P. ), Trev WALTER # 17459, J. KIRK, Steve CORRY, Glen PORTCH, Colin BELL, R. GREEN

Front Row: Anthony TANOS, R. BROWN, Acting Sgt Len HARRIS ( Drill Instructor ), Sgt 2/c William ‘Bill’ COMAN ( Instructor ), Sgt 3/c Keith JOHNSON # 7887 ( R.I.P. ), Andrew MARRIOTT, Andrew WARDROP 

First Posted  22 September 2013

Updated 2 January 2025 with Class photo

Ronald James BURLEY

New South Wales Police Force

[alert_yellow]Regd. #  13096[/alert_yellow]

Rank: Probationary Constable – appointed 1 April 1968

Senior Constable – appointed 1 April 1977

Stations:  ?, Gosford STP ( early 1970’s ), Albury HWP, North Sydney Highway Patrol

Service:  From pre 1 April 1968   to  5 May 1980 = 12+ years Service

Awards:  No find on It’s an Honour

Born: 31 August 1946

Cause:  Motor vehicle accident – Police motor cycle rider

Event location:  Calga Expressway, Berowra

Age:  32

Funeral date:  ???

Funeral location:

Buried at:  Palmdale Memorial Park, 57 Palmdale Road, Ourimbah.

grave photo removed

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

About 3.10pm on 5 May, 1980 Senior Constable Burley was riding a police highway patrol motor cycle home at the completion of his rostered shift. As he was riding along the Calga Expressway at Berowra the stand on the constable’s motor cycle apparently became loose and struck the road surface. Unable to control the cycle Constable Burley was thrown to the roadway, sustaining severe head injuries. He died before the arrival of an ambulance.

The constable was born in 1946 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 1 April, 1968. At the time of his death he was attached to the North Sydney Highway Patrol.

 

Geoff Flood

I worked with Ron at Gosford way back in the early seventies. One story that sticks in my mind was my introduction to the old truckstop at Kangy Angy, near Ourimbah.

It was an absolute dump, but Ron convinced me to stop off for dinner one night. He knew the old woman that owned the place. He was that well known, that he didn’t bother going into the dining area, instead he took me out the back to the kitchen, to meet the old sheila, who also did the cooking.

He ordered us a couple of steaks with vegetables. I was extremely concerned about the state of the kitchen, as it was filthy, but what did it for me, was she used an old pair of stockings to use as a strainer for our veggies. ???????? RIP old mate.

Ian Strahan

RIP.

I remember being told that he had been caring for a young child and was going through the adoption process when the accident happened. It would be nice to know how that child fared in life afterwards.

Les Michael

RIP mate, remembered well from old STPPTB days under the bridge ( Sydney Harbour Bridge ), stood in many a parade with Ron, and shared a laugh or two, at the antics that went on there during the old days.

 

---

 

Kevin John COULSON

27/10/2012

 Kevin John COULSON

Late of  ?

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. #  ?????

Rank:  Constable 1st Class

Stations:  ?, Newcastle S.T.P. – Retired H.O.D.

Service:  From  10 August 1953  to  26 July 1964 =  10+ years Service

Awards:   No find on It’s An Honour

Born:   ? ? 1931

Died on:   2 February 1980 ( 20 years after MVA )

Age:  49 – 50

Cause:   Motor Vehicle Accident – Police Bike – Rider

Event location:   Newcastle

Event date:   Saturday  30 January 1960

Funeral date:   ? ? ?

Funeral location:   ?

Funeral Parlour: ?

Buried at:   Newcastle Memorial Park, Beresfield

 Memorial located at:   ?

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

  

---

 

 Funeral location:  TBA

 

---

 

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

 

---

 

On 30 January, 1960 Constable Coulson was riding a police solo motor cycle to Newcastle Police Station to commence his rostered shift.

En route the cycle was involved in a collision with another vehicle and the constable sustained serious injuries.

As a result he was discharged from the police force medically unfit.

During the next twenty years former Constable Coulson‘s health continued to deteriorate until he passed away on 2 February, 1980.

His death was a direct result of the injuries received in the collision in 1960.

 

The constable was born in 1931 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 10 August, 1953.

At the time of the accident he was a solo cyclist attached to the Special Traffic Patrol.

 

---

 

 

 

---

Robert Edward Michael LYNCH

27/10/2012

Robert Edward Michael LYNCH

AKA  BOBBY

Late of Palm Beach

NSW Police Cadet # 0891

New South Wales Police Force

Uniform # 534

[alert_yellow]Regd. #  7532[/alert_yellow]

Rank: NSW Police Cadet – commenced 23 October 1950

Probationary Constable – appointed 4 March 1953

Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed 1 April 1968

Final Rank = Sergeant

Stations: ?, North Sydney STP ( HWP ) – Death

Service: From 23 October 1950 to 22 March 1975 = 22+ years Service

Awards:  No find on It’s An Honour

Born:  4 March 1934 – Annandale, SW

Died on:  Saturday  22 March 1975

Age:  41

Cause: Motor Vehicle Accident – Police Motor cycle – Rider

Event location: Wakehurst Parkway

Event date:  22 March 1975

Funeral date:  Tuesday  25 March 1975 @ 1pm

Funeral location: Church of Our Lady of Dolour’s, Arthur St, Chatswood

Funeral Parlour: Thomas Dixon Pty Ltd, 249 Crown St, Darlinghurst

Buried at:  Cremated at Northern Suburbs Crematorium

Memorial:  Robert was a member of Whale Beach SLSC at the time and “The Big Swim” from Palm Beach to Whale Beach surf swim is named after him.

 

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

 

---

 

 

Funeral location: TBA

 

---

 

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

 

---

 

 

On 22 March, 1975 Sergeant Lynch was riding a police highway patrol solo motor cycle home at the completion of his shift. As he travelled along the Wakehurst Parkway he started to overtake another vehicle. The vehicle suddenly swerved to the right to avoid hitting a bandicoot and clipped Sergeant Lynch’s cycle. The cycle left the road and collided with a post. Sergeant Lynch was thrown off the cycle, sustaining severe injuries.

 

The sergeant was born in 1933 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 4 March, 1953. At the time of his death he was attached to the Highway Patrol.

 

---

 

 

Robert Edward Michael LYNCH ( although the M for Michael does NOT appear in the 1968 or 1969 Stud Books which is unusual ) was a Cadet # 0891 and joined the NSWPF Cadet system on the 23 October 1950. This would make Robert 16.5 years old when he joined the Cadets.

 

---

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

 

 

---

David Bruce REIHER

27/10/2012

David Bruce REIHER

Late of ?

 

NSW Police Academy – Redfern – Class 115

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. #  13232

 

Rank: Constable

 

Stations: Wollongong STP ( Special Traffic Patrol ) – death

 

Service: From 13 May 1968 to 21 December 1969 = 1.5 years Service

 

Awards: No find on It’s An Honour

 

Born: 27 June 1946

Died on: Sunday  21 December 1969

Age: 23

Cause: Motor Vehicle Accident – Police Bike – Rider

Event location: Princes Hwy, Figtree ( on the bends near Figtree Pub )

Event date: Sunday  21 December 1969

 

Funeral date: ? ? ?

Funeral location: ?

 

Funeral Parlour: ?

 

Buried at: ?

 

Memorial located at: ?

 

 

 

DAVID 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

---

May they forever Rest In Peace

---

 

On 21 December, 1969 Constable Reiher was riding a Police Special Traffic Patrol motor cycle on the Princes Highway at Figtree. It is thought that the constable was attempting to stop the driver of a station sedan for a traffic offence and as he overtook the vehicle his cycle flipped over. He was thrown into the path of a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction and killed instantly.

 

The constable was born in 1946 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 13 May, 1968. At the time of his death he was stationed at Wollongong.

---

 

January 9 2008 – 5:00PM

Wollongong police memorials

• ALEX ARNOLD

 

The NSW Police Force carries on its logo the phrase “Proud Traditions since 1862“, but capturing the history of these traditions at an operational level has never been a priority for the force.

However, almost 150 years after it was first formed, NSW Police – and Acting Southern Region Commander Gary Worboys in particular – is using history as a tool to instil pride in those wearing the uniform.

Three memorials for Wollongong police officers who died while serving the community were unveiled at Wollongong Police Station yesterday at a ceremony attended by family members and former colleagues of the deceased officers.

The memorials, located in the hallway of the detectives’ floor, feature images and biographies of the men as well as an account of the incidents that led to their deaths.

The memorial wall was Mr Worboys’ idea, with Senior Constable Dave Henderson given the task of completing the project.

Snr Const Henderson said the project had involved research through police archives, old copies of the Illawarra Mercury and interviews with family members.

Mr Worboys, who will return to his former role as Wollongong Local Area Commander at the end of the month, said he became inspired to record police history during his time as commander of the Goulburn LAC. It was there he heard about a policeman who’d been shot by bushranger Ben Hall’s gang at Collector.

Mr Worboys said research led to the discovery of the grave of the officer, Samuel Nelson, in a cemetery near the police station, but it was found to be an “absolute shambles“.

The grave was restored and distant family members invited to take part in a subsequent ceremony, proving to Mr Worboys the value of history to the police force.

“There is so much history associated with police stations, but as walls get painted and people move on we don’t capture that history.”

“The memorials and the stories they have attached to them provide officers with a link to the past and makes them realise they are not the only ones who have walked these corridors.”

Mr Worboys said the memorials not only represented distinguished service, but the trauma, grief and heartache suffered by families.

He said the last death of a Wollongong officer on duty was in 1969, and he hoped no more stories would be added to the wall: but the memorials were a reminder that policing was a dangerous occupation.

Among those at yesterday’s ceremony were Constable David Reiher‘s father Bruce ( RIP – Nov 2009 ), and Constable Ray Paff‘s widow Valerie, who described the memorial as “a wonderful tribute” to her late husband.

“It may have been a long time ago. But you never forget,” she said.

https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/602982/wollongong-police-memorials/

---

 

---

Warren Dennis BURNS

27/10/2012

Warren Dennis BURNS

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. # 13373

Rank:  Probationary Constable

Stations:  North Sydney

Service:  From  5 August 1968  to  30 October 1968

Awards:  ?

Born:  ? 1943

Died on:  30 October 1968

Cause:  Motor Vehicle Accident, Sutherland

Age:  25 years

Born:  1943

Funeral date:   ? November 1968

Funeral location:  ?

Buried at:  Grafton Cemetery, Armidale Rd, Braunstone, NSw

Clarence Lawn Cemetery, General, Section B, Lot 176

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

 

---

 

In the afternoon of 30 October, 1968 Constable Burns was undergoing police motor cycle training under the supervision of Constable Doaks in the Royal National Park, south of Sydney.

As Constable Burns followed Constable Doaks along Farnell Avenue his cycle skidded on the gravel shoulder of the roadway, struck a guidepost and then collided with a tree stump. Constable Burns was thrown from his cycle into a tree, sustaining fatal injuries. He died a short time later in the Sutherland District Hospital.

 

The constable was born in 1943 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 5 August, 1968. At the time of his death he was stationed at North Sydney.

 

  

---

 

Police think of mates, share stories at Remembrance Day service at Gymea on September 29

By Eva Tejszerski

Sept. 6, 2014, 7:20 a.m.

WHEN a few blokes gathered at Miranda RSL Club in the 1980s, little did they know their casual chats would become a bigger event of shared memories.

Now, many of those men who formed friendships in the line of duty will join forces again at their annual commemoration of retired police officers.

The south metropolitan associated branch of the Police Association of NSW, established a decade later, is hosting its annual service at St Catherine’s Catholic Church, Gymea, on September 29 — the same month as national police remembrance day.

Former police officers and the community will pay tribute to those killed on duty.

There will also be a eulogy for retired commander Henry (Harry) Brennan, of Caringbah, who died in June this year, at 86, after a 39-year career.

Mr Brennan cheated death when a shot was fired at him at point blank range. Luckily, the bullet missed.

For his bravery, he received the rare George Medal in 1956.

Probationary constable Warren Dennis Burns, 25, was killed in 1968 when his motorbike collided with a tree in the Royal National Park.

Former police officer Denis Robert Ware, 33, was shot and killed on duty at Sutherland in 1970.

The branch has grown to about 500 members — many of whom regularly meet for social events.

Former police officer John Prince, of Caringbah, organised the service.

“Once you retire, the rest of us stay mates . . . you rely on each other so much when you work together,” he said.

The public service is at 10.30am.

 

http://www.theleader.com.au/story/2534709/police-think-of-mates-share-stories-at-remembrance-day-service-at-gymea/

further reading:

https://www.australianpolice.com.au/woronora-cemetery-wall-of-remembrance/

 

 

 

---

 

---

Colin ROY

27/10/2012

Constable Colin ROY

Regd. # 11093

Constable

Age:  28

Motor Vehicle Accident

Kirrawee

12 May, 1967

 

Shortly before 9pm on 10 May, 1967 Constable Roy was riding a police solo motor cycle along the Princes Highway, Kirrawee, returning home at the completion of his rostered shift. At the time he was travelling behind a utility, the driver of which was looking for a service station. When the utility driver saw a service station on his right hand side he put his right indicator on. He then spotted a closer service station on his left. With his right indicator still on he turned left in front of Constable Roy who had begun to overtake on the near side. The utility struck the constable’s motor cycle, forcing it off the road and into a low brick wall at the front of the service station. As a result Constable Roy sustained severe head injuries and was conveyed to the Sutherland District Hospital where he died on 12 May, 1967.

 

The constable was born in 1938 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 17 August, 1964. At the time of his death he was stationed at North Sydney.

---

Geoffrey Joseph DALEY

27/10/2012

Probationary Constable Geoffrey Joseph DALEY

Motor Vehicle Accident

Vaucluse

27 December, 1966

 

On 27 December, 1966 Constable Daley was riding a police motor cycle in New South Head Road, Vaucluse and while attempting to negotiate a sharp bend the cycle skidded on a patch of new bitumen, crossed the roadway and clipped a motor cycle. Constable Daley’s cycle then hit another vehicle head-on and the constable was thrown under it, inflicting fatal injuries.

 

The constable was born in 1942 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 4 April, 1966.

---

Peter HARDACRE

27/10/2012

Peter HARDACRE

New South Wales Police Force

Constable

Motor Vehicle Accident

Kiama

21 October, 1962

 

About 3.50pm on 21 October, 1960 Constable Hardacre was riding a police motor cycle along the Princes Highway just south of Kiama. While negotiating a bend the cycle drifted onto the incorrect side of the roadway and collided head-on with another vehicle. The constable was killed instantly.

 

The constable was born in 1936 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 2 March, 1959. At the time of his death he was stationed at Kiama.

 

Police Cyclist Killed In Road Crash

SYDNEY, Sunday.— A young police motor-cyclist was killed to-day when he was involved in a head-on collision with a car near Kiama.

His death took the N.S.W. road toll for this year to 705.

He was one of the eight people who died on State roads at the week-end — three of them in country areas.

The policeman, Constable Peter Hardacre, 24, of Kiama police, was killed when his cycle and a car collided on the Princes Highway, five miles south of Kiama.

Constable Hardacre, who was single, had been stationed at Kiama for 18 months.

---

 

The Canberra Times  Monday  22 October 1962  Page 5 of 20

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/104298066?searchTerm=constable%20peter%20hardacre&searchLimits=#pstart11482604

 

No other information has been gleaned about this man via the internet – May 2014

---

 

 

Report of the Police Department for 1962    p 28

Constable Peter Hardacre. About 3.50 p.m. on the 21st October, 1962, Constable Hardacre was riding a Departmental solo motor cycle in a southerly direction on Princes Highway and when rounding a bend in the roadway about 4 miles south of Kiama the motor cycle ran on the incorrect side of the road and collided head on with a motor car. The Constable was thrown over the car to the roadway. He was conveyed to Kiama District Hospital where life was pronounced extinct.

https://www.opengov.nsw.gov.au/viewer/5bd39fe4c5d5023bb6400878543a3998.pdf

---