Daniel Bernard MARKHAM
Daniel Bernard MARKHAM
Late of ‘ Myall ‘, 22 Carey street, Marrickville
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # ????
Rank: Sergeant
Stations: Nth Sydney, Traffic Dept, No. 4 Division, Clarence St, No. 4 Division ( Traffic Sgt )
Service: From ? ? 1907 to 19 February 1934 = 27+ years Service
Awards: ?
Born: ? ? 1884 to Martin & Julia at West Maitland NSWBDM 24190/1884
Died on: 19 February 1934
Cause: Suicide by pistol stemming from a Nervous Illness
Event location: Erskinville Street Police Station
Age: 48
Funeral date: Monday 22 February 1934 @ 1.30pm
Funeral location: St. Brigid’s Church, Marrickville
Buried at: Woronora Cemetery,
Roman Catholic Monumental: Section 2, position 0680
DANIEL is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance *NEED MORE INFO
Barrier Miner ( Broken Hill )
Saturday 20 January 1934 page 8 of 12
SYDNEY, : Saturday. – Sergeant Daniel Markham (48), of Marrickville, was found fatally wounded yesterday in a telephone box in Erskineville street Police Station. A revolver, one chamber of which had been discharged, was beside him. He had recently suffered a severe illness.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/49496616
Northern Star ( Lismore )
Saturday 20 January 1934 page 7 of 14
Police Sergeant’s Death
SYDNEY, Friday.
Hearing a report of firearms at Erskine-street lock-up to-night a constable rushed to the front of the building where he found Sergeant Daniel Markham fatally shot through the head. The officer, who was 48, had been in ill-health for a number of years.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/94557571
The Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday 20 January 1934 page 14 of 26
MARKHAM. – The Relatives and Friends of the late DANIEL BERNARD MARKHAM ( Sergeant of Police ) are kindly invited to attend his Funeral leaving his late residence Myall, 22 Carey street, Marrickville, Next MONDAY AFTERNOON, at 1.30 o’clock, for Catholic Cemetery Woronora. W. N. Bull, Ltd., Funeral Directors.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/17041590
News ( Adelaide )
Saturday 20 January 1934 page 1 of 8
LOYAL TO SERVICE TO THE LAST
SYDNEY. Saturday.- Sgt. Daniel Markham, aged 48, who was found fatally shot in the Erskine Street Police Station yesterday was loyal to his service to the last. Because of a nervous illness the Commissioner of Police (Mr Childs) and the Metropolitan Superintendent (Mr MacKay) frequently suggested that he refrain from duty, but he refused.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/128834363
The Sydney Morning Herald
Monday 22 January 1934 page 7 of 16
MARKHAM.-The Relatives and Friends of Mrs. EDITH MARKHAM and FAMILY are kindly Invited to attend the Funeral of her late beloved HUSBAND and their dear FATHER, Daniel Bernard; to leave his late residence, Myall. Carey-street, Marrickville, THIS (Monday) AFTERNOON, at 1.45 o’clock, for the Catholic Cemetery, Woronora. A train leaving Tempe Station at 2.24 p m. will arrive at Sutherland at 2.55 p m.
W. N. BULL, LTD.,
Funeral Directors,
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/17042105
Clifford Samuel FOSTER
Clifford Samuel FOSTER
Commonwealth Police / Australian Federal Police Force
Detective Sergeant
Regd. # ?
Stations: ?
Awards: ?
Died: December 2001
Cause: Suicide – Hanging
Funeral: ?
CORRUPT
How elite agents went off the rails
June 22, 2008
Page 1 of 2 | Single page
Michael Anthony Wallace – convicted of stealing $20 million worth of seized heroin in 1990 and then of murdering girlfriend Zoe Zou and dumping her body in the Blue Mountains in 2006 – was one.
Another was Allan Gregory McLean, sentenced to 16 years’ jail for helping import millions in heroin from India hidden inside a consignment of soccer balls in 1988.
Others were named at the NSW Wood Royal Commission over filching $200,000 from a Sydney cocaine dealer in 1983.
But with authorities infatuated with rogue NSW cop Roger Rogerson, some of the officers went bad and started trafficking drugs, taking bribes and ripping off crooks.
Ensconced on the lower floors of the TNT block, the unit was run for a time by chief inspector Cliff Foster, who committed suicide after a battle with depression in 2001.
It can now be revealed he had been under investigation for supplying heroin and was linked to an organised crime syndicate shipping huge amounts of hashish into Australia from New Zealand.
In the days after charges were laid against Standen, AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty was forced to deny claims that he and Standen worked side by side at Redfern and were once daily jogging partners.
Standen, who left the AFP to join the Crime Commission in 1996, is now accused of trying to smuggle in by sea enough pseudoephedrine to make $120 million worth of ice. He is due to face court again on August 6.
Mr Keelty said he and Standen had only ever been stationed together at the AFP‘s Sydney city headquarters in Goulburn Street.
They “might have been involved in some of the same operations” but were not close.
Mr Cooper said his investigation into the Foster allegations was taken from him and deliberately derailed to avoid a public scandal.
He was denied permission to use phone taps and several witnesses against Foster were kidnapped and threatened by other corrupt federal detectives.
Wayne Sievers, who worked at the Redfern towers between 1983 and 1988, likened the experience to “living inside a grubby episode of Miami Vice”.
“You were looking at a group, some of whom were simply cowboys with huge egos, who were allowed to drive around town in fast cars with guns, doing whatever they wanted.”
Mr Sievers said the same day he reported being offered payola by a more senior officer he was transferred to non-operational duties.
Following a raft of AFP corruption claims at the Wood Royal Commission, a federal inquiry chaired by Sydney barrister Ian Harrison was set up in 1996-97.
Mr Cooper gave evidence but has since criticised the proceedings.
No public hearings were held and all findings were classified. Dr Kennedy and Mr Sievers also testified but believe little was achieved.
All three have called for the inquiry report to be opened.
Last week, NSW Supreme Court judge Harrison said it would be inappropriate for him to comment.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/102016793
John ELSEY
John ELSEY
Victorian ( Melbourne ) Police Force
Regd. # ?
Rank: ( 1 ) Sergeant, ( 2 ) ex-Detective Constable
Stations: ?
Service: From ? 1852 to ?
Awards: ?
Born: ?
Died on: 15 August 1856
Cause: Suicide – slit own throat
Location: Galway Arms Hotel, Melbourne
Age: about 30 ?
Funeral date: ?
Funeral location: ?
Buried at: ?
[alert_yellow]JOHN is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_yellow] *NEED MORE INFO
The Argus ( Melbourne ) Saturday 16 August 1856 page 5 of 8
DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.
SUICIDE OF AN EX- DETECTIVE OFFICER
Early yesterday morning it was discovered that John Elsey, late of the detective force of this city, had committed suicide by cutting his throat. The deceased was lodging in the Galway Arms Hotel, in Flinders-lane, and on his not making his customary appearance at breakfast, some person went to his room, and found the unfortunate man lying on his face on the floor, with his throat cut, and quite dead.
The deceased was about thirty years of age, a married man, and a native of Kentucky. Some time ago he left his wife behind him at Castlemaine, and went home to America. On his return, it appeared that she had formed an acquaintance with another man, by whom, it is alleged, she had two children.
Elsey obtained a situation in the detective force but was soon after summoned to Castlemaine to provide his wife with a maintenance, and the Bench made an order of £1 per week. This award the deceased was dissatisfied with, and as Mr. Smith, the late superintendent of the detective force, wished, to keep back from his salary the amount awarded by the Bench to his wife, the deceased left the force. This happened about a month ago.
Since that time Elsey appears to have been harassed by applications on the part of the man who is living with his wife for the award of the Castlemaine Bench for her maintenance, and the deceased had since given way to dissipation, and formed acquaintances with disreputable women. His health appears to have broken down, and those circumstances together are supposed to have led to the committal of the rash act.
An inquest will be held over the body this morning.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/7134976
Empire ( Sydney ) Friday 22 August 1856 page 6 of 8
The following extraordinary case of suicide by a detective officer is from the “Herald ” of the 10th instant : —
” Yesterday, Dr. Wilmot, City Coroner, held an inquest at the Galway Hotel, Flinders-lane east, on the body of John Elsey, who was found dead in his room with his throat cut that morning. The deceased had been a well-conducted member of the detective force, and the circumstances which led him to commit suicide were of a very painful nature, as will be seen from the following evidence given at the inquest :– Abraham Fenton, sergeant of police, said that he knew the deceased as belonging to the detective force, and hearing yesterday morning that he had committed suicide, he went immediately to the Galway Hotel, and found him lying on his face on the floor of the room, with a razor in his right hand, which was underneath the throat. On the dressing table there was a bottle labelled “laudanum,” and in his trunk, amongst other documents, he found the following paper, in the handwriting of deceased : —
[blockquote]
” Galway Hotel. August 11, 1856.
This is a correct statement of John Elsey. My name is John Elsey. I was born in the county of Norfolk, England. My people emigrated to the United States when I was only one year old. My mother died about six months after landing.
The first of my experience was working with a farmer for my board and clothes. At twelve years of age I went to drive on the Erie canal ; from that coasted out of New York till I came to this colony, which was in 1852. I came out as ordinary seaman in the brig Augustas ; I ran and left the ship three days after she arrived. I went to Gisborne and worked on the roads for two months, after which I went to Castlemaine, and joined the police.
I was promoted to sergeant, and made plenty of money, and on the 11th of February, 1855, commenced my troubles. I married a girl about sixteen years of age. She turned out very bad, so much so that I concluded to go home till she forgot. I went home, and was gone twelve months. When I arrived in this country again I joined the detective police. I had not been in them more than (?) before my wife summoned me to Castlemaine, and the bench of magistrates ordered me to pay the sum of 25s per week. I could not afford to pay the same. I went and saw the Chief Commissioner of Police, and he told me he would suspend me for the period of which I was gone to Castlemaine to find proof against my wife, and when I come back from Castlemaine he should immediately take me on again. When I came back from Castlemaine I went to him, and he told me he would take me on. After detaining my time for two weeks, he would not do it.
And now for that reason I am about to commit this : and may the great God cast a punishment on him that will make him feel that he has got this most abominable sin to answer for. I cannot do hard work, and there is nothing else left for me to do ; and before having to knock about the country like some, I will commit suicide.
Given under my hand this 14th day of August, 1856.
JOHN ELSEY.
14th August — I state that I owe nearly the sum of £3 for board which I wish to be awarded out of my effects.
JOHN ELSEY.
[/blockquote]
Patrick Kelly, landlord of the Galway Hotel, said that the deceased had been a lodger at his house for about three months, with the exception of a few weeks’ absence.
On his return to the house on the 31st of July, after being away for a few weeks, he observed a change in his appearance, and deceased told him that he had been unwell ever since he left his house, and was getting worse. He only complained of a cold, and about a week ago said that he had again joined the detective force, but had leave of absence for a week in order to get rid of his cold. The last time he saw him alive was on Thursday at mid-day, when he appeared the same as usual. One of the lodgers saying that he had knocked at the door of deceased without receiving any answer, he sent up to ascertain the fact, and subsequently forced open the door, when he saw deceased in the state in which he then lay. To his knowledge deceased was not addicted to drinking.
Patrick Boyle, teacher, had known the deceased for the last fortnight, and had opportunities of seeing a great deal of him. For the last eight or nine days he appeared very dejected in mind, and said that he was very unwell. For the last three days he could hardly go up and down stairs, and seemed to have lost the power of his limbs, and to have been very absent in mind. He had never seen him under the influence of liquor.
Henry White of the detective force, had known the deceased since March last, when he was in the detective force, and was a steady well conducted man. He resigned in June, and proceeded to Castlemaine, where he had been summoned by his wife for maintenance, and he was ordered to pay her a weekly allowance.
He felt greatly aggrieved at his wife living with another man. He then resigned the force, and had since been leading a very irregular life. The last time he saw him alive was on Monday, the 12th instant, when he seemed very low in spirits, and said he thought he should rejoin the force. He traced all his troubles to the conduct of his wife, which preyed heavily upon his mind.
The jury, by their verdict, found that John Elvey(sic) had died from a wound inflicted by his own hand by a certain razor across the throat, whilst in a state of temporary derangement.”
Gippsland Guardian ( Victoria )
Friday 29 August 1856 page 1 of 4
John Elsey, a native of Kentucky, and an ex-detective officer of the Melbourne Police, committed suicide by cutting his throat, on the 15th inst., in the Galway Arms Hotel, Melbourne, where he had been lodging.
[divider]
The Age ( Melbourne ) Thursday 17 April 1856 page 3 of 4
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.
The Assault on the Detectives. — George Pickering, the oyster-dealer, who, on Tuesday, created a serious disturbance in Little Bourke street, and was secured with great difficulty, made his appearance on Wednesday, with his head and face severely mauled and blood-stained.
On Detective Elsey’s announcing his authority to arrest him, he said that he never went without a fight for it, and immediately struck the detective a violent blow in the chest.
In self-defence he drew and wielded his neddy vigorously, and, besides contending with the prisoner, had to withstand the attacks of a whole host of pick pockets and oyster men, the friends of the prisoner. At last, by the aid of Detectives White and Randall, he was hauled off to the lock-up.
His wife, at whose instance he had been arrested, appeared against him.
She supports herself by washing, and on the present occasion had a considerable quantity of clothes in the house. Pickering, just out of gaol, went into the house, and after brutally ill-treating his wife, threw all the clothes out of the window into the street.
She has two children by the prisoner, who broke the leg of one of them in a fit of drunkenness, some time previous. The prisoner was sentenced to three months’ hard labor, and at the conclusion of that term he was ordered to find two sureties of £25 each, to keep the peace towards his wife for twelve months.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/154863101
Unknown Mounted Trooper
Unknown Mounted Trooper
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # ?
Rank: Mounted Trooper
Stations: ?
Service: From ? to ?
Awards: ?
Born: ?
Died on: ? June 1840
Cause: Suicide – firearm
Age: ?
Funeral date: ?
Funeral location: ?
Buried at: ?
[alert_yellow]? is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_yellow] *NEED MORE INFO
Unknown Mounted Police
Unknown Mounted Police
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # ?
Rank: Mounted Trooper
Stations: ?
Service: From ? to ?
Awards: ?
Born: ?
Died on: ? May 1833
Cause: ?
Age: ?
Funeral date: ?
Funeral location: ?
Buried at: ?
[alert_yellow]? is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_yellow] *NEED MORE INFO
John NORTON
John NORTON
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # ?
Rank: Constable
Stations: Lock Up Keeper, Hay, NSW
Service: From ? to 5 December 1860
Awards: ?
Born: ? 1825
Died on: 5 December 1860
Cause: Drowned
Age: 35
Funeral date: ?
Funeral location: ?
Buried at: Hay
JOHN is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance * NOT JOB RELATED
Inquest to look at police woman’s ‘affair’ with a senior officer
Inquest to look at police woman’s ‘affair’ with a senior officer
Taylor Auerbach
The Daily Telegraph
March 02, 2015
Top-ranking officer was married at the time of the affair
- Woman, 43, was seeing a psychiatrist before her death
- She left a husband, son and a daughter
- Friends of alleged romantic link describe him as loving family man
- Victim’s widower still works for NSW Police.
THE embattled upper echelon of the NSW Police Force will be rocked again today with the launch of an inquest into the suicide of a female officer who was believed to be having a romantic affair with one of state’s most senior officers.
It is understood the top-ranking officer was married at the time he conducted the affair with the woman, who was found dead in a garage two years ago.
The inquest’s revelations come hot on the heels of the civil war between senior officers over the bugging scandal that led to separate inquiries by state parliament and the ombudsman.
The fallen officer worked at a major NSW regional centre and it is understood she was seeing a psychiatrist at the time of her death.
She was described as being a hard worker by former colleagues and left behind a husband, a son and a daughter.
Whispers have been circulating among the brass for years that the 43-year-old was involved in a romantic relationship with one of the state’s most senior and popular officers before her death in the winter of 2013.
Sources who know the top-ranking official last night denied the allegation and described him as a decent and professional family man.
But The Daily Telegraph understands that the coronial investigation will examine text messages purportedly exchanged between the pair that suggest a romantic relationship. It is understood the female officer sent messages to the senior member of the NSW Police executive on the day she took her life.
There is no suggestion that the top-ranking officer engaged in any wrongdoing surrounding the woman’s death.
The officer’s widower still works for NSW Police.
He is well-respected and liked by the police executive and rank-and-file officers.
An extensive list of witnesses is to be called before the inquest, which will be headed by solicitors Kenneth Madden and Scarlet Reid.
The inquest into the death of the female police officer will begin today at Glebe coroner’s court before deputy coroner Paul MacMahon.
The hearings marks the latest in a string of dramas to plague the state’s constabulary as Premier Mike Baird delays naming a successor to current Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione.
The two deputy commissioners previously touted as Mr Scipione’s most likely replacements — Catherine Burn and Nick Kaldas — have been embroiled in an embarrassing bugging scandal in which wrongful surveillance was conducted on Deputy Commissioner Kaldas, who has recently returned to duty from sick leave.
Deputy Commissioner Burn, who ran Operation Mascot, denied instructing police to bug her rival.
Lauren Maree JOHNSTONE
Lauren Maree JOHNSTONE
NSW Goulburn Police Academy Class 272J
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 32346
Rank: Senior Constable
Stations: Flemington, Queanbeyan – Death
Service: From ? ? ? to 7 January 2015 = ? years Service
Awards: No find on It’s An Honour
Born: Friday 1 September 1967
Died on: Wednesday 7 January 2015 at home
Cause: Accidental Drug Overdose
Age: 47
Funeral date: Tuesday 20 January 2015 @ 11.30am
Funeral location: Norwoods, 65 Sandford St, Mitchell, ACT
Buried at: Cremated
Lauren is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance *NEED MORE INFO
A special young lady who was part of our Police “Family”. She had a good heart and was very special to many of us!
Rest in Peace Lauren Johnstone!
Accidental overdose leads to calls for changes to ACT’s prescription monitoring system
-
Daniella White
Lauren Johnstone was excited about the future: she had a new partner and was counting down the days until her daughter’s wedding.
A former police officer, she had long battled with post traumatic stress disorder but she seemed to be turning her life around.
She was still on a number of strong prescription medications but had an agreement with her GP, which she was following diligently.
On January 7, 2015, her daughter, Ariarne Bunyan came home from work to find her dead, just a day after being discharged from a cosmetic surgery clinic.
ACT Chief Coroner Lorraine Walker recently determined Ms Johnstone’s death was an accidental overdose as a result of taking her prescribed medication as instructed, and aggravated by over-the-counter medication her doctors were not aware of.
She recommended changes to the ACT’s recently introduced prescription monitoring system, DORA, which, even if it was operational in 2015, would not have raised any red flags for many of the drugs Ms Johnstone was taking.
Ms Johnstone’s daughters, Ms Bunyan and Tamara Farrell, say their mother’s death showed the at-times blasé approach to scheduled medications, including over-the-counter drugs.
Crucially, one of the drugs Ms Johnstone took that could have played a major part in her death was an easily acquired over-the-counter sleeping pill called restavit.
Her family doesn’t believe Ms Johnston would have had any idea of the risk she was taking by combining the drugs she did.
On January 5, 2015, Ms Johnstone was admitted to a clinic where she underwent a planned facial surgery.
She was discharged after one night and prescribed endone for pain.
On her request, she was also prescribed her regular medications: imovane, valdoxan, tramadol and valium.
While the doctor called Ms Johnstone’s regular GP to consult, he was advised her GP was on vacation.
His only warning to Ms Johnstone about the drugs was the risk of increased drowsiness as a result of combining the medications with endone.
At the time, and not known to her doctors, she had also obtained the over-the-counter sleeping pill doxylamine and codeine.
While the cause of her death was determined to be the combined effect of prescription and non-prescription medication, it was not possible to determine which drugs were more significant contributors to her death.
Her family believe Ms Johnstone should not have been prescribed the drugs after surgery and, considering her history and health, should not have been deemed fit for it. They also believe she was discharged too soon.
“People have to start taking all drugs more seriously, including over-the-counter medication,” Ms Bunyan said.
“Instead of the warnings being on a tiny pamphlet with the tiny spot down the bottom that no one reads, it should be in bright red on the packaging.
“You can just go to your doctor and ask for certain medications – a lot of the time they’ll just do it.”
The current DORA system – introduced earlier this year – covers strong opioids like oxycodone, but not drugs like diazepam.
As a result of Ms Johnstone’s death, the coroner recommended the ACT Health Minister declare tramadol, sleeping pill doxylamine and diazepam to be monitored drugs.
She also suggested widening the scope of monitored medicines to include all schedule 3 and 4 drugs, or, alternatively certain prescription and over-the-counter medications that may have significant sedating effects when taken in combination with opioids or benzodiazepines.
Other recommendations included the clinics altering pre-admission forms for patients to list all over-the-counter medications they were taking.
The family welcomed the coroner’s recommendations.
They said considering drugs like pseudoephedrine were monitored closely across the country, those much more dangerous to people should be as well.
Even though such a system would be too late to save their mother, they believe it would save many others.
Former health minister Meegan Fitzharris said the government was considering the recommendations and would formally respond.
“Prescription monitoring is a challenge faced by all states and territories and it is an area where the ACT government has continued to make progress,” she said.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6272710/how-an-over-the-counter-pill-may-have-contributed-to-canberra-womans-death/
Funeral location: [codepeople-post-map]
Shaun Desmond SCANLON
Shaun Desmond SCANLON
aka Scano
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 31???
Class 267 ( PREP ) at Goulburn Police Academy
Rank: Commenced Training at Goulburn Police Academy on Sunday 18 August 1996 ( aged 24 years, 5 months, 13 days )
Probationary Constable – appointed 14 February 1997 ( aged 24 years, 11 months, 9 days ))
Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Constable 1st Class – appointed ? ? ?
Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Final Rank: Senior Constable
Stations: Campbelltown, Campbelltown Transit Police, Talbingo – Lock Up Keeper
Service: From 18 August 1996 to ? 2005 – Resigned & joined NSW Fire Brigades
Awards: ?
Born: Sunday 5 March 1972
Died on: Tuesday 6 January 2015
Cause: Suicide – Albury – where he was stationed with Fire Brigades.
Age: 42 years, 10 months, 1 day
Funeral date: Friday 16 January 2015 @ 3pm
Funeral location: Sacred Heart Church, Beechworth Rd, Wodonga, Victoria
Dress request: Hawaiian shirt & thongs or Safari Suit from the 1980’s.
Buried at: Cremated at Glenmorus Gardens Albury
Shaun is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance *NEED MORE INFO
FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ON THIS MAN / INCIDENT.
**** NOTE: This is Shaun SCANLON – NOT Sean Scanlon who was attached to Liverpool area.
Shaun SCANLON left the New South Wales Police Force around 2005 and joined the New South Wales Fire Brigades – being stationed at Albury.
Shaun SCANLON
http://tributes.bordermail.com.au/obituaries/bordermail-au/obituary.aspx?pid=173872578
Passing of Shaun Scanlon
Tuesday, 13 January 2015
Passing of Shaun Scanlon – Albury Juniors.
SIRU Junior Rugby advises all clubs and players of the sudden passing of Shaun Scanlon from the Albury Junior Rugby Club. Shaun has been a coach and an active member of the Albury Junior Rugby Club and was the assistant coach of the SIRU Juniors under 13 side in 2014.
On behalf of the SIRU Seniors and Juniors Clubs we offer our deepest sympathy to Shaun’s family and the Albury Junior Rugby Club.
Tom Murphy
President Southern Inland Junior Rugby
http://alburyjuniors.rugbynet.com.au/default.asp?id=208253
The New Zealand Herald
Take care Kiwi!
From The Sunde family.
Heather Farrell
From a daughter to the Commissioner – why !
When depression and ” the job ” is obvious to the family.
A letter from a daughter to the Commissioner of Police.
8 years on and still ‘ no response ‘
Monday 21st August 2006
ATTN: Ken Maroney
Commissioner of Police
Sydney Police Centre
GPO Box 45
Sydney NSW 2000
Dear Ken,
It is with regret that I write this letter to you. A letter of this nature should not ever need to be written and the events that led to the writing of this letter should not have taken place.
I am writing to tell you about my father, James Breeze. My father is a Bravery Award winning Vietnam Veteran who joined the Police Force 25 years ago. Since joining dad has spent the full 25 years on the front line. During those 25 years he has added value to the NSW Police Force not just in his front line duties, but also as a Protocol Officer, a Gay Liaison Officer, an Aboriginal Liaison officer, a Leading Senior Const., training other officers and has also been a proactive and positive member of the NSW Police Force.
Dad is a leader among his pears, in the last 25 years I have been fortunate enough to meet some of dad’s peers and work mates and I am always so proud of my dad. Work mates and colleagues have so much respect for my dad and the contributions he has made but most importantly the support he has given them. His accolades include; a Good Conduct Medal, Long Service and the St John’s Life Saving Award (presented by you in 1994).
Also over the last 25 years, I have been less fortunate to see the effect my fathers chosen vocation has had on him as an individual. 25 years as a front line Police Officer has really taken its toll on my father. Growing up I began to be able to tell a good day from a ‘bad’ day. When I say bad; visiting an accident, witnessing family violence, violence on children, jumping in a car to hold someone’s body together, literally, while you wait for help to come, pulling the deceased from the wreck of car. Worst of all, pulling your deceased mate from a car wreck. For 5 years my dad ran a one man station at Barellan. Country life and people were fantastic, everyone knew everyone. No one preempted hard it would be to pull your dead mate from a car. I have heard my dad cry, I have seen his eyes when he comes home from a ‘bad’ day. I know there are things so horrible, that they are far beyond description. At times I have asked dad to share his load, and he has just looked at me and cried, he has said that there are people and things in this life worth not knowing.
The most recent of these ‘bad’ days, was in February when a young girl walked into Bowral Police Station and attempted suicide by Police. She held a gun up to my father and after time so did he. This was the event that changed my fathers life. My father is a broken man. Due to this recent event, my father has taken sick leave from work. His family and friends have grouped around him, each day is a challenge, and each day is hard. You see, the Police Force defines who my dad is, he loves his job, he lives and breathes the police force and now, he feels as though they have forgotten all the good he did, all the sacrifices he made.
Two days ago, a GSO (administration officer) called my father and told him that on his behalf, they have a medical discharge for him to sign! After 25 years of devoting your life to an organization regardless of whether they service the Australian community or not, you deserve more than a phone call telling you are no longer needed and that your condition is not being recognized. No one calling to sympathies, no superior calling to see ‘how you are’, no one calling to see what assistance they can lend you, what help they can give you after all the years of giving yourself to them. Talk about putting a nail in the coffin! What is the NSW Police Force trying to do to my father? Can you please tell whoever is making these decisions that I would like my dad at my wedding in November, and I would like him there for Xmas, and I would like him one day to meet his grand kids, but most of all, tell them I need him here, and I need him in my life. If you don’t help him and give him the assistance and respect he deserves, you will push him over the edge. I am outraged that my father has been treated like this, not only by an individual, but by the NSW Police Force.
If dad had of fallen pregnant, the Police Force would have issued him another shirt and given him all the necessary assistance and a new position.
Please give my father his dignity.
Ken, I would like to meet with you to discuss this further. I am really hoping with every bone in body that you are not aware of this treatment and that you can help me and my father.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Regards
Carolyn Breeze