Craig Francis ZUCCHETTI
Craig Francis ZUCCHETTI
AKA CRAIG ZUCCHETTI, ZUKES, ZUKE
* Nickname: ?
Late of ?
Relations in ‘the job’ ?
“possible” relation in ‘the job‘: ?
NSW Police Training Centre – Redfern – Class # 166
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 19026
Rank: Commenced Training at Redfern Police Academy on Monday 14 January 1980 ( aged 20 years, 8 months, 18 days )
Probationary Constable – appointed Monday 31 March 1980 ( aged 20 years, 11 months, 4 days )
Constable – appointed 31 March 1981
Constable 1st Class – appointed 31 March 1985
Detective – appointed ? ? ?
Final Rank: = Constable 1st Class
Stations: ?, Inner City Cycles ( Sydney ), ?, Terrigal ( 30 Division ) HWP, ?, Gosford ( 30 Division )( HWP ), ?, State Drug Crime Commission – death.
Service ( From Training Date ) period: From 14 January 1980 to 16 March 1988 = 8 years, 2 months, 2 days Service
Time employed ( Paid ) with NSW Police: From: 14 January 1980 to 16 March 1988 = 8 years, 2 months, 2 days Service
Time in Retirement from Police: 0 years, 0 months, 0 days
Age at Retirement / Leaving: = 28 years, 10 months, 18 days
Awards: No Find on the Australian Honours system
8 Calais Rd Wamberal in 1986.
Born: Monday 27 April 1959 at Parramatta, NSW
Died on: Wednesday 16 March 1988 upon Oxley Hwy, Tamworth, NSW
Age: 28 years, 10 months, 18 days
Organ Donor: Y / N / ?
Cause: MVA – Driver – On Duty – Non Urgent
Event location: Oxley Hwy, Tamworth, NSW
Event / Diagnosis date: Wednesday 16 March 1988
Funeral date: ? ? ?
Funeral location: ?
LIVE STREAM ?
Wake location: ?
Wake date: ???
Funeral Parlour: ?
Buried at: Castlebrook Memorial Park, Rouse Hill, NSW
Grave Location: Section: Row: ? Plot: ?
Grave GPS: ?, ?
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( January 2026 )
Craig IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance
AKA CRAIG ZUCCHETTI, ZUKES, ZUKE
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/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/NSWFallenPolice/
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 Craig Zucchetti (1959 – 1988)
Constable’s 1st Class Craig Zucchetti and Mark Burns 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.
Prior to transferring to the State Drug Crime Commission, Craig and been attached to the Highway Patrol and had been a member of the NSWPF for eight years.
Outside of his policing duties he was highly active in the local community establishing a Community Watch program, a basketball club and engaged in fund raising for a beach patrol with his surf lifesaving club of which he was deeply involved in. Along with this Craig was also a keen surfer and rugby player.
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.”
Const 1/C Craig Zucchetti – NSW Police Public Site
* 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.
**********
Cal
First published on this site on 5 January 2014
Updated 1 January 2026 with further information and photos.