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.
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.
Ronald Noel ROE
| 27/10/2012
Ronald Noel ROE
AKA Johnny
Late of ?
NSW Police Academy – Redfern – Class # 121
New South Wales Police Force
[alert_yellow]Regd. # 13946[/alert_yellow]
Rank: Trainee – commenced Monday 27 October 1969
Probationary Constable – appointed 8 December 1969
Senior Constable Roe died at the Campbelltown Hospital on Christmas Day, 1987 as a result of myocardial infarction. His death was attributed to his stressful occupation carried out in busy centres over a period of almost twenty years.
The constable was born in 1945 and joined the New South Wales Police Force as a trainee on 27 October, 1969. At the time of his death he was stationed at Macquarie Fields.
[divider_dotted]
Humane Society of NSW – Bronze Medal
Senior Constable Ronald Noel Roe together with SenCon Barry Terence TRAYNOR # 14422 both received the Bronze Medal from the Royal Humane Society of NSW
Senior Constable Ronald Noel Roe was awarded a Bronze Medal for actions involving poisonous gases at Lightning Ridge on the 5th February 1978.
‘Johnnie’ ROE was a front row forward who played for Wentworthville Leagues Club.
[divider_dotted]
Paul Cole Wed 24 July 2019: A funny man John was. I remember hiding in the bush watching a Indian hemp plantation near Lightning Ridge with John, Detective Sergeant De Audney and Sergeant Dick Paul. The offenders came out and began watering the plants and John stood up and said, “ what are you doing here Brownie?” The offender said, “ We are looking for pigs. “ Quick as a flash John says, “ Well you just found f……g four of them. Your under arrest.”
Themelis Arthur MACAROUNAS
| 27/10/2012
Themelis Arthur MACAROUNAS
aka Tim MACAROUNAS
Maybe related to Lisa Macarounas – NSWPF # 44834
NSW Police Academy, Goulburn – Class # 225
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 23???
Rank: Commenced Training at Goulburn Police Academy on Monday 5 January 1987 ( aged 21 years, 11 months, 8 days )
Probationary Constable – appointed Friday 27 March 1987 ( 22 years, 1 month, 27 days )
.
Final Rank: Probationary Constable
.
Service: From 5 January 1987 to 20 October 1987 = 9 months, 15 days Service
Age at Leaving NSWPF: 22 years, 8 months, 22 days
Time in Retirement: Zero
.
Stations: Paddington – Death
Event date: Monday 12 October 1987 about 3.35am
Event location: Oxford St, near Oatley Rd, Paddington, NSW
.
Death date: Tuesday 20 October 1987 @ 4pm in St Vincent’s Hospital
Born: Thursday 28 January 1965
Age: 22 years, 8 months, 22 days
Cause of death: Motor vehicle collision – Pursuit – Driver
.
Funeral date: Friday 23 October 1987
Funeral location: ?
.
Buried at: Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park, 12 Military Rd, Matraville, NSW
Grave Location: General FM 32, G32, Plot 1435
GPS of Grave: ????????????
Probationary Constable Themelis Arthur (Tim) MACAROUNAS
Touch plate at the National Police Wall of Remembrance, Canberra
TIM IS Mentioned on the National Police Wall of Remembrance, Canberra
About 3.35am on 12 October, 1987 the constable was driving a police vehicle along Oxford Street, Paddington assisting a Rose Bay Police vehicle in the pursuit of a stolen car.
As the constable’s vehicle travelled around a sweeping left hand bend, the stolen vehicle, followed by the Rose Bay Police vehicle, was attempting a U turn at the intersection of Oatley Road.
Constable Macarounas applied the brakes however the wheels of his vehicle locked and the vehicle spun around before colliding with a light pole.
After being trapped in the damaged vehicle for about forty minutes, Constable Macarounas was conveyed to St Vincent’s Hospital suffering severe head, chest and internal injuries.
He died on 20 October, 1987 @ 4pm.
The constable was born in 1965 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 5 January, 1987. At the time of his death he was stationed at Paddington.
Source: Kevin BANISTER Inscription Themelis (Tim) Macarounas 28.1.1965 – 20.10.1987 Aged 22 Yrs 9 Mths. In Memory Of Our Beloved Son And Brother Who Passed Away On The 20th October 1987 As A Result Of Injuries Sustained In An Accident On the 12th October Whilst In Pursuit Of A Stolen Vehicle In Oxford St. Paddington. “We Miss You So Much” Dad & Mum Anthony & Christopher-Troy.
Deadly toll
By Jonathan Pearlman November 6, 2004
Alone in his patrol car, Chris Thornton had the police siren flashing as he chased a white sedan through Woy Woy.
Thornton, 35, a highway patrolman, had been in the force for 15 years. He was, his mother says, “the best driver I have ever seen”.
The reason for the chase that night in April 2002 is unknown. Both cars were seen travelling at high speed. Thornton was about 50 metres behind.
Meanwhile, Leonard Rowley, 56, an unlicensed driver, was driving to his local KFC to pick up dinner. He saw the first car flash past and judged – wrongly – that he had time to turn out in front of the patrol car. Thornton tried to avoid Rowley’s car but clipped the back, veered onto the wrong side of the road and hit a power pole.
Thornton died on the spot, which is marked by a permanent stainless-steel cross. Rowley later received a suspended two-year sentence.
“His life from the age of 12 was about helping people,” says Thornton’s mother, Freada Thornton. “He was in the surf club and he was there to rescue people and then he went into the force and he was doing the same thing.” His father, Barry Thornton, says: “He loved life. He had been in Gosford for 15 years and was so popular with the community there.”
Police pursuits are, says Barry, a necessary evil: “If they don’t catch the criminals there will be more deaths on the roads. The ones that they’re in pursuit of are the idiots that have done the wrong thing to start with.”
But pursuits have come at a cost to the NSW Police Department. Fifteen officers have died as a result of high-speed chases, beginning with the death of Constable George Boore in 1937.
Details provided by the NSW Police Association show a steady stream of fatalities involving cars and motorcycles. The full list of casualties is as follows:
Memorial type: Plaque inside of Frenchs Forest Police Stn
approximate location of grave:
[alert_green]Greg IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_green]
Shortly after 5.50pm on 21 June, 1987 Senior Constable Earle was riding a police motor cycle towards Palm Beach to assist in an urgent search for three missing lifesavers. While he was riding along The Strand at Dee Why the senior constable began to overtake a number of cars when the cycle hit a damaged part of the road surface causing the cycle to veer to the left where it hit a gravel patch. The cycle then cart-wheeled, throwing Senior Constable Earle into a parked car. He sustained severe head and internal injuries and was conveyed to the Mona Vale District Hospital where he was found to be dead on arrival.
The constable was born in 1948 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 28 June, 1971. At the time of his death he was attached to the Frenchs Forest Highway Patrol.
[divider_dotted]
Greg was travelling south through Dee Why on his way to Freshwater to meet, and escort, a surf rescue Jet Boat being towed, north, by road to launch from Palm Beach to join the search & rescue efforts for the missing Life Savers when this accident occurred.
But other sources say that they were NOT Surf Life Savers who were missing but two or three young blokes who were reported missing. Trouble was, that the blokes reportedly missing – had actually returned to shore, safe and well but had failed to tell anyone of their return – thus prompting a Search and Rescue effort.
Another recollection of the incident is that the two or three ‘lads’ had taken a rubber duck boat from Newport or Palm Beach surf club and were actually at the Arms Hotel, drinking whilst the Search and Rescue ( for them ) was initiated.
‘Earle of the Forest’ is was also locally renowned for having a moustache painted on the tank of his police motor cycle – to represent the handle bar moustache he sported on his face.
[divider_dotted]
The Canberra Times Monday 22 June 1987 p 3
Police death
SYDNEY: A police motorcyclist died in hospital after falling off his machine in Dee Why last night. An ambulance spokesman said the policeman, 38, had been escorting a police rescue vehicle.
Rank: Commenced Training at Goulburn Police Academy on 18 August 1986
Probationary Constable – appointed 7 November 1986
Final Rank: Probationary Constable
Stations: Pennant Hills October 1986 to 3 June 1987
Awards: Nil
Service:
From 18 August 1986to 3 June 1987 = 11 months
Born: ? ? 1966
Died: Wednesday 3 June 1987
Age: 20
Cause: Illness – Suicide by Service firearm
Location: at Lane Cover River Park, Lane Cove.
Funeral date: ?
Funeral location:
Eastwood
Grave Location:Cremated
Memorial plaque at Northern Suburbs Crematorium, Delhi Road, North Ryde, NSW
Niche: Row ‘TO’, plaque # 348
Touch plate at the National Police Wall of Remembrance, Canberra.
Andrew Thomas DIXON. Plaque condition as of 8/9/2020
ANDREW IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance
In April, 1987 Constable Dixonand other police attended a serious motor vehicle accident at Mt Colah. A person trapped in the vehicle became violent when released and Constable Dixon assisted in restraining him. During the struggle the constable was covered in a considerableamount of the injured person’s blood. It was later discovered that this person suffered from HIV/AIDS. Due to stress and concern over the disease, Constable Dixon drove to the Lane Cove River Park on 3 June, 1987 and committed suicide.
The constable was born in 1966 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 18 August, 1986. At the time of his death he was stationed at Pennant Hills.
From Kevin Banister – I remember this very well. I was working at Pennant Hills when Andrew arrived as a fresh faced Probationary Constable. He was a fine young man built like a brick s**thouse. When he was told that the accident victim had HIV/AIDS he began to withdraw very quickly. All at the station were concerned for his welfare and tried to help where possible.
On the afternoon of 3/06/87 Andrew had worked morning shift and I was on afternoon shift. At the hand over Andrew said goodbye with a smile on his face and went home, or so I thought. I was not aware that he was supposed to be attending the PMO (Police Medical Officer) for an appointment after work. I got a call from his mother just before sundown to say that Andrew had not come home and were concerned for his welfare. Pennant Hills was a Rescue Squad/General duties station at the time and I was the senior operator rostered on. I made a number of phone calls including to the Lane Cove station and Marrickville Rescue base. Not long after we received info that Andrew’s car had been located in a dead end street off Delhi Road beside the Lane Cove river.
As a result I and my offsider Bob Hanson attended in the Rescue vehicle. Numerous other Police vehicles arrived along with the Water Police. I organised a number of search parties and headed into the scrub towards the river. Reached the riverbank and saw that the Water Police had also began a search in the area we were in. Again, a short time later I and my offsider found the body of Andrew with his service revolver by his side. I indicated to the Water Police to come over (not using the radio) and told them that they were no longer required. The boat crew saluted and left the scene. A discrete message was sent to the command post as I knew that his parents were at the post and could hear the radio transmissions.
When we emerged from the bush with Andrew’s body many of the Police were in tears as he was a local boy and well known. His funeral was standing room only and the street blocked off for the overflow. During the period of the time of the accident and Andrew’s death he had a number of blood samples taken, but due to the technology of the time he was told that it could be some time before they knew if he had became infected. About a month after his death we were informed that he had not become infected. R.I.P. my friend.
Stewart COOK
| 27/10/2012
Stewart COOK
Late of Nelson Bay
Academy Class 110
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 12431
Rank: Probationary Constable – appointed 3 April 1967
Senior Constable – appointed 3 April 1976
Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed 1 January 1983
Sergeant 2nd Class – Death
Stations: ?, Newcastle ( Carrington 3 April 1976 – 5 January 1968 ), Hamilton ( 6 January 1968 – 25 February 1969 ),
Tarro ( 26 February 1969 – 14 April 1975 ), Beresfield ( 15 April 1975 – 2 June 1977 ), Berrima ( 3 June 1977 – 18 October 1982 ),
Bowral ( 19 October 1982 – 7 October 1986 ), Newcastle District Licencing ( 8 October 1986 – 7 May 1987 )
Service: From 20 February 1967to 7 May 1987= 19+years Service
Awards: National Medal – granted 22 April 1983 ( SenCon )
Born: Monday 9 January 1939
Died on: Thursday 7 May 1987
Age: 48 years, 3 months, 28 days
Cause: Motor Vehicle Accident – Driver – returning home from shift
Event location: Anna Bay, NSW
Event date: ?
Funeral date: possibly 14 May 1987
Funeral location: St Joseph’s Catholic Church, East Maitland
About 8.10pm on 7 May, 1987, Sergeant Cook was returning home to Nelson Bay at the end of his shift. As he was driving through Anna Bay his vehicle crossed to the incorrect side of the roadway and collided with an oncoming vehicle. He sustained severe head and internal injuries and died a short time later.
The sergeant was born in 1939 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 20 February, 1967. At the time of his death he was attached to the Newcastle District Licensing Section.
Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995),
Wednesday 21 June 1978, page 11
Rescue of chef in Berrima fire
BERRIMA: A motel chef spent 20 minutes trapped by fire on a ledge 15cm wide and 13 metres above the ground at Berrima on Monday night.
Mr Michael Birt, 62, the chef at the historic White Horse Inn, now a mote! and restaurant,found the stairs leading from his second-floor bedroom to safety were on fire.
He climbed through a window and on to the ledge outside his room to await rescue.
Senior Constable S. Cook and a bystander using an extension ladder they found nearby , rescued Mr Birt as the flames spread upward.
The fire broke out on the first floor of the 100-year-old brick building just after 9.30pm.
Mr Birt was the only occupant and was in his room when he smelt smoke and found his path to safety blocked by flames.
Rank: Commenced Training at Goulburn Police Academy on Monday 14 April 1986 ( aged 19 years, 3 months, 11 days )
Probationary Constable – Attested Friday 27 June 1986 ( aged 19 years, 5 months, 15 days )
Constable – No
Stations: Waverley – Death
Service: From14 April 1986to 17 April 1987 = 1 year, 3 days Service
Awards: No Find on Australian Honours system
Born: Thursday 12 January 1967
Died on: Friday 17 April 1987
Age: 20 years, 3 months, 5 days
Cause: Motor Vehicle Accident – Driver – On Duty going to work
Event location: Cnr Avoca & Darley Rd’s, Randwick
Funeral date:
Funeral location:
Buried at: Woronora Memorial Park, Linden St, Sutherland, NSW
Loc: General Plaque Lawn Sec: Wattle Lawn Lot: 5
Lat / Long: -34.03604, 151.04950
DANA IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance
On 17 April, 1987 Constable Heffernan was travelling to work at Waverley Police Station. At the intersection of Avoca Road and Darley Road, Randwick another vehicle drove through a red traffic light and collided with the constable’s vehicle. As a result Constable Heffernan suffered severe head and internal injuries and was found to be dead on arrival at the Prince of Wales Hospital. The driver of the offending vehicle was later charged with serious offences relating to the collision.
The constable was born in 1967 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 14 April, 1986. At the time of her death she was stationed at Waverley.
The parents of Dana are organising a memorial service for Dana at the Woronora Cemetery on Friday 19 July 2019 at 10.30 am.
They are calling on classmates from 219 (June 86) and workmates from Waverley who might be available, to join family and colleagues to remember this great young copper and mate, taken from us too early.
For unknown reasons, this Memorial Service has been cancelled.
On 23 February, 1987 Constable Postma completed his rostered shift and attended a club where he engaged in a physical fitness workout. Shortly afterwards he entered the bar area of the club and consumed a few glasses of orange juice. He then collapsed. Other police assisted Constable Postma until the arrival of an ambulance which conveyed him to the Canterbury District Hospital. He was found to be dead on arrival.
The constable was born in 1964 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 9 April, 1984. At the time of his death he was attached to the Ashfield Highway Patrol.
Warren Keith JAMES
| 27/10/2012
Warren Keith JAMES
New South Wales Police Force
[alert_yellow]Regd. # 16313[/alert_yellow]
Redfern Police Academy Class 139
Rank:
Probationary Constable – appointed 8 April 1974
Constable – appointed 8 April 1975
Senior Constable – death
Stations:
?, Murwillumbah, Tweed Heads
Service: Frompre February 1974 to 10 September 1986 = 12+ years Service
Awards:
No find on It’s An Honour
Born:
13 February 1952
Died on:
10 September 1986
Cause:
Motor Vehicle Accident – front seat passenger
Event location:
Tweed Heads
Age: 34
Funeral date:
12/09/1986
Funeral location:
St. James Anglican Church, Kingscliff
Buried at:
Cremated
Memorial location:
Tweed Heads Memorial Gardens and Crematorium – Peace Wall
Located in the station area of Tweed Heads Police Station.
Located in the station area of Murwillumbah Police Station.
[alert_green]Warren IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_green]
About 7.30pm on 10 September, 1986 Senior Constable James was a passenger in a police vehicle returning to Tweed Heads Police Station after attending Lismore Court, when the vehicle left the roadway and collided with a tree. The constable was killed instantly.
The constable was born in 1952 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 26 February, 1974. At the time of his death he was stationed at Tweed Heads.
[divider_dotted]
NSWBDM – Death Registration 107402/1986 Father = Keith Mother = Gloria
[divider_dotted]
TIMELINES The Quarterly Newsletter of Murwillumbah Historical Society Inc. April 2016 Vol. 4 No. 4
Murwillumbah Police Station
Thanks to Nick Gouliaev for another excellent installment in his series on our historic buildings. This is the final part (2) of the story of this Main Street icon.
The Police Station is in the Federation style, in complete architectural and visual harmony with the rest of the precinct; an architectural delight. The roof is high pitched with gable roof ends, framed and clad with corrugated metal roof sheets matching the other precinct buildings, although the roof cladding now needs replacement due to the metal sheets showing visible degradation with rust. Facing the main street is a main entry to the Detectives’ part of the building, with a roofed entry porch with double doors entry to the actual building, although today this is hardly ever used.
The porch roof is supported by timber posts decorated with Federation fretwork and brackets, as in the police station entry porch. All windows are original timber framed, clear glazed, of double – hung style and fitted with metal security grilles.
The brickwork is original, as used throughout all the precinct buildings. It is in first class condition and fitted with original terracotta air vents laid in stretcher bond with flush struck joints.
The main entry to the police station has been altered to be facing the main street instead of facing Police Lane. Today a concrete pedestrian access ramp with stainless steel handrails leads from the police entry porch to the entry gate at the Main Street boundary. The original main entry door has been replaced with a contemporary glass sliding door, electronically operated and CCTV monitored for a high level of security.
The internal walls are brickwork finished with smooth cement render, painted, and fitted with wide 150mm grooved Federation style skirtings at floor level. The air vents are original metal, adjustable and with a Federation floral decorative motif and are fitted to all external walls. The doors and windows are fitted with wide Federation grooved jambs and wide architraves. The doors are still in original Federation style; multi – paneled with glazed ventilation window above. The secure
areas have been upgraded with new generation doors and high security locks. The other areas however still retain their original brass locks and latches, retaining the charming originality and authenticity of the internal atmosphere of 1909. The corridors have decorated arched openings and terminating with beautiful arch brackets, in harmony with the wide plaster cornices throughout the building.
The ceilings are a combination of plaster lined ceilings and tongue and groove timber ceiling linings with recent alterations to some areas now lined with flat plaster boards. Wide plaster cornices with flower and leaf imprints decorate the edges of the ceilings throughout. The ceiling heights in the original areas of the building are 4800mm but in altered areas are lower, to 4500mm or less.
Various rooms have an original fireplace but the hearths of all the fireplaces are now closed off with a thin panel of white – painted Masonite. There are a total of four fireplaces in the building, but all would require careful refurbishment to re – awaken their 1909 architectural beauty, not only of the hearth and mantle shelves but also of the rooms.
The floors are of timber construction with timber floor boards, carpeted to some areas and covered with vinyl in others.
The Police lock up area consists of four cells, although only two are in use with the others used as storage rooms. The floors are concrete and all windows are fitted with heavy duty security grill/bars. Tweed Regional Museum Murwillumbah has an original steel cell door complete with “scratched surface graffiti” compliments of past prisoners in its collection. The cell door is solid sheet steel, approximately 25mm thick x 820mm wide x 2040mm high, hung on very heavy duty hinges,
with a rectangular inspection hatch. These days the delivery of individuals in police custody is at the rear of building to a secured area close to the lock up cells.
The Police Officers have use of a recreational area with a BBQ and seating under a timber pergola at the rear of the building. This area is called “The Mango Bar” and was opened Friday 15 Feb 1985 by Hon. W.[Bill] Bugden. The patron is His Honor Judge K.F.E. Torrington. One of the pergola posts has another plaque affixed to it with the wording “SWOS RAIL” in honour of Patrol Officer Warren James.
A third plaque is inside the Police Station, on the wall in one of the corridors, dedicated to “Senior Constable Warren Keith James”, born 13 Feb 1952, died 10 Sep 1980. The plaque was presented by Murwillumbah Jaycees.
Research and Acknowledgements
Murwillumbah Historical Society research team: Nick Gouliaev, Tony Clark , Max Boyd , Joan Cuthel , Judy Keane (TRM)
Police Officers; Dean Wilson and others
Tales of our Times, Ron Johansen
Red Sunday, Kath Pritchard, Murwillumbah Historical Society 2nd Edition 2015
Northern Star (1876 – 1954) 8 Jan 1908 Page 2
Municipal Murwillumbah 24 Oct 1907 (Reprint of municipal announcements)
Georgian Architecture in Australia; Uri Smith in association of the National Trust of Australia
The Federation House, Ian Evans, The Flannel Flower press.
Australia’s Yesterdays, Reader’s Digest Pty. Ltd.
Australia – The First Hundred Years, Being a Facsimile of Volumes 1 and 2 of The Picturesque Atlas of Australia, edited by Hon. Andrew Garran, M.A., L.L.D.,M.L.C.
On 1 September, 1986 Sergeant Jennings was at home at the police residence attached to the West Wallsend Police Station. While he was mowing the lawns (one of his duties) he suffered a fatal heart attack.
The sergeant was born in 18 September 1944 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 22 February, 1965. At the time of his death he was stationed at West Wallsend.
National Police Remembrance Day ceremony in Lake Macquarie
David Stewart
September 29 2017 – 4:27PM
POLICE from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command have unveiled plans for a memorial wall at Belmont to honour the seven local officerskilled in the line of duty since 1863.
Plaques commemorating the seven officers were dedicated to the wall in a ceremony at Belmont police stationthis afternoon, National Police Remembrance Day.
Chief Inspector Murray Lundberg of Lake Macquarie LAC presided over a private ceremony attended by police, local high school students, and the families of the fallen officers.
“This is a time for reflection on the ultimate sacrifice that police officers can give in the execution of their duty,” Chief Inspector Lundberg said.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Brett Greentree, the Northern Region Commander, said the wall of remembrance, to be created on the distinctive blue wall at the entrance to the police station, would be striking.
“It will be a sight to treasure,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Greentree said.
“I want the officers, as they are walking out the front doors of this police station, to stop and reflect on the names, stop and reflect on the sacrifice.”
He said he hoped that the inaugural plaques to be installed on the wall were also the last.
“My dream is that we never, ever, add another name to this wall. I hope and pray that our wall is now complete.”
Acting Assistant Commissioner Greentree reached out to the families of the fallen officers.
“No commemoration or recognition can make good the loss that is unfairly carried by family members,” he said.
“I can only offer you my heartfelt condolences. Please know that your loved ones, who are no longer with us, will always be remembered.”
Across NSW, ceremonies were held to commemorate the service and sacrifice of the 269 officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty, and through injury or illness, since the formation of the NSW Police Force in 1862.
