Sgt Harold James Evans with son Mark. Taken at West Wyalong, 1969 / 70. Photo courtesy of Virginia & Mark Evans.
About 7.30am on 17 July, 1986 Sergeant Evans was driving a police vehicle towards Sydney along Peats Ridge Road, Peats Ridge when his vehicle collided with an oncoming vehicle. He died a short time later.
The sergeant was born in 1940 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 20 June, 1967. At the time of his death he was stationed at Aberdeen.
Sgt Harold James Evans ‘touch stone’ at the Canberra Police Wall of Remembrance.
Stephen John TIER
| 27/10/2012
Stephen John TIER
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 18680
Redfern Police Academy Class # 163
Rank: Commenced Training at Redfern Police Academy on Monday 9 April 1979 ( aged 18 years, 11 months, 6 days )
Probationary Constable – appointed Monday 25 June 1979 ( aged 19 years, 1 month, 2 days )
Constable – appointed 25 June 1980
Detective – appointed ? ? ?
Constable 1st Class – appointed 25 June 1984
Final Rank: Detective Constable 1st Class
Stations: ?, Dapto – Death
Served: From 9 April 1979 to24 July 1985 = 6 years, 3 months, 15 days Service
Memorial location: External Wall leading into Lake Illawarra Police Station and photo, on wall, inside Lake Illawarra Police Station
On 24 July, 1985 Detective Constable Tier was the driver, and single occupant, of an unmarked police vehicle engaged in the pursuit of an unknown vehicle on the Princes Highway, Unanderra. During the pursuit the police vehicle left the roadway and collided with a telegraph pole.
The constable was born in 1960 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 15 January, 1979.
At the time of his death he was stationed at Dapto.
STEPHEN is mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance
Stephen Tier holding his son, Joshua Tier.
Det Cst Stephen John Tier – 20 April 1983 playing Police Football for Wollongong.
Stephen TIER – Touch pad at the National Police Wall of Remembrance, Canberra.
Stephen John TIER Memorial inside Oak Flats Police Station, NSW.
Police Remembrance Day:
JOSHUA BUTLER
Family members lay a wreath for Det Const Stephen John Tier. Picture: ANDY ZAKELI Lake Illawarra Commander Acting Superintendent Andrew Koutsoufis to the left.
Almost 60 years on, Kenneth Nash still misses his uncle Allen.
Sergeant Allen William Nash, aged 40, was killed in the line of duty by a gun-wielding offender at Primbee in 1956.
Sgt Nash was one of eight officers stationed in the Lake Illawarra local area command who were recognised with memorial plaques on a wall of honour outside Lake Illawarra police station on Monday, as part of Police Remembrance Day commemorations.
Dozens of current and retired officers, families, friends, politicians, councillors and members of the public gathered at Oak Flats for a ceremony to unveil the memorial wall, and honour past and present officers.
Since 1862, more than 250 NSW Police officers have died in the line of duty.
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:
Wayne IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance
About 5pm on 3January, 1985 Constable Rixon and Probationary Constable Meredith Ireland were travelling in a Police Highway Patrol vehicle in Bannerman Crescent, Rosebery when they became involved in the high speed pursuit of a stolen vehicle. As the pursuit continued along Hayes Street the stolen vehicle sped through stop signs at the intersection of Dunning Avenue. The police vehicle slowed at the intersection but unfortunately collided with a truck that had been travelling along Dunning Avenue. After hitting the truck the police vehicle spun around and slammed into a brick wall. Constable Rixon sustained severe head and internal injuries and had to be released from the police vehicle by the PoliceRescueSquad. He was conveyed to the Royal South Sydney Hospital where he was found to be dead on arrival. Constable Ireland was treated at the Prince of Wales Hospital for lacerations and shock before she was allowed to leave.
The constable was born in 1957 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 23 January, 1978. At the time of his death he was attached to the Maroubra Highway Patrol.
Wayne Allen RIXON – touch pad at the National Police Wall of Remembrance, Canberra
A plaque that Wayne’s family had engraved, then placed in position by former members of Maroubra HWP and visited every year. At the intersection of Hayes St & Dunning Ave, Rosebery.
Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995),
Thursday 10 January 1985, page 9
Hundreds attend funeral of constable at Bega
From BRONWYN YOUNG, in Bega
Hundreds of people packed the church and lined the streets of Bega yesterday for the police funeral of highway patrolman Constable First Class Wayne Rixon, 27, killed in a high-speed car chase in Sydney last Thursday.
About 100 police in uniform and plainclothes had been arriving in Bega for the funeral since Tuesday.
Constable First Class Rixon was working with Maroubra highway patrol when he died on Thursday, but he grew up in Bega. Many of the people in the church and watching from the street had gone to school with
him. Police closed two roads for the funeral procession and its police escort.
The coffin draped with the Australian flag was carried from the church by six police officers.
Some of them had worked with Constable First Class Rixon in Maroubra. A seventh police officer, Sergeant Grahame Langford, of the NSW Police Academy, Redfern, walked in front of the coffin carrying the constable’s cap on a blue cushion. The caps of the six pallbearers lay on the roof of the waiting hearse.
Two mounted highway patrolmen in full ceremonial uniform
headed the solemn procession which escorted the hearse from the church. Among those marching were Acting Commissioner Barney Ross, Assistant Commissioner, Traffic, Bill Fleming, and Assistant Commissioner, General, Ted Bunt. The police marched in slow step down the street to the pipes of the NSW Police Pipe Band.
When the procession neared the Bega Courthouse the ranks broke and formed a guard-of honour. The hearse passed between the lines and gathered speed as it turned on to the road to the Bega Cemetery.
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:
Both Wayne Rixon and Glenn Rampling formed part of a 3 man team at the Mounties, going around mainly to country fairs performing vault tricks with the draft horse. Tragically both lost their lives in High Speed pursuits after leaving the Mounties for other duties. RIP, both were good men.
Sergeant 1st Class Rhoderic Francis LINDSAY
| 27/10/2012
Sergeant 1st Class Rhoderic Francis LINDSAY
New South Wales Police Force
Boating Accident
Swansea
20 February, 1984
On the afternoon of 20 February, 1984 Sergeant Lindsay and Senior Constable Calman were both off duty and fishing in the sergeant’s boat off Swansea. About 6.10pm the yacht Melody radioed for assistance after running aground on the bar at Swansea Channel. Sergeant Lindsay and Senior Constable Calman then set out to assist the stricken vessel. Securing a line to the Melody they attempted to tow the vessel to safety, but as their efforts were hampered by heavy seas the sergeant released the line from the yacht. Constable Calman then noticed that Sergeant Lindsay was missing from his boat and seeing blood in the water, dived into the sea to rescue his friend. Constable Calman, assisted by surf club members, then conveyed the injured sergeant to shore however it was found then that he had died of his injuries.
It appears that Sergeant Lindsay was either knocked or was washed overboard where he suffered extensive head injuries when struck by his boat’s propeller.
He was posthumously awarded the Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal and the Police Commissioner’s Commendation for Outstanding Courage and Devotion to Duty.
The sergeant was born in 1935 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 12 April, 1955. At the time of his death he was stationed at Newcastle.
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.
John Benjamin HUTCHINS
| 27/10/2012
John Benjamin HUTCHINS
AKA ?
Late of ?
NSW Redfern Police Academy Class # 130
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 15???
Rank: Commenced Training at Redfern Police Academy on ? ? ?
Probationary Constable – appointed 14 February 1972
Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Constable 1st Class – appointed ? ? ?
Detective – appointed ? ? ?
Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Final Rank = Senior Constable
Stations: ?, Regents St Police Stn, Balmain, Five Dock, Police Communications Branch – VKG1
Service: From? ? pre 1972? to17 November 1983 = 11 years Service
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
Mark Joseph KOHUTEK
| 27/10/2012
Mark Joseph KOHUTEK
AKA ?
Late of ?
Father to Nathan KOHUTEK #
NSW Redfern Police Academy Class # 152
NSW Police Cadet # 3063
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 17394
Rank: NSW Police Cadet – commenced 8 July 1974
Probationary Constable – appointed 3 October 1976
Constable – appointed 3 October 1977
Constable 1st Class – appointed ?
Final Rank = Constable 1st Class
Stations: ?, Traffic Branch – Nth Sydney HWP – Death
Service: From8 July 1974to4 March 1982 = 7+ years Service
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:
Ronald James BURLEY
| 27/10/2012
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
[alert_green]RON IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_green]
Touch plate at the National Police Memorial, Canberra
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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]
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Funeral location: TBA
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FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
On 30 January, 1960Constable 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.
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John Thomas COLBERT
| 27/10/2012
Sergeant 1st Class John Thomas COLBERT
Regd. # 5981
Age: 58
Motor Vehicle Accident
Kingsgrove
11 March, 1979
Sergeant 1st Class John Thomas COLBERT
At 11pm on 10 March, 1979 Sergeant Colbert commenced duty as the supervising sergeant in the Hurstville Division. Following an inspection of the Kingsgrove Police Station the sergeant set out for the Peakhurst Police Station. About 1.20am he parked behind a panel van in Morgan Street, Kingsgrove where he spoke to the occupants. The sergeant then returned to the police car and as he opened the driver’s door he was struck by a passing vehicle and killed instantly.
The sergeant was born in 1921 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 2 February, 1948. At the time of his death he was stationed at Kingsgrove.
John Henry WALTON
| 27/10/2012
John Henry WALTON
( late of Westleigh, NSW )
NSW Police Training Centre – Redfern Academy – Class 084A
New South Wales Police Force
Regd # 9727
Joined NSW Police Force via the NSW Police Cadet system on 7 July 1958 but appears to have resigned on 7 July 1958 before re-joining around 1960.
Cadet # 1451
Rank: NSW Police Cadet – commenced Monday 7 July 1958 until 7 July 1958.
Probationary Constable – appointed 15 August 1960
Constable – appointed 15 August 1961
Constable 1st Class – appointed 15 August 1966
Detective – appointed 22 March 1968
Detective Senior Constable – appointed 15 August 1970
Detective Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed 28 April 1976
Final Rank: Detective Sergeant 3rd Class
Stations: Police Training Centre ( 150860 – Trainee ), Regent St ( 2 Division GDs from 190960 ), Regent St ( Traffic – Probation from 030161 ), Regent St ( Traffic – Permanent from 030261 ), Wagga Wagga ( transfer cancelled ), Canowindra ( GDs from 080563 ), 11 Division ( GDs from 101163 ), Vice Squad – H.Q. ( from 220365 ), Darlinghurst ( 3 Division – Vice Squad from 251065 ), Liverpool ( 22 Division – C.I. Duties from 280966 ), 9 Division ( C.I. Duties from 250869 ), C.I.B. – Special Crime Squad ( from 260273 ), C.I.B. – Armed Hold-up Squad to death
Service: From 7 July 1958 to 7 July 1958.
Pre August 1960 to 23 June 1978 = 18+ years Service
Awards: No Find in Australian Honours
Born: Sunday 22 June 1941
Died on: Friday 23 June 1978 ( day after his 37th birthday )
Funeral location: Macquarie Park Cemetery & Crematorium, Delhi & Plassey Rd, Macquarie Park, NSW
Buried at: RC Lawn, Block 12 / 0445
GPS: Lat: -33.790614478 Long: 151.142994
Grave Location:
John Henry WALTON National Touch Plate, Canberra
JOHNIS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance
About 2.45am on 23 June, 1978 Sergeant Walton was a passenger in a police vehicle travelling along Carlingford Road, Carlingford. A vehicle approaching in the opposite direction drove onto the incorrect side of the roadway, forcing the police vehicle off the road where it collided with a parked horse float which was parked, without lights, on the southern side of Carlingford Rd at the intersection of Glenview Parade. Detective Sergeant Walton was killed instantly. Extensive inquiries made to locate the driver of the unknown vehicle responsible for this accident have to date proved unsuccessful.
The sergeant was born in 1941 and joined the New South Wales Police Force, as a Cadet, on 7 July 1958. At the time of his death he was attached to the Armed Hold-up Squad.
Prior to joining the NSWPF, John was a Junior Clerk for 10 months then joined the NSWPF Cadet system from the 7 July 1958 and finished on the 17 August 1958 for reasons unknown to me.
He then appears to have been a General Hand for 4 months and then a Clerk for 18 months before coming back to the NSWPF – Attesting as a Probationary Constable on the 15 August 1960. His re-join date is also unknown to me.
He was 5′ 11″ tall, 12 stone 12 lb in weight with Hazel eyes, brown hair and of a medium build. He was born in Young, NSW and was single at the time of joining but married on 23 November 1963. He obtained his School Intermediate Certificate.
He obtained an 82.5% at completion of Training Class 84A and he had a 23 w.p.m. rate of typing – on the 4 April 1961
He also completed a three day course in Civil Defence in 1961.
He passed his Constable 1st Class exams on the 22 September 1964.
He failed his first attempt at the Sgt 3/c exams on 18 May 1973 but passed on the 16 May 1974.
He passed the Detective qualification course on 25 October 1967 and was designated a Detective on the 22 March 1968.
On the 14 November 1977 he was ” Commended for the good policemanship, excellent teamwork and devotion to duty he displayed as one of the Police responsible for the prompt arrest of Phillip WESTERN, Michael STOGIO, Lawrence JOHNSON and Robert PATTEN for the armed hold-up of the Randwick Branch of the Bank of New South Wales on 29 December 1975.
During committal proceeding at the Central Court of Petty Sessions on 28 April 1976 the Chief Stipendiary Magistrate, Mr. Farquhar, complimented him, along with all Police connected with the case while His Honour, Judge Muir, in passing sentence on the offenders made favourable comment regarding the briefs prepared by Police for the trial.
Mervyn T Wood – Commissioner”
Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995),
Saturday 24 June 1978, page 3
IN BRIEF
Fatal crash
SYDNEY: Detective Sergeant John Henry Walton, 37, was killed and Detective Senior Constable John O’Hagan, 33, was seriously injured when a police car driven by Detective O’Hagan ran into a horse-float in Epping early yesterday.
