A Service Celebrating the Life of Constable D’Arne (Dee) De Leo will be held in the Chapel of Victoria Police Academy, View Mount Rd, Glen Waverley on THURSDAY (Jan. 19, 2017) at 2.00 p. m. , and will be followed by Burial in the Springvale Botanical Cemetery (Police Memorial Lawn) at 3.45 p. m. POLICE HONOURS
DE LEO. D’Arne. First Constable 40129 And we that are left shall never forget; rest in peace friend and colleague for the sun has now set. You will be sorely missed by all at Fitzroy Police Station. Our condolences go to Krisz, family, friends and colleagues.
DE LEO. D’Arne (Dee). First Constable 40129 A valued member of Victoria Police who will be sadly missed. Our sincere condolences to her partner, family, friends and colleagues. The NWM Divison 1.
DE LEO. Dee. The ‘Pocket Rocket’ You may have had a small footprint, but made a big impression on all who knew and met you. Our sincere and deepest condolences to Kris and family. Will be sadly missed Benalla Police Colleagues and friends.
DE LEO. D’Arne (Dee). First Constable 40129 A valued member of Victoria Police who will be sadly missed. Our sincere condolences to her partner, family, friends and colleagues. The NWM HQ.
De LEO. D’Arne. The President, Executive and Members of The Police Association mourn the passing of First Constable De Leo and extend their deepest sympathy to her family. At Rest
De LEO. D’Arne (Dee). First Constable 40129 The Chief Commissioner, Officers and Employees of Victoria Police regret the passing of their Colleague and offer their deepest sympathy to her family.
DE LEO D’Arne (Dee) You were my best friend. I trusted and respected you and will be forever grateful for the support you gave me over the last four years. I miss you – but will never forget you Rest In Peace Craig, Riikka and Kai.
A mechanical investigation will be done on the truck that killed a Victorian police officer while she was on her way to work on her motor bike.
Samandeep Singh, 26, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday charged with culpable driving over the death of the officer on Thursday morning.
Victoria Police identified D’Arne De Leo as the woman who died in the crash at an EastLink freeway on-ramp in Wantirna just before 9am.
She was hit and trapped under the truck, dying at the scene despite the efforts of emergency services.
Singh was also charged with driving a motor vehicle in a manner that was dangerous to the public, thereby allegedly causing Ms De Leo’s death.
His lawyer Chen Yang said a 10-week mechanical investigation needed to be done on Singh’s truck, and CCTV footage would be prepared formatted for the court.
Singh, who was dressed in hi-vis clothing, did not apply for bail and he was remanded in custody to reappear for a committal mention on May 4.
Valued former Benalla police officer killed in a crash between motorbike and truck
Jane Lee
Former Benalla police officer First Constable D’Arne De Leo had only moved to Melbourne three months ago, before she was killed in a motorcycle crash.
The truck driver accused of causing her death after running a red light has been assessed as suicidal, a court has heard.
Police allege Ferntree Gully man Samandeep Singh, 26, drove through a red light at Boronia Road, Wantirna and crashed into the back of the woman’s motorcycle on Thursday morning, trapping her underneath his truck.
First Constable De Leo died at the scene.
Singh has been charged with culpable driving causing death and dangerous driving.
He appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday.
Defence lawyer Chen Yang said a forensic medical officer diagnosed his client as having “suicidal ideation” after he was arrested.
It was Singh’s first time in custody.
Fairfax Media understands police have not yet interviewed Singh, who will be re-assessed by a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse to determine whether he requires medication.
He did not apply for bail. Magistrate Andrew McKenna remanded him to appear in court on May 4.
First Constable De Leo worked at Benalla for two-and-a-half years before a transfer to Fitzroy three months ago. She was aged in her 40s and lived in the eastern suburbs.
Benalla Acting Inspector Ash Mason said First Constable De Leo was a well-respected and valued general-duties member who was only at the beginning of her career. “She had a huge career ahead of her and it’s a huge loss,” he said.
“She just wanted to get in, do her job and do it really well.”
Police Association assistant secretary Bruce McKenzie said the union was thinking of her family and the officers who had to attend the crash.
“One of our members has tragically lost her life simply by travelling to work,” he said.
“We have the greatest sympathy for her family at this time.
“We also feel for her police family and for her colleagues who attended (Thursday) morning’s tragic scene. She had only been in the force for a relatively short time.”
If you are troubled by this report or experiencing a personal crisis you can call Lifeline 131 114 or beyondblue 1300 224 636 or visit lifeline.org.au or beyondblue.org.au
Queensland Police Senior Sergeant Mick Isles signed on duty on the morning of Wednesday 23 September 2009, went to work in uniform and has never signed off. We are awaiting response from Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart to adding Senior Sergeant Mick Isles to the Police Honours Roll and officially acknowledging his (Mick’s) signing off. How can that be unreasonable?
2 Jan 2017 – Isles to Queensland Police Commissioner: addressing criteria under Queensland Police Honour Roll Policy, responding to AC O’Regan correspondence
A trait of my father’s, an honourable trait through his commitment, belief and passion in people was more-or-less to always look for the good in people, even when I was a child and assaulted by an adult, my father convinced me to look for the good in the assailant, as there was obviously greater reason to why he was like that, an upbringing or similar. I found myself doing precisely that eventually, after the anger had moved on, I looked to for the good in this individual and many years later made peace in speaking with him and seeing that he had grown and changed and was no longer the same person.
As life has progressed even with some of the trials, especially more recently, I have found myself retreating a little over the last couple of years and trying to remove myself from stressful situations.
I guess, now I am finding there needs to be some happy medium and in an ideal world, my father’s trait would be admirable however in a world where many through generations have strayed from strong morals and treating your neighbour as you, yourself, would like to be treated.
For me both physically and mentally, I have softened over recent years in my zest, interest and drive for life. This in part has seen me too readily trust in individuals and some have resulted in individuals using the apparent lack of energy and zest as an avenue to access a perceived vulnerability and to take advantage.
For mine, in approaching 2017, simply applying much of life experience and the honourable person my father was, I can only aim to regain touch with the inner mongrel I had to find to navigate some of the situations that were thrown my and my family’s way.
This coming year, in order the finalize some matters close to my heart that have come so far, I will dance with the devil while maintaining strong morals however only extend a hand of trust, respect or offer of friendship where it is over time earned.
May those close and many that have shared some of this journey with me be able to toast achievements even beyond boundaries that have been set by individuals and bureaucracy.
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29 Dec2016 – Isles to Queensland Police Union President Ian Leavers
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Daily Mail Australia
‘Weather beaten’ man spotted at remote Queensland creek may be police sergeant Mick Isles missing for five years
Reports of a man resembling a missing North Queensland policeman
Senior Sgt Mick Isles of Ayr has been missing since 2009
A couple saw a ‘weather beaten man’ resembling Isles at a remote creek
Sgt Isles vanished from his home and has never been found despite extensive searches
A ‘reluctant’ coroner declared Isles dead at a 2012 inquest
Published: 15:35 +11:00, 13 January 2015 | Updated: 21:50 +11:00, 13 January 2015
A couple who spotted a ‘weather beaten man’ at a remote creek in northern Queensland have contacted police saying they believe he may be missing Senior Sergeant Mick Isles, who disappeared in mysterious circumstances five years ago.
Graziers, Bill and Elizabeth Tudehope were on a remote road at Landers Creek on the Burdekin River near Millaroo last Sunday when they saw the man who was of the same age and height as the missing police officer, the Townsville Bulletin reported.
Sgt Isles has not been seen since September 23, 2009 after leaving his home in the far northern Queensland town of Ayr for a workshop 80km north in Townsville. He never arrived.
Six days later, his police issue Toyota Aurion was found at Eight Mile Creek, 170km south. The latest sighting of Sgt Isles is at a location between Ayr and Eight Mile Creek.
Following his disappearance, police conducted extensive searches for the 58-year-old, using trackers, the stock squad and the State Emergency Service.
Apart from one alleged sighting by a truck driver soon after his disappearance, Sgt Isles has never been seen again until now.
At the time of his disappearance, Sgt Isles was on only his third day back at work after a lengthy period of sick leave following a Crime and Misconduct Commission investigation which had exonerated him of drug trafficking and money laundering allegations.
His wife, Fiona, reported her husband’s failure to return home after finding an undated note on the last page of a used notebook.
The note read, ‘This is nobody’s fault but mine. I feel old and have lost the will to do anything. I feel a failure and a loser, particularly to my family whom I love so much’. The note was signed ‘Mick + Dad’.
A shot gun and ammunition were found to be missing from the Isle’s family home.
Officers found a police uniform shirt stuffed under the front passenger seat of Sgt isles’ abandoned car and in the boot, along with a hessian bag, was a blanket and a box of ammunition that was missing 16 cartridges, a pair of uniform pants and a belt.
The car keys were on the front driver’s side floor of the vehicle and a set of senior sergeant epaulettes had been placed in the centre drink console.
At a 2012 inquest, Queensland State Coroner Michael Barnes found Senior Sergeant Michael Isles ‘intentionally took his own life‘ on the day he was reported missing. Mr Barnes said: ‘I sincerely regret the distress this will cause his family’.
The Townsville Bulletin reported that on Monday northern Queensland police have sent a team of detectives to the Burdekin river area to interview the couple who made the report.
Mr and Mrs Tudehope said they saw a man walking along a sugar cane train track mid-morning last Sunday and they asked him if he wanted a lift.
‘He wasn’t interested in talking to me and didn’t want any help,’ Mr Tudehope said.
They contacted Sgt isles son Steven, who travelled to the couples’ property and then contacted police.
THE life of former Warwick and Allora police officer Mick Isles will be remembered at a special memorial service to be held in north Queensland next weekend, his family has announced.
Senior Sergeant Isles – who has been missing since September 2009 – was a popular figure in the region during his service here, which ended in 1989.
Mystery still surrounds his disappearance and his family suspect foul play, but the Queensland Coroner last month issued an interim death certificate ahead of an inquest set down for next March.
Snr Sgt Isles (pictured) was on duty and driving from Ayr to Townsville for training when he vanished, but his family still hold out hope his remains at least will be found, if not the people they believe may be responsible for his death.
Son Steven Isles yesterday released details of the memorial service to the Daily News, saying he and his mother and sisters had been deeply moved by the support they had received from locals who remembered their beloved Mick.
“We still think at times that by some magic he might walk through the door tomorrow,” an emotional Steven said.
“But we are realists and we have little choice other than to accept the coroner’s ruling, but it’s an interim and an open ruling and we don’t yet know what may come out of the inquest.”
Mr Isles said the death certificate meant his mother, Fiona, could finalise matters relating to the estate after being forced lean on her children for financial support.
The Isles family has been critical of the hierarchy of Queensland Police, which they say failed to fully investigate Mick’s disappearance and repeatedly gave them the cold shoulder and little respect.
Snr Sgt Isles was police officer-in-charge at Ayr and was reported missing on October 2, 2009. Five days later his police-issued Toyota Aurion was found on a rough track near Ravenswood, 120km southwest of Townsville.
Steven Isles believes that people involved in his disappearance drove the vehicle there as a diversion.
Snr Sgt Isles had been cleared of corruption allegations the previous July and had been struggling to deal with the aftermath, but Steven Isles said his father had shown no signs of being suicidal in the days before his disappearance.
The memorial service will be held at the Burdekin PCYC in Ayr on November 5, at 10.30am.
Burdekin PCYC facility named after missing policeman
By Josh Bavas / Nathalie Fernbach
Part of the new Ayr PCYC building has been named after missing officer Mick Isles. His wife Fiona Isles says the dedication is an honour but feels the family have been let down by the QPS.
The family of missing Burdekin police officer Mick Isles has spoken out at the opening of a new PCYC facility in Ayr today.
The PCYC’s function room has been named after the Senior Sergeant who disappeared in September 2009.
Mick Isles’ wife Fiona feels proud that the work of her husband has been recognised by the community and believes he would have been humbled by the honour.
“Mick would be very proud in fact he’s such a humble person he’d be standing there saying ‘there must be someone more deserving than me’ he’d be that sort of guy”.
Senior Sergeant Isles was last seen driving an unmarked police car, his clothes and the vehicle were later found at a property in Ravenswood, south of Townsville.
Looking back on the past 18 months Mrs Isles feels she was let down by the police service and says the family was not offered any help or counselling until her son insisted they provide it.
“It was rather pathetic They did do it only because he forced their hand.
My family weren’t offered any sort of counselling, my daughters whatever, they had to go looking for their own”.
Eighteen months on the family of Senior Sergeant Isles remain hopeful that he will be found.
“Our family would never give up hope. We keep looking we keep looking, I keep going out to the spot where he disappeared and hope there’s something that may materialise” says Mrs Isles.
A pre-inquest hearing into the case will be held later this year.
A SEARCH by police of rugged bushland where missing policeman Senior Sergeant Mick Isles‘ abandoned car was found has failed to find any trace of the man last seen alive on September 23 last year.
Police wound up the two-day search around noon yesterday. A police spokesperson said the search focused on an area about two kilometres out from where Sen-Sgt Isles‘ unbadged, police-issued Toyota Aurion was found at the end of a little-used bush track at a spot called Eight Mile Creek on Hillsborough Station.
This week’s search involved police cadets, veteran officers and the horseback mounted stock investigation squad from Charters Towers.
A police spokesperson said the search for Sen-Sgt Isles would be ongoing.
“The QPS will never stop looking for Sen-Sgt Isles. The QPS is also helping the coroner with his investigation. As this investigation is ongoing, further searches may be conducted in the future,” she said.
The spokeswoman said the Forward Commander for the search was assisted by 10 police officers from general duties and specialist areas, and 28 police recruits from the North Queensland Academy.
The two-day search was conducted in hot and trying conditions. One police officer told the Townsville Bulletin that conditions for recruits and officers walking the hilly countryside on foot were extremely hot.
“They’ll be pretty knocked up,” she said.
“This was a routine search which had originally been planned for July.
“We had some rain back then and it threw things out a bit, so we’re here now seeing if we can find anything,” she said.
Sen-Sgt Isles‘ car was found at Hillsborough Station on September 28, five days after he was last seen alive. Nothing has been heard of him since.
TownsvilleBulletin.com.au
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Sacked cop claims victimisation
The Sydney Morning Herald
Evan Schwarten September 10, 2010 – 11:20AM
AAP
A sacked Northern Territory cop has launched action against two police forces, claiming he’s been victimised since the apparent suicide of his father.
Steven Isles, a constable with NT police since 2003, has lodged an unfair dismissal claim with Fair Work Australia over his sacking by NT Police Commissioner John McRoberts in July.
Mr Isles was on sick leave for almost three years before his dismissal following a dispute with superiors over police procedures.
However, he said he was ready and willing to come back to work in 2008 but NT police refused a request to institute a return-to-work program, similar to those offered in other jurisdictions, to support him during the transition.
Mr Isles has also made a formal complaint to Queensland’s Crime and Misconduct Commission, alleging he’s been targeted and slandered by senior police since speaking out over the treatment of his father, Senior Sergeant Mick Isles, who disappeared in north Queensland last September.
He alleges senior officers in Queensland and the NT colluded to discredit him in both jurisdictions in order to pave the way for his dismissal.
This included officers making unsubstantiated claims he was suffering from a mental illness and spreading rumours of his involvement in his father’s death, he alleges.
“I personally have been victimised and targeted and the subject of slanderous action taken by senior staff and personnel,” Steven Isles told AAP.
A CMC spokeswoman confirmed a complaint had been received on August 31 and was currently under assessment.
Both NT and Queensland police declined to comment on the matters.
Sen Sgt Isles went missing three days after returning to work at Ayr police station, south of Townsville, following a year-long absence while he was under investigation over allegations of corruption.
His vehicle was found abandoned in bushland west of Townsville but his body has not been located and Queensland’s coroner is investigating the apparent suicide.
Steven Isles has been critical of his father’s treatment, including the length of time it took to clear him of the allegations and the lack of support from within QPS.
He claims senior police responded to his stand by spreading rumours and false allegations about him.
In March this year the QPS notified Mr Isles his weapons licence would be revoked after several officers filed affidavits stating they believed he was suffering from a mental illness and that he’d made threats to knee-cap Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson.
The loss of the weapons licence would have been grounds for his dismissal in the NT.
However, Queensland’s Civil and Administrative Tribunal last month reinstated the licence after police were unable to produce sufficient evidence to support the claims.
Mr Isles then voluntarily surrendered his weapons licence.
The Workers Compensation Act of 1987 and 1998 clearly states that an action by an employer that is unreasonable is an offence.
An Investigation that is dragged out for three years is clearly unreasonable when they are supposed to be completed in 90 days. The Ombudsman can give an extension, but it also must be reasonable. Murders are usually solved within three months. If any of us as investigators take too long to complete a matter, then we face serious managerial actions so why not the investigators of internal matters?
Has there ever been a 173 or 181 issued to an investigator of an internal matter that has failed or not been successful? I’ll bet not, but then again old Reg has been wrong before. Fact is allegations can hurt a person, but more so hurt a good honest hard working officer because of the pride that comes with sound integrity. To be put through such an ordeal for such a long period with such a minor and disproportionate outcome, is plain disgusting and I hope in the end an enquiry into the matter of the good Sergeant reveals this.
This sort of delay in an internal investigation, also does damage to the family unit, especially the wife who like for most of us has to endure watching their husbands become withdrawn and gutted even after the allegations are proven untrue.
https://police.freom.com/tbl
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Parliamentary Crime and Misconduct Committee : Report No. 81 – A report on a review by the Parliamentary Crime and Misconduct Commissioner of the actions and holdings of the Crime and Misconduct Commission in relation to the investigation of Senior Sergeant Michael Isles. http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/committees/documents/PCMC/reports/PCMC81.pdf approx. 246KB
It would be an interesting read for those of you without an investigators background and I recommend it to anyone with a genuine interest in this matter. For those of you not bothered to read the report here is the full wording of the conclusion, on page 29 of the report.
CONCLUSION
p29
My review of the actions and holdings of the CMC in relation to the investigation of Sen Sgt Isles revealed that, in regards to the concerns raised by Mr Steven Isles, Senior Sergeant Michael Isles and Mr Terry O’Gorman, the investigation was conducted appropriately but not in a timely manner.
My conclusions in relation to the major issues of concern identified in Mr O’Gorman’s letter to the Committee of 18 May 2009 are as follows:
As to whether there was a proper basis for the issue of a search warrant against Sen Sgt Isles – the CMC received information which suggested that an unidentified Queensland Transport or QPS officer had issued driver’s licences to associates of the principal target for $4000 per licence. The CMC made appropriate enquiries before seeking the search warrants from the Magistrate. Those enquiries established that all testing and issuing of driver’s licences in the area was conducted by
QPS officers at the Ayr Police Station. The CMC ascertained that four of the principal target’s associates had obtained HR licence upgrades in the relatively recent past and that those tests had been conducted and the four licences upgraded by Sen Sgt Isles.
The CMC considered that comments made by the principal target suggested that the person of interest may have been involved as the conduit for the communication and flow of funds and information between the principal target and the subject police officer. Telephone billing and call charge records established a high frequency of telephone contact between the person of interest and Snr Sgt Isles and a fair amount of contact between the person of interest and the principal target.
I do not consider the CMC’s actions in seeking search warrants based upon this information, to be inappropriate. In my view the CMC did consider all relevant and available facts and materials before seeking the search warrants from the Magistrate.
Certain matters which might be regarded as adverse to the issuing of the warrants sought were disclosed in the applications for the search warrants. Other matters were not disclosed in the applications for the search warrants but I do not consider it to have been inappropriate that these matters were not disclosed.
As to concerns about the public manner of the execution of the search warrant – I have concluded that Snr Sgt Isles was not detained in an extremely public manner. It was in his own office at the Ayr Police Station that Sen Sgt Isles was detained and the warrant executed upon him.
The search warrant was not executed at a time and manner where unnecessary embarrassment was occasioned to Senior Sergeant Isles. If anything, it appears that steps were taken to avoid causing unnecessary embarrassment to Sen Sgt Isles. Further, in my view it would not have been operationally appropriate for the CMC to delay executing the search warrants on Snr Sgt Isles.
As to concerns about the return of property seized at the time of the execution of the warrants – the CMC obtained an Order in Relation to Thing Seized under the provisions of section 696 of the PPRA permitting the property to be retained. Therefore, notwithstanding the initial indications by CMC officers that the mobile telephone would be returned within three or four working days, in light of the order obtained by the CMC and Sen Sgt Isles’s written consent to the CMC keeping the property until the conclusion of any investigation or proceeding involving the property, it is difficult to conclude that the CMC’s retention of the telephone was inappropriate.
Conclusion Page 30
The CMC’s retention of the mobile telephone for a further eight days after 29 April 2009 when Sen Sgt Isles was advised that the investigation regarding matters concerning him had been completed, may be regarded as inappropriate.
I have concluded that the CMC’s investigation of Snr Sgt Isles was not conducted in a timely manner. The time it took to prepare the draft investigation report, make the determination as to whether there was evidence capable of supporting any action in respect of Snr Sgt Isles, and to advise him of that decision, was excessive.
Steven Isles, in his letter to the Committee of 1 April 2009 advises that the continued and tardy investigation at the hands of the CMC has and continues to have a very marked impact on the health of my father, Michael Isles, mother, Fiona Isles, and also a number of other family members who were present at the time of executing the search warrant and the like.
It is not surprising that an unduly protracted investigation of allegations as serious as these would have such an effect.
Mr O’Gorman’s letter refers to previous complaints concerning the time taken over such investigations involving serving police officers. The CMC is well aware of such criticisms in the past and should have made a greater effort to complete this investigation within a reasonable time frame.
However it should be noted that I have no adverse comments in terms of the quality of the investigation itself it was appropriately thorough and professionally carried out with suitable recognition of the seriousness of the allegations against Sen Sgt Isles and the QPS more generally.
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Petition calls for resignation of Qld police commissioner
Penny Timms
Updated
The son of a missing police officer has launched a petition calling for the resignation of Queensland’s police commissioner Bob Atkinson.
Senior Sergeant Mick Isles has not been seen since September when he went missing from Ayr in north Queensland.
Steven Isles believes his father was bullied by the Queensland Police Service and says an overhaul is needed.
“I’m actually in the process of starting a 5,000 kilometre trip throughout Queensland, rallying for support to move a no-confidence motion in commissioner Atkinson’s continued service as the chief executive officer of the Queensland Police Service,” he said.
The ABC has approached the Commissioner’s office for comment.
Family of missing police officer Mick Isles turns to witchdoctor
news.com.au 1 November 2009
AFTER exhausting all conventional options, the family of Mick Isles has turned to an Aboriginal tracker and self-professed witchdoctor to find the missing Queensland police officer.
Arnhem Land-based tracker and witchdoctor Victor Huddleston and his son Victor Nathaniel Huddleston have arrived in Queensland and tomorrow will begin searching bushland around Ravenswood, where Senior Sergeant Isles‘ abandoned car was found in late September.
An exhaustive search involving police, army and SES personnel was launched shortly after Snr Sgt Isles‘ disappearance on September 23 but failed to find any trace of the missing policeman.
However, Mr Huddleston believes he and his son will find Snr Sgt Isles within two or three days, even though any footprints left by him a month ago will have disappeared.
“I will know where he is because I will see his spirit,” Mr Huddleston told AAP.
Mr Huddleston has been involved in a number of searches in the Northern Territory and says he has never failed to find the person he’s looking for.
“When I get close to the place I will see the clear picture,”he said.
“It always works, whenever I am serious about it.”
Senior Sergeant Isles‘ son Steven travelled to Mr Huddleston’s community last week to seek his help after learning of his reputation through a police contact in the Northern Territory.
He said having spent time with Mr Huddleston in his community at Ngukurr in Arnhem Land, he was confident in the witchdoctor’s abilities.
“We have no expectations, but we are approaching with open arms,” he said.
“We’re here to establish whatever we can, to identify what has happened and potentially even finding my father, if he is there to be found.”
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Search for missing policeman Mick Isles scaled back
By David Barbeler
AAP News.com.au
October 05, 2009 08:20am
*
THE search for a missing senior police officer in north Queensland has moved into a scaled down third phase, with police to visit property owners in the Ravenswood area.
Senior Sergeant Mick Isles, 58, who is stationed at Ayr in north Queensland, was last seen leaving his home in an unmarked police car at 7.30am (AEST) on September 23.
The car was found near Ravenswood several days later, but an extensive air and ground search, which included 45 Australian Defence Force Personnel, has not been able to locate him in the past 12 days.
A police media spokeswoman said, contrary to some media reports, police were not suspending their search but instead were focusing their attention on property owners.
“Police will visit all neighbouring stations in the area, providing property owners and workers with pictures of Sen Sgt Isles and checking all water holes and water courses for signs of unexplained human activity,” the spokeswoman said.
Yesterday, police said temperatures in excess of 30 degrees Celsius in rocky terrain with lots of steep inclines and gorges had left many searchers exhausted and had had an effect on numbers.
The matter is now in the hands of the state coroner.
Acting Commissioner Ian Stewart said the state coroner had become involved along with the northern coroner and they were now directing the investigation.
Sen Sgt Isles‘ son Steven Isles, a police officer in the Northern Territory, said the family was deeply worried about his father’s welfare.
“Our family is obviously quite distraught. We wake up every morning hoping we are going to hear some good news,” Mr Isles said.
He said his father suffered from severe depression brought on by a delay in the joint Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) and police investigation into allegations made against him.
The CMC investigated Sen Sgt Isles over allegations of receiving payments for improperly issuing driver’s licences and money laundering.
The investigation exonerated Sen Sgt Isles on September 18, but took more than a year.
“The delay in the joint CMC and police investigation certainly impacted on my father,” Mr Isles said.
A Facebook site called Help Find Mick Isles, set up by the family, has attracted the support of more than 4700 well wishers.
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Coroner directing search for missing policeman
Updated
The investigation into the disappearance of a North Queensland policeman is now in the hands of the state coroner.
Senior Sergeant Mick Isles, 58, left his home at Ayr, south of Townsville, to attend a police training session on September 23.
His unmarked police car was found near Ravenswood several days later, but an extensive air and ground search has not been able to locate him.
Police and SES volunteers will continue scouring the area today and will review search efforts this afternoon.
Acting Commissioner Ian Stewart says police are no longer in charge.
“The state coroner has become involved [with] the northern coroner and they are now directing the investigation,” Acting Commissioner Stewart said.
The Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) says it has investigated allegations against the missing officer but they could not be substantiated.
Police Minister Neil Roberts says he will not comment on reports the officer’s family is pursuing legal action after he was cleared by the CMC.
“I can understand the family is going through a very traumatic time at the moment and I don’t want to make any comment on any proposed legal action or not,” Mr Roberts said.
“In the end, individuals have a right to pursue whatever action they feel is appropriate.
“At the moment though, the Queensland Police Service is obviously very concerned, just as the family is, for the welfare of Sergeant Isles, and a lot of resources and effort is going into trying to locate him.”
THE family of missing Ayr police officer Senior Sergeant Mick Isles has set up a trust fund to finance a legal fight.
Sen-Sgt Isles disappeared on Wednesday last week, just two days after he returned to work following an exhausting nine month Crime and Misconduct Commission investigation from which he was cleared.
The move comes as police phase out the search and rescue component of their response and instead launch a missing person investigation.
Police have also confirmed they are investigating why Sen-Sgt Isles disappearance wasn’t reported when he failed to turn up at a planned training session in Townsville.
Son Steve Isles would not elaborate on the exact nature of the legal action, but said his father was suffering depression at the time of his disappearance as a result of the events which had played out over the past year.
”It’s a trust fund which has been established for legal action which is pending,” he said.
”It’s certainly a fund which has been established in the pursuit of justice which the family feels will prevail no matter what the outcome of the search.
”The fund has been established due to the overwhelming requests from the public.
”The family has been humbled and warmed by the compassion of people who have come forward and will do so much in our time of need.”
* ISLES TOOK A GUN WITH HIM
* SOLDIERS JOIN SEARCH FOR MICK ISLES
* AYR COP CLEARED OVER MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS
Mr Isles said the family was grateful for the support of those conducting the search, including the police service.
”They are our best hope of getting him home safe at the moment,” Mr Isles said.
However, he urged all organisations to review their procedures when dealing with an employee suffering from a mental illness.
Sen-Sgt Isles left Ayr to attend a training course in Townsville on the Wednesday morning, but it wasn’t until 7pm that evening that his wife, Fiona, raised the alarm despite his non-attendance at the course.
”It is certainly alarming when the police make arrangements for that person to attend training and no one follows up on seeing where that person is or touching base to make sure if they are okay,” Mr Isles said.
Northern Police Region operations co-ordinator Chief Superintendent Mike Keating said the circumstances surrounding Sen-Sgt Isles‘ disappearance would be fully investigated.
”That’s part of the inquiry that we have to go through,” he said. ”The full circumstances of when he left Ayr, where he was going to and discovering where he went to and why he didn’t get to where he was expected to be. So that clearly will be a matter of some interest in that investigation.”
Supt Keating said police were still hoping for the safe return of their colleague but were preparing for the potential of a coronial investigation.
An extra 40 people will be tasked to the search and rescue efforts at Ravenswood today where the car driven by Sen-Sgt Isle’s was found abandoned on Monday.
The 100-strong team will search the less likely areas in the 63km square radius from where the vehicle was found but in the absence of further evidence, efforts will be scaled back in that particular area.
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The Sydney Morning Herald 2 October 2009
From community pillar to recluse: missing cop’s downward spiral
Two weeks before his father vanished, Steven Isles travelled from his home in the Northern Territory to the family home in Ayr.
A fellow policeman, Steven knew his dad, Senior Sergeant Mick Isles, was suffering.
Senior Sergeant Mick Isles (centre) with former state Police Minister Judy Spence and Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson.
For 13 long months Senior Sergeant Isles, a seasoned general duties officer and pillar of the local north Queensland community, had carried a terrible shame.
Mistakenly caught up in a corruption inquiry linked to drug trafficking and the fraudulent issue of driver’s licenses, he had not recovered from the humiliation of being arrested in front of members of his local Lions Club.
A 35-year veteran of the force, he had been planting trees in July last year when senior police acting on behalf of the Crime and Misconduct Commission detained him for questioning. His house and his workplace were also raided.
He was officially cleared on September 18, but family say few in the town or the confines of Ayr police station ever believed he had done anything wrong in the first place.
And yet the damage was done, Steven Isles said yesterday, eight days after Senior Sergeant Isles, 58, removed his uniform, dumped his police car and took off into rugged bush 80 kilometres from home.
“Over the past 10 months I’ve watched him age in the face five years. He became reclusive, he was too embarrassed to show his face in public,” Steven Isles said.
“My father is a very proud, very strong, very humble man. He did not ever want to be the centre of attention.
“It was like taking a senior public servant or a politician and arresting them at a press conference. Everyone is entitled to a presumption of innocence.
“Even after he was cleared people would come up to him in the street to congratulate him and he hated that. He would say to me, ‘Why are people congratulating me? I didn’t do anything.’
“I have no doubt the police process and the CMC process is behind these recent developments.”
The family, represented by outspoken civil libertarian Terry O’Gorman, is taking legal action against the CMC and has set up a fighting trust – The Justice Fund.
Wife Fiona, daughters Lisa, 31, Nicole, 24, and son Steven, 29, have traversed the state with Senior Sergeant Isles during his lengthy police career serving in Brisbane, the Darling Downs, Cloncurry, Bowen and the Gulf of Carpentaria.
He had returned to work after a period of stress leave just two days before he vanished.
On September 23, as Sydney awoke to an eerie red sky and dust storms tracked north towards Brisbane, Senior Sergeant Isles pulled out of the driveway of his Young Street house about 7.30am in a silver police-issue Toyota Aurion sedan.
Having just returned to the job, he was being retrained in defensive skills and had been due to attend a course at Townsville police station that morning.
Instead, he drove 80 kilometres in the opposite direction, to the remote Hillsborough cattle station.
His car was found abandoned – ignition keys on the passenger side floor – about half a kilometre off a dirt track six days later. His uniform had been removed, leaving him in just a singlet and boots, and investigators say he was carrying no mobile phone.
“Certainly there were no signs that something like this was about to unfold,” Steven Isles said.
“He had had a difficult time but he was not someone who would ask for help.
“He was two years from retirement. I think the way [the CMC investigation was handled] bewildered him but this is completely out of character for him.”
Police on Wednesday called in the army and State Emergency Service to help scour 63 square kilometres of bushland near to where Senior Sergeant Isles‘ car was found.
Northern Region Chief Superintendent Michael Keating said if no new information came to light today, it was likely the land search would be suspended and police would move into “an investigation phase with the view to providing a report for the coroner.”
That is not something Steven Isles or his family is ready to consider. A Facebook page set up by Nicole Isles this week imploring people to “please keep your eyes peeled for my dad” has attracted 3200 members and growing.
“We are absolutely lost but we will not give up hope. We are doing everything we can,” Steven Isles said.
“Members of the community have come to us with dreams they’ve had. We’ve consulted a clairvoyant. We are open to absolutely anything at this point, anything that will lead us to our father.
“He could be disoriented, he’s probably hungry and sunburnt… [but]I would certainly hope he might feel compelled to find someone close by to bring him to a place of safety.
“Once he’s found, getting him better can take as long as it needs to.”
Senior Sergeant Isles is about 180 centimetres tall, of a medium build, with brown wavy hair and hazel eyes. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
If you or someone you know needs help with depression, contact SANE Australia on 1800 187 263.
A MAN matching the description of a missing Queensland policeman has been sighted near Townsville.
Police have appealed for more information after members of the public reported seeing a man dressed in civilian clothing and matching the description of Senior Sergeant Mick Isles walking along the highway near Toonpan, about 30km south of Townsville.
Grave fears have been held for Snr Sgt Isles since he went missing last Wednesday.
Snr Sgt Isles is stationed at Ayr, in north Queensland, and was last seen leaving his home in an unmarked police car at 7.30am on Wednesday.
Officers located the silver Toyota Aurion sedan at a remote property near Ravenswood.
The man sighted on the highway is described as caucasian in appearance, aged in his late 50s, approximately 178cm tall, with greying hair.
He was wearing a short sleeved checked shirt, grey dress shorts with a thin black belt, white socks and black shoes.
He was also carrying a small carry bag.
Police have asked members of the public to remain vigilant for any sightings of any person along the Flinders Highway and in the Toonpan area that may fit the description of Snr Sgt Isles.
It wouldn’t surprise me in the least that when they find Isles, they will charge him with Illegal Use of a Motor Vehicle.
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Police locate car driven by missing officer
28 September 2009 News.com.au
POLICE have found a car believed to have been driven by a missing police officer.
Grave fears are held for Senior Sergeant Mick Isles who has been missing since early Wednesday.
Snr Sgt Isles is stationed at Ayr, in north Queensland, and was last seen leaving his home in an unmarked police car at 7.30am on Wednesday.
A police spokesman said officers had located the silver Toyota Aurion sedan, with Queensland registration number 060KVD, at a remote property near Ravenswood.
The owners of the property called police this morning after locating the vehicle.
Police have arrived at the scene, and an aerial and ground search is underway.
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There has been similar investigations run here in NSW where a bodgey complaint gets lodged for what ever reason and then warrants are obtained to dig up something and then when nothing is found they go down the managerial path and find that the person who was alleged with a serious criminal offence is now only guilty of not signing a diary. It stinks and has been going on for years, destroying careers of very highly regarded officers. Most of all as in this case the family also get hurt, but I am sure, like here in NSW the QLP Senior Executive have not given a rats about the wife and kids.
Royds does this story sound familiar with one of your close mates????
I hope an pray that the good Sergeant has just decided to take some time out as he has a family who will be left in pain forever should something terrible happen.
. . . . .
What you say is so true but to not invite the Senior Sergeant to the opening of his own Police Station is about as low as you can go.
QPS management should hang their head in shame as something like this is all it takes to tip someone over the edge and destroy a long career and a family.
. . . . .
Police sources said Sen-Sgt Isles left a note in a downstairs safe thanking his wife and their three children for their support and for standing by him.
https://police.freom.com/tbl
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Sen-Sgt Mick Isles son pleads for information
September 25th, 2009
LATEST: THE son of Burdekin police officer Senior Sergeant Mick Isles has delivered a tearful plea for information about his missing father.
Police hold grave fears for the safety of 58-year-old Sen-Sgt Isles after he disappeared two days ago.
The former officer-in-charge of Ayr Police Station was recently cleared following a Crime and Misconduct Commission investigation.
He was last seen leaving his Graham St home about 7.30am Wednesday.
Son Steve Isles, a police officer in the North Territory, choked back tears as he spoke to the media in Ayr this afternoon.
He said he had spent the past fortnight with his parents in Ayr to help his father cope with depression.
Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson travelled to Ayr today to support Sen-Sgt Isles‘ family, fellow police officers and staff.
Sen-Sgt Isles was last seen driving a police service vehicle, an unmarked 2009 model silver Toyota Aurion sedan, with Queensland registration number 060 KVD (pictured below).
He is of caucasian appearance, about 180cm tall, with a thin build, brown hair and hazel eyes.
Police do not believe Sen-Sgt Isles is a danger to the public but urge against approaching the vehicle.
Anyone who may have seen the vehicle or has any information relating to Snr-Sgt Isles location should contact Townsville Police on 4759 9777 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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Missing cop had just returned to work
DANIEL HURST September 25, 2009 – 2:12PM
A senior sergeant who vanished in north Queensland two days ago had only returned to work this week, having taken stress-related leave during a Crime and Misconduct Commission investigation.
Senior Sergeant Mick Isles, who is based in Ayr, near Townsville, was last seen driving away from his home in a police service vehicle on Wednesday morning.
He was reported missing the same day.
His disappearance comes two months after the CMCcleared him of allegations he received payments for drivers’ licences improperly issued at the Ayr police station.
brisbanetimes.com.au understands Senior Sergeant Isles had just returned to work on Monday. It is believed he signed out the police car on Wednesday morning to go to training in Townsville.
A police statement said the force held “grave concerns for his welfare”.
“We do not believe Senior Sergeant Isles is a danger to the public; however, we urge the public to not approach the vehicle, but to contact police immediately if they see the vehicle, or have any information relating to Senior Sergeant Isles‘ location,” the police statement said.
Senior Sergeant Isles has been a police officer for 35 years, having served as officer-in-charge of various stations including at Ayr, according to a Townsville Bulletin report.
He has previously won a Queensland Police Service Lantern Award for his interactions with the youth population in Cloncurry.
Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers described the officer as well respected.
“He is a very highly regarded officer,” he said through a spokesman.
“We feel for his family who are enduring a terrible time while he is missing.”
People are urged to be on the lookout for an unmarked 2009 silver Toyota Aurion sedan with ( Qld ) registration plate number 060KVD.
Senior Sergeant Isles is about 180cm tall, of a medium build, with brown hair, hazel eyes and a Caucasian appearance.
Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
I would just like to thank the QPS and the CMC for their unprofessional, victimising, deplorable, and degrading treatment of my husband, myself and my family. With only two years to go in the service, Mick held the QPS in high esteem for the past 35 years, but you have successfully changed all of that. Thank you for wrecking our lives. I take heart in `What goes round, comes round’. We are so very fortunate to have had the most remarkable PUBLIC support.
Posted by: Fiona Isles of Ayr 12:20pm Monday 11th May 2009
Now I question the usefulness and effectiveness of (1) the hierarchy of the QPS and (2) the integrity of our so called watch dog, the CMC. This is contrived rubbish – whose ego was at stake here? I worked with this officer in many community matters and have not found anyone more honest or dedicated to his job and to improving the lot for Qld. I am disgusted. I have lost faith in the Qld police, who have barely considered this man’s years of exemplary service and the CMC who have run with gossip to enact such dire consequences. Shame on you all. …and you sit in the seats of justice!
Posted by: R B Stewart – prefer unpublished of Central Queensland 09:27pm Saturday 9th May 2009
Senior-Sergeant Mick Isles has been cleared by the Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC), however the fight to clear his name has just begun.
For nine gruelling months, Sen-Sgt Isles has been the subject of a CMC investigation into the suspected improper use of a number of drivers’ licences.
The long-serving officer, who is currently on voluntary sick leave, was never officially stood down from policing duties.
The CMC yesterday confirmed its investigation was unable to substantiate an allegation that Sen-Sgt Isles had corruptly received payments for drivers’ licences improperly issued at Ayr Police Station.
However, the authority said it had referred evidence of `serious maladministration of the Ayr police station, including issues of drivers’ licences’ to the Queensland Police Service (QPS) for further investigation.
CMC spokeswoman Karen Crook said Sen-Sgt Isles was advised of the outcome of its investigation last week, however the Lantern Award-winning police officer only received a letter from the public watchdog on Wednesday “ the same day Ayr Police Station was officially opened by Police Minister Neil Roberts and Deputy Commissioner Kathy Rynders.
Sen-Sgt Isles had not been invited to the ceremony.
Brisbane-based solicitor and Australian Council for Civil Liberties president Terry O’Gorman is acting on behalf of the Isles family to make an official complaint about Sen-Sgt Isles‘ treatment through Queensland’s Parliamentary Crime and Misconduct Committee (PCMC).
Mr O’Gorman told the Townsville Bulletin he was prepared to take the matter even further, if needed.
He said it appeared an unjustified search warrant had been taken out against Sen-Sgt Isles.
“It was carelessly taken out. In any event, on the face of it, as it appears to us, it was unjustified and we want the PCMC to inquire into the circumstances that led to this search warrant being taken out,” Mr O’Gorman said.
“I’m not saying that he should have received any preferential treatment above anyone else, but I am saying that when the CMC are involved in taking out a search warrant, they should exercise “ whether it’s a police officer or anybody else “ much greater care and ensure the facts on which they take out a search warrant are significantly verified, or in effect they can stand a royal commission.”
Sen-Sgt Isles was not able to comment yesterday due to legal issues. However his son Steve Isles, who serves as a police officer in the Northern Territory, said the manner in which his father had been treated was `deplorable’.
“As far as the investigation’s concerned, it’s good to finally see some justice in bureaucracy,” Mr Isles said.
“This goes some way towards vindicating my father of serious criminal allegations, but it does nothing to remove a lot of the mud that will still stick.”
Mr O’Gorman said the CMC needed to answer why it took it so long to complete its investigation.
The watchdog has blamed the delay on the fact Sen-Sgt Isles was on extended sick leave and he had refused to communicate with them – an allegation strongly denied by the Isles family.
“If you are a police officer and your life is effectively put on hold, it’s just unacceptable. On the face of it, this clearance could have been given five, six or seven months ago,” Mr O’Gorman said.
QPS Deputy Commissioner Rynders this week said Sen-Sgt Isles had not been invited to the official opening of his station due to a `miscommunication’ between him and the regional office.
Mr O’Gorman said they must have known his client had been cleared by the CMC well before the station was opened, as the letter sent to Sen-Sgt Isles was dated April 29.
“It just emphasises the slight in not inviting him was not a mere oversight. It was clearly more than that.”
In a short statement from QPS yesterday, a spokeswoman said police would proceed with issues raised by the CMC.
Mr O’Gorman said it added insult to injury for Sen-Sgt Isles.
“All that’s come out of this is a terse statement that there’s no evidence, but then cop this for your troubles “ we’re now going to look at you because your paperwork may not be up to scratch.”
Sen-Sgt Isles, who has been a police officer for 35 years, was nominated for the Townsville Bulletin’s North Queensland Police Officer of the Year award last year.
Sen-Sgt Isles has been in charge of several police stations since 1985. He was also awarded a Queensland Police Service Lantern Award, for youth action commitment in Cloncurry.
On 15th November 2006 the senior sergeant was in Canberra to attend a Conference of the National Counter Terrorism Committee on behalf of the New South Wales Police Force in his capacity as Police Technical Unit National Capability Advisor. He collapsed and passed away at his accommodation while preparing to attend the conference.
The senior sergeant was born in 1962 and was sworn in as a probationary constable on 26th October 1984. At the time of his death he was attached to the State Technical Investigation Branch. He is listed in the official New South Wales Police Honour Roll.
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Alexander J. MUIR
| 18/01/2017
Alexander J. MUIR
aka Alex
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # ?
Rank: Inspector – death
Stations: ?, Katoomba, Lismore, Wagga Wagga, ( Regent St – 2 Division ) – death
Service: From? ? ? to? August 1939= ? years Service
Awards: No find on It’s An Honour
Born: ? ? ?
Died on: Sunday 13August 1939
Age: 59
Event location: Entrance to Brisbane Water, Hawkesbury River, Woy Woy
Cause: Drowning
Funeral date: Tuesday 15 August 1939
Funeral location: St. Stephen’s Presbyterian Church, Macquarie St, Sydney
Buried at: Cremated at the Eastern Suburbs Crematorium, and interred at Rookwood cemetery ( other articles mention the ashes being interred at Botany Cemetery )
Memorial at: ?
the Sydney Morning Herald Wed 16 August 1939 p18 Mounted and foot police led the funeral cortege of Inspector A. C. Muir, who was buried with full police honours at the Eastern Suburbs crematorium yesterday. Inspector Muir was drowned in Brisbane Water on Sunday.
[alert_blue]MUIR is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_blue] * NOT JOB RELATED
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Funeral location: ?
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FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954), Wednesday 16 August 1939, page 16
FUNERAL OF INSPECTOR MUIR.
The late Inspector A J Muir who was to have taken up duty at Regent Street Police Station but who was drowned at Brisbane Waters near Woy Woy on Sunday while fishing, was given a police funeral yesterday.
After a service at St Stephens Church Macquarie Street which was attended by the Commissioner of Police, Mr W. J. McKay, and most of the police officers stationed in Sydney, the cortege moved to the Eastern Suburbs Crematorium.
Headed by the police band, mounted police and the police motor cycle squad about 80 members of all ranks marched with the cortege from the church to Stanley Street.
Many residents of Katoomba, where the late Inspector Muir was for many years in charge of the police station came to Sydney to attend the funeral.
Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 – 1954), Wednesday 16 August 1939, page 8
MANY AT FUNERAL OF INSPECTOR
SYDNEY. Tuesday.
Policemen from many country centres attended the funeral today of the late Inspector Alexander Muir, who was drowned at Gosford last Sunday.
The cortege, headed by a police band, passed in dignified procession through the city streets, and was followed by many civilians anxious to pay their respects to a well-known police identity.
The Commissioner of Police (Mr. McKay) and the assistant Metropolitan Superintendent (Mr. Collings) were members of the funeral cortege.
CHURCH SERVICE
The Rev. A. J. Parker, formerly of Lismore, and a lifelong friend of the deceased, who officiated at the church service at St. Stephen’s Presbyterian Church, paid a high tribute to the qualities and character of the late Inspector Muir.
“He was a man who was always willing to give a helping hand to those in need,” declared the Rev. Parker.
Inspector Muir was a church elder at Lismore for a considerable time.
The remains were cremated at the Eastern Suburbs Crematorium, and interred at Rookwood cemetery.
The chief mourners were his widow, Mrs. Madge Muir, son, Alister, and daughters, Mrs. Ruth Campbell and Misses Jean and Biddie Muir, daughters.
Richmond River Herald and Northern Districts Advertiser (NSW : 1886 – 1942), Friday 18 August 1939, page 2
Police Inspector Muir, 59, who was drowned when a 16ft. launch overturned at the entrance to Brisbane Water on Sunday night, was formerly stationed at Lismore, and was on two months’ leave when the tragic occurrence took place. The widow, one son and three daughters survive.
Narandera Argus and Riverina Advertiser (NSW : 1893 – 1953), Friday 18 August 1939, page 2
INSPECTOR MUIR DROWNED
Police Inspector Muir, who had only left Wagga on Friday last, was drowned, and two companions, Archibald C. Fowler, of Katoomba, and Leslie Roy Whatley, of Woy Woy, were rescued after a sixteen foot launch had overturned on the bar at the entrance to Brisbane Water early on Sunday night.
The party had been on a fishing excursion and rough weather caused the launch to capsize. The men clung to the overturned launch, but Inspector Muir was washed upwards of 100 yards away by a strong current.
Inspector Muir, who was on two months’ leave, was staying at Ettalong before beginning duty in Sydney. He had been transferred from Wagga, where be bad been a very popular officer.
Inspector Muir, of Regent-street Station, was drowned in Brisbane Water when a 16ft launch capsized in the heavy surf on Sunday. Muir was spending a holiday at Woy Woy, and, with two other men, Leslie Whaley and A. Fowler, spent the day fishing.
They were returning to Woy Woy and while crossing the sand bar were caught in a heavy swell. The surf broke over the boat and while the men were bailing out a wave overturned the boat. Whaley and Fowler clung to the upturned boat, but Muir decided to try to swim ashore, using the pine flooring board to assist him, but an hour later the plight of Whaley and Fowler was noticed and a ferry picked them up.
Muir was found 100 yards from the overturned launch unconscious. Attempts to restore animation were unsuccessful.
Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 – 1954), Monday 14 August 1939, page 1
DROWNED
Police Inspector SYDNEY, Monday
Police Inspector Muir was drowned at Woy Woy during the week end. He was spending a short holiday in that neighborhood before taking up an important position at Regent Street Station, Sydney.
Deceased formerly had control of Katoomba, Lismore and Wagga districts. He left Wagga last week for his new position in Sydney.
ALLARD. — In fond and loving memory of our dear husband and father, Edward Harold Allard, who departed this life on 25th April, 1929, aged 40 years. His smiling face and cheerful ways, Are a treasure to recall ; His loving heart was made of gold, He died beloved by all. Upright and just in all his ways, Faithful and true to the end of his days. Inserted by his loving wife and family.
Manning River Times and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of New South Wales (Taree, NSW : 1898 – 1954), Wednesday 1 May 1929, page 4
WALLAMBA.
( From Our Correspondent ).
OBITUARY. CONSTABLE E. H. ALLARD.
On Thursday morning last the sad intelligence was received on the Wallamba that First-class Constable Edward Harold Allard, aged 40 years, had succumbed to that dire malady, typhoid fever, in the Maitland Hospital, where he had been a patient for a fortnight.
Deceased was the second son of Mr. H. F. Allard, of Failford, and joined the force about thirteen years ago, having been stationed for many years at Raymond Terrace and latterly at the West Maitland Court House.
The funeral took place at West Maitland, the remains being interred in the C. of E. portion of the Campbell’s Hill cemetery, when a police funeral was tendered to the departed, thirty-one fellow officers being in procession and four of them conveying the bier to its last resting place. Revs. Woodhouse and Kitley officiated conjointly at the graveside ceremonial and the Oddfellows’ burial service was also read by a fellow member, as deceased was a member of the M.U.I.O.O.F.
The chief mourners were the wife and children of deceased and Mesdames Mead, Codey and Miss Annie Allard (sisters), and Messrs Ernest, Gordon and Morton (brothers) and Messrs R. Mead and A. J. Johnson (brothers-in-law), all of whom had arrived prior to death.
The late Constable Allard was a native of Failford and leaves in sad bereavement his wife and three children – Florence Annie (16), Mona (14), and Reginald (13), an aged father, and brothers and sisters.
A large concourse of friends paid the last sad rites, and sympathy is extended to the bereaved and sorrowing.
The Maitland Weekly Mercury Saturday 27 April 1929 p8
FIRST-CLASS CONSTABLE ALLARD
The death occurred in the Maitland Hospital on Thursday from typhoid fever of First-class Constable Edward Harold Allard, who resided at Telarah. Deceased, who was 40 years of age, joined the police force in June, 1916, when he was appointed to Redfern. After six years’ duty, he was transferred to Raymond Terrace, where he remained for a similar term before being removed to West Maitland, nearly two years ago.
He is survived by his wife, two daughter, Florrie and Mona, and one son, Reginald. When the news was received at the West Maitland Police Station, Inspector ( Robert )Graham stated that, apart from the sympathy felt for the deceased officer’s wife and family, he deeply regretted his passing, as it meant the loss of a good man.
[ Stuart Foster is mentioned as being in Tamworth Licencing district as of 19 Sept. 1924 in NSW Govt. Gazette 134, Fri 17 Oct 1924. It is not known if this is the same FOSTER as this memorial page ]
Mungindi ( Assistant Electoral Officer – Cst 26 Sept 1922 Mungindi is just over the Qld boarder )
Narrabri (Cst – 1922, Sgt 3/C 19 March 1935 – 30 July 1935 ),
OIC Murrurundi Police Station ( Sgt 3/C 30 July 1935 – death )
Service: From? pre October 1915 to 10 May 1939=19years Service
Awards: ?
Born: ? ? 1892( in the Allyn River district near Gresford, NSW )
Died on: Wednesday 10 May 1939
Age: 46
Cause: complications stemming from a medical procedure.
Funeral date: Friday 12 May 1939
Funeral location: Church of England, Dungog @ 11.30am
Buried at: Melbury Cemetery, 2038 Salisbury Rd, Salisbury, NSW ( on private property near Salisbury, NSW )
Memorial at: ?
Trolling through public member trees on ancestry, came across the below photo of Sgt Foster with his horse at Webonga NSW. Unfortunately it cuts off what may have been the name of his horse nor does the photo have a date. His wife, Evelyn was a horse breeder and trainer, so this could be one of her horses. In another article dated 1992 Evelyn was visited by Chief Superintendent Moeller and 4 members from Police Legacy at Hillsdale Nursing home. At the time she was at the ripe old age of 103 and was the oldest living member of Police Legacy. The entry does not state what publication the article came from.
Melbury Cemetery ( on private property near Salisbury, NSW )
Inscription: In Loving Memory of Sgt. Stuart Foster Died May 10th 1939 Aged 46 years Dearly loved husband of Evelyn & father of Marjorie & Dorothy Daddy we miss you. Evelyn “Jack” Edwards-Foster Mother of Marjorie & Dorothy Loving wife of Stuart Foster Aged 105 years Passed away 8th April 1994.
[alert_yellow]STUART is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_yellow] *NEED MORE INFO
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FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
Sergeant Stuart Foster – 10th May 1939 – OIC Murrurundi Police Station
I stumbled across this Sergeant who was 46 years of age at the time of his death. The Sergeant was admitted to Newcastle Hospital for an unknown operation. Complications arising from that operation led to the death of the Sergeant.
It appears Sergeant Foster was attached to the following stations;
Burraga
Oberon
Terry Hie Hie
Pallamallawa
Webonga
Burren Junction
Narrabri
Murrurundi
According to papers he had served 25 years in the Police and was the youngest serving Sergeant at the time in the NSW Police Force.
Sergeant Foster grew up in the Upper Allyn region at the foothills of the Barrington Tops with family spanning across the ridge to the Salisbury and Underbank areas.
The funeral was held at the Church of England in Dungog followed by his internment at the Melbury Cemetery.
Does not appear to be a KoD nor does his name appear on the Honor Roll.
The Cemetery is on private land near Salisbury NSW 2420.
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Cessnock Eagle and South Maitland Recorder (NSW : 1913 – 1954), Friday 26 May 1939, page 4
OBITUARY
FUNERAL OF WELL-KNOWN POLICE SERGEANT. LATE SERGEANT S. FOSTER.
The funeral of the late Sergeant Stuart Foster, officer-in-charge of Murrurundi Police Station, following an operation a few days previously in Newcastle Hospital, left Meighan’s Funeral Parlours, Newcastle, on Friday, 12th May, for the long drive to Dungog, and then to Melbury Church of England, where an impressive service was conducted by the Rev. D. T. Rees, of Newcastle.
The casket, on leaving the parlours, was draped with the Union Jack, the pall-bearers being six uniformed members of the police, who, with a police escort of 16, accompanied the hearse to the Bank Corner, Newcastle.
Another police escort, drawn from Kurri Kurri. Dungog, Weston, Cessnock, Paterson, Abermain and West Maitland police district, joined the cortege at Dungog, and included the police pall-bearers. Sergeant Pender and Superintendent White.
The casket, still draped with the Union Jack, passed through the double rank of police comrades to its resting place in the Church of England portion of Melbury cemetery, where the interment was made.
The deceased, who was only 46 years of age, was,the second son of a well-known family at; Vacy, and the grandson of two greatly respected pioneers, Mr. and Mrs. William Edwards-Snr., of Melbury, on whose property, on the Upper Allyn River, he was born. He married his cousin, Miss Evelyn Edwards, and a year later joined the New South Wales Police Force. His first appointment was to Burraga, in the Western district, thence to Oberon, and later to Terry Hie Hie, Pallamallawa, Wemonga, Burren Junction, Narrabri, and then four years ago to Murrurundi.
The chief mourners are the widow and daughter (Marjorie and Dorothy), parents (Mr. and Mrs. W. Foster), sister Norrie (Mrs. F. Leake), his wife’s parents (Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Edwards Senr.). brothers and, sisters-in-law (Mr. W. J. Edwards, Mrs. Claude Edwards, Mr. F. Leake and Mr. Mervyn Edwards) and many others.
The exemplary character, generous and loving disposition, and his extreme devotion to his wife and daughters during his lifetime, were eulogised by the Rev. Rees at the memorial service, which was largely attended on Sunday. May 14.
Many wreaths, cards and messages of sympathy were received ‘by the bereaved family.
Birth – Stuart FOSTER 28975/1892 Father = William Mother = Wilhemina S
No marriage can be found between FOSTER & EDWARDS on computer search. No a marriage just involving Stuart FOSTER between 1899 – 1940
Death – Stuart FOSTER 10582/1939. Father = William Mother = Wilhemia
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Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate (NSW : 1876 – 1954) , Saturday 13 May 1939, page 11
A POLICEMAN LAID TO REST
SIXTEEN POLICE and a large party of citizens from Maitland, Gresford. Dungog, and the districts near by stood in silence in the tiny rural cemetery at Melbury while Sergeant Stuart Foster, officer in charge of Murrurundi Police Station for the last four years, was buried yesterday morning.
After years of service in the larger towns of the State, with all the strains and worry that police work involves, Sergeant Foster was taken back to the quiet bush settlement of his youth. He was born in the Allyn River district, near Gresford.
The funeral was unusual in several ways. At 7.15 yesterday morning the casket was carried from parlours in King street. Newcastle, to a hearse, and accompanied by six police pall-hearers and a police escort of 16 as far as Bank Corner, Newcastle West. From there began a 42-mtile drive to Dungog. For the 42 miles the hearse was accompanied only by a police car, containing the North-eastern District Superintendent (Mr. J. W. White) and Sergeant Pender, and another private car.
At Dungog, however, it was met by another police party of 10 drawn from Dungog, Cessnock, Abermain, Weston, Paterson, and West Maitland, and a long cortege of other cars carrying friends and relatives. From Dungog the funeral drove another 20 miles to the church at Melbury.
The service over, the cortege moved on towards the cemetery. Two hundred yards from the cemetery the cars stopped beside a river. The casket had to be lifted from the hearse and transported across by motor-lorry, while the mourners followed over a narrow log crossing, with wires stretching across waist high on either side as handrails.
The remains were carried to the graveside between the two ranks of the police escort : the first, and possibly the last, that the tiny Melbury cemetery will ever see. Sergeant Foster, who was 46, died in Newcastle Hospital on Wednesday. He is survived r Mrs. Foster (formerly Miss Edmunds, of Melbury) and two daughters.,
A shadow of sorrow spread over Murrurundi and district on Wednesday last when word came to hand of the passing, suddenly, following an operation in the Newcastle District Hospital, of Police Sergeant Stuart Foster, who had been stationed in the town for the past three years, during which time, largely owing to his efficiency, courtesy, and always complacent manner, he made a large circle of friends, all of whom were shocked at the sorrowful occurrence, in which Mrs. Foster and daughters (Misses Marjorie and Dorothy) have much heartfelt sympathy. The late Sergt. Foster was an officer who went about his duties quietly, yet thoroughly, tempered justice with mercy, and if he erred at all, it was in the direction of leniency. And so he won the respect and goodwill of men in every walk of life, with whom he immensely popularised himself. The funeral took place this morning, the cortege moving from the Mulbring Church of England in the Dungog district.
Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001), Friday 13 September 1935 (No.162), page 3637
(5881) Department of Labour and Industry, Sydney, 13th September, 1935.
RURAL WORKERS’ ACCOMMODATION ACT.
HIS Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, has been pleased to appoint the undermentioned members of the Police Force to be Inspectors to carry out the provisions of the Rural Workers’ Accommodation Act, 1926, in’ the districts specified in connection with their respective names.
H. M. HAWKINS.
Sergeant 2nd Class Herbert William Unwin; Station—
Narrabri; Police District—Narrabri..
Sergeant 3rd Class Stuart Foster; Station—Murrurundi;
Police District—Murrurundi.
Sergeant 3rd Class Lester Leonard Blanchard ; Station
Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001), Friday 26 April 1935 (No.85), page 1811
NAMOI SHIRE COUNCIL.
IT is hereby notified, for public information, that Sergeant 3rd Class Stuart Foster has been appointed Inspector of Slaughter-houses for that portion of Namoi Shire within the Narrabri Police Patrol Area, vice Sergeant P. Grimes, resigned.
T. W. WAUGH, Shire Clerk.
Shire Chambers, Maitland-street, Narrabri, 17th April, 1935.
Truth (Sydney, NSW : 1894 – 1954), Sunday 18 March 1934, page 12
MRS. RICHARDS ILL AT LONG BAY GAOL
Complete Collapse After Ordeal Of Nott Murder Inquiry
MRS. ANNIE ELIZABETH RICHARDS, central figure in the Pilliga murder horror, is seriously ill in bed at the Long Bay Reformatory Hospital. AFTER her nerve-wrecking ordeal at Burren Junction little more than a week ago when she was committed for trial on a charge of having sent George Washington Nott, Pilliga stock and station agent, to his doom, Mrs. Richards was taken to Long Bay Gaol. There, she has received constant medical attention.
HAVING collapsed near the conclusion of the police court proceedings at Burren Junction, the unhappy woman appeared to be much calmer after her committal. Indeed, when Mrs. Richards left by train for Sydney she seemed more content and a smile momentarily transformed her worried face as her husband, Henry Carl Richards, kissed her tenderly a minute before the express departed from Burren Junction. He is also charged with being an accessory. She seemingly retained her good spirits on the long and tiresome trip and chatted on topical subjects with her escort, Detective-Sergeant Alford and Policewoman Mrs. Mooney. She did not sleep. Instead she talked and several times perused newspaper accounts of her statement, a remarkable human document that has gripped and amazed an entire continent.
SADDENED FROM ALL ACCOUNTS THIS SADDENED WOMAN HAD NO QUALMS CONCERNING HER SOJOURN AT LONG BAY, UNTIL THE TIME ARRIVED FOR HER REMOVAL TO NARRABRI, WHERE, IT IS STATED, SHE AND HER HUSBAND WILL FACE A JUDGE AND JURY ON APRIL 4 NEXT, THE DATE OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE CRIMINAL COURT SITTINGS IN THE NORTH-WEST.
Being on remand Mrs. Richards is not expected to do labor of any description. She is called upon to make her bed but that is all. She intended to ask permission of the prison authorities to allow her to knit some small tokens of appreciation for Policewoman Mooney and Mrs. Foster, wife of Sergeant Stuart Foster, who is in charge of the Burren Junction Police Station.
THOSE WOMEN DISPLAYED UNENDING KINDNESS TO MRS. RICHARDS DURING HER HOURS OF AGONY AT BURREN JUNCTION.
NOT TO BE
But it was not to be. Once at the reformatory, Mrs. Richards collapsed and had to be put to bed. She has been constantly watched and the best medical attention possible has been secured for her. The gaol authorities have studied her every need, and have taken particular care of her diet, which has consisted mainly of thin bread and butter owing to her physical condition.
And what of her husband, the pleasant-faced drover, the story of whose unshaken love for his wife was told in ‘Truth’ last week. ? He expected to come to Sydney during the week with his solicitor, Mr. K. J. O’Halloran. of Tamworth, to complete arrangements for the defence. HOWEVER, THERE WAS A HITCH IN THE ARRANGEMENTS AND RICHARDS RETURNED TO HIS HUT AT BUGILBONE. BUT, ‘TRUTH’ LEARNS. HE WILL MAKE THE TRIP TO THE CITY TO-MORROW. ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS HE WILL DO WILL BE TO SECURE PERMISSION TO VISIT HIS WIFE AT LONG BAY.
Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001), Friday 21 October 1932 (No.151), page 3890
SHIRE OF COCKBURN.
NOTICE is hereby given that Constable Thomas Francis Smart, Weabonga, has been appointed an Inspector under the Cattle Slaughtering and Diseased Animals and Meat Act, 1902, vice Constable Stuart Foster, transferred.
Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001), Friday 20 February 1925 (No.25), page 1043
SHIRE OF COCKBURN.
NOTICE is hereby given that Constable Stuart Foster, of Weabonga, has been appointed an Inspector under the Cattle Slaughtering and Diseased Animals and Meat Act. 1902, for the Weabonga Police Patrol, Cockburn Shire, vice Constable Burke, transferred.
Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001), Friday 17 November 1922 (No.160), page 6096
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTORATES AND ELECTIONS ACT, 1912, AS AMENDED BY SUBSEQUENT ACTS.
IT is hereby notified, for general information, that
….
It is also further notified that the following persons have been appointed as Assistant Deputy Electoral Registrars, to keep the Rolls for the several Polling place Areas in the Electoral Districts set against their respective names, in pursuance of the provisions of the aforesaid Act, to take effect from the dates specified, viz. :—
Constable Stuart Foster, Mungindi, Namoi (Mungindi) in lieu of Martin, on leave,—from 26th September, 1922.
Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001), Friday 17 March 1922 (No.47), page 1827
NAMOI SHIRE.
IT is hereby notified that Constable Stuart Foster, stationed at Narrabri, has been duly appointed Inspector of Slaughter-houses under the Cattle Slaughtering and Diseased Animals and Meat Act,”
within the Police patrol of Narrabri, vice Constable Clancy, transferred.
Dungog Chronicle : Durham and Gloucester Advertiser (NSW : 1894 – 1954), Tuesday 6 January 1920, page 2
IN MEMORIAM SATTLER (nee Edwards).— In loving memory of my darling sister, ; Florrie, who departed this life December 27th, 1918, at Maitland Hospital, aged 32 years.
Oh! Florrie, Florrie.
At the heavenly gates she will meet us, With that same sweet smile, We are only parted, sister dear, Just for a little while.
Inserted by her sorrowing sister and brother-in-law, Evelyn and Stuart Foster, and little nieces, Dorothy and Marjorie, at Moree.
Moree Gwydir Examiner and General Advertiser (NSW : 1901 – 1940), Friday 28 February 1919, page 2
Police Court,
(Before Messrs P. P. Rosenthal and C. G. Hobbes, J’s.P.) TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25.
Frank Brown (25) was charged with that on February 22, at Terry-Hie-Hie, he did unlawfully assault Albert Duncan. Mr. T. R. Hogan appeared for the complainant, and Mr. A. B. F. Zlotkowski for the defendant, who pleaded not guilty.
Constable Stuart Foster, stationed at Terry-Hie-Hie, deposed: I know the defendant and complainant in this case. In consequence of a complaint made to m« by the complainant, I arrested the defendant at 11 p.m. on the 22nd instant. Both defendant and complainant were present at the time of the arrest. I said to complainant, ” Is this the man who assaulted you ?” He said ‘Yes.’ I said to Brown, ‘Did you assault Duncan?’ He said, ‘I had to defend myself.’
By Mr. Zlotkowski: Hei may have said, ‘What I did I did to defend myself’. He did not say he went over to the camp because, they were fighting over there. He did not say Picket was choking another black and he (Brown) tried to pull him off. He did not say he was hit over the head with a stone while he was pulling the other man off, but he did say he was hit with a stone. He showed me a place on the left temple under the hair. He did not say who hit him with the stone.
Albert Duncan, laborer, residing at Terry-Hie-Hie, deposed: On Saturday night last at about 9 o’clock I was at my own place. My wife was present, also Harry Nean and Mrs. Newman (a midwife). I know defendant. He came from the direction of the mill to my place. We were inside the house when he came. Two men, Gillen and Picket, were fighting near my verandah. Brown came round the corner and said something. I then came out of the house and asked them to get away — to got off the premises. He punched me on the forehead when I said that. I walked back to my room and he said he would kill me. He had a paling which he tore from the fence. He hit me on the top of the head with the paling. Picket took the paling. I then went to my wife’s assistance, who had fainted. I did not assault the defendant in any way.
To the Bench: I heard the men fighting outside. They were fighting a couple of minutes. Picket lives at my place. Gillen does not live there. Picket is my step-father. I have no mark on my head where I was hit. By Mr. Zlotkowski: He did not give me a black eye. The men were fighting for two minutes, but not five minutes. Picket and Gillen are both blackfellows. I was never in any fight before. I have had a bad fall off a horse. The hit defendant gave me was not as bad as that. He did not do me any harm. I am as good a man as ever. Harry Nean, laborer, residing at Terry-Hie-Hie, deposed: I know Brown and Duncan. I was at Duncan’s place about 9 o’clock on Saturday night last. I saw Brown come through the gate. He used some bad language when coming through the gate. Duncan came out of the house and said, ‘Don’t kick up a row here, my wife is not well.’ Brown then struck Duncan somewhere about the face. He hit him with his fist. Duncan then went towards the porch of his home and Brown followed him. He pulled a paling out of the garden and said he would knock his ….. brains out. He hit him with the paling, but struck him with no force. Picket took the paling out of Brown’s hand. Duncan went to his wife.
By Mr. Zlotkowski: There was no trouble when Brown came. Gillen was walking away when Brown came. Duncan was not there when Gillen and Picket were fighting. If he said he saw Gillen and Picket down he was not telling the truth. Picket was down and Gillen was on top of him. Duncan did not come till Brown came. No one hit Brown with a stone. I did not hit Brown. He came to me for protection. He fell against a post where Picket threw him. This was at the finish of the row. Picket was fighting with Brown after Duncan went away. The fight between Duncan and Brown was only a hit. It was a wild fight between Gillen and Picket. Gillen is about 22 years of age, and Picket about 50. I was up once for fighting. I was not referee. By Mr. Hogan : I was up about 18 or 19 years ago for fighting. To the Bench: Brown had liquor on him. Frank Brown, laborer, residing at Terry-Hie-Hie, deposed: I remember the night of the 22nd instant. I went to Duncan’s place to get my horse— Gillen had it. I saw Gillen had Picket down choking him. I pulled Gillen off. I got hit on the head with a stone. Picket threw it. ‘ I did not do anything to Duncan. The stone knocked me down. I did not pick up a paling and I never hit Duncan, nor tried to do so. Duncan was there when the fight was over. I was about ten yards from the verandah. I used no bad language, I work for Mr. Cory. I was only going to get my horse.
By Mr. Hogan: I am not a quarrelsome man. I was convicted for fighting about two years ago. I was fined for being drunk and disorderly three years ago. I was fined £3 for using language, and £1 for resisting the police. I drink. I had one drink on Saturday night. It was beer. Sometimes I use bad language I did not use bad language last Saturday night. I did not hit Duncan, and I did not pull a paling out of the garden to hit Duncan. I did not take a paling at all. Duncan did not hit me, only Picket. I heard women screaming outside, the house. None of the ladies fainted that I know of. I did not get the mark on forehead by falling against a post. By Mr. Zlotkowski: The three convictions mentioned took place at the same time — two years ago.
By the Bench : I saw Picket throw the stone. He was about 5 or 6 yards away. Cecil Cory, drover, Terry-Hie-Hie, deposed : I know the defendant Brown. I have known him since he was 12 years of age. He is a quiet and inoffensive fellow and a good worker. He is not a loafer. By Mr. Hogan: He does not look for fight. He does not drink to any extent. One beer would not upset him. I never knew him to drink rum. He does not swear.
The defendant was convicted and fined £1, with £2 witness’s expenses, and £2 professional costs, in default one month’s imprisonment, with hard labor.
Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001), Wednesday 17 November 1915 (No.206), page 6794
Mines Department
appointments.
DEPARTMENT OF MINES.
HIS Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, has been pleased to appoint Constable Stuart Foster to act temporarily as Officer authorised to issue Miners’ Rights and Business Licenses at Jenolan Caves, and as Warden’s Bailiff at that place, vice Mr. Dolman, on leave,—such appointment to take effect from the 18th October, 1915.
The constable was knocked down by a young man riding a bicycle in Pennant Hills Road, Parramatta on 27 November, 1912. He was taken to the Parramatta Hospital where he passed away on 7 December. He was on duty at the time. The following brief article appeared in the Barrier Miner newspaper of the 9 December, 1912.
“DEATH OF A CONSTABLE – RESULT OF A BICYCLE COLLISION.
On November 27 Constable G. Sheill [sic], while on duty on the Pennant Hills Road, was run into from behind by a cyclist named Francis Mobbs, who was on his way to the chemists for medicine for a sick relative. The constable was thrown heavily on the roadway, his head striking the metal with great force. He was conveyed in an unconscious condition to the Parramatta Hospital, where he remained in a very bad way until Saturday morning last, when he succumbed to his injuries. The deceased officer, who was 43 years of age and had been 22 years in the police force, leaves a widow and three children. He was previously stationed at Lawson and Broken Hill.”
The constable was born in 1860 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 2 January, 1891. He was stationed at Parramatta. He is not listed in the official New South Wales Police Honour Roll.
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Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 – 1950), Wednesday 11 December 1912, page 2
Death of Constable Shiell.
A Fatal Collision,
Constable George Shiell died in the Parramatta District Hospital early on Saturday morning. He had been a patient since the evening of November 27, on which day he was run down by a cyclist, and sustained severe concussion of the brain which proved fatal. The facts as narrated at the time in ‘The Argus’ were that Shiell was on duty on the Pennant Hills Road on the evening of the 27th, when Frank Mobbs, riding into Parramatta with all speed on a cycle, to obtain medication for his sister, ran into the constable with considerable force.
Shiell, who was a heavy man, fell back wards, his head striking the hard metal road very severely. He did not move after he. fell, and Mobbs went to his assistance. The constable was then unconscious, and was removed in a cab to the Parramatta Hospital. He never regained consciousness, and died ten days after the accident happened. The funeral was impressively carried out on Monday morning, Mr. E. L. Maitland, S.M., adjourning the Parramatta Police Court front 11.30 a.m. until 2 p.m., as a mark of respect. The arrangements were entrusted .to Mr. Ralph Metcalfe. The solemn procession was formed up in front of the police station, the coffin being brought to the hearse, from the Hospital morgue. Troopers Porter and Wilkinson, mounted, headed the cortege. which marched to the mournful strains of the Dead March in Saul and other appropriate music. This thrilling lament was exquisitely and most feelingly played by the fine police band, consisting of some 18 musicians, under the direction of Capt. Bentley and Sergeant Mankey. The drums were draped in black as a token of sorrow for the comrade departed. The band was followed by a body of police under the command of Inspector Trenchard, amongst whom were Sergeant MacMillan, Sergeant Hynes, Senior-Constables Gillies, Nelson, Robertson, Allison, McDonald, Trevillian, and Freeland, and some IS members of the force. Also present were notice ex Senior Constable May and West, and ex Constable Denman, Buchanan, Sergeant Cawood and others. The pall bearers were Constables Kelly, Sheddon, Bruce and Wilson, and the chief mourners were Mr. and Mrs. Shiell. jun., Miss Venables and Mr. Potts, near relatives of deceased. The procession marched via George and Church streets to the Western-road cemetery, where the mortal remains of the departed officer were reverently laid to rest in the Presbyterian portion of the burial ground. The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. John Paterson, and the police band played very movingly by the grave-side. Beautiful floral tributes were sent in, one wreath under a glass cover bearing a card stating that it was ‘a token of esteem and deepest sympathy from his brother comrades of the Parramatta police.” The other bore the word, ‘Asleep,’ and was addressed ” With deepest sympathy, from the employees of Yolhnann’s ?, Ltd.’
Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 – 1950), Saturday 22 February 1919, page 6
MARRIAGE.
FISHBURN — SHIELL — January 25, 1919, at St. Paul’s, Castle Hill, by the Rev. W. J. Roberts, Frank Walter, only son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Fishburn, Castle Hill, to Florence Janet, only daughter of the late Constable George Shiell and Mrs. Shiell, Sorrell-street, Parramatta.
Constable George Shiell, of Parramatta, was run down by a cyclist, at the Pennant Hill road, about 9 o’clock last night. The cyclist was hurrying Into Parramatta for medical assistance for his sister, when the accident happened, and he went to the assistance of Shiell, who was unconscious, and had him conveyed to Parramatta Hospital. The constable was still unconscious this morning, suffering from concussion of the brain.
BY virtue of an authority vested in me by an order of His Excellency the Governor-in-Council, I have appointed the undermentioned members of the Police Force as Inspectors of Slaughter-houses and of Cattle intended to to slaughtered :—
IT is hereby notified, for public information, that the undermentioned Sanitary Inspectors have been appointed by the Local Authorities under the ” Public Health Act, 1902,” for the Police Districts named :—
Police District. Lawson.
Name of Sanitary Inspector. First Class Constable George Shiell
Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW : 1888 – 1954), Thursday 22 March 1894, page 1
THE SOUTH TRAGEDY.
THE INQUEST.
CONSTABLE WHITE’S EVIDENCE.
THE inquest on the body of John Jeremiah Considine, who was killed at South Broken Hill on Sunday morning, was resumed at the Town Hall this afternoon before Mr. A. N. Barnett, district coroner.
Constables J. L. White and George Shiell were present in custody. Alderman John Souter was foreman of the jury.
Mr. A. J. Hall appeared for the relatives of the deceased.
The first witness was Constable James Lees White, who appeared with his head bandaged.
The Coroner said before administering the oath that the witness was not obliged to answer any questions which might bear on any future proceedings.
The witness said : – I was stationed in charge at South Broken Hill ; I am relieved from duty ; I have been in charge at South Broken Hill from the middle of October last ; I was on duty at South Broken Hill on the night of March 17 ; Constable George Shiell was also on duty ; I saw the deceased Considine on the morning of the 18th at about a quarter past 12 o’clock ; he was in the back yard of Hegarty’s Hotel; he came from the back of the hotel with two men named McLennon into South-street ; be came to the gate of the yard of the hotel ; the three men appeared to be the worse for liquor, the two McLennons more so than Considine ; as they came to the gate I said, “Good night, Considine ; don’t you think it is about time you were getting home?’ ; one of the McLennon’s said, ” Oh, yes, come on, Jack ” ( meaning Considine ) ” we’ll go;” Considine replied, ” No, I won’t – I’ll go home when I think fit ;” he then put his hand up to his ( witness’ ) face, and, spreading it out, said, ” Now, White, you appear to be watching me ;” he still kept putting his hand up, and said, ” Now, White, I warn you if Shiell or Shiner comes to arrest me you had better come well prepared or you’ll go down.” I replied, “There’s nobody talking about arresting you.” He replied, “Never mind, I’ve warned you ; take what meaning you like out of it ;” one of the McLennons got him by the arm then, and said, ” come on, Jack, never mind;” he replied, “you go away, Hughie, and mind your own business,” and pushing McLennon in the chest, knocked him down ; Constable Shiell then stepped over to the kerb side of the footpath and beckoned with his finger saying, ” Look here Jack, I want to speak to you ;” Considine passed me, and went over to Constable Shiell, putting his hands up in a threatening attitude, saying : ” You, Shiell, you’re only a ……… thing, a …… sneak, and a ….. crawler. Shiell replied, backing away from him towards the fence of the hotel, and Considine said, with his hands up in a fighting attitude, ” I’ll drop you.” He backed Shiell against the fence up to within about two feet or a yard from Hegarty’s Hotel; Shiell drew his baton and struck at him, and I also drew my baton, believing there would be a row ; I believe he struck Shiell; he rushed at Shiell, and I struck him with my baton over the forehead ; he sidled backwards and then started to run along South street and into Patton-lane ; he entered Hegarty’s Hotel by a small gate off Patton-lane, and ran through the yard into the passage of the hotel, followed by myself and Constable Shiell ; finding there was no light in the passage of the hotel, we didn’t enter ; called the landlord, Mr. Hegarty, who came out and gave me a candle ; at this time I heard a noise as if a door was being opened and shut ; lit the candle and proceeded along the passages of the hotel and searched them, but failed to find anybody ; found that the door of the hotel leading into South-street was closed, but unlocked ; remarked to Hegarty, ” He’s got away, we must let him go and take proceedings on Monday “; after speaking to Hegarty for about three minutes at the side door of the hotel, Hegarty either remarked, ” Here he’s coming ” or ” Here’s somebody coming,” could not say which ; Hegarty took the candle, and going inside closed the door ; it was Considine coming, and he appeared to increase his pace as he came towards us, saying, “Now, I’ll smash your ….. brains out;” the McLennons were at this time standing near the entrance gate of the hotel, 20 yards off; when Considine came within 10 paces of me I saw he had something in his hand which he was carrying low down, as if it were a rifle; he struck at Constable Shiell and then swung round at me ; I then saw that what he had was not a rifle, but a bar of iron or an octagon drill, about 4ft. or 4ft 6in. long ; he swung it round in both hands with terrific force at me ; I closed with him to try and avoid the full force of the blow, but the iron struck me over the left ear, and I fell on my back out on to the footpath ; I produce the cap I was wearing at the time showing, it cut through just where I got the blow over the ear ; I was partly dazed for a few seconds; I raised myself on my left elbow, and looking round saw Considine chasing Shiell down along the police station fence in Patton-street ; I got up, staggered across the street, and went into the.police station; I had previously tried to arrest Considine for riotous behavior ; I saw Shiell at the police station; we got our revolvers and went out into Patton-street with a view to effecting his arrest ; we saw him standing in South-street, against Krantz’s store, about 30 or 40 yards from us ; we went towards him and he started to move away towards the direction of his house or towards Hebbard-lane ; I called out, ” Considine stand, or I’ll shoot;” he then started to run ; the period between this time and when I got up off the path was about three minutes ; he ran, and I called out again, ” Considine stand or I’ll shoot”; he was 20 yards off ; he increased his pace and replied “Shoot away, I can do you,” or ” I can do for you,” I’m not sure which ; I then fired a shot from about 10 paces behind him into the ground before him to frighten him ; he still kept running and as he turned into Hebbard-lane I fired another shot at his feet ; it didn’t appear to take effect, as he still kept running, and as he turned into his own block, he partly looked back over his shoulder at the time to see if I was pursuing him ; after getting into his own block he turned round and faced me, and came towards me with his hands up in front of him about level with his face ; I ran into, him, striking him with my left shoulder, knocking him down ; he then said, “I give in,” and with the assistance of Constable Shiell I put the handcuffs on ; we picked him up between us and conveyed him some yards when his knees gave way, and he suddenly fell down, saying, ” I’m done ;” I fired three shots, the third one being fired as he turned out of Hebbard-lane into his own block ; I fired the third shot at his knees as he was running and looking back at me ; after I fired the first shot Shiell also fired, but without apparent effect ; after I fired the second shot Shiell responded, and this also didn’t appear to take any effect ; as I fired the third shot Shiell immediately fired also, Shiell being about a yard behind me ; Considine appears to be in the act of turning round and coming towards me ; cannot say in what direction Shiell fired when deceased fell down I ran for cab over in Hebbard-street, as he appeared to be badly wounded ; left Considine with Shiell ; told the cabman to come to Hebbard-lane, and when I came we put the deceased into the cab he was then alive, but breathing heavily ; before removing Considine to the cab Mr. Pound and a man named Reid came and assisted us to put the deceased in the cab ; the cab went down to the police station ; Constable Shiell came out and went in the inside with the deceased; I got on the box with the driver, and told him to drive as fast as he could into town ; we reached Dr. Thomson’s surgery in Argent-street at about 12.45 ; I called Dr. Thomson; he came out and examined Considine and said he thought life extinct; he bandaged my head, and we then drove to the hospital and put the body of the deceased in the morgue; the revolver produced is in the same condition as it was when I used it ; it is loaded in three chambers; three cartridge: were exploded.
By the Coroner : When I fired the last shot the deceased had not turned towards me, but was running sideways from me, exposing his right side, and with his face towards me.
By Mr. Hall : I had known Considine for four or five months ; I had heard that the police did not care about interfering with him, especially if he was under the influence of liquor ; I cannot say he was a peaceable citizen, because I saw him picking a quarrel at a banquet two nights before ; I used to be on fairly friendly terms with Considine, and never spoke to him officially before ; I did not see the deceased before on that evening ; I was exceedingly civil to him when I advised him to go home; I spoke to him in friendship, because I knew that in liquor be was apt to get into trouble ; I saw neither Carney nor O’Leary present at the time ; I am certain it was McLennon who caught hold of Considine by the arm and ordered him to go home ; it is untrue that Considine said to me, “You are a white man,” and, turning to Shiell, said “You are a crawler,” and that thereupon Shiell struck him on the head with a baton; he kept calling Shiells ” crawler ” and walking towards him, and it was when Shiell had backed to within a yard of the fence that he struck Considine with his baton ; I believe he struck him on the neck or the jaw; I also struck him ; the small wound caused by me over the eye was afterwards mistaken for a bullet wound ; it did not bleed profusely; when Considine came the second time I recognised him at a distance of 20 yards ; he increased his pace when he got close; notwithstanding that the peak and the button on my cap are uninjured, I consider that the clean cut on toe side of the cap was caused by the blow with the bar ; I was leaning away from him when he struck at me, and I got so close in that he could not give full force to the blow ; I cannot say what conversation Shiell and I had when we went into the station ; Shiell was very much excited, like myself ; my revolver was unloaded, and I had to load it; Constable Shiell took Constable Shiner’s revolver; I don’t know whether he had to load it ; I decline to answer the question as to who first suggested the use of revolvers on the ground that it may incriminate me; I have had no instructions whatever about the regulation revolvers ; my experience is that a revolver does not carry high with a fine sight ; it was between 30 or 40 yards from where I fired the first shot to where he fell ; while we were coming up from the police-station towards Considine I said to Shiell, ” If he attacks us again whatever you do don’t shoot him in the body, fire low” ; when I first called on Considine to stop I believe he had the bar still in his possession ; when the last shot was fired he was between 15 and 20 yards away ; I did not see him drop or fling away any weapon; it was in consequence of his second attack that we went to arrest him immediately instead of waiting until Monday ; before I left the ground I gave instructions that the weapon should be searched for ; Constable Shiner afterwards told me that he could not find it; I know Considine was a married man ; his wife told me on the Friday evening that she was not living with him ; while I was on the way to the cabdriver’s I met a man named Ohllson ; I don’t remember what I said to him ; I refuse to say whether I told him what I had done ; when we came out with revolvers there were some people standing with Considine; I don’t know who they were ; I don’t think the blow I gave the deceased with the baton would be sufficient to cause the bloodstains on the collar of the shirt produced.
The examination of Constable White concluded at 5.15.
The Coroner at this stage said he was justified in telling the jury that once they were convinced that the deceased met his death by being shot down by one constable or some constables, the only questions they had to consider were :-(1) Was he, or were they, in the execution of their duty, or, even when, trying to arrest were they in the execution of their duty ; and (2) were they justified in shooting him in order to bring him within the reach of justice. Any questions that went beyond that were, in his opinion, irrelevant.
Dr. Seabrook, of the hospital, said that White had a true contused wound above the left ear ; such a wound could have been caused by a heavy blunt instrument, and would be likely to affect the brain for the time being, together with depression of the nervous and physical systems ; also examined Constable Shiell, who had the ninth rib on the left side fractured.
Constable Shiell said he was on duty at South Broken Hill on Sunday morning, and saw Considine at the rear of the South Broken Bill Hotel. The evidence was mainly corroborative of that given by Constable White ; Shiell added that White called to Considine, “Stand, or I will shoot “; the latter replied. ” Shoot away I will do for you “; Considine commenced to run, and White fired ; witness immediately fired over the man’s head, thinking he would surrender ; White and witness again fired ; after the second lot of shots, before any more were fired, Considine was on his own block : he turned round to the left and looked at them sidewise, when White delivers his last shot ; when he turned his full front towards them Considine raised both hands as if he was going to rush or throw something at them ; witness fired at his legs about the knees, with the intention of crippling him, in order to effect the arrest ; this was immediately after White’s last shot.
The inquest was at 6.30 adjourned until 10 a m. to-morrow.
Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW : 1888 – 1954), Tuesday 24 April 1894, page 4
THE CIRCUIT COURT.
The South Tragedy.
Evidence For the Crown
Continued.
In the charge against James Lees White and George Shiell of feloniously killing John Jeremiah Considine at
South Broken Hill on March 18, the following further evidence was taken this afternoon :
James Carney, laborer, employed on the Proprietary mine, went to Hegarty’s at 11p.m.; he there met Considine, who was an old acquaintance of his ; he had two drinks with the deceased ; Considine was neither drunk nor sober; witness did not know-him to be a quarrelsome man in drink ; he went out of the hotel and through the back yard with Considine, the two McLennons and O’Leary ; .Considine was leading ; Constables White and Shiell were standing near the gate on the footpath ; White said to Considine, “It is time you were home Considine ;” deceased replied “I will please myself;” witness then went down the yard ; on returning. he saw O’Leary, Considine, and the two constables ; he heard deceased say to White, ” You are a white man, White, I believe ;” Shiell then hit Considine with his baton on the head; Considine reeled and staggered back against the fence ; both constables then drew their batons and followed him up; he got away from them and ran along South lane ; witness remained at the gate with O’Leary, and saw Considine running through the backyard into the hotel; the two policemen followed shortly afterwards ; he next saw the constables standing outside the side door of the hotel with Hegarty ; he walked towards them ; when about six or seven yards away from them he saw a man coming down South-street, near James’ shop ; he heard Shiell say, ” Here he comes ; we will have him this time ;” :witness identified the man as Considine as he approached the constables ; he had no weapon in his hand ; the constables walked two or three paces towards Considine, and witness saw the latter hit White on the head with his right hand ; deceased did not first hit Shiell ; he was in the habit of wearing a ring on his right hand ; White fell down on the footpath near the tree-guard ; Shiell went towards the police-station, and White followed him;. witness, O’Leary and Considine crossed Patton-street and walked along the footpath past Krantz’ ; they stood near Hebbard-lane for a short time ; a man named Donohue had followed them up and joined them ; Donohue remarked, “There come the two constables; I can see their revolvers shining ” ; the policemen were just coming out of the station ; witness told Considine to go home ; blood was streaming down Considine’s face; he left and walked towards Hebbard-lane on the opposite side of the street ; he was walking slowly and one of the constables said “Stand, Considine, or we will shoot ” ; Considine began to walk pretty smart, and the constables again called out , to him to stand ; he replied “Shoot away” ; the police were then about 12 or 15 paces behind him, and they fired, two shots in quick succession ; when they all entered the lane two more shots were fired; witness believed the deceased and the police were then running ; after Considine had turned on to his allotment the constables, who were also on the block, fired the last two shots ; White ran into Considine and knocked him down ; the constables handcuffed the deceased and walked him a few yards ; Considine then exclaimed, “I’m done,” and fell ; witness had known deceased get into trouble with other people, but always through their fault. By Mr. Moriarty : Witness was an intimate friend of Considine’s; he did not know that two evenings before the tragedy Considine had driven his wife out of the house, nor that on the Friday previous he turned her out at 4 a m. ; in his evidence before the coroner; witness did not mention that Donohue was present when the police came up with their revolvers; he did not offer to assist White when he was knocked down, neither did Shiell, who merely walked over to the police station ; he could not say who broke Shiell’s ribs ; he could not say where White got the blow from Considine ; White was the first man deceased attacked; Considine came from James,’ the butcher’s, right across, the street to Hegarty’s; he met White first and knocked him down ; Shiell would not have to cross Considine to get to the police station ; when deceased struck White he was quiet, and made no remark then or afterwards about it ; when Considine told the police to “Shoot away” he did not add, “I can do for you;” when Considine fell witness was 25 yards away; he would not swear that deceased did not face the police when on his own property. By Mr. Edgar : He would swear that Considine did not face the police in a threatening attitude ; he might have turned slightly.
James O’Leary, smelter hand, was at Hegarty’s Hotel on the evening in question at 10.30 ; he had two whiskies there ; he. saw Considine, the two McLennans, and James Carney there ; the McLennans were the worse of drink; Considine seemed right enough ; they all left the hotel together by the back entrance, Considine being a little bit ahead ; at the gate they met the accused ; when Considine got to the gate White said, “You ought to be at home, Considine’ he replied, ” I will go when I like,” and added that they “had been watching him this good bit ;”? deceased also said, ” If you come to take me come prepared or you will go down ;” turning to Shiell, he exclaimed, ” You are a crawler,” and to White he said, ” You are a white man ;” the McLennans said nothing to Considine, and witness did not ask Considine do anything to either of them ;. after Considine had addressed the constables in the manner stated Shiell struck him with his baton ; the blow staggered him, but he recovered, and both constables rushed in ; they tried to hold Considine, but he got away and ran around the corner into the lane; afterwards he saw the police conversing with Hegarty at the side door ; he saw Considine coming across from James’ butchers shop, passing a cab en route ; he hit White, but witness did not see him hit Shiell ; White fell, and Shiell went over to the police station ; White got up and followed Shiell ; Witness and Carney joined Considine, and they moved off towards Krantz’s ; deceased at this time had nothing in his hand ; when they got below Krantz’s Michael Donohue joined them ; Considine had a cut over his eye, from which blood was flowing ; witness saw the constables coming from the direction of the police station ; Considine crossed the street towards his own place, and the police called out, ” Stop, Considine, or we will shoot”;, they, then fired two shots, and when deceased got into the lane they fired two more ; two more shots were fired when Considine got on his, own block ; when the last shots were fired Considine was about eight yards from the police; he fell, but witness was not sure that a policeman did not run into him first. By Mr. Moriarty : Considine had no iron bar with him ; he may have had a ring on his finger.
Christopher Conlon, cab-driver, was next examined.
Case proceeding.
[The continuation of the evidence will appear in the Third Edition.]
Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW : 1888 – 1954), Thursday 26 April 1894, page 3
THE SOUTH TRAGEDY.
His Honor’s Summing-up. The Functions of Police Constables.
The Legal Use of Firearms.
James Lees White and George Shiell, police constables, were charged, on remand from the previous day, that they did, on March 18, at South Town, feloniously slay John Jeremiah Considine.
The jury, which earlier in the morning had been driven to the scene of the tragedy under the charge of the Deputy-Sheriff ( Mr. G. A. Mills ), was brought into court at 10 o’clock.
His Honor said the jury would understand that the question they were now trying was one of manslaughter ; the Crown did not bring the prisoners up on the murder charge.
The question was whether on the whole of the evidence, subject to the law, the prisoners, or either of them, were guilty of the offence. Manslaughter was the unlawful slaying of a human being. The case was one of enormous importance both to the prisoners and the community, and also the police force of the colony. He was glad to find from the evidence of Sub-inspector Johnston that it had not been found necessary to cause the police here to habitually carry firearms. The unfortunate necessity becomes only justifiably resorted to in cases where there were men so degraded and villainously murderous as to be prepared to take the life of the police simply because they were police, and treated them in such a manner as to endanger life. The police were bound to protect our liberties at the risk of their lives, but were also given the power to protect their lives just the same as private individuals. They must be treated in the matter of self defence just as private individuals. The police had a perfect right to take the life of a person if necessary to do so in defence of their lives; but only in case of necessity. Here it was important to consider what “necessity” was. It was not merely a necessity appearing to the mind of an excitable man, but such a necessity as would appear to persons in the calm contemplation of the matter. A man was not excused because he had taken fright and thought he was going to have his life taken. Whether life was taken by a policeman or an ordinary civilian, the law invariably held a careful and jealous investigation as to how it was taken and whether the circumstances were such as to justify the taking of life in self-defence. Under the strict interpretation of the law; ” justification” was not a proper term. All the law did was to “excuse” a man who took the life of a fellow creature in self defence.- In this case he had no doubt that the jury would have full regard to the point he had drawn their attention to, i.e., that the only ground on which a man could be excused in taking life was that it was done from an absolute or clearly apparent necessity.
And that necessity must be this : It was not sufficient that the accused himself should think it was necessary, but he must think so reasonably and justifiably. The jury had a difficult task to determine whether the circumstances were such as to make it reasonably necessary for a man to take life in his own defence.
The law was not otherwise in regard to killing in the execution of duty by an officer of justice. Bearing that in mind, they would have to deal with this difficult case like others of a similar character. With regard to the matter of self defence, he did not think the question was really raised on the part of the prisoners.. He did not think it was set up that the killing was done by them in necessary self-defence of themselves. It appeared that the prisoners had from the first stated that .they did it in order to effect the arrest of a felon endeavoring to escape from them. As to the evidence of the witness Pound, he had to draw attention to the fact that what White stated to Pound was not evidence against anyone but White himself ; it was not evidence against Shiell. Nothing one prisoner said in the absence of the other was evidence against that other. It was necessary that the jury should also consider, although the excuse was set up of having taken life in endeavoring to apprehend a felon, whether in fact the object was to retaliate for injuries already received by the constables. If it was retaliation, the law made no excuse whatever. The law made this much allowance, that if a man was severely injured, and whilst still in hot blood seized a weapon and took the life of the person who attacked him, it would not hold him guilty of murder, but of manslaughter of a high character – of a very aggravated kind indeed. It was, therefore, a matter of the most serious importance to consider whether they were satisfied that Pound had given the proper statement of what took place, or whether White was doing so. Pound stated, if they recollected, that the prisoner said to him after the shooting took place, that he had shot Considine; and when Pound asked why he had done so, White replied, “If he had done to you what he did to me, you would have done the same.” Did the jury believe that Considine was shot because of the injuries which he caused to White? If they did so, he would be guilty of manslaughter of an aggravated kind. If he had taken firearms when cool and took life he would be guilty of murder, but if he did it in a time of excitement he would be guilty of aggravated manslaughter indeed. The law would admit self-defence, but not retaliation of any kind. Retaliation involved punishment, and.the law; insisted that punishment should be left to the proper courts of justice and should not be placed in the hands of private individuals or persons other than courts of justice. A good deal depended on what the jury thought of the evidence given by Pound as compared with that given by White. White alleged that he said, “If you had been placed in the same position as I was you might have done the same,” which bore no indication that he acted under feeling from injuries received. They must be very careful in regard to the recollection of witnesses, as witnesses very often differed as to the exact words used. The words were of very great importance in this case, and the jury must be convinced beyond reasonable doubt that they were used. In approaching the consideration of this case he had no doubt that they would do so with a judicial mind, setting naught down in malice and extenuating nothing except by the evidence; that they would neither show favor to the prisoners because they were constables, nor entertain feeling of any kind against them. The well-being and liberty of members of the community required that constables and police officers in general should be supported in the proper discharge of their duty, and the well-being of the community also required that they should be restrained from the excesses of that duty. He had told them that manslaughter amounted, not to the killing by malice prepense, but to killing without lawful excuse. Every killing was presumed to be murder unless from the circumstances it was reduced either to manslaughter or excused as homicide. The fact that a man was killed raised the prima facie presumption that he had been murdered. The jury would have to be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the Crown case was proven ; they would be required to have that certainty which would influence them in their personal affairs. Here he would draw their attention to the rules which had been put in in evidence in this case : the rules given to the constables as regulating the performance of their duty. If these rules were contrary to law they would not justify a constable in acting under them ; but they were, when taken as a whole, a fair condensation of the general law with regard to the use of arms by the police. They were not like an act of Parliament, in which each clause might be taken by itself .and have the force of law. When taken as a whole and considered as the advice given to constables as to what the law was, they might be taken to be fairly correct ; but they were not to be taken clause by clause. One part of the rules must be taken with the other. He considered that very great caution should be given to officers with regard to acting under the regulations : they must have regard to the whole of them as a whole. One part might seem to justify the police in using firearms, and yet another part might restrain them ; and they must act under the part which would restrain them. In rule 90 it was very properly laid down:- ” If a constable endeavors to apprehend a person who has committed a felony, whom he is by a proper warrant authorised to apprehend for a felony, and such person flies knowing the intention to arrest for such felony and with a view to prevent such arrest; he may be lawfully killed provided he cannot be otherwise apprehended.” The duty of a constable was to apprehend but not also, as it would be made to appear, to apprehend the person the instant he saw him. He was not justified in shooting a man down because he was running away unless it appeared to him that the person would fully and wholly escape unless he did so. ” At what particular period of a struggle or pursuit the impossibility of overtaking the person son flying becomes manifest must depend upon the circumstances of each case.” That was perfectly correct, and should be most carefully borne in mind. It had a most important bearing on this case, and was perfectly correct law. ” If the constable is better mounted than the person he is endeavoring to arrest, or the place where the parties are is such that assistance is likely to be obtained before the escape can be fully accomplished, or if in any other way there is reasonable ground for supposing that the arrest can be accomplished in that particular pursuit, the officer ought not in any of these cases to take life.” It was not to be supposed that a constable could shoot a felon who refused to stop when called upon. He would draw attention to the words immediately following those quoted: ” He is not, however, bound to let a felon or person whom he is authorised by warrant to arrest for felony escape from him because he may have reason to think that he can find him easily at some other time.”. That did not mean that if the man tried to get out of his sight he was entitled to shoot him ; it meant that he was not authorised to let him escape altogether rather than shoot him. If there were reasonable grounds for supposing that the arrest could be accomplished in any other way the officer should not take life. That would be the most difficult part of the jury’s duty. Rule 90 said : ” It is his duty to arrest the person whom he is so authorised or commanded to arrest as soon as he sees him, and if he cannot overtake him he may kill him.” Taken by itself this paragraph was not true. It was not the duty of a constable to apprehend a person as soon as he saw him, or shoot him. It was certainly his duty not to allow the man to have an opportunity of getting away altogether, even if compelled to take life. A man charged with an offence was bound to give himself up to the officers of justice when called upon, whether guilty of the offence or not. He drew attention particularly to this clause because, although in certain cases, it should br understood by the police that it did not justify them in shooting a man as soon as they saw him if he did not surrender, although in certain cases that shooting might be justifiable. If a constable caught sight of a bushranger in the bush, and called upon him to surrender, and did not have sufficient means of preventing his escape, the officer would be justified in shooting him and killing if necessary. The man would in that case bring it on himself by not surrendering when called upon. Common sense showed us this : a man must not set the law at defiance ; he must submit when called on and allow the case to be investigated. The rule further stated :-” Constables ought in all cases to be extremely cautious in resorting to extreme steps, but when necessity occurs they must perform their duty, and the law will protect them. Should the officer be resisted and his own life placed in jeopardy he may then kill, not for the purpose of preventing an escape, but in self defence.” There was only one other part of the rules to which he would refer. In the 89th section it was stated that there must be an apparent necessity to which the constable is reduced in arresting or detaining a felon before using firearms. ” Apparent ” sometimes meant ” seeming ;” but the 95th section of the rules would show that was not what was meant here. The section in question stated that ” the importance or necessity of this proceeding must be dearly apparent.” Apparent had there its proper meaning : not ” seeming ” but ” clear.” The law which applied on this ground required a policeman to do his duty even if it was necessary to take life, and it held him harmless in such cases. He would now proceed to the matter of the case before him. Was Considine killed ? How was he killed ? and by whom ? Was he killed by the two prisoners or either of them, both of them acting for a joint purpose at the time ? The prisoners had set up the defence that they were acting together and killed to prevent escape. The Crown did: not seem to dispute that a felony had been committed by Considine. The question was, Were the prisoners endeavoring to apprehend Considine after he had committed a felony in order to bring him to justice ? Or did they endeavor to shoot him because he struck them and injured them, and they were smarting under the injuries ? If the latter they were not justified in law. As he said before, the contradictory evidence on the point affected the prisoner White alone, That depended on whether they believed the exact evidence of Pound, or whether they thought the statement by White, that that was not the exactly correct expression, was to be, preferred. They must be satisfied that Pound’s recollection was correct before the evidence could act in any way against White. Even if they were satisfied that the words used by Pound were the words used by the prisoner White then the evidence did not seem to be sufficient to warrant the conclusion that the killing was done while smarting from injuries, and not for the purposes of apprehension. A prisoner might give as faithful evidence as a man who was not a prisoner. Two stories had been set up in this case. In the first place it was alleged that there was a scuffle in the early part of the case, which scuffle was not directly material in arriving at a conclusion. At the same time the facts might throw light on the subsequent scuffle, which was material. It was not contended that the first scuffle constituted a felony. A felony was committed when actual bodily harm was inflicted ; and if bodily harm was inflicted by Considine in the first scuffle he was a felon, and the police were justified in apprehending him when he came back. When Considine came back on the second occasion he committed a felony and justified the constables in apprehending him and even in taking his life if necessary in order to prevent escape. If Considine had nothing in his hand when he struck the prisoners, as stated by witnesses, how came the mark which were on the coat and cap, and how were Shiell’s rib broken and White’s head injured ? He had no doubt they would believe the evidence of the doctors, and it was for them to say whether the prisoners’ evidence, which was consistent with the doctors, or that of Crown witnesses, which conflicted, was the more reliable. Unfortunately for the prisoners, it was not this question alone which had to be tried. It was not a question whether Considine had an iron bar in his hand or not ; that might be a question if the accused were charged with murder. That question did not arise here, where the accused were only indicted for manslaughter. Supposing every word told by the prisoners was true, had they reasonable grounds for believing that it was impossible to prevent the escape of Considine without shooting him ? The offence was a very serious one even in its mildest form. This case was a precedent ; a good law in this would be good law in others. It would never do to lay down the rule that members of the community might be shot down by the police merely because they thought they could escape. On the other hand they must not discourage officers in the discharge of their duty in preventing the escape of felons. .It was for the jury to decide whether the prisoners had acted honestly and under a proper view of the circumstances. His Honor then reviewed the evidence at length. The evidence of John McLennan, the first witness, detailing the preliminary scuffle with the police, was merely introductory. The witness Wake, who was aroused by the noise of the scuffle, was to the effect that Considine and his companions were under the influence of drink. The witness stated that Considine pushed one of his companions who asked him to go home, but would not swear that he had knocked him down. He, however, said he saw a man lying on the ground 9ft. from the window, and from the rest of the evidence it seemed that this man must have been McLennan’s brother. With regard to Hegarty’s evidence, there was an important matter testified to by him and other Crown witnesses which the jury would have to consider seriously. This evidence was that the constables, when they saw Considine had escaped after the first scuffle, said, “He’s gone now; well summons him.” That might lead the jury to suppose that the constables knew that Considine would not attempt to escape, but on the other hand, they must consider that Considine had not then committed the more serious offence of assault on the police. The remark might lead the jury to the implication that the police knew that Considine would not attempt to escape; and that might very seriously affect their consideration of the question whether the police believed that Considine would endeavor to escape after committing the more serious assault. The witness Carney had given very strong evidence, and it was for the jury to consider whether they would credit the whole of it. The general account given by him was similar to that given by the constables, but it differed materially in important details. Carney said he did not see Considine hold up his hands to Shiell in a threatening attitude, as deposed to by the accused ; and he said that Shiell struck the first blow with his baton. If the constables’ story were true, and Considine came at Shiell in a threatening manner, the latter would be quite justified in striking him first.. Then Carney’s evidence differed from the constables’ in that it stated that Shiell ran away after the assault. It was for the jury to say whether the constables’ story was not more consistent with the doctor’s evidence that Shiell’s rib was broken. A man with a broken rib would not be able to move quickly. If the jury believed that Carney had not told the truth on this point, and did not credit his evidence where opposed to that of the police, it might materially affect their verdict. Carney also differed from the police as to the distance the accused were from Considine when they fired at him ; but a mistake might easily be made as to distances. Carney also denied hearing Considine say, when the police called on him to stop, ” I’ll do you,” or ” I’ll do for you.” If they believed, the evidence of the constables on this point, it might be held to justify the police in shooting Considine, especially if they found that the accused believed Considine to be a powerful man, dangerous in drink, and that there was a probability of his escape. The evidence as to the firing of the shots, was immaterial. The question for the jury was, Did the constables fire at Considine with a common intent ; and if so, was that intent justifiable or not ? It was for the jury to say whether they believed Carney or Shiell as to Considine approaching the latter in a threatening attitude and as to the latter running away ; and if they believed the doctors’ evidence as to Shiell’s injury, the evidence of the constable on the latter point was the more reliable. The evidence of O’Leary and other companions of Considine was much the same as Carney’s and he need not go into it fully. The doctors’ evidence showed clearly that a felony had been committed by Considine, and believing that, the jury would probably consider the evidence of the constables on that point as matter of truth. If they found that a felony had been committed, the other most important point remained, Was it necessary to shoot Considine in order to effect his arrest ? Then they must consider the other important point whether the constables went with their revolvers for the purpose of apprehending Considine and bringing him to justice or, in the passion of the moment, to retaliate on him for the injuries.he had inflicted on them. With regard to that there was the most important evidence of the witness Pound, but it only told, against White.
Mr. Edgar : There is Ohlssoo’s evidence also.
His Honor said he would read the evidence, Ohlsson said that White remarked to him just after the affair, ” I have just shot Considine – the brute.” That was no doubt relied on by the Crown to show that White had acted in the heat of passion. But it was only human nature that a man – and a constable was, after all, only a man -should be angry under the circumstances. He could hardly have been otherwise after receiving such a blow as the evidence showed he had received. White had not denied using the remark.
Mr. Moriarty : He Bays he has no recollection of using it.
His Honor said White might have used the remark, not knowing that Considine was dead at the time.
Having gone through the whole of the evidence – as will be reported in length in the Second Edition – the jury retired precisely at 12 noon.
*At this time ( 8 December 2016 ) I am unable to find a result for this Court case.
Other articles – The Maitland Daily Mercury, dated Tue 13 Feb 1906 – mention Constable James Lees White as being Stationed at Scone.
The Tamworth Daily Observer, dated Wed 9 Dec 1914 have Senior constable James Lees White, of Weston, as the victim of an attempt murder at Sawyer’s Gully.
They Sydney Morning Herald, dated Thu 25 Jan 1923, whereby Sergeant James Lees White, served with NSWPF for 33 year 3.5 months, received his Imperial Service Medal at Government House on Wednesday 24 January 1923. He was also responsible for the arrest of a man who had shot dead his brother, and re-arrested him subsequently when, after being liberated from gaol, he ran amok and fired on the sergeant.
The Sydney Morning Herald – Monday 21 April 1952. WHITE, James Lees ( ex-Sergeant of Police ) – April 20, 1952, at his residence, 164 Belmore Rd, Randwick, and late of Kurri Kurri and Weston, dearly loved husband of Clara and loving father of Jack ( Fairfield ) and Frank ( Kurri Kurri ), aged 90 years.
Beloved father-in-law of Iris ( Mrs Jack White ) and Agnes ( Mrs Frank White ), and dear grandfather of Jim and Gloria, Max and Zara, Colette and Frank, and great grandfather of Jeffrey.
WHITE – The Relatives and Friends of the late James Lees White ( ex-Sergeant of Police), are kindly invited to attend his Funeral; to leave our Chapel, 151 Alison Rd, Randwick, this Monday, after Service commencing at 10.45am for Eastern Suburbs Crematorium. By request, no flowers. Wood Coffill Ltd, Funeral Directors, FX1296
Sonia Joy McKELL
| 18/01/2017
Sonia Joy BISCOE nee McKELL
New South Wales Police Force
* First female Parade Sergeant
Redfern Police Academy Class 154
[alert_yellow]Regd. # 17523[/alert_yellow]
Rank: Probationary Constable – appointed 4 April 1977
Constable – appointed 4 April 1978
Senior Constable – appointed 4 April 1986
Sergeant – death
Stations: ?, School Lecturing ( based at Granville Police Stn ), Redfern Police Academy – chief Instructional staff, Liverpool, Police Academy – Goulburn – ( Parade Sergeant ), Canterbury, Marrickville
Service: From 24 January 1977to 18 March 2004=26+years Service
Memorial at: A trophy, for Baton Twirling, has been dedicated in her name.
1989 Firing range instructors Snr Cst Sonia McKell (deceased), Toni McMahon, Kim Grosbe and Laura Lowe at the Police Academy in Goulburn. 2012 Cst Cody Brennan, Cst Kelly Robson, Sgt Suzie O’Leary and Snr Cst Nicole Lucaci Photo courtesy News Ltd
[alert_blue]SONIA is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_blue] * NOT JOB RELATED
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FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
Sonia Joy McKell married in October 1980 and changed her surname, departmentally, to BISCOE.
She served at the School Lecturing Section based at Granville Police Station; then to the Redfern Police Academy – chief Instructional staff – as she was a champion ‘ Marching Girl ‘ before joining the job.; a period at Liverpool Police Station; back to the Police Academy – as the Parade Sergeant. Here she was the first female parade sergeant when her sister (Vicki) was sworn in as a member of the NSW Police Force. ; also served a short period at Canterbury; and the only other location known is Marrickville Police Station.
Joe Ees
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Officers honour fallen police
Posted
Hundreds of police officers and their families will today gather at the Domain in Sydney for National Police Remembrance Day, to pay tribute to colleagues who have died in duty.
While officers across the country will remember those who have gone before them, Sydney police are heading to the Wall of Remembrance at the Domain for a wreath-laying ceremony.
Since 1803, 249 officers have been killed in the line of duty throughout New South Wales by stabbings, shootings or accidents while conducting vehicle checks.
Officers will also honour police whose careers have been cut short by illness.
One of those is Sergeant Sonia McKell, who died of a brain aneurism in 2004, leaving behind a three-year-old son Jarrod.
Jarrod, now six, will receive a $5,000 scholarship from the Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione as part of the commemorations.
Sonia Joy McKell | World Baton Twirling Federation
first time Australia competed at the 1987 World Baton Twirling Championships. She was a member of that team and always said that competing on the world stage was a highlight of her twirling career. From that year onwards Sonia involved herself in encouraging Australian athletes to compete at the world level knowing that by doing this we, as a country, could only improve our skills by utilising the experience and knowledge our athletes brought back. Throughout her twirling career Sonia took on the responsibilities of State President, State Head Judge, National Head Judge, Technical Advisor and between the years 1993 – 1998 and 1999 – 2004 the job of President of the Australian Baton Twirling Association. She was responsible for contracting coaches from USA, Japan, Italy and France. This was an ongoing commitment to expose the members to as much diverse twirling knowledge as possible. Sonia was the coach of the Australian team who represented Australia in Holland 2000, France 2001 and this year 2004. Her athletes miss her terribly but know that she will be watching them in Osaka Japan. Sonia was a sergeant in the New South Wales police force and spent her working days at Marrickville Police Station.
At her funeral the Police Commissioner of New South Wales described Sonia as a caring compassionate colleague whose ethics and morals were above reproach. This was Sonia. Her partner John and beautiful son Jarrad survive Sonia. The birth of Jarrad in 2001 seemed to complete Sonia’s life, the joy and happiness he brought both her and John seemed to make the last 2 years all the more special. The suddenness of Sonia’s passing was a shock to all who knew and loved her. But her kindness, compassion, knowledge and skills she has left with us will ensure she will always be a part of the Australian Baton Twirling Association. Sonia will remain in our hearts forever.
Original URL path: http://www.wbtf.org/content/sonia-joy-mckell (2013-04-30)
Sonia was an integral part of the sport of baton twirling. She involved herself at the local club level, working up through to state, national and eventually the international level. She had a huge influence on the Australian Baton Twirling Association.
Sonia started her twirling career as most of us around her age did as a Drum Majorette, evolving through the years along with the sport into a baton twirler. Her club, Illawarra, (a suburb of Sydney) were the team representatives the first time Australia competed at the 1987 World Baton Twirling Championships. She was a member of that team and always said that competing on the world stage was a highlight of her twirling career.
From that year onwards, Sonia involved herself in encouraging Australian athletes to compete at the world level, knowing that by doing this, we as a country, could only improve our skills by utilising the experience and knowledge our athletes brought back.
Throughout her twirling career Sonia took on the responsibilities of State President, State Head Judge, National Head Judge, Technical Advisor and between the years 1993-1998 and 1999-2004 the job of President of the Australian Baton Twirling Association.
She was responsible for contracting coaches from USA, Japan, Italy and France. This was an ongoing commitment, to expose the members to as much diverse twirling knowledge as possible.
Sonia was the coach of the Australian team who represented Australia in Holland 2000, France 2001 and this year 2004. Her athletes miss her terribly but know that she will be watching them in Osaka, Japan. Sonia was a sergeant in the New South Wales police force and spent her working days at Marrickville Police Station. At her funeral, the Police Commissioner of New South Wales described Sonia as a caring, compassionate colleague whose ethics and morals were above reproach. This was Sonia.
Her partner John and beautiful son Jarrad survive Sonia. The birth of Jarrad in 2001 seemed to complete Sonia’s life, the joy and happiness he brought both her and John seemed to make the last 2 years all the more special. The suddenness of Sonia’s passing was a shock to all who knew and loved her. But her kindness, compassion, knowledge and skills she has left with us will ensure she will always be a part of the Australian Baton Twirling Association.
901 days ago ( as of 28 November 2016 ), Lauren created this page in support of NSW Police Legacy.
With the help of NSW Police Legacy, Lauren gave everything:
Shared their page with everyone they could.
Received 6 donations from generous family and friends.
Raised $192.
My Story
Thank you for visiting my page. My name is Lauren Penn. To do city 2 surf has been on my to do list for over 10 years. As a young teenager my Dad would come in and wake me up at the crack of dawn to go for a walk with him, we talked about anything and everything on our walks and we would often talk about doing city 2 surf together.
Unfortunately we never were able to as my Dad pasted away from cancer when I was 15. My Dad, Senior Sergeant Greg Penn joined the NSW police force when he was only 21 and served 27 years. My Dad served in almost every duty as a police officer, from radio, blue light unit, highway patrol, PCYC. He worked at a number of stations, Rosebay, Mascot, Corrimal and Lake Illawarra.
Throughout his career he was highly commended and received a number of honors and medals. My Dad also created a computer program to track youths at the PCYC clubs and I remember visiting different clubs with him when he went to install the program.
Late 2003 we found out dad had cancer, brain cancer, lung cancer and kidney cancer. On the 4/4/04 my Dad passed away surrounded by our family at our home, he was 48. 2014 marks 10 years since losing Dad.
Every choice and decision I have my in the last ten years I would stop and ask myself “what would dad say”, “what you he do”. So being ten years, I wanted to do something with a lot of meaning; I choose to do city 2 surf, like we always talked about. At the time of registering, I hadn’t exercised properly for 3yrs, since registering I have started boot camp and eating correctly and have lost 10kgs so far, my goal is to be able to do city 2 surf in 2 hours and 20minutes.
After Dad passed away Police Legacy had a benefit night in my Dads honor which raised money for my sister and I to receive when we turned 25. With Police Legacies help I have been able to complete 4 TAFE certificates which have help me hugely in returning to work after having my daughter.
So as a small token of my appreciation towards Police Legacy, my goal is to raise $500.
I also believe that Greg PENN did a lot of computer work in relation to the macro system in WordPerfect 5.1 in making shortcuts to the forms that were used in everyday police work – especially in relation to traffic matter and developed the system which was widely used throughout NSW Police Stations around the 1990’s.
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TARGETED PROGRAMMING: THE PENN SYSTEM
Real results in reducing juvenile crime
Police Officers working within PCYC tackle juvenile crime through what is known as “Targeted Programming”. The work of the Officers in 2004 was again instrumental in preventing and reducing youth crime.
Targeted Programming consists of three program areas:
1. Case Management of individual young offenders referred to PCYC Officers by a Police Local Area Command or local Magistrate, identified as Priority One work, or P1s;
2. High visibility policing in juvenile crime of anti-social behaviour locations or ‘hot-spots’, referred to as Priority Two work, or P2s;
3. Community Policing projects such as involvement in driver education or school visitation.
Targeted Programming is supported by a software planning and evaluation program developed within PCYC, and now known as the PENN system, in honour of one of the key architects of targeted programming, S/Sgt Greg Penn (see story page 35).
All 57 Clubs throughout NSW received Young Offender and Youth Crime ‘Hotspot’ referrals from Police Local Area Commands and the Crime Management Units throughout the year.
At the end of the 2004, PCYC Police had received 1951 young offender (Priority One) referrals since launching Targeted Programming in July 2001, of which 433 were Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) young people.
By the end of 2004, there were 575 Priority One young people being currently case managed by PCYC Police.
The Priority One results as at December 2004 were extremely positive with young offenders reducing their offending behaviour collectively by a staggering 68.9% over a nine month period.
In regards to Priority Two referrals and Youth Crime ‘Hotspots’, PCYC have received a total 336 referrals since July 2001, with 207 current Priority Two Referrals being targeted by PCYC Police in 2004.
There were a total of 24 807 ‘other’ young people involved in community policing conducted by PCYC Police.
PCYC’s work in crime prevention was recognised in 2004, through the Australian Violence and Crime Prevention Award Scheme.
During 2004, the PCYC Board funded a review of the PENN system to determine its validity and reliability. The evaluation focused on 861 referrals between 2001 and 2003, which were compared with a control group of all other young offenders not referred to PCYC Targeted Programming (92, 237 young offenders).
Some specific findings of the evaluation were:
8% of Targeted Programming participants reduced incidents by five or more in the three months immediately after referral;
29% of Targeted Programming participants reduced incidents by two or more.
Another interesting finding of the evaluation was that 9.9% of the non-PCYC group were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) young people, while ATSI young people made up 34.2% of the PENN referrals studied.
This shows that PCYC Targeted Programming has been particularly beneficial to many ATSI young people.
Other findings of the evaluation were:
That offence rates amongst those involved in the program drop significantly as reported;
That PCYC manages some of the State’s more difficult young offenders; and
The next stage in the evaluation of Targeted Programming could be a focus on long term behavioural change by persistence with young offenders.
PCYC looks forward to the further development of PENN in 2005 and congratulates the many dedicated Police Officers and their civilian colleagues in PCYC who, on a daily basis work with young people in their local community. The work they undertake is extremely important and challenging; their reward is the satisfaction of knowing they have a real impact, and they are positively changing the direction of the lives of young people.
SNR SERGEANT GREG PENN
In April 2004, PCYC lost one of its most respected Police Officers, when Snr Sgt Greg Penn lost his long battle with cancer. With the movement for about 10 years, Snr Sgt Penn began as the Inner Metro Zone Commander, served as Zone Commander for the Southern region and was acting State Co-ordinator when illness struck.
Despite his battle with cancer, Snr Sgt Penn dedicated himself to the progression of Police computer systems such as PASS (Programs And Services System).
The success of Targeted Programming and the PENN system were recognised by the Federal Government in the 2003 National Crime and Violence Prevention Awards.
After his passing, Snr Sgt Penn was honoured by the NSW Police for his work in the areas of computer software design and youth crime prevention, by being
awarded a Commissioner’s Commendation. The commendation recognised his outstanding commitment and dedication to duty throughout his career, particularly the vital role he played in the design and implementation of computer systems that have enabled enormous benefits to operational Police and the community. His wife Joanne gratefully accepted this award in his honour.
PCYC State Coordinator, Insp Paul Macmillan, said Snr Sgt Penn’s commitment in this most important area of policing merited acknowledgement at the highest level.
“His work has brought tangible benefits to the community and the NSW Police and is an example for others to follow in the best traditions of policing,” Insp
Macmillan said.
“Greg was extremely popular with a great sense of humour and warm personality. He will be enormously missed by his many friends in PCYC and the NSW Police.”
Sadly, Snr Sgt Penn leaves behind his wife Joanne, and two school aged daughters, Lauren and Alexandra.
PCYC hosted a benefit night for the Penn family at the Illawarra Master Builders Club which featured a performance by the NSW Police Swing Band, with
Australia
