Kenneth Frederick HENDERSON

Late of ?

New South Wales Police Force

[alert_yellow]Regd. #   14078[/alert_yellow]

Rank: Probationary Constable – appointed 26 March 1970

Constable 1st Class – appointed 26 March 1975

Sergeant – appointed 20 November 1985

Detective Chief Inspector – Death

Stations: ?, Charlestown – Death

Service: From ? ? pre March 1970? to 25 October 2001 = 31+ years Service

Awards:  National Medal – granted 14 July 1977

1st Clasp to National Medal – granted 2 December 1995

Born:  6 January 1950, Waratah, NSW

Died on: Thursday  25 October 2001

Age:  51

Cause: Suicide – Firearm – Service revolver – within Charlestown Police Station ( in the outside toilets )

Event location:  Charlestown Police Station, 25 Smith St, Charlestown

Event date:  Thursday  25 October 2001

Funeral date:  Wednesday 31 October 2001

Funeral location:  Newcastle Christ Church Cathedral, 52 Church St, Newcastle

Funeral Parlour: ?

Buried at: Buried at Belmont Cemetery, Green St, Belmont

Memorial located at: ?

[alert_red]KEN is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_red] * BUT SHOULD BE

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Grave’s approximate location: 

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FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

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May they forever Rest In Peace

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Detective Chief Inspector Ken HENDERSON, 51 old, committed suicide by using his service firearm inside the grounds of Charlestown Police Station in October 2001.

Ken was being harassed and ultimately threatened by SCIA during their malicious reign with a personal exposure that would, no doubt, hurt his family. Nothing to do with misconduct on his behalf, just a maliciously attempt to hurt him and his family.

He took his life with his service revolver at the rear toilets of the police station immediately after receiving a phone call from SCIA.

It is believed that no Inquest was held into his suicide.

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Three investigated police attempt suicide

By Candace Sutton
March 2 2003
The Sun-Herald

Three police officers investigated by the controversial Operation Florida corruption probe have attempted suicide, The Sun-Herald has learnt.

This follows the death in 2001 of Detective Chief Inspector Ken Henderson, a highly commended officer regarded as a top criminal investigator. Henderson, 51 and a 30-year veteran of NSW Police, shot himself at work in 2001.

There was no suggestion that he was tainted by corruption.

Three officers who came under the operation’s scope have since tried to end their lives.

Senior police officers named on a controversial warrant issued as part of Operation Florida have engaged prominent barrister Tom Hughes, QC.

The warrant, ordered by former assistant commissioner Mal Brammer, was issued the day before the 2000 Olympics began and had 116 names on it.

Those named included a barrister, a journalist and five of Crime Agencies’ nine superintendents. A Police Integrity Commission investigation of the warrant has since found two of the names on it were unsupported by applications or affidavits, which PIC inspector Merv Finlay described as “a minor irregularity”

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Why cops took their eye off the streets

March 2 2003

An internal police investigation targeting corruption has claimed victims who weren’t even in its sights, Candace Sutton writes.

On a spring day in September 2000, when a rape gang was carrying out its evil in south-western Sydney, police among the highest echelons of the NSW force were intent on issuing a warrant for a listening device to eavesdrop on fellow officers.

It was a peculiar sort of warrant, with 116 names on it.

The names included those of drug dealers, armed robbers, a barrister, a journalist and five of Crime Agencies’ nine superintendents. Two names were unsupported by the affidavits usually needed for such a warrant.

It was the day before the Olympic Games opening ceremony and with the warrant’s issue, Operation Florida was born, one of the NSW Crime Commission and the Police Integrity Commission’s most explosive joint investigations.

The existence of the rape gangs was only beginning to be known by NSW police and the existence of the warrant was a secret to all but a few deep within the police service.

Like its namesake in the US, is there something rotten in the state of Florida?

The destruction the operation has wreaked in its path – the suicide of one police officer and the attempted suicide of three other officers who were subjects of the investigation – is compounded by the fact that one of Florida’s principal investigators and the man whose work instigated the operation are now themselves under a cloud.

Detective Chief Inspector Ken Henderson, 51, died by his own hand on his service revolver at his own police station at Charlestown.

Just what Florida achieved in uncovering corruption – and it did reveal serious breaches among officers in Sydney’s Northern Beaches – must be affected by these events. Mal Brammer has been accused of conducting malicious investigations in another operation.

During his time in charge of Internal Affairs, Mr Brammer was responsible for gathering the initial evidence for what became the Florida inquiry.

Brammer, who had left the police service for the Independent Commission Against Corruption, resigned from that job last week and faces accusations that he used “malicious and unfounded investigations against individuals”.

Brammer‘s right-hand man in Operation Florida, John Dolan, is suspended from the police service and has to show why he should not be dismissed. ( 181D )

This week the good citizens of NSW might wonder whether what is, at best, the super-zealotry of the police watchdogs, has overridden the force’s principal function: to control crime. Has there been an abuse of power? After all, who’s watching the watchers?

Dolan was allegedly caught drink-driving behind the wheel of a State Crimes Commission car at Killarney Vale, near Wyong, while on holiday, on December 28, 2001. He was charged with having a prescribed concentration of alcohol of .075.

The matter went before the court three times, although Dolan never appeared and a doctor’s certificate said the officer was “unfit to work or attend court or to read and complete documents until further notice”.

The matter was then dropped.

The drink-driving charge was incurred at the height of the Florida probe and there must have been a fear it could affect the integrity of the investigation, a joint effort between the police service, the NSW Crime Commission and the Police Integrity Commission which absorbed considerable resources of all the agencies. Dolan, 43, a senior sergeant, is suspended on superintendent’s pay, though as an acting superintendent he had not passed the examinations for that rank.

Dolan has followed Brammer throughout 15 years in the force, from the Drug Enforcement Agency through drug taskforces to Internal Affairs, and on to Florida. Now Florida itself is being investigated.

A brief of evidence on Ken Henderson’s death will be placed before the coroner soon, although there is concern that only local Gosford police investigated, whereas a policeman’s suicide usually warrants a top-level inquiry.

The listening-device warrant is now the subject of planned legal action by commissioned officers whose names were on the list.

The warrant has been explained on 60Minutes by former police commissioner Peter Ryan, who said an Operation Florida operative was to wear the listening device at a function at which the 116 names were to attend.

The police planning legal action over the warrant say all officers were on duty, and therefore attending no common social functions, during the Olympics.

Police Integrity Commission inspector Merv Finlay, who investigated complaints about the warrant, conceded there was a “minor irregularity”, given two names on the warrant were not named in any application or affidavit.

Senior police officers say the force is sick of the approach taken by some PIC investigators.

“The vast majority of police have no sympathy for officers like [corrupt Manly detectives] Matthew Jasper and David Patison, but we do ask investigators to follow the rules,” an officer said.

Several meetings at State Crime Command have moved to address the issue. A unanimous motion at the biannual conference directed the Police Association executive to pursue the matter hotly.

As for the citizens of NSW, those with their names on the warrant list have asked for access to the affidavits supporting the warrant.

Two years after the now-discredited counter-terrorist squad, the Special Branch, was disbanded, Premier Bob Carr trumpeted the fact that he was opening the secret police files to any citizen who had one.

To date, however, access to the affidavits for the Florida warrant has been denied.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/01/1046407802938.html

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Mud sticks to the edges of city on the lake

THE latest child sex charges against the former Labor minister Milton Orkopoulos and his campaign worker Pat Roughan have focused attention on Lake Macquarie Council and the effectiveness of local police.

The council has had its fair share of scandals.

In 1996 a former mayor, Doug Carley, was convicted of indecently assaulting a 15-year-old boy. Carley maintains his innocence, saying he did not have the money to contest the offence. He also suffers from bipolar disorder, which colleagues believe was relevant to his case.

In 2002 a former Labor councillor, Chris Foteff, left after gay and bestiality pornography was discovered on his council-supplied computer.

It was found only after the council engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers to follow the porn trail, which led to the recovery of 5000 images deleted from Foteff‘s laptop, including 10 of naked children and about 250 of acts of bestiality.

An earlier police investigation found no images that warranted prosecution. It appears the police decided not to send the computer to Sydney for technical analysis, relying only on what they could retrieve and copy themselves.

An internal police investigation ordered by the then commissioner, Peter Ryan, cleared them of any wrongdoing.

Mr Foteff, who had followed Orkopoulos onto the council as a Labor councillor, has always maintained his innocence and said he was the victim of a set-up.

But reopening the investigation after the PricewaterhouseCoopers report proved difficult because the officer who initially investigated the pornography find, Detective Chief Inspector Ken Henderson, committed suicide in October 2002.

The Mayor of Lake Macquarie, Greg Piper, recalls that police could not prove beyond reasonable doubt that the images on Mr Foteff‘s computer were of “under-age” men and they were also restricted by a statute of limitations.

It was reported at the time that Inspector Henderson shot himself with his service revolver at Charlestown police station soon after receiving a mysterious phone call.

He had recently returned from a trip to Sydney on official police business, believed to be connected to a Police Integrity Commission inquiry. There was no suggestion that Inspector Henderson was under investigation for corrupt conduct but because there was no inquest it remains a mystery.

Cr Piper said he did not believe that those incidents or the charges against Orkopoulos had harmed the council’s reputation, although the incidents were “unfortunate”. “The reality is, they have occurred over a long period of time,” he said, and if people “cast back and clump them together” it made the situation look worse than it was.

However, there had been other complaints about police inaction on child sexual assaults at the Lake Macquarie Local Area Command. In March 2001, Senator Bill Heffernan read a letter from a Charlestown woman into Hansard, detailing her concern about the lack of action taken by police against the abusers of her sons.

That the abuse had occurred was not questioned; her nine-year-old son required surgery after the abuse.

“No charges have ever been laid,” she wrote. “After three years of investigation from the Ombudsman’s office, Mr Bruce Barber [sic], finally intervened and asked for an investigation as to why no interviews and charges have ever been laid in relation to this.”

The mother, who has since moved to Queensland, said Inspector Henderson had been in charge of her son’s case.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/mud-sticks-to-the-edges-of-city-on-the-lake/2006/11/17/1163266787603.html

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DNA On Killer’s Trail

Newcastle Herald

Tuesday July 24, 2001

JASON BARTLETT

RAPID advances in DNA technology could hold the key to catching the killer of Swansea High schoolgirl Bree Jones.

Police have reopened the case more than six years after Bree’s body was carried from the Caves Beach house where she had been dead for hours.

Two Lake Macquarie detectives are again working full-time to solve the mystery that has haunted parents across the region since June 3, 1995.

Bree, 16, a Year 10 student, was found dead in a house at Caves Beach after someone drugged her with methadone to have sex with her.

The case spawned two separate inquests, in which coroner Col Elliott called for perjury charges to be laid against several witnesses, and scrutiny of the State’s methadone program.

Parents shuddered as the story unfolded and they realised what had happened to Bree could as easily happen to their children.

Bree fell in with the wrong crowd, rebelled against her parents, ran away from home and paid the ultimate price.

Her mistake was putting her trust in her new `friends’, people who were apparently willing to stand by as one of their number preyed on the teenager for sex.

Bree Jones died half a kilometre from the Caves Beach home where she had lived happily with her parents, brother and four sisters until a week before the tragedy.

`There were 14 people there when she died but no-one knew what happened,’ her father, Wayne Jones, said.

`They knew of course but no-one would say anything.’

As the facts surrounding Bree’s death emerged, her parents’ anger and the frustration of the investigating officers grew.

Left-handed Bree bore injection marks in her left arm where someone, allegedly a man who wanted sex, had injected her with methadone in the early hours of June 3.

`They were trying to get her out of it so they could have sex with her,’ the mother of one of the people at the party told Mr Elliott.

The dose of methadone killed the teenager.

She slipped into unconsciousness and died.

No-one called the ambulance until 1.47pm that day, hours after Bree’s death.

No-one has come forward with exact details about her last hours.

The sperm, scientific police took from her body revealed she had had sex in the 24 hours before her death.

It may now play a pivotal role in the investigation.

Police were increasingly frustrated by the web of lies spun around the late-night party and what had happened to Bree.

Stories changed constantly, infuriating them and Mr Elliott, who recommended several witnesses be charged with perjury.

`The lies that have been told to police and the perjury committed in court have not helped the investigation,’ he said when handing down his closing statement in Wallsend Coroners Court in March 1999.

The coroner found that Bree had died from a lethal injection of methadone.

He was unable to establish who was responsible.

He did recommend the case be reopened.

`In the circumstances of this case, where a child has been overdosed with a lawful drug to obtain a sexual advantage and has consequently died, the pursuit of any person responsible and any person lying should be relentless,’ Mr Elliott said.

It was one more disappointment for the Jones family, who had watched helplessly after a man charged with manslaughter and supplying drugs to Bree went free in 1997 after the Department of Public Prosecutions dropped the case.

For her family one of the worst things about the case remains that no-one tried to save Bree.

One man, 20 at the time of Bree’s death, told the inquest he had seen her about 6am on June 3, lying in bed with a 29-year-old man.

`She had saliva coming out her mouth and her breathing wasn’t clear,’ the man said.

He did not try to wake her but got his surfboard and left the house.

`I didn’t realise she was in danger of losing her life,’ the 20-year-old said.

The same witness, who admitted lying to police constantly in the three years since Bree’s death, said the party goers had got together the next night for a `conference’ to get their `stories straight’.

Bree remains alive to those who knew her best.

`She was full of fun, loved life, just tried to make everyone happy,’ her mother, Maree, said.

`Her sisters still talk about her all the time.

`There’s not a day goes by when her name’s not mentioned in this household.’

It has been a terrible time for the Jones family.

A few years after Bree’s death, her only brother, Jabe, needed a kidney transplant.

Wayne Jones was happy to help his son.

It is this spirit that has kept the Jones family united in its search for justice.

`Like most 16-year-olds, Bree loved life,’ Mr Jones said.

`She was probably a bit braver than she should have been at that age and got into a situation she couldn’t control.

`She’d been a good kid all her life then hit a stage where she was giving us a bit of trouble.

`Bree got in with the wrong crowd and began to mix with older people that were just a bit too clever for her.

`We are very hopeful the new inquiry will lead to something and that articles like this will jog a conscience and get someone to come forward.’

The investigating officers believe advances in DNA technology, coupled with new legislation passed through State Parliament this year, could mean the unsolved tag being taken off the Bree Jones files.

`The major reason we’ve reopened the case is that it was a recommendation from the coroner,’ Lake Macquarie crime manager Detective Inspector Ken Henderson said.

`But now hopefully we can enact the new DNA legislation and take samples directly from the suspects.

`Before we had to charge the suspect with an actual offence related to the case before we could take samples but now we don’t have to do that.

`The new legislation gives us the light at the end of the tunnel.’

Though hoping the new inquiry, now under way, will lead somewhere, Mr Jones intends to keep searching for his daughter’s killer.

`Time can be your best friend or your worst enemy,’ the 49-year-old said.

`I’m going to live a long life just to get to the end of all this.’

http://www.webconference.com.au/web-conference-articles/2001/7/24/dna-on-killers-trail/

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iii. KEN HENDERSON

Detective Inspector Ken Henderson was attached to Newcastle. In 2001 he took his own life. At the time a number of officers under his control were involved in Police Integrity Commission matters. It was later established that Henderson was not subject to investigation. The family remains at a loss as to why he took his own life. He had not received any treatment nor consulted any medical providers concerning any stress he may have suffered.

http://unionsafe.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/NileInquirySubmission.doc

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Patrick John CLEARY

AKA  ? 

Late of  ? 

“possible” relation in ‘the job’:    ?

NSW Goulburn Police Academy –  Class #  DPP 03 ( Class 277 )

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. #  34??? 

Rank:  Commenced Training at Goulburn Police Academy on Monday ? ? ?

Probationary Constable- appointed Friday 3 September 1999 ( aged 20 years, 4 months, 24 days )

Constable – appointed ? ? ?

Constable 1st Class – appointed ? ? ? 

Detective – appointed ? ? ? ( YES )

Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ? 

Leading Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ? ( N/A )

Final Rank: =  Detective Senior Constable

Stations:  ?, Chatswood JIRT office – Death

Service: From  ? ? 1999   to  24 November 2005  =  6 years Service

Retirement / Leaving age: =  30 years, 8 months, 20 days

Time in Retirement from Police:  0

Awards:  No Find on Australian Honours system

 Born:  Tuesday 4 March 1975

Died on:  Thursday 24 November 2005 during the morning

Age:  30 years, 8 months, 20 days

Organ Donor:  Y / N / ?

Cause:   Depression – Suicide – Departmental Firearm

Event location: at Chatswood JIRT office – opposite Chatswood Police Station, NSW

Event date:   Thursday 24 November 2005

Funeral date:  ? ? ?

Funeral location:  ? 

LIVE STREAM    PIN:  TBA   Email:  TBA

( click here to see Cornona19 Virus Pandemic rules – this will be a limited numbers Funeral )

any Future Wake location:  ??? 

any Future Wake date:  ???

( Due to current Govt. restrictions on ‘Gatherings’ due to Corona19 Virus Pandemic, some families may wish to have a Memorial Service / Wake with friends and family at a later date )

Funeral Parlour: ?

Buried at:   Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens & Crematorium,

Grave:  Portion:  North East Terrace,  Garden Plinth, Row:  5,   Plot: 86 ?

GPS:  -33.793889  –  151.154167

Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at:  ?

Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( April 2022 )

PAT is NOT mentioned on the NSW Police Wall of Remembrance  * BUT SHOULD BE

PAT is NOT mentioned on the National Police Wall of Remembrance, Canberra ( last checked 130922 / 170723 )  *NEED MORE INFO

PAT IS NOT mentioned on the Sydney Police Centre Memorial Wall, Surry Hills ( Sept. 2022 / 170723 )

FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

May they forever Rest In Peace

https://www.facebook.com/groups/AustralianPolice.com.au/ 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NSWFallenPolice/ 

Australian Police YouTube Channel

At Chatswood police station in November 2005, Detective Senior Constable Patrick Cleary shot himself dead before colleagues arrived for work.

Patrick is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance

Again a policeman clocks on, kills himself

What possesses some people to do the unspeakable to little children – even their own?

Patrick Cleary was a police officer who plunged into the dark secrets of families to catch sex offenders or those who preyed on and cruelly abused children.

Yesterday, barely six years after joining the NSW Police Service, and three years after becoming a detective, the 31-year-old was found shot dead in an apparent suicide.

The Police Operations Commander, Deputy Commissioner Andrew Scipione, said the death marked a sad day for the NSW Police. At least three other officers in the past four years have taken their own lives in stations with their own service weapons.

“Today is a very tragic day for the NSW Police Force. We have lost a very, very good officer,” Mr Scipione said. “At this stage I might indicate that there appear to be no suspicious circumstances and it has just been a terrible, terrible tragedy. I am told he was a first-class officer, and that is a real loss to us.”

Detective Cleary, who grew up on Sydney’s northern beaches, had since July been in charge of the Chatswood Joint Investigation Response Team, comprising four detectives and four investigators from the Department of Community Services.

The unit had responsibility for investigating all child abuse cases from North Sydney to Hornsby, on Sydney’s outskirts.

The tight-knit unit which dealt with the stuff of nightmares – little children recounting their ordeals at the hands of abusers – coped by reassuring themselves that whatever the outcome, even traumatic family separations, they were protecting the weak.

But police said yesterday that no one recognised the emotional turmoil within Detective Cleary.

His death, which has shocked officers in all nine metropolitan joint investigation response teams as well as the 60-officer Child Protection and Serious Sex Crimes Squad at Parramatta, is the subject of an intensive investigation by a critical incident team from the homicide squad.

But Mr Scipione, who addressed Detective Cleary’s distraught colleagues, said the death was not being treated as suspicious.

He said the officers and the DOCS investigators who worked with Detective Cleary were receiving counselling.

Those in the response teams received counselling every three months to determine how they were coping, but this would now be reviewed.

“No one ever knows why these tragedies happen. We may never know,” he said.

Detective Cleary’s widowed mother was comforted by the head of the Child Protection and Serious Sex Crimes Squad, Helen Begg, who broke the news to her at her home yesterday.

Police said it appeared Detective Cleary had arrived early for work, disconnecting the alarm to the office.

He had been dead for up to an hour before his body was found. There was a single gunshot wound to the head.

A co-worker found him in a room away from his office at 8.45am. Lying beside his body was his Glock semi-automatic service pistol. There was no note.

Police said Detective Cleary had graduated from the police academy in September 1999.

For the three years he worked at Dee Why and Manly police before joining the Chatswood JIRT team as a Senior Constable.

“He dealt with the problems of fragile young people, taking it in. It’s not a good thing,” one officer said yesterday.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/11/24/1132703316805.html?from=rss

Newcastle Anglican diocese business manager John Cleary’s work is his late detective brother’s legacy

Nothing further, than what is recorded above, is known about this person at the time of publication and further information and photos would be appreciated.

**********

Cal
13 January 2014

Greg Norman LUNDBERG

New South Wales Police Force

Constable

Regd. # ?

Stations:  Sutherland, Menai Police shop front

Awards:  Nil ?

Less than 18 months Service

Born:  ?

Died:  7 January 2007

Suicide – Firearm

Menai Market Place shopping centre Police Front

29 years old

Funeral date:  ?

Funeral location:  ?

Grave location:  ?

Policeman found shot dead in Sydney

A police constable found shot dead in a station in Sydney’s south is believed to have killed himself.

The 29-year-old constable was found about 1pm (AEDT) today with a gunshot wound inside Menai police station, but the death is not being treated as suspicious.

Police said the officer was from the Sutherland Local Area Command and was alone in the building at the time.

“He’s an officer who had served with us for some 18 months, and will be sadly lost,” Deputy Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione told reporters.

“We can ill afford to lose anyone from this organisation, but particularly one as young as this man makes it a double tragedy.”

Mr Scipione said the officer died from a gunshot wound to the head and his service revolver was found next to his body.

A report was being prepared for the coroner and officers were being offered counselling.

His death is being investigated by a critical incident team.

Further details about the officer have not been released as family members are yet to be notified.

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Constable dies alone in station

A POLICE constable with less than 18 months‘ experience in the force shot himself dead inside a one-man station on Sydney’s southern outskirts yesterday.

What caused so much anguish in the mind of the 29-year-old officer for him to take his life is now the subject of an investigation by a critical incident team comprising detectives from the homicide squad, the coroner’s investigation unit, St George police and police internal affairs.

But the acting Police Commissioner, Andrew Scipione, who attended the scene of the shooting in the tiny Menai police station at the Menai Marketplace shopping mall, said the death was not being treated as suspicious.

The officer, attached to the Sutherland police area local command, was found dead in a toilet cubicle inside the station, which is manned 24 hours by a single officer on rotation.

The death brings to at least five the number of police officers who have killed themselves at a police station since 2001. All were found by colleagues.

Mr Scipione said police from Sutherland made the discovery at 1pm when sent to investigate why the officer, whose name has not been released, had not responded to several calls from colleagues.

Mr Scipione said the officer had sustained a single gunshot wound to the head. His 9mm-calibre Glock semi-automatic service pistol was beside his body.

Mr Scipione said: “It is a very sad day for the NSW Police Force today. Today we learned of the sad loss of an officer … he is an officer who has served with us for some 18 months … We can ill afford to lose anyone from this organisation. But particularly someone as young as this man makes it a double tragedy.

“We are advised that there is a single gunshot wound to the head but at this stage these matters are the subject of an investigation. I can indicate that his service firearm was found at the scene.”

Mr Scipione said colleagues had spoken to the constable on the phone several times during the morning as part of routine checks.

He said the officer had been stationed at Sutherland since graduating from the academy in 2005. “We don’t know what it is that [has] caused the events of today to unfold. I would not suggest to you, though, that there is anything suspicious.”

Police said the station had external and internal surveillance cameras, from which film had been taken to examine the officer’s movements. The station was fitted with an alarm system, and officers working alone there wear an emergency alarm on the wrist.

Last night police were trying to contact the constable’s next of kin to inform them of his death. It is believed they live on the South Coast.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/young-constable-dies-alone/2007/01/07/1168104868008.html

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Tragic rookie told police he had tried to take his life

THE young policeman who killed himself at a single-person station had a troubled mental health history.

When Greg Norman Lundberg entered the NSW Police Academy at Goulburn two years ago he wrote on the application form that he had previously tried to take his own life.

He successfully completed his training, graduated as a constable and was armed with a Glock semi-automatic service pistol.

And last year he was given his first major assignment: to manage the one-officer station at the Menai Market Place shopping centre.

On Sunday, January 8, (Saturday, January 7) the 29-year-old constable was found in the police station’s toilet with a single gunshot wound to the head. His Glock pistol was lying next to him.

Senior police are furious that Lundberg was “thrown in at the deep end” by his superiors and maintain that the service failed in its duty of care towards him.

A detective said applications for gun licences under the Firearms Act 1996 were rejected regularly if the applicant had a history of self-harm or mental illness.

His death is now being investigated by the critical incident team comprising senior detectives drawn from the homicide squad, the coroner’s investigation unit, St George police and the force’s internal affairs.

They have taken possession of the station’s closed-circuit TV tapes showing Lundberg pacing up and down in a highly agitated state.

They have also learnt that neighbouring police spent an hour and a half trying to contact him by phone and radio before driving to Menai to find out what was wrong.

A report will be sent to the State Coroner who will decide whether to hold a public inquest.

Police facilities at Menai have a chequered history. About 15 years ago a fully operational, fully staffed station was opened on the Old Illawarra Road but a few years ago it became the headquarters of the dog squad.

Menai was then given a single-officer shopfront station in the shopping market.

Following Lundberg’s death, community leaders said they would reopen the campaign for a fully staffed station to handle the increasing level of street crime and antisocial behaviour.

The Police Association of NSW declined to comment on the incident while the investigation was continuing.

Source: The Sun-Herald   http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/tragic-rookie-told-police-he-had-tried-to-take-his-life/2007/01/20/1169096030971.html

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Menai Police Shop Front location: 

Glenn Howard STIRTON, VA

 aka  Lenny

late of Thurgoona ( Albury ) formerly of Central Coast

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. # 20706

Rank:  Sergeant

Stations:  Albury, NSW

Service:  From  ?  to  21 December 2012

Awards:  National Medal – granted 20 November 1998

Valor Award – granted August 2012

Born:  10 September 1960

Died on:  Thursday  20 December 2012

Cause:  Suicide – Service firearm

Event location:  Albury Police Station

Age:  52 old

Funeral date:   Friday  28 December 2012 @ 2.30pm

Funeral location: Hillside Chapel, Palmdale Lawn Cemetery and Memorial Park, Palmdale Road, Palmdale

Buried at:  ?

[alert_yellow]GLENN is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_yellow]  *NEED MORE INFO

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http://www.bordermail.com.au/story/1201 … cer/?cs=11

A CRITICAL incident investigation is under way into the sudden death of decorated Albury police officer Glenn Stirton.

Sgt Stirton, a police officer for more than 30 years, died after an incident at the Albury police station on Thursday.

In August, Sgt Stirton received the highest honour for bravery that can be conferred by the NSW Police Commissioner for foiling what police suspect was destined to be a massacre.

Sgt Stirton is the husband of Albury local area commander ( Supt. ) Beth Stirton, who has gone on immediate leave.

Three ambulance crews rushed to the scene after an emergency call from the station.

Officers from the Deniliquin local area command will investigate the circumstances of Sgt Stirton’s death and prepare a report for the coroner.

Acting Southern Region commander Gary Worboys said the force extended its deepest sympathy and condolences to Sgt Stirton’s family “and the wider police family”.

“Welfare support and counselling has been offered to the officer’s family and colleagues. Police will continue to do their job in this difficult time,” acting Assistant Commissioner Worboys said.

Wagga Superintendent Dave Simmons has been brought in to assist the command.

From Monday, Detective Insp Brad Blanchard will act as Albury local area commander while Supt Stirton is on leave.

Sgt Stirton’s bravery was outlined when Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione presented the NSW Police Force Valour Award to him during a ceremony at the police force academy at Goulburn.

Sgt Stirton and a colleague had gone to get lunch at the Eastwood Shopping centre in Sydney’s north in 2008.

While on their way, they were asked to check on reports of a man acting suspiciously at the centre.

Sgt Stirton and his colleague followed the man out of the centre and asked him to stop. He ignored their directions, pulled a pistol from his waistband and fired at the officers, narrowly missing the pair, who returned fire.

The man, Christopher Benardos, turned the gun on himself, and later died in hospital without regaining consciousness.

“It was nice to be recognised, although it is under tragic circumstances,” Sgt Stirton said at the time of the award.

Sgt Stirton transferred to Albury six months ago to join his wife.

If you need help, telephone Lifeline: 13 11 14, Kids Help Line: 1800 551 800, NSW Rural Mental Health Support Line: 1800 201 123, Upper Hume Community Health Service: 1800 657 573.

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http://tributes.dailytelegraph.com.au/archivenotice/2509613/view?random=1443460373767

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Officer honoured for bravery

http://www.northernstar.com.au/news/officer-honoured-bravery/1522115/

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Patrick McGUIRE

NSW Police Force

Constable

Stationed:  Queanbeyan

Event – Attempt Murder of Constable Patrick McGuire –  July 1841

Constable John McGUIRE in July, 1841.

Previous editions of this book ‘ Beyond Courage ‘ (and other works) have listed the death, near Goulburn, of Constable John McGuire. Recent research has shown that the constable’s name was actually Patrick McGuire, he was stationed at Queanbeyan, and he survived being shot and viciously assaulted in February, 1840 by bushrangers Patrick ‘Paddy’ Curran and James Berry. Both were later arrested and convicted of shooting Constable Patrick McGuire with intent to murder him..

McGUIRE, John
Constable
July, 1841
James In July, 1841, Constable McGuire was escorting two bushrangers, James Berry and Patrick ‘ Paddy ‘ Curran, to Berrima Gaol. Both prisoners escaped after shooting the Constable near Goulburn. No other details are known.

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The Sydney Monitor and Commercial Advertiser ( NSW )

Monday  20 September 1841  page 2 of 4

Supreme Court. EQUITY SIDE

CIRCUIT COURT—BERRIMA. The Court was opened on Wednesday last, by His Honor Mr. Justice Burton, with the usual ceremonies.

Mr. Edmond Burton; the Clerk of Arraigns, having read over the proclamation against vice and immorality, the Jury were called over, when it appeared that several gentlemen had been summoned from Goulburn and other places, exceeding the distance of thirty miles, appointed by the Act. His Honor ordered them to be discharged.

His Honor then delivered a lengthy address, which our space will not allow us to insert in this publication.

Patrick Curran was first placed at the bar and indicted for ravishing, one Mary Wilmore, at Bungadore, ( Bungendore ) on the 8th of February, 1841.

It appeared by the evidence adduced, that the prosecutrix was the wife, of a labouring man, who resided near Bungadore, and that on the day stated in the indictment, her husband went to some place a few miles off. During her husband’s absence from home, the prisoner and a man named White, went into the hut and obliged the prosecutrix to make them some tea; the prosecutrix went out of the hut to procure some wood; when Curran followed her, knocked her down, and putting a knife across her throat, then committed the offence with which he was now charged.

The Jury found the prisoner guilty.

Patrick Curran was again placed at the bar, and indicted for aiding one Patrick Berry to shoot at a person named Patrick McGuire, with intent to murder him.   The following are the circumstances of the case; the prisoner had been committed to take his trial, having been guilty of a variety of offences, and was sent, together with a man named Berry, towards Berrima, with an escort of two constables named McGuire and Wilmore. On their route, they stopped at a hut to have some tea; Wilmore left the hut, and having been absent for a considerable space of time, McGuire went to call him; at this moment, Curran and Berry made a rush and seized the constables’ muskets, which were left in the hut. They then came out of the hut; and, presenting the muskets at the constables, demanded the key of the handcuffs. Wilmore ran away, but McGuire rushed upon the prisoners and, seized Curran’s musket, and held Berry in such a way that he could not present his gun ; a scuffle ensued, and Berry got his gun released, and McGuire was then shot in the back of the head and shoulder, and was severely beaten by the prisoners as to remain for a long time insensible.

His Honor charged the Jury, and said that the point for their consideration was, whether Berry actually fired the gun, or whether it went off by accident during the struggle.

The Jury after about a quarter of an hour’s deliberation, found the prisoner guilty.

His Honor then passed sentence upon the prisoner.

The Court adjourned until Thursday.

Australasian Chronicle ( Sydney )

Tuesday  21 September 1841  page 2 of 4

Berrima Assizes Wednesday, September 16. This morning, about ten o’clock, his Honor Mr. Justice Burton, accompanied by the High Sheriff, arrived at Berrima, escorted by some of the most respectable settlers in the district; and shortly after the court was opened with the usual formalities. The royal proclamation against vice and immorality, and for the encouragement of piety and virtue, having been read by the judge’s marshal, and silence being commanded, his Honor delivered the following charge:- …….

Patrick Curran was then indicted for having committed a rape on the person of Mary Welsmore, a married woman, at Bungadore, ( Bungendore )  on the night of the 8th December, 1841.

Mary Wellsmore – I know the prisoner at the bar; he came to my house on the night of the 8th of December, about eleven o’clock; he knocked and asked me to let him in, and I refused; I then threatened to shoot him, and he said if I fired I should not live a minute longer; he then forced the door open; I had a child in my arms at the time; he then forced me to make him some tea; there was another man (White) along with him; I had no candles, and the light I had was by burning small dry wood and when I was going out for some more wood White would not let me go. Prisoner then said it was no …. use, he must have what he wanted ; I then ran out, and he followed me and knocked me down; I screamed and called out to White to come to my assistance; he did not come, but went to hide himself. Prisoner then took out a knife and drew it across my throat; I can swear it was the blade part he put on my throat, and said, you – – , if you do not be quiet I will cut your throat, and throw you into the waterhole.

The rest of the evidence was such as to render it unfit for publication, the prosecutrix having distinctly proved the capital part of the charge.

Cross-examined by Mr. Hustler.–I have been married seven years; I lived before I was married at Oliver and Smart’s, in Pitt-street, Sydney; I have three children; they were all born since I was married.; I never saw the prisoner before that night; I did not know his name was Patrick Curran; they told me that was his name; I tasted the rum; I did not drink it; they forced me to taste it; I did it through fear; they were there about an hour; it might be more; my husband was gone to Goulburn; the nearest hut is not a quarter of a mile, about five or six minutes’ walk; I shouted for assistance; no one came; the men told me next day they heard me; Mr. Griffiths told me next day that it was Curran, from the marks and description I gave of him; I said he had a blue jacket and white trousers, and a flat nose; Mr. Griffiths said it was Paddy Curran, and that he had insulted another female that day.

By the court -I came a free immigrant; I came in the Duchess of Northumberland; I lived only six weeks at Oliver and Smart’s, when I got married.

By a juror – White was brought singly when I saw them; Curran was also taken singly; the people told me Paddy Curran was taken, and I went to identify him.

Re-examined–I would have known the prisoner among six men; I should have picked him out of half a dozen.

Patrick Macguire– I am a constable in the district of Queanbeyan; I apprehended the prisoner at the Black Range, at Molonglo, about twelve months ago; John Nuttall was with me when I took him;  prisoner had a pistol in his possession.; I knew Curran to be a runaway prisoner of the Crown.’

Mr. Hustler addressed the jury for the prisoner, commenting on the nature of the evidence, and said that it was such as the jury could not solely depend upon, and that in cases of this kind corroborative testimony ought always to be adduced, or else an accusation was easily made out, and very difficult to be defended by the prisoner.

The jury retired for about twenty minutes, and returned a verdict of guilty.

The prisoner was again placed at the bar, and indicted, as an accessory with one James or John Berry, for shooting at Pat McGuire, at the Ten-mile station, with intent, &c.

The jury, after deliberating about a quarter of an hour, brought in a verdict of guilty.

Sentence of death was passed. The prisoner said, in a loud voice, “You’re hanging a better man than the prosecutors;” and did not appear in the least degree moved by his fate.

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Rachael Gai Wilson

Constable

New South Wales Police Force

Class 266

Registered #:  ?????

Died at Rydalmere, NSW,

Service:  From ? ? 1996 to 22 September 1999 = 3 years Service

24 old

Suicide – shot – Service Pistol to chest

Stationed:  Mt Druitt, Quaker’s Hill, Seven Hills, Penrith, Ermington Police Station – Plain clothes – Anti Theft Squad – Death

Funeral:  Winston Hills on 28 September 1999

Rachael was a plain clothes constable performing proactive duties at Ermington, NSW.

Rachael suffered psychological injuries which were later declined by the insurer.

She slipped into a greater depression and subsequently died from a self inflicted gun shot wound from her own Service weapon, whilst On Duty, after she drove to Eric Primrose Reserve, Rydalmere.

A beautiful smile no longer shines, but her light lives on in the hearts of her loved ones and friends.

May Rachael forever Rest In Peace.

Gabrielle Patricia McDONALD – nee Eggleston

aka  Gabby

late of Maryland

Wife to Andrew McDonald # 22289

NSW Police Academy Class # 242C

“possibly” a Rejoinee

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. #  26685

Rank:  Commenced training at Goulburn Police Station on Sunday 30 July 1989 ( aged 19 years, 5 months, 5 days )

Probationary Constable – appointed 25 January 1990 ( aged 19 years, 11 months, 0 days )

Constable – appointed  ? ? ?

Detective – appointed  ? ? ? ( YES )

Constable 1st Class – appointed  ? ? ?

Senior Constable – appointed  ? ? ?

Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed  ? ? ?

Final Rank:  Detective Sergeant

Stations:  ?, Inner City ( Sydney ), Newtown Detectives, Balmain ( 8 Division ), Newcastle, Lake Macquarie L.A.C.,  Northern Region Professional Standards

Service:  From 30 July 1989   to   3 July 2013 = 23 years, 11 months, 3 days Service

Awards:  No Find on Australian Honours

Born:  Wednesday  25 February 1970

Died on:  Wednesday  3 July 2013

Cause:  Depression – Suicide – hanging – ON DUTY

Previous attempt in 2012 inside Newcastle Police Stn

Age:  43 years, 4 months, 8 days

Funeral date:  Thursday  11 July 2013 @ 11am

Funeral location:  Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church, Sandgate Rd, Shortland

Buried at:  Sandgate Lawn Cemetery, 116 Maitland Rd, Sandgate, NSW

Grave Location:  Lawn Cemetery 1, Row R, Grave 54

GPS:  Lat:  -32.8703445   Long:  151.709213

GABBY is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance – Canberra 

* BUT SHOULD BE.  Last checked 2 Aug 2019  24 Jan 2024

GABBY IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance – NSW Domain

Grave location: 

Late of Maryland

Gabrielle passed away on 03/07/2013.

Her funeral is proposed to be held at 11am on Thursday 11th Instant at Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church, 262 Sandgate Road, SHORTLAND.

Dearly loved wife of ANDREW, loving mother of JESSICA and JOSH. Loved daughter and daughter-in-law of CARMEL and NORM (dec’d) EGGLESTON, FRAN and WARREN McDONALD.
Sister and sister-in-law of PETER and MAREE, MEL and JULIE, MARIA and MARK, ANDREW and AREEYA, ANGELA and MARK, SUE and STEVE, PATRICK and CAROLINE, NICOLE and NIGEL, GREG and loved aunty of their FAMILIES.

The Relatives and Friends of GABRIELLE are warmly invited to attend her Funeral to be held in Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church, Sandgate Rd, Shortland on THURSDAY 11/7/13 Funeral Liturgy commencing at 11am. An interment will follow at Sandgate Lawn Cemetery.

http://pettigrew.com.au/upcoming-funerals/2013/7/11/mcdonald-gabrielle-patricia-gabby.html

Video:    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-11/family-of-nsw-policewoman-who-took-her-own-life/7587948

Morgan James HILL

New South Wales Police Force

Goulburn Police Academy Class # ???

Regd. # 40683

Rank:  Commenced Training at Goulburn Police Academy on ? ? ?

Probationary Constable – appointed ? ? ?

Constable – appointed ? ? ?

Constable 1st Class – appointed ? ? ?

Final Rank:  Constable 1st Class

Stations:  Waverley

Awards:  Commissioner’s Unit Citation for actions on Sunday  11 December 2005

Service:  From  29 April 2005  to  27 March 2009 = 3+ years Service

Born:  Tuesday  25 January 1983

Died:  Friday  27 March 2009

Age:  26 years, 2 months, 2 days old

Cause:  Severe PTSD – Suicide – self inflicted gunshot wound, with Service Glock, at Fishermans Rd, Malabar

Funeral date:  Thursday 2 April 2009

Funeral location:  Our Lady of Sacred Heart Church, 193 Avoca St, Randwick

Grave location:  Ashes Interned at Botany Cemetery on 25 January 2010

RC6 – Roman Catholic FM 6 – 560

Morgan commenced his shift at Waverley Police Station at 8pm on the evening of 27 March 2009.

At 8.39pm, at Fisherman’s Road, Malabar, in his private vehicle, Morgan ended his life whilst suffering severe depression induced by the effects of anti-depressant medication he had been prescribed.

Morgan was born on 25 January 1983 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 29 April, 2005.

He was 26 years of age at the time of his death by suicide and stationed at Waverley, Eastern Suburbs Local Area Command.

Morgan is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance But Should be

MORGAN ( as of 2017 ) IS mentioned on the NSW Police Wall of Remembrance

* Stemming from the continued work of the wives of four Fallen NSW Police to Suicide – those four names will now be included in the newly refurbished NSW Police Wall of Remembrance, Sydney, as of 2017

Congratulations to those family members who fought the fight to right this wrong.

*

Constable Morgan James HILL – Suicide – 27 March 2009 – Coroners report – 9 Sept 2011

The response, from the Commissioner of Police, to the above Coroners report:

On 2 April 2012, Police Commissioner AP Scipione APM advised the Coroner as follows:

“The NSW Police Force established a Self Harm Prevention Advisory Panel (the Panel) in 2010, following a recommendation of the Deputy State Coroner Dillon in 2009 arising from the death of Sgt Ian Muir. The role of the Panel was recently reviewed and amendments are currently being made to its charter to oversight the NSW Police Force response to Recommendations in all coronial matters involving self-harm by police officers.”

http://www.lsb.justice.nsw.gov.au/agdbasev7wr/_assets/lsb/m500001l1/coronersrecommendationsjune2011to%20december%202011.doc

In Loving Memory of Officer Morgan Hill, Australia, 2009

NSW Police Force

Commissioner’s Unit Citation

Awarded to Constable Morgan Hill

Awarded for outstanding bravery and devotion to duty as a member of the New South Wales Police Force response to civil disorder within the Miranda, Eastern Beaches, St George, and Campsie Local Area Commands.

On Sunday, 11 December 2005, a protracted public order management policing operation commenced in response to a major civil disorder situation in the Cronulla area.  The ensuing violent civil disorder continued in Cronulla and other areas, including Maroubra, Brighton, and Campsie, until Tuesday, 13 December 2005, when the situation was brought under control, with peace and good order restored by members of the Force.

The dedication and devotion to duty rendered by these police who were on the frontline throughout this protracted and dangerous policing response and operation exemplifies the courage, expertise, professionalism and commitment of the New South Wales Police Force.

While protecting members of the community and property from rioters, officers were subjected to various forms of assaults and missile attacks.  These members of the Force, many of whom sustained injury, remained steadfast in the performance of their duty.

Constable Hill warrants due recognition for his courage and meritourious service during this period of civil unrest and thus is highly commended.

A P Scipione APM

Commissioner of Police

Dated 18 September 2008 but NOT signed.

‘Despite the above Commendation being dated 18 September 2008 ( 6 months before Morgan’s death ), the Certificate was handed to the family Posthumously on the very same day that they were also handed documentation stating that Morgan was NOT going to be mentioned on the Wall of Police Remembrance due to the fact he suicided.

These documents were not given to the family until late 2010.’

Today Tonight TV programme  Channel 7, aired this show on Wednesday  23 July 2014.

The below comments were copied and pasted from the TodayTonightadelaide website on 23 March 2016

http://www.todaytonightadelaide.com.au/stories/police-suicide

• Jean Simpson says: The Government should be looking at a change in the whole health system , to ask the question why are so many young , old , just so many of the population coming down with Depression , (The Back Dog) . Definitely more counselling services. As well as the government ,we should all try to be more considerate , compassionate to all in society , there is so much suffering out there , and so many issues to deal with today than there was a few years ago. Teresa Cranes comments about the corruption , threats and underhanded dealings within the force has been talked about for as long as i can remember. It makes me really sad to see the young adults of today joining the force with all good intent , with a passion to help our society , only to find that they go to work each day fighting against an epidemic of corruption within there own work place. Like Teresa on this page i knew of an elderly Sergeant who has now retired , because he was told to take an early retirement . To find someone in the force that is not corrupt would be a hard task. How does the average person tell who is who anymore? So sorry for the ones that are trying to make this world a better place , for the opinion of a lot of people is that unfortunately they get tarred with the same brush , one can only imagine the affect on the innocent ones , Wow what a fight they have on there hands ! Love and light to all .
• 2 years ago : 4 likes
• Amanda Schultz says: Teresa Crane you got it spot on! My dad took hi s life in 1981, right in those good old corrupt years! Made a boss aged 32. Took his life aged 37. Left a wife and three daughters. What else do you do when your “boys” are on the take and the bosses buried their heads? I think there needs to be Royal Commissions to make the brass accountable and expose those we know were hypocrites and criminals. SA Police took a good man and destroyed him and his family….we live with it everyday.
• 2 years ago : 0 likes
• Peter Roberts says: Very interesting story and definitely needs looking into
• 2 years ago : 1 likes
• Heather Johns says: It’s unfortunate that they aren’t required to debrief or to talk about an issue without being labelled. It is not just police, fire, ambos, we see it a huge amount in defence too. Why can’t we remove the stigma of PTSD & depression & help those in need as they are helping us? Where is the government funding for more counselling services?
• 2 years ago : 0 likes
• Ross Beckley says: Great story and thanks for making this public. All emergency service personnel are suffering silently and their organisational management need to start addressing these concerns raised in this story.
• 2 years ago : 1 likes
• Trevor Hardy says: SAPOL officers need to find themselves a good private psychologist and see them regularly. You can work through problems and if SAPOL are going to continue to sweep the problems under the carpet, then members need to do it for themselves. Or quit. No job in this Universe is worth killing yourself over.
• 2 years ago : 0 likes
• Jessica Courtney Evans says: Yep…. Someone I’m my family was an officer in nz and took his own life. It’s tragic and awful. They need more support….
• 2 years ago : 1 likes
• Tanya Eldridge-Tregenza says: It’s no bloody secret it’s been happy for a long time.
• 2 years ago : 1 likes
• Lynette Millowick says: Missed out on story was working
• 2 years ago : 1 likes
• Clare Heiss says: Oh poo!! Was really looking forward to seeing it! Thanks for letting us know though!
• 2 years ago : 3 likes
• Today Tonight Adelaide says: Unfortunately we cannot load the video until it has aired in Perth – at the moment it looks like it may run tomorrow so the video won’t be online until Monday morning
• 2 years ago : 2 likes
• Berrick Boland says: Today Tonight, rocks.
• 2 years ago : 4 likes
• Lauren Busbridge says: Same with paramedics!!!!!
• 2 years ago : 4 likes
• Today Tonight Adelaide says: The video will be uploaded tomorrow
• 2 years ago : 1 likes
• Clare Heiss says: I can’t find the story in this link @TodayTonight
• 2 years ago : 2 likes
• Ann Krieg says: PTSD needs to be told and understood. We need to know what and how it happens and to whom. The service men, whether police, or army or navy or air, or whether it is from work and a bad boss or bad experience from an accident, we need to know. 🙂
• 2 years ago : 3 likes
• Berrick Boland says: The Forgotten 300 Facebook page come on and like us for the families of PTSD and Police suicide victims.
• 2 years ago : 12 likes
• Anne Heinrich says: Well I am only one of many people I know who admire the police for their kindness and care of those in need, their patience and persistence and tenacious spirit to keep people alive! Maybe if more people told them so (and I include the media) they might feel more appreciated and needed. Don’t give up guys- there are lots of us who think you’re great!
• 2 years ago : 2 likes
• Sandy McLellan says: I have known many Policeman, but one in particular tells me of the many who simply cannot cope with the ghastly things they have to deal with. We have NO idea how bad it is, very sad. They put their lives on the line for us all the time. Maybe they need much more support on the job and from us, the public.
• 2 years ago : 3 likes
• Tony Crowley says: They should cover SAPOL . We are not clean either
• 2 years ago : 10 likes
• John Hirst says: Be good to see it’s getting some publicity and not ‘swept under the carpet’. Lost a few good colleagues from this and there are so many more stepping close to the line with little or no support from the employer. Tony Crowley for your info.

Posted  Monday  20 June 2016:

CORONERS COURT

Morgan James Hill:

Deputy State Coroner Mitchell On 9 September 2011 at Glebe and Parramatta

FINDINGS.

I find that Morgan Hill who was born on 25 January 1983 died at Fishermans Road Malabar NSW at about 8.39 pm on 27 March 2009 of a gunshot wound to the head, self inflicted while suffering severe depression.

RECOMMENDATIONS;

That a psychiatrist or psychiatrists be employed in the Health and Well being Unit of Welfare Safety Command or retained so as to ensure qualified psychiatric oversight of all police fitness assessments where mental health or emotional stability are an issue.

2.  That appropriate criteria be developed and established to guide and inform police medical officers in assessing the fitness of police officers for various duties within the police force and the fitness of police officers to have possession of a firearm.

3. In particular, that the criteria so developed and established provide that fitness for duty and to carry a firearm is not merely a matter of the absence of a diagnosable psychiatric condition or mental illness.

4. That police medical officer be encouraged to explore with police officers referred by commanders for a fitness assessment the history of that officer and any current or recent medical diagnoses and treatment plan or plans and the identity of that officer’s medical practitioner and to seek the consent of the police officer to that medical practitioner providing appropriate medical information to the police medical officer and that unwillingness to provide that consent be among the matters to be reported to the referring commander.

5. That psychologists assisting in the preparation of fitness assessments be accorded independence from police medical officers.

6. That police medical officer be reminded of the provisions of the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 and, so far as the provision of information to commanding officers is concerned, be encouraged to act in accordance with its terms.

7. That the practice of placing reliance on psychological tests in the preparation of fitness assessments be reviewed by an independent expert.

8.  That the freedom of commanding officers to make their decisions as to the removal or restoration of firearms informed by considerations other than those dealt with by police medical officers be encouraged.

9. That commanding officers be reminded of their entitlement to the provision of information pursuant to the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002.

10. That consideration be given to the establishment of a mentoring system of young officers by more senior officers with a view to the guidance, support and oversight of the performance of those young officers.

RESPONSE

On 2 April 2012, Police Commissioner AP Scipione AMP advised the Coroner as follows:

“The NSW Police Force established a Self Harm Prevention Advisory Panel (the Panel) in 2010, following a recommendation of the Deputy State Coroner Dillon in 2009 arising from the death of Sgt Ian Muir.

The role of the Panel was recently reviewed and amendments are currently being made to its charter to oversight the NSW Police Force response to Recommendations in all coronial matters involving self-harm by police officers.

”Please click here to link to a table which sets out the full Police Force response to the recommendations made by Coroner Mitchell. (Unavailable)

Bryson Charles ANDERSON

AKA Bryce ANDERSON, Bryson ANDERSON

Son of Rex ANDERSON, NSWPF # 8681

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. #  23020

Academy Class:  222

Rank: Police Trainee – commenced 18 August 1986,

Probationary Constable – appointed 7 November 1986,

Constable 1st Class – appointed 1991,

Detective Constable 1st Class – appointed November 1993,

Sergeant – appointed 2004,

Detective Inspector – appointed 2009,

Duty Officer – from 19 December 2010

Detective Inspector

Stations:  Goulburn Academy, Parramatta G.D’s, Granville, Ermington, C.I. Duties – Granville, Castle Hill, Task Force Boyne, Ermington, Rosehill, Special Crime, Internal Affairs, Hawkesbury L.A.C.

Service:   From  18 August 1986   to  6 December 2012 = 26 years, 3 months, 18 days Service

Age at Leaving: 45 years, 10 months, 20 days

Time in Retirement:  0

Awards:  National Medal – granted 22 July 1993 ( SenCon )

NSW Police Medal together with 1st & 2nd Clasps

Commissioner’s Unit Citation – 2003 for Highly professional investigations

1st Clasp to the National Medal – posthumously

3rd Clasp to the NSW Police Medal – posthumously

Valour Award – posthumously

Born:  Monday 16 January 1967

Died on:  Thursday 6 December 2012

Cause:  Murdered – Oakville, NSW

Age:  45 years, 10 months, 20 days

 Funeral date:  Wednesday  12 December 2012

Funeral location:  St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta, NSW

Buried at:   Cremated

Memorial location:  Outside of Windsor Police Stn, NSW

Memorial dedication performed on Tuesday 6 December 2022 upon the 10 Anniversary of his Murder.

BRYSON IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance

The Commissioners Press conference.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-06/p … ck/4413626

Two people have been arrested after a senior police officer died after sustaining critical injuries in an axe attack in Sydney’s north-west.

Police say Detective Inspector Bryson Anderson was among a number of officers called to a dispute between neighbours at Scheyville Road in Oakville about 2pm (AEDT).

About two hours later, Detective Inspector Anderson was seriously injured in what is understood to have been an axe attack.

	Det Insp Bryson Anderson killed with an axe on Thu 061212

After treatment by paramedics he was rushed to Windsor Hospital in a critical condition but died a short time later.

Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said a 19-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman had been arrested at the scene and taken to Windsor Police Station where they were assisting investigators with their inquiries.

Mr Scipione said Detective Inspector Anderson was from a police family and had left a wife and three children.

“They are, as you imagine, distraught, but taking strong support from not only their immediate family, but the police family.

“We will console officers that were part of this particular operation.

“They, as you would also imagine, are traumatised and all support services have been put around them.

“I’ve got to say the strength and courage that is being shown inside (the hospital), not only by the police that are there, but also by the family, is incredible.”

Photo: Police say the officer was called to a dispute between neighbours in Oakville.

Det Insp Bryson Anderson killed with an axe on Thu 061212

Mr Scipione said he could not provide too many details of the events leading up to the attack given the investigation was in its early stages.

“I understand the (neighbourhood) dispute did involve the use of some weapons, but again having said that, we want to get to the bottom of this investigation before we start making too many statements,” he said.

“Suffice to say it was a violent neighbourhood incident that caused the police to attend and there were many police there.

“Some time after they first attended, there was an interaction which led to the death of Inspector Anderson.

“I understand they were trying to communicate with affected parties and were looking to resolve this peacefully.”

Mr Scipione said Detective Inspector Anderson had worked for him more than 10 years ago and paid tribute to his skills as an investigator.

“He was nothing short of a role model to those officers that come after him,” he said.

“Today is a stark reminder how dangerous this job is. These people do this in such a way they put their lives before the lives of others.

“You have an idea what the price is today.”

Anyone with information about the incident are being asked to call Crime Stoppers on  1800 333 000  or use the Crime Stoppers website.

RIP  Bryson

A tribute from our Commissioner

Today ( Wednesday 12 December 2012) we honour a brave man. Bryson Anderson. A police officer, and so much more.

A man who was so deeply respected by the community in which he lived, worked and devoted much of his spare time.

Valedictory for Detective Inspector Bryson Anderson

Homily for the Funeral Mass for Detective Inspector Bryson Anderson, St Patrick’s Cathedral Parramatta, Most Rev Anthony Fisher OP, Bishop of Parramatta
Wednesday, 12 December 2012 02:57:38 PM

Any death is a loss. The death of a loved one before time is worse. A senseless, violent, innocent death is even more appalling. But a death in the line of duty hits us especially hard. Why is that?

Our word police comes from the Greek word polis, meaning the city-state, its citizens and civilisation. Police are appointed to keep order in the polis and protect persons and property. The word politician comes from the same root, for they too work for the people, with our bureaucracies and courts. Yet none of these is in the front-line the way police are.

We all shelter behind our police officers’ sense of law and order, their character and courage, their instincts, reactions, negotiating and other skills. Detective Inspector Bryson Anderson devoted his life to providing such shelter for his family, friends and community. He lived for this and this was a gift to us all; he died for this and this affronts us all.

His fellow officers also mourn his passing, as Commissioner Scipione testified. I first got to know the Commissioner and his people in the lead-up to World Youth Day in Sydney in 2008. It was a time when hundreds of thousands of youth threw them kisses and told them God loved them and they loved them. If only it was always so! One such beloved of God and people was described in our first Scripture reading today (Wisdom 4:7-15). Being virtuous, untarnished and God-pleasing, the man in that passage was ready for God sooner than most.

Bryson’s fellow officers tell me he was such a man, and that his integrity inspired them. That his death has left them in shock is a sign of that bond within the police family said to be as thick as blood.

Of course, policing was literally in Bryson’s blood, as his father and brother both served in the force, Rex for many years here in Parramatta. When I saw Donna and the family after the terrible news, there were policemen present as if they were his own brothers. Such a death must make all officers aware of their own mortality, must bring to the surface daily anxiety for the safety of the public, their comrades and themselves, and so too for beloved spouses who might be widowed or children orphaned. But it also brings out into the open their fraternity and courage.

Thousands are here today to pray for Bryson and the Anderson family, to share in their natural sorrow and supernatural hope. But proud as they must be and however comforted by our presence, they still have the very personal grief of ones who’ve lost husband, father, son and brother.

Perhaps they are asking themselves: How could an argument over a bird cage end so horribly? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why does God permit such things? Well, God could have made us robots, obedient to His every command. Instead He took the great ‘gamble’ of making us free, able to choose good or evil. He does everything to persuade, encourage, inspire us to live lives of service and self-sacrifice.

Some of us do. Most of us try. Some don’t. When bushfires, floods or other natural evils hurt innocent people, we know that these are part and parcel of a world that is beautiful and bountiful but has its own law and order.

The real mystery for us is man-made evil: why human beings do terrible things to each other, why they misuse the godlike gifts of freedom and intelligence. Like those in our first reading, we “look on uncomprehending”. Few of us will face death by an assailant’s knife or have that happen in our family. But when our own crosses come, we too must try to make some sense of it. In Jesus Christ, we believe, God fully embraced our human condition, including His own violent death as an innocent man before his time.

Why was it necessary for Christ to suffer? Because that was where humanity was. To redeem us, He had to go where we are. So God became a real human being, with friends and enemies, hopes and fears, who wept for His dead friend Lazarus, and later cried out tired, frightened, abandoned.

God in Jesus Christ is the great realist: no evasion, no false front, no easy escape; no pretending away the sin of the world or the suffering of ordinary lives. But He did what any man, any God-made-man, could do.

The problem of evil drives some to atheism, some to despair. But it draws some to the Crucified One, to unite their sufferings with His, as He united His whole being with them at Christmas and beyond.

This doesn’t ‘magic away’ all that is unpleasant; we may still ache that someone we love has been stolen from us. Our hearts may be troubled as Jesus’ was (John 12:27, 13:31). But in time faith can bring new perspective, the courage to face the human condition, the grace to grow through this stage of our life, and compassion for others who suffer also.

Any faith or philosophy worthy of us must face evil straight on. Every police officer knows this. Euphemisms and positive thinking will not do; neither will glorifying evil or emptying it of its mystery. From the side of the Crucified God flows the blood and water of human life and death. But from there, too, flows hope for every hurting heart, every fragile person, even for the dead.

2012 is the sesquicentenary of the New South Wales Police Force and was supposed to be a year of celebration for them. Yet it began with the killing of Senior Constable Dave Rixon and ends with the killing of Detective Inspector Bryson Anderson. He is the 14th to be killed on duty since 1980. Death is no respecter of office, rank or character. And so this week a family, a force, a whole state join Christ in His Passion. We are joined with Him in His mortal combat with evil: proposing the good and beautiful and true to all; preventing violence and injustice where we can; comforting the victims, those who suffer for justice’s sake and those who mourn them.

In our Gospel passage, Christ called Himself the Way, the Truth and the Life for every troubled heart (John 14:1-6). His life offers us the way, as it did to Bryson, the way of justice, mercy and peace. Christ’s death offers us the truth, as it did for Bryson, the truth about human fragility and promise, freedom and intelligence for good or evil. And His Resurrection offers us the life, as it does for Bryson, life eternal for every noble soul.

2012 should have been a year of celebration for police officers and still it should be: a celebration of what is most worthy in the force and in those who bring it credit. It should have been a time of pride and joy for the Anderson family: that will come later, as they treasure what Bryson gave to them and to us all.

But for now: “We seem to be giving Bryson back to you, O God, who gave him to us.
Yet, as you did not lose him in giving him to us, so we do not lose him by his return. For
you do not give as the world gives, O Lover of souls: what you give you never take
away … For life is eternal, and love immortal, and death is only an horizon, and the
horizon is no more than the limit of our sight.

“Lift us up, strong Son of God, that we may see further. Cleanse our tearful eyes that
we may see more clearly. Draw us closer to yourself, that we may know ourselves to be
nearer to Bryson, now that he is with you. And while you prepare a place for us (John
14:1-6), prepare us also for that happy place, that where you and he are, we may be
also, for evermore.” (Prayer of Fr Bede Jarrett OP)

Detective Inspector Bryson Charles Anderson (1967-2012) – Find a Grave Memorial

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Bryson ANDERSON IS mentioned on the National Police Wall of Remembrance, Canberra

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Mitchell Barbieri and his mother Fiona plead guilty to their roles in killing of decorated officer Bryson Anderson

• Amy Dale
• The Daily Telegraph
• November 05, 201412:24PM

 

THE mother and son charged with killing decorated police officer Detective Inspector Bryson Anderson have pleaded guilty on the morning their trial was due to start.

Mitchell Barbieri pleaded guilty to murdering the 45 year old officer, while his mother, 47, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty of the officer’s manslaughter.

The pleas came as the jury were about to be empanelled and begin to hear the opening address.

Bryson Anderson was killed on December 6, 2012, after being called to the pair’s Oakville home, in Sydney’s north west.

Fiona Barbieri’s plea to manslaughter is being accepted on the grounds of “substantial impairment”, the court heard.

It is expected a sentencing hearing will take place next year.

Mitchell Barbieri, 21, is facing a mandatory life sentence without parole for murdering a police officer.

The Supreme Court was packed with family, colleagues and friends of Det Insp Anderson, some of whom shed tears as the guilty pleas were announced.

Flanked by police officers, Det Insp Anderson’s brother Warwick Anderson thanked the investigating officers for their “support and strength” and the hard work of the DPP.

He said the family was very mindful of the officers who were with his brother on the day he died and who continued to suffer physical and psychological injuries.

“The thoughts, care and prayers of our family go out to them,” he told reporters outside court.

There was still a significant way to go for his family to come to terms with the “senseless and tragic loss of Bryson”, he said

Justice Robert Hulme adjourned the case until next Wednesday, when the Crown will begin calling evidence on sentence.

Defence counsel will give their submissions to court on November 24.

Family and friends of murdered Detective inspector Bryson Anderson and police

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David James RIXON, VA BM

New South Wales Police Force

Goulburn Police Academy Class # 247

Regd. # 27947

Rank:  Commenced Training at Goulburn Police Academy as a Junior Trainee on Sunday 28 October 1990 ( aged 19 years, 2 months, 30 days )

Probationary Constable – appointed 26 April 1991 ( aged 19 years, 8 months, 26 days )

Constable – appointed 26 April 1992

Senior Constable – death

Stations:  Hamilton, Belmont G.D’s, Waratah HWP from 12 February 1995, Gunnedah HWP from 7 May 1995, then Tamworth HWP from 14 July 1996 – Death

Served:  From 28 October 1990 to 2 March 2012 = 21 years, 4 months & 3 days Service

Awards:  Commissioners Valour Award ( VA ) – posthumously

Bravery Medal ( BM ) – posthumously awarded

Born:  Saturday  31 July 1971

Died:  Friday  2 March 2012

Age:  40 years & 7 months

Cause:  Shot – Murdered

Event location:  outside 10 – 12 Lorraine Street, West Tamworth, NSW

Funeral date: Thursday  8 March 2012 @ 10.30am

Funeral location:  St Paul`s Anglican Church, Church St. Tamworth

Grave location:  lawn portion of the Tamworth Regional Council Cemetery, Showground Rd. Tamworth.

GPS:  -31.0903969,  150.9007111

David IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance

SenCon David Rixon
Senior Constable

Father of six, shot and killed at Tamworth, NSW, Australia, today Friday 2 March 2012. May you forever Rest In Peace with the rest of our Brothers and Sisters who have paid the ultimate price in Policing.

There is a memorial fund to support the family of S/C Rixon who are dealing with a loss at this time. Donations can be made to this fund with the following details: Account name: David Rixon Memorial Fund, Account number : 269978 (add S1 at the end for Internal transfer by PCU members) Police Credit Union BSB: 815000

RIXON, David James
Dearly loved husband of Fiona
Loving father of Renae, Jemma, Scott, Mathew, Hayley and Patrick.

Loved son, stepson and son-in-law of Gwen & Max Russell, Ken Rixon, Kathryn & Robert Brooking, loved step brother and brother-in-law of Katie and Beau, Tammy, Leanne (dec), Rachelle, Nadina and Damien.
The relatives and friends of David Rixon were respectfully invited to attend his funeral.

The Service was appointed to commence at 10.30 am, Thursday, 8th March, 2012, at St Paul`s Anglican Church, Church St. Tamworth, thence for interment in the lawn portion of the Tamworth Regional Council Cemetery, Showground Rd. Tamworth.

Presented to the family.

NSW policeman honoured after on-duty death

It was meant to be a regular day for Tamworth police officer and father-of-six David Rixon.

The NSW highway patrol officer was carrying out a routine breath check in 2012 when the driver, Michael Jacobs, pulled out a revolver and shot him in the chest.

He returned fire, hitting Jacobs in the abdomen, leg and shoulder, called for back-up and handcuffed Jacobs before collapsing.

His killer went on to receive life-saving surgery and a life sentence.

But Senior Constable Rixon died at the scene, leaving behind a heartbroken wife and six children.

Three years later, he has been honoured for his bravery.

Sen Const Rixon is one of 25 people to receive an Australian Bravery Decoration on Wednesday from Governor-General Peter Cosgrove.

Mr Cosgrove says Sen Const Rixon and the other recipients are a source of courage, support and inspiration, but he acknowledged there can be devastating consequences resulting from their bravery.

“Sadly, there are those whose brave acts mean they are no longer with us,” he said.

“Today, to their families, I express the nation’s sadness at your loss but pride in your loved ones’ actions.”

The Australian Bravery Decorations recognise acts of bravery by members of the community who selflessly put themselves in jeopardy to protect the lives or property of others.

The recipients are nominated by members of the public, with the governor-general deciding the awards.

They vary from Mustafa Ruhi Akkan and Nattapat Penpanussak, who helped police apprehend a man who stabbed three backpackers in 2000, to Jamie Alan Strong, for helping rescue two people trapped in a burning house in 2014.

One of the highest honours, the Star of Courage, is awarded to a 21-year-old RAAF pilot named James Wallace Hocking.

In 1944, he saved his crew and the English township of March by flying his stricken bomber away from civilian danger. He died when the plane crashed into a nearby field.

There are four levels of decoration and a Group Bravery Citation, an award for a group of people involved in a single incident. They are the Cross of Valour, the Star of Courage, the Bravery Medal, Commendation for Brave Effort and the Group Bravery Citation.

AWARDS SINCE 1975

• 5 Cross of Valour

• 146 Star of Courage

• 1217 Bravery Medals

• 1926 Commendations for Brave Conduct

• 157 Group Bravery Citations

https://au.news.yahoo.com/nsw/a/29293039/nsw-policeman-honoured-after-on-duty-death/

An officer and a gentleman: Remembering Senior Constable David Rixon a year on

By Kitty Hill

March 1, 2013, noon

A SOMBRE anniversary falls today as police officers and community members join the family in remembering fallen Tamworth police officer Senior Constable David Rixon a year after his death.

On March 2, 2012, Senior Constable Rixon was fatally shot on a routine traffic stop in West Tamworth.

Senior Constable Rixon’s wife Fiona and their children will be joined by officers from across the state to mark the anniversary, many of whom have spent the past week completing a charity walk in his honour.

Officers will form a sombre march to Tamworth Police Station to arrive at 8am, where the flag will be lowered to stand at half mast.

NSW Police Commissioner, Andrew Scipione, will unveil a plaque honouring Senior Constable Rixon, during a ceremony at Tamworth Community Centre at 11am.

Fiona Rixon said she will take a private moment during the day to remember her husband, the man who she described as her “other half”.

“He was my best friend, we did absolutely everything together, everything,” she said.

About 60 police officers of the 140 who walked arrived in Tamworth last night after a 370km journey titled “Our Mates, Our Families,” which began in Wyong last Monday.

Rainy weather welcomed the walkers as they completed the last few kilometres of their 10-day trek, ending at the Longyard Hotel.

Senior Constable Rixon’s stepdaughter and Probationary Constable Jemma Galea, who walked alongside four officers from the Oxley Local Area Command, said today’s memorial services would be bittersweet for her and her family.

“I guess it’s hard to say how it will affect you until the day,” Probationary Constable Galea said.

Completing the last of the walk alongside her mother yesterday, she was wearing the bright pink cap she wore for the the duration of the walk.

The cap was the subject of a personal joke between her and her stepfather.

“David said to me when I bought it, ‘When are you ever going to wear that hat?’” Probationary Constable Galea said.

“So now I wear it, to remember him.”

Ms Galea said the walk was harder than expected, and she was full of “sore muscles, blisters and a bit of sunburn”, and everyone was looking forward to a hot shower before the fundraising event at Wests’ Diggers last night.

The walkers camped along the way, passing through six police local area commands, many of whom sent officers to Tamworth to help out in the days and weeks after the tragedy.

Organising police from Tuggerah Lakes said they were inspired by the Cooee recruitment march, a famous walk that began in Gilgandra in 1915 with 35 men, its ranks swelling to 265 by its end in Sydney, all eager to join the Australian war effort for WWI.

Oxley Local Area Commander Superintendent Clint Pheeney said his officers were honoured to take part in the walk, and ceremony, to remember their former colleague.

“David’s death was heartbreaking for all of us at Oxley Local Area Command,” Superintendent Pheeney said.

“But when a police officer is killed it’s not only the local police and their immediate colleagues who are touched, it’s the entire police force and community as a whole.”

“I’m extremely proud of all the officers who have taken part in the gruelling walk as it shows their resolve and determination to honour their mate, and to raise funds for not only his family, but the families of other fallen officers.

“I’m particularly proud of all of David’s colleagues here at Tamworth who have continued to do their job on a daily basis since his death, even though all their hearts have been broken.

“David has never been far from our minds and this will certainly be the case tomorrow, especially during the ceremony. The plaque will serve as a permanent honour to him in the community and one I’m sure all who knew him will be extremely proud of.”

Commissioner Scipione said the relay-style walk from Wyong Police Station to Tamworth was raising money for both the NSW Police Legacy and the David Rixon Memorial Fund.

“Last year we experienced the tragedy of losing two of our officers and so we all have extremely heavy hearts today,” Commissioner Scipione said. “However the ceremony gives us the opportunity to reflect on Senior Constable Rixon’s life and career, and to remember the outstanding husband, father, friend and colleague that he was.

“The walk and ceremony are testimony to the honour that exists among those who have chosen to become part of the police profession. It also demonstrates our respect, our grief and our resolve to continue, despite the hardships that may confront us.”

The official ceremony will take place at 11am at Tamworth Community Centre in Darling St.

• Amy Dale, Chief Court Reporter
• The Daily Telegraph
• October 04, 20132:45PM

THE man who shot Senior Constable David Rixon has become the first person jailed for the term of his natural life for murdering a police officer.

Michael Allan Jacobs has this afternoon been sentenced to life with no parole for murdering Sen-Constable Rixon, the crime described by Justice Richard Button as “a life irrevocably taken”.

Jacobs is the first person to be convicted of murdering a police officer since the O’Farrell government introduced legislation in 2011 to ensure such an offence is punished by a sentence of life with no parole.

He said the murder of a police officer “is a direct assault on the system of parliamentary democracy and the rule of law.”

“The offender informed the intention to kill him,” Justice Button said.

“That intention may have been held utterly fleetingly and irrationally … but it has been established to a criminal standard.”

Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione and NSW Police Minister Mike Gallacher joined more than 20 police officers in court for the landmark sentence.

Sen-Constable Rixon was shot once in the chest with a bullet fired from a .38 calibre revolver after approaching Jacobs’ stopped Holden Statesman for a random breath test early on March 2 last year.

The policeman returned fire and hit Jacobs three times, leaving the man with “an out of control drug addiction” critically wounded, before he collapsed from his injuries.

“The offender almost died from his injuries,” Justice Button said, adding that in his dying moments Sen-Constable Rixon had handcuffed Jacobs to arrest him.

The court heard Jacobs screamed “ah die, I’m sorry sir, sorry” just after the shooting and while “lying gravely wounded could be heard repeatedly saying ‘I’m sorry.'”

But Justice Button said he couldn’t be more satisfied “that the offender is responsible for this murder.”

Police arrived shortly after the shooting but Sen-Constable Rixon couldn’t be revived, while Jacobs received lifesaving surgery and eventually recovered after spending more than a month in hospital.

The Crown claimed he was high on ice at the time, making him more prone to aggression, and shot the policeman to avoid being locked up and convicted for repeatedly driving unlicensed.

Justice Button said of Jacobs‘s motive to avoid “being briefly refused bail or at worst a sentence of a matter of months … the offender saw fit to fire a handgun at a police officer.”

He said Sen-Constable Rixon would have had “less than a second before the shot was fired.”

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David Rixon murder: Michael Jacobs gets life in jail

Date  October 4, 2013

Paul Bibby

Court Reporter

The sun had only recently risen over the roof of Tamworth police station when the white, dark-windowed bus arrived.

One by one about 30 officers filed on and settled in for a six-hour journey that they hoped would end with justice for a fallen comrade and perhaps a small measure of closure for those left behind.

Eight hours and 400 kilometres later, a NSW Supreme Court Justice gave the family, friends and colleagues of murdered police officer Senior Constable David Rixon the result they desired – a life sentence for the man responsible for his death.

In a landmark decision, Michael Alan Jacobs, 49, became the first person sentenced to life in prison under new laws requiring a mandatory life sentence for anyone who murders an on-duty police officer in NSW.

”Let this serve as an example to all those in the future who think it’s OK to harm our police officers,” NSW Police Minister Mike Gallacher said after the sentence was handed down.

”This decision today draws a line in the sand.”

Nearly a quarter of the Oxley Local Area Command were present to hear the sentence, forming a guard of honour as Senior Constable Rixon‘s widow, Fiona Rixon, and their children left the court.

”I’m very proud of my children – we’ve been through this hurricane, tornado, roller-coaster ride, whatever you want to call it, for the last 18 months,” an emotional Mrs Rixon said.

”Hopefully now life will be a little bit more quiet.”

On March 2 last year, Jacobs shot and killed Senior Constable Rixon, a 40-year-old father of six, during what was to have been a regulation breath test on Lorraine Street, West Tamworth.

During a month-long trial earlier this year, the court was told that the experienced highway patrolman had recognised Jacobs as a disqualified driver and followed him from nearby Gunnedah Road to the quiet side street.

Senior Constable Rixon’s police microphone recorded him saying ”G’day mate, how you going?”

In an increasingly distressed voice he is then heard to say: ”I’m just gonna breath test you, buddy.”

Jacobs then fired a single shot from a .38 calibre pistol that went straight through Constable Rixon’s left wrist and into his chest, puncturing his heart and lung.

The officer returned fire, hitting Jacobs in the leg, abdomen and shoulder. He collapsed soon after.

Jacobs is heard to say ”die … I’m sorry sir, sorry, sorry”.

The officer’s last act was to handcuff his killer.

Jacobs later claimed that it was not he but a local drug dealer, Terrence James Price, who fired the fatal shot after the policeman ”interrupted” them in the middle of a drug deal, but this was rejected by the jury.

In sentencing Jacobs to life in prison, Justice Richard Button said the 49-year-old had no apparent motive for committing the crime and had shown little or no remorse.

”It is almost impossible to believe that, in order to avoid a short period of being denied bail or, at worst, a sentence of a matter of months for driving whilst disqualified, the offender saw fit to fire a handgun at a police officer,” he said.

”The murder of a police officer in such circumstances is a direct assault upon our system of parliamentary democracy and the rule of law.”

As well as providing some relief to Senior Constable Rixon’s family and fellow officers, the life sentence represents a landmark decision for the state’s mandatory life sentencing laws.

Jacobs’ case was seen by many as a test of the laws, introduced in 2011, which require judges to impose a life sentence on any offender found guilty of murdering an on-duty police officer.

Crucially, Justice Button found that Jacobs’ crime met all the criteria set out in the mandatory life sentence legislation, including that he had acted with the intention to kill the officer.

”That intention may have been held only fleetingly and utterly irrationally, but nevertheless I consider that it has been established to the criminal standard,” he said.

”The result is that the mandatory life sentence is to be imposed.”