A magnificent gentleman.
A man of the very highest caliber and a true leader.
A man with a distinctive drawl, who had the backs (and utmost respect) of all of his troops.
Some current serving ‘bosses’ could learn much from CH/INSP Hahn’s legacy.
Rest in Peace, Sir.
You will not be forgotten.
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Stanley W. BARKER
| 08/05/2017
Stanley W. BARKER
aka Stan
Late of Taree
New South Wales Police Force
[alert_yellow]Regd. # 9589[/alert_yellow]
Rank: Probationary Constable – appointed 29 February 1960
Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed 27 August 1976
Sergeant 2nd Class – appointed 19 June 1983
Stations: ?, used to be a Supervisor at 20966 – which is the old Police Switchboard.
Service: From? ? pre February 1960? to? ? ? = ? years Service
Awards: No find on It’s An Honour
Born: 17 October 1931
Died on: 26 April 2017
Age: 86?
Cause: Cancer
Event location: ?
Event date: ?
Funeral date: Thursday 4 May 2017 @ 11am
Funeral location: Manning Great Lakes Memorial Gardens, 183 Pampoolah Rd, Pampoolah
Buried at: Cremated
Memorial located at: ?
[alert_yellow]STAN is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_yellow] *NEED MORE INFO
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FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
Taken too soon Husband and soul mate to his loving wife Kerry.
Devoted and loving Dad to Samantha, Charlene, Jacinta, Crystal and Brandon.
Cherished Memories
Forever In Our Hearts
x
xxxxx
Our dearest Ken, we have always thought of you as a son.
Thank you for the love and care you have always given to all the family.
‘‘How we will miss you’’
Love always — Doug (dec) and Nan. xo
RICH – Ken
What a loving, caring family man you were. Always willing to help.
We all looked up to you for guidance. We will miss your passion for the Sydney Swans.
– Tracey and Gary, Kellie and Kaycee.
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Hi
A lot of really wonderful people contributed tributes and photos.
Some info:
Ken Rich was promoted to Sgt. at Narre Warren where he has been for the past 25 years. Before that, he worked at Berwick. He was one of the original sergeants at Narre Warren.
Tributes:
Ken I am so lost for words. You were a fixture at Narre and I always loved to catch up with you personally or by phone. You were never too busy to help me out or have a laugh. A special colleague for so many years. Called home too early. Rest in peace and pride for your many years of service. Condolences to family, friends and colleagues. – Barb Rawlings
All the love for the Rich family. Sammy Rich Jacinta Rich Charlene Rich. Our deepest sympathy and condolences to the whole family. R.I.P Mr. Ken Rich – Delmar Dimay Limosnero
Deepest sympathy to Ken’s family. Your keen wit and sense of right and wrong will be missed. Your legacy is the good you did over the years of your service. Remembered with respect. – Ron Gardner
Great bloke. We were mates years ago in the job. At each other’s 21st and had the same circle of friends and parties. I regret that I have not seen Kenny for many years. RIP brother. Taken far too soon. – Brian Igoe
R.I.P. Ken, your work is now done!
You were a gentleman and a great Cop.
It was a pleasure to have served with you.
To the Rich family, be very proud of Ken.
Trev Beattie (22472)
What a wonderful man. So terribly sorry for your loss Jacinta, Crystal and family. I remember him very fondly. – Kristine Baird van Ruiten
As a JP who works at Narre Warren Police Station, I send condolences to Ken’s family and all officers at the station. – Margaret Tinschert
RIP Sergeant Ken Rich. From all members at the Beechworth police station. – Geoff PS
Omg jacinta!!!!! So so sorry to hear about your loss, cant imagine how you are feeling or what you are going through! Thinking of you and your family at this devistating time 🙁 big hugs xxxxxxxxxx – Chookie Chook
RIP from the staff of Pakenham Hills Primary School – Paul Taylor
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‘His kids were his world’: Family of veteran police officer Ken Rich killed in bike crash share grief
Timna Jacks, Melissa Cunningham
A heartbroken relative of an off-duty police officer who was hit by a ute while cycling with his daughter in Melbourne’s south-east on Good Friday says his family were “his world” and he was on the cusp of retiring when he was killed.
The pair was riding east on the Princes Highway, near Dore Road, at Pakenham when the officer, Sergeant Ken Rich, was hit by a Toyota Hilux ute about 8.50am.
Ken Rich surrounded by his brother, sister and cousins on his graduation day from the police force. Photo: Supplied
Sergeant Rich’s daughter cared for him at the scene until an ambulance arrived.
Paramedics worked on him for about an hour, but he died at the scene.
His devastated cousin Sue Dickson said the father-of-five loved nothing more than spending time with his wife Kerry and their adult children Samantha, Charlene, Jacinta, Crystal and Brandon.
“His kids were his world,” Ms Dickson said.
“He was involved in all their activities as they were growing up and coached many kids in the Pakenham area.”
“He was a real family man and loved being at home with his wife and kids.”
Sergeant Ken Rich pictured celebrating his birthday with his cousin and close friend Sue Dickson. Photo: Supplied
Ms Dickson said she’d grown up with Sergeant Rich and the pair remained close, sharing every birthday together.
“We were born two days apart,” she said.
“Our mothers are identical twins so we grew up together (and we) saw each other almost every day.”
Ms Dickson said the devoted father and police officer had confided in her recently about the increasing pressures of his work and his desire to retire soon.
“The last few real conversations I had with him made me realise how much the police force got him down,” she said.
“He hated the youth suicide problem and the fact that many young people were not growing up in a loving family environment any more.”
By others that knew him, Sergeant Rich was remembered as a “real personality” and a highly regarded law enforcement officer .
“He was out enjoying Good Friday with his family as most people are across the country,” Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill said.
Sergeant Rich, had only taken up cycling in recent years.
“The family is heartbroken. They are dealing with the loss of a husband and a father,” Mr Hill said.
The officer had been in the force since 1980 and worked at the Narre Warren police station for 25 years.
Sergeant Rich was in “the twilight of his policing career” and “looking forward to retirement, looking forward to spending time with his wife and children … looking forward to travel and all of those things on our bucket list when we come to the end of our careers,” Mr Hill said.
His colleagues were devastated at the tragic news.
“They have lost one of their members, one of their leaders, their friend,” Mr Hill said.
“He was certainly well respected and well regarded … a member that was full of life, affable, a real personality around our police station.”.
“Road trauma; it doesn’t discriminate.”
Sergeant Rich’s friends and acquaintances have left tributes on social media for him.
“A good man lost his life today,” Simon Yeo said.
“Ken was swimming coach to our boys and President of the Cardinia Piranhas Swim Club. RIP.”
Mandy Yeo wrote: “RIP Ken our thoughts with you and your family.”
Angie King described him as a “wonderful man, brave, kind”.
“Rest in peace, Ken Rich,” she said.
“Thank you.”
The officer and his daughter were cycling east, on the shoulder of the highway in a 100km/h zone.
The ute was also travelling east when it struck the officer, police said.
It has been reported the ute was trying to overtake the cyclists, when the side mirror of the vehicle hit Sergeant Rich.
The driver of the ute, a 58-year-old man from Pakenham, was not injured. He stayed at the scene and was assisting police with their inquiries.
Major collision investigation unit detectives are working to determine the cause of the crash.
Secretary of the Victorian Police Association, Sergeant Wayne Gatt sent his condolences to the officer’s family.
“Earlier today, we learnt that one of our members was tragically killed in a road accident,” he said.
“For the member’s family, friends and close policing colleagues, the Easter period will now always be tinged with sadness. Our prayers and condolences are with them all, at this very difficult time.”
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Catherine WallRIP Sergeant Ken Rich & condolences to his wife & family & his daughter who was there, May God bless & protect her & also the driver of the car from the little I have heard it WAS an accident & I can only “imagine” the agonies this poor man is going through & will continue to endure, so sad .
Daniel GabrielYet a couple weeks ago the Victorian government announced that it has no immediate plans to introduce a minimum passing distance law for vehicles overtaking cyclists despite other states bringing it in. RIP
Rose NelanjRIP Sgt RICH. A stalwart man if ever there was one. I am fairly sure the world stopped turning for just a second when you left it behind. May you watch over us now from a better place, where peace and kindness rein. Loving thoughts and prayers for your family Ken and for your brave and loving daughter, who was by your side.
Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill on behalf of all staff within Victoria Police Southern Metro Region express heartfelt condolences and offer our deepest sympathy to the family on the tragic passing of our much respected colleague and valued friend.
RICH. Ken. The President, Executive and Members of The Police Association mourn the passing of Sergeant Rich and extend their deepest sympathy to his family.
The Chief Commissioner, Officers, Employees of Victoria Police Force regret the tragic death of their colleague and offer their deepest sympathy to his family.
By John Kidman and Sean Berry August 3 2003
The Sun-Herald
A brief is being prepared for the coroner on the baffling overdose death of a young Sydney police officer, with detectives unable to discount the possibility he met with foul play.
The tragedy has also sparked a crisis of confidence within the force’s elite Special Crimes and Internal Affairs branch (SCIA), following claims that repeat warnings about the constable running off the rails were ignored.
City Central general duties officer Matthew Williams was found dead at his Fairlight home unit on the city’s northern beaches 17 days ago, The Sun-Herald has learned.
Sources close to the investigation say he was discovered by his flatmate – also a police officer – with two isolated needle marks in his arm and a used syringe beside his bed.
Suicide and misadventure have not been ruled out, but detectives are also said to be considering the extraordinary prospect that the 26-year-old policeman was deliberately injected with a lethal dose of heroin – known within the criminal fraternity as a “hot shot”.
Internal affairs and crime scene investigators are understood to have spent almost five hours combing the apartment without finding any further trace of the drugs that killed him or other incriminating evidence.
Williams was thought to have spent the night before he died drinking with workmates into the early hours of the morning.
“There was talk about him heading up to the [Kings] Cross afterwards,” one said on condition of anonymity. “But that’s the last anyone knows about what happened.”
On Friday, senior detectives from Manly, the nearest command to where Williams’s body was found, spent the morning speaking to his parents, Robert and Mary Williams, at their home in Sydney’s inner-west.
The couple is still too distraught to speak about the case.
A spokeswoman for NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney said on Friday he was unable to comment on the incident while it was before the coroner.
However, a Sun-Herald investigation has found that Williams had been the subject of a series of police intelligence reports alleging his involvement with party drugs and the inner-city club scene.
Last year, Mr Moroney announced plans to thwart corruption by profiling at-risk officers and intervening to save their careers before they did the wrong thing.
An ongoing audit of internal corruption complaints by SCIA has revealed that hundreds of complaints are not being acted upon.
In Williams’s case, at least one of his colleagues is alleged to have referred to his association with staff at the Cross’s notorious Stripperama, the same club where four off-duty police officers were savagely bashed in June.
Williams’s City Central colleagues spoke warmly of him yesterday.
“He was popular, really popular,” one told The Sun-Herald.
Much loved son of June and Jim (both dec), brother of Jan and Terry, adored uncle of Elena, Kara, great uncle of Harry.
Loving partner of Lynne and much loved by her family.
Forever in our hearts.
Privately cremated at Ian’s request.
Published by Illawarra Mercury on Apr. 26, 2017 – See more at: http://tributes.illawarramercury.com.au/obituaries/illawarramercury-au/obituary.aspx?n=ian-james-donald&pid=185188752#sthash.vSxXJXwd.dpuf
Rank: Probationary Constable – appointed 28 June 1971
Constable 1st Class – appointed 30 August 1977
Stations: ?, Regent St, North Sydney HWP, Hurstville, St Ives Driver Training, Goulburn Police Driver Training to start up the new training ground.
Service: From? ? pre June 1971? to? ? approximately 1986? ( Resigned )= ? years Service
Awards: National Medal – granted 8 June 1988
Born: 10 November 1950
Died on: Friday 21 April 2017
Age: 66
Cause: Cancer
Event location: Western Australia
Event date:
Funeral date: Thursday 27 April 2017
Funeral location: ?, Western Australia
Buried at: Cremated.
Memorial service: to be held, Sunday 21 May 2017 @ 3pm around Botany Bay. Exact location TBA
Memorial located at: ?
The cyclists from Waverley about 1972-73. From left: Sgt Ron Thompson (RIP The best!) Johnny Andrews, Chris Bult, Dana Jennings, Ian Granland, Peter Moffitt, (front row) Alan Ring, Gary Luff and Johnny Murphy Photo taken at Centennial Park, on top of the old water tank – just off Oxford St, Paddington.
[alert_yellow]PETER is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_yellow] *NEED MORE INFO
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A private funeral will be held in Western Australia on Thursday 27 April 2017 for Peter.
He is survived by his wife, Helen, and sons, Brenton & Bryce.
His Ashes will be brought back to Sydney to be scattered in Botany Bay on Sunday 21 May 2017 at 3pm. Location to be announced if anyone would like to attend this memorial.
After that Memorial ( Ashes ), the family will be going to St George Motor Boat Club.
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Geoffrey Louis LEONARD
| 08/05/2017
Geoffrey Louis LEONARD
aka Geoff
Late of Taree
New South Wales Police Force
Redfern Police Academy Class 135
Regd. # 15832
Rank: Commenced Training at Redfern Police Academy on Monday 21 May 1973 ( aged 19 years, 11 months, 21 days )
Probationary Constable – appointed 2 July 1973 ( aged
It is with a heavy heart and sadness that I inform you of the passing of Detective Inspector Geoffrey Louis LEONARD, Reg. No. 15832, who faithfully and loyally served the NSWPF and the community of NSW from the 21/05/1973 to 24/11/2011
I spoke with his wife Ave this morning and she told me that Geoff passed away peacefully in his bed at Taree Hospital about 3.00am this morning surrounded by his family (Ave, his daughter Kate, son Geoff Jnr and his three brothers).
Ave said that Geoff was prepared and at peace with himself. I passed on all your best wishes and sympathies to her and her family.
I am sure you will join me for a minutes silence in recognising a decent man and a bloody good cop.
Ave has indicated that Geoff and she would like to have Police involvement in his funeral and I will advise you when I have the details.
I have attached a couple of documents to the email from Geoff‘s farewell and I am hoping it may raise a smile.
Please feel free to pass on to those that knew and worked with Geoff.
He was, as I said, a decent man.
(The email was written by Det Insp Andy Waterman)
Carolyn
I was 7 months pregnant with my daughter when Geoff and I had to embark upon a country trip to interview a colleague in relation to an Ombudsmans complaint (that went on and on and on) in early 1997.
The interview was in Lismore – however Inspector Leonard was convinced by Sergeant Me to stay at Byron Bay (as he should have).
We shared a twin room and the snoring between us both was a competition. The darling man soon realised that eating well, stopping at every single antique shop or basically anywhere I wanted was the priority that trip. I concede that because his son collected golf tees we visited a few golf courses – including beautiful Bonville in Coffs Harbour … He clearly adored his son as he even suggested to me (in all seriousness) that we travel ‘slightly out of area’ to some bloody golf club in the Gold Coast!! True to his beautiful nature … Geoff Leonard listened to the wise words of his junior colleague – and instead finished the interview and stopped at Timbertown, and even Morpeth in the Hunter Valley because of the needs of a pregnant woman.
This man was a legend putting up with me that trip. Beautiful, wonderful man…… this has come as such a shock to me. I seriously thought of him last Thursday morning after a Police Reunion… wondering how he was going.
The post was beautifully written Michael Lewis…. I’m so glad that he was at peace – he and his beloved family deserve it.
Service: From 20 June 1974to 29 March 1982 = 7+years Service
Awards: No find on It’s An Honour
Born: 6 June 1957
Died on: 29 March 1982
Age: 24
Cause: Motor Vehicle Collision – Driver – Urgent Duty
Event location: Tapleys Hill Rd, Glenelg North
Funeral date: 1 April 1982
Funeral location: Mt Gambier, S.A.
Buried at: Carinya Gardens Cemetery, Mt Gambier
Memorial located at: ?
Warren Matheson had two small children when he died. The mother ( Barbara ) of those two small children kept in close contact with the parents of Warren after his death and are still in contact to this day. Warrens, now adult children ( Brett, 38 & Hayley, 36 ) ( in 2017) and their mother ( Barbara ) travelled from Qld to Mt Gambier in November 2016 and visited the grave of Warren. Warren now has two grandsons, now aged 5 & 1. The memory of Warren is still alive and the family will never forget the loss.
Warren Mathesons’ now adult children ( Hayley, 36 & Brett, 38 ) ( as of 2017) as seen in November 2016 with Warrens’ two grandsons, now aged 5 & 1.
This photo is Warrens parents Ian and Maureen Matheson ( seated ) with the family celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary November 2016.
Certificate of Service
[alert_green]WARRENis mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_green]
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March 29, 1982 | Two young constables, Warren John Matheson, 24, and Matthew John Payne, 22, died after the vehicle they were pursuing through Adelaide’s south-western suburbs swerved into their police car. Police subsequently charged the driver of the pursed vehicle with a number of very serious driving offences.
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29 September, 2010
Police honour their comrades
By Fred Smith (Cross Media Reporter)
Community members joined Limestone Coast police at a ceremony at the Mt Gambier Police Station on Thursday for the National Police Remembrance Day.
The presence of riderless horse at a ceremony at the Mt Gambier Police Station on Thursday was a time-honoured way of paying respects to the fallen.
Such gestures have been hallmarks of military and State funerals since the nineteenth century.
Local officers arranged for the riderless horse with boots reversed in its stirrups to be part of the annual religious ceremony to mark National Police Remembrance Day.
The 16-year-old grey horse called “Limelight” was formerly a part of the South Australian Police Mounted Cadre.
In retirement, “Limelight” was brought to Mt Gambier by its former rider Senior Constable Stephanie Cooper.
After nine years with the Mounted Cadre, Senior Constable Cooper is now on general police duties in Mt Gambier.
She rode another horse “Star of Courage” to the ceremony while “Limelight” was led to it by Constable Barb Bushell.
The two horses stood guard while community members and police honoured those who had given their lives in the line of duty.
The wreath layers at the 45 minute ceremony included local resident Maureen Matheson.
She laid a floral tribute in memory of her eldest son, Warren John Matheson, who was killed while on police duty in Adelaide in 1982.
At the time of his death, he was a 24-year-old married father with an infant son and daughter.
He was laid to rest in the Carinya Gardens Cemetery in Mount Gambier.
Mrs Matheson said another young officer from this region was killed in the same motor vehicle collision which claimed the life of her son.
“He was 22-year-old Constable Matthew Payne, of Rendelsham.
“Matthew was not supposed to be on traffic duties with Warren on this day but his regular partner could not make this shift.
“Matthew is buried at Rendelsham.
“I have been coming to these annual ceremonies for several years.
“One has been held at Warren’s grave while another took place at the Rendelsham cemetery.
“In recent years, we have been holding the ceremony here at Mt Gambier,” said Mrs Matheson.
The other wreath layers were representatives of the Limestone Coast Police Local Service Area, SA Police Legacy, Mt Gambier City Council, District Council of Grant, MFS, SA Ambulance Service and the Rotary Club of Mt Gambier West.
A wreath was also placed on Constable Payne’s grave later in the day by Sergeant Richard Murphy, of the SA Police Legacy.
The master of ceremonies in Mt Gambier was Sergeant Andy Stott while the prayers were led by Police Chaplain and Mt Gambier Anglican parish priest, the Reverend Canon Brian Ashworth.
