Gregory George BROWN

( late of Newport Island Road, Port Macquarie )

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. # 4106

Joined NSW Police Force via NSW Police Cadet system on 9 April 1934

Cadet # 51

Rank:  Chief Superintendent 2nd Class – retired

Stations:  ?, Wollongong

Service:  From  9 April 1934  to  29 June 1975 = 41+ years Service

Awards:  ?

Born:  ?

Died on:  Friday  31 July 2015

Cause:  ?

Age:  98

Funeral date:  Tuesday  4 August 2015 @ 2pm

Funeral location:  St Agnes Catholic Church, 47 Hay Street, Port Macquarie

Buried at:  cremated

[alert_blue]GREGORY is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_blue] * NOT JOB RELATED

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With sincere regret I advise the death of Gregory George BROWN, 98 old, former Regd. No. 4106, a Veteran Member and the former Chairman of the Mid North Coast Branch of the RPA.

Greg passed away today, 31/07/2015, and his funeral is to be held at 2pm on Tuesday 4th August next at St Agnes Catholic Church, 47 Hay Street, PORT MACQUARIE.

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The N.S.W. Police Golf Club is the oldest sporting body within the N.S.W. Police Force, having been formed in 1932 by the then Commissioner Mr. Walter Henry Childs. It is also the oldest Social Golf Club in Australia.

Mr. Childs, a keen golfer, had applied for and been refused membership of the exclusive Royal Sydney Golf Club, due to his background, having risen through the ranks.  Somewhat miffed by this refusal, Mr. Childs set about forming the N.S.W. Police Social Golf Club.  He sought permission to play on various Sydney courses and the club was formed.

A constitution was drawn up and the first committee elected.  Competition fees were small and the trophies in those days were generally a few golf balls.

The first club championships were held that year, consisting of 36 holes qualifying with 16 qualifiers playing off under match play conditions.  Mr. Childs donated a cup known as the W.H. Childs Cup for the leading qualifier and a gold medal for the eventual champion.  This first championship was won by Constable Cecil Coupland.  The same conditions for the club championship still apply, except that B and C grade championships have been added, and the medal has been replaced by club blazers.

The first years of the clubs history were depression years and its development was slow and almost ceased to exist during the war years.  After the war, activity within the club resumed, golfing equipment was readily available again and competitions were held at St. Michaels, Moore Park and other public clubs.  Sponsorship was introduced and proved a great success as it also provided the opportunity for these sponsors to join the Police in competing on the finest courses available in Sydney.  The Club attracted to its ranks some notable and exceptional Police golfers, perhaps the most outstanding being Vic Bulgin, who represented Australia in the Eisenhower Cup.

Many other fine golfers including Fred Miller, Reg Dunn, Harvey Wilson, Jack Newton snr. and Mark Wilson – all champions of their own various clubs – were all regular members of the Police Golf Club.  More recently Peter Read, Mike Edgtton and Stuart McDiamid have also been members.  Harvey Wilson and Peter Read have both won the world left-handers championship.

In 1956 the Olympics were held in Melbourne and a member of the N.S.W. Police Consorting Squad was required to perform duty there.  He was Steve Duff, a keen golfer, who returned with a glowing account of the Victorian golf courses and information concerning the newly formed Victorian Police Golf Club.

The Captain of the N.S.W. Police Golf Club Ray Blissett approached the Commissioner Mr. Colin Delaney, also a keen golfer and foundation member of the N.S.W. Police Golf Club with the idea of a competition between the two states.  Suitable arrangements were made and in March 1957 Ray Blissett took a field of 24 golfers and a few supporters to Melbourne. In 2009 we managed to locate another member who was also a foundation member, retired Chief Superintendent, Gregory George BROWN, now 92yrs of age and residing at Port Macquarie.

So was born the Australian Police Golf Championships which have expanded to include all states and territories of Australia.  These championships are held annually, generally in March over a week and are hosted on a rotational basis by the individual states and territories.

In 2010 Coffs Harbour will be the host venue.  Such is the popularity of these events that in excess of 250 golfers compete each year and restrictions have to be placed on entries.  The original concept of formulating friendships and camaraderie between the Police Forces has been maintained and is actively supported by the various Commissioners and state government Ministers, with these persons regularly being present at opening and closing ceremonies.  Such is the prestige of this event that major corporations provide sponsorship to assist in the conduct of the event which involves great organization and expenditure.

In 1982 the N.S.W. Police Golf Club celebrated its golden anniversary with a week of golf, organized along similar lines to the Australian Police Golf Championships.

Since those early days the Police Golf Club has grown and despite ever increasing costs of participating on the best courses, maintains its attraction by providing the opportunity for Police officers and their guests to play some of the finest and most exclusive courses in Sydney, such as The Lakes, Monash, Killara, Pymble, New South Wales. Bonnie Doon, Long Reef and many more.  A generous bequest by the late Inspector Steve Engel, added to by his widow, provides trophies for a perpetual Steve Engel Trophy over three days during the year and attracts large fields.

The club participates once each fortnight, on either a Tuesday or a Thursday, with new members always welcome.  The average field is about 45 and average cost of green and competition fees is $55.  Any serving or retired member of the N.S.W. Police Force may join and visitors are also welcome and compete in the competitions.

We currently have over 600 register players consisting of current serving members, retired members, and NSW Ambulance and Corrective Services and civilians.

https://sitedesq.imgstg.com/customdata/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_main&ItemID=27821&OrgID=3885&count=1

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4046/1040  William George BROWN married Grace Catherine May STREATER in the District of Bankstown.

4792/1962  Catherine Charlotte STREATER, aged 89, died in the District of Bankstown.

https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/lifelink/familyhistory/

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Parliament of New South Wales

The Hon. JENNIFER GARDINER: I direct my question to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Will the Minister inform the House about the NSW Police Force 150th anniversary celebrations on the mid North Coast?

The Hon. MICHAEL GALLACHER: Every region and every area of the NSW Police Force has a history that deserves to be told. In May 2012 the mid North Coast and Manning-Great Lakes local area commands joined forces to celebrate the role that they have played over the past 150 years of policing in New South Wales. The member for Port Macquarie, Leslie Williams—what an outstanding local member—spoke during the ceremony and thanked the men and women of the NSW Police Force for their enduring dedication to upholding the law and keep the people of this State safe. I think we all agree about that. The ceremony was also attended by the Commander of Northern Region, Assistant Commissioner Carlene York; Commander of Manning-Great Lakes Local Area Command, Superintendent Paul Fehon; Commander of Mid North Coast Local Area Command, Commander Superintendent Peter Thurtell; and Port Macquarie Hastings Administrator, Neil Porter. They all expressed how privileged they felt to be a part of policing history and how impressed they were with the community response. Current and retired police officers marched on 17 May and represented the contributions of police officers both past and present over the past 150 years of policing with a “Sea of Blue March” along Horton Street to Port Macquarie Town Green. The marching contingent included 70 officers, 30 members of the police band and 30 retired officers from the area led by the very proud 96-year-old retired Chief Superintendent Greg Brown. In the parade, the Banner Party and the Marching and Capability Contingents represented the various police groups that were brought together as one police force under the proclamation of 1862. We had police representatives from the highway patrol, operational foot police and the Marine Area Command Water Police, who demonstrated their skills in an operational display later in the day at Lady Nelson Wharf. Also later in the day there was a fly-over by the PolAir 4 helicopter and participants were joined by Police Launch Fearless. Each of these pieces of equipment demonstrates the modern resources in the hands of the NSW Police Force. A display by the EyeWatch project team also showed how the NSW Police Force is using social networking to assist communities in new and exciting ways. The celebrations at the Port Macquarie Town Green were an acknowledgement by the Mid North Coast and Manning/Great Lakes local area commands and the State Government of the service provided and sacrifices made by the northern region and its members to the people and institutions of New South Wales. It is important to note that police officers wear their uniforms with pride and it is not often that members of the public get to experience the pride that police feel. This was an event not only for police, both retired and active, to show off their uniforms and skills but also for the public to convey their thanks for a job well done. This event was a terrific way to showcase this community feeling and I look forward to the continuing celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the NSW Police Force. I have some more good news for the House. I know members are interested in her progress so I am proud to announce that yet another officer graduated into the ranks of the NSW Police Force. Police dog Angel has completed her eight-week training course and is now a fully qualified drug detector. The Hon. Duncan Gay: Did they have a lockup in The Greens’ office while she was in training?

The Hon. MICHAEL GALLACHER: They have a sit-in on the days she is out and about. I understand that her initial training was difficult because, like her namesake, she had problems going to the left. Very much like her namesake, she also bit all the other members in her training group. Of course, if the trainers held anything green in front of her there was trouble. It is amazing how human personalities are often played out in these— [Time expired.]

http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LC20120822021

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 Ronald Douglas DOBSON

( late of Nelson Bay )

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. # 8051

Joined NSW Police Force via NSW Police Cadet system on 1 October 1952

Cadet # 1032

Rank:  Sergeant 2nd Class

Stations:  ?, STP North Sydney – ( early 1970’s ), 21 Division – 1974 / 78 ( Special Squad ), Manly

Service:  From  1 October 1952  to  21 February 1986 = 33+ years Service

Awards:  ?

Born:  ?

Died on:  Tuesday  28 July 2015

Cause:  ?

Age:  79

Funeral date:  Friday  31 July 2015 @ 10am

Funeral location:  St Michael’s Catholic Church, 12 Sproule Street, NELSON BAY

Buried at:  ?

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

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Ronald Douglas DOBSON, 79 old, former Regd. No. 8051, an Unattached Member of the RPA of Nelson Bay.

Ron passed away on 28/07/2015 and his funeral is proposed to be held at 10am on Friday 31st Instant at St Michael’s Catholic Church, 12 Sproule Street, NELSON BAY.

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William James HARRIS

Queensland Police Force

Regd. # ?

Rank:  Constable

Stations:  ?

Service:  From  ?  to  ?

Awards:  ?

Born:  ?

Died on:  24 August 1915

Cause:  Injuries received riding a Police horse

Age:  28

Funeral date:  Friday  27 August 1915

Funeral location:  Rockhampton Cemetery, Qld

Buried at: Rockhampton Cemetery, Qld

RC    Section 15X   Burial # 4002d

[alert_green]WILLIAM IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_green ]

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The Capricornian  ( Rockhampton, Qld )        Saturday  28 August 1915            page 31 of 52

The funeral of Constable James William Harris, who met his death as the result of an accident on the Scrubby Creek Bridge, took place yesterday afternoon. A large body of officers and men of the Rockhampton police force, as well as others from outside stations, assembled at the police barracks, and, in charge of Senior sergeant M J. Carmody, marched in royal blue uniforms and white helmets to the late residence of the deceased in Arnold street and afterwards followed his remains to the Rockhampton cemetery, three marching on either ride of the hearse and the others immediately in the rear. Among those present at the funeral were the Police Magistrate, Mr. H. L Archdall, and the Clerk of Petty Sessions, Mr. W. G. Moran. The Rev. Father T. Grogan officiated at the graveside.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/69402310

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Morning Bulletin ( Rockhampton, Qld )       Friday  3 September 1915                   page 10 of 12

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/53369843

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Morning Bulletin ( Rockhampton, Qld )          Thursday  9 September 1915       page 6 of 12

 William Arthur HARRIS

( late of Allawah )

aka  Jack

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. # 4222

Rank:  Detective Sergeant 1st Class

Stations:  ?, C.I.B. Sydney, Redfern, Mascot

Service:  From  ?  to  19 October 1970 = 32 years Service

Awards:  ?

Born:  ? October 1915

Died on:  Sunday  26 July 2015

Cause:  ?

Age:  99

Funeral date:  Friday  31 July 2015  @  10.30am

Funeral location:  West Chapel, Woronora Cemetery, 121 Linden Street, SUTHERLAND

Buried at:  ?

[alert_blue]JACK is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_blue] * NOT JOB RELATED

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Audio – Ray Hadley and Andrew Scipione – speaking about William Arthur HARRIS on 31 July 2015

Audio – Ray Hadley and William Harris speaking on 2GB on Monday 2 September 2013

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William HARRIS

Notice

Guest Book

View Sign

HARRIS, William Arthur “Jack”.
Late of Allawah

Father and Father-in-law of Bill and Lynne, Leonard, Melissa and Peter (dec). Grandfather of Jillian and Billy, Grandpa Jack of Grace, James, Benjamin and Hunter.

Aged 99 Years
A happy and long life

Relatives and friends of JACK are kindly invited to attend his Funeral Service, to be held within the West Chapel of the Woronora Crematorium, Linden Street Sutherland Friday 31/7/2015 commencing at 10:30am.
Please meet at the chapel.

Southern Cross Funeral Directors
ALL SUBURBS
PROUDLY AUSTRALIAN
9529 6644 9521 4422
.

 

Thursday, 30 July 2015

Deepest condolences to Bills family . Bill was adored by all our staff and will be sadly missed by all at City Tatts . A beautiful man who lived such a full life and now rests in peace x

~

Krissy Jones,

Sydney, New South Wales

Wednesday, 29 July 2015

Our deepest sympathy to all who were family and those touched by Jack’s presence. He was a legend within the Police and the Entertainment industry. God Bless.

~

Barry Gobbe,

Sydney, New South Wales

Published in The Sydney Morning Herald on July 29, 2015

http://tributes.smh.com.au/obituaries/smh-au/obituary.aspx?n=william-harris&pid=175382096#sthash.3BjEnsPS.dpuf

Patty Macey The Daily Telegraph did a feature piece on Bill in the past few days! As well as being a very fine detective he was also a very well known and accomplished acrobat! Not to mention a capped Rugby player! RIP good man, your time has come to join your brothers and sisters in arms!

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The Daily Telegraph    

• Dave Meddows
• The Daily Telegraph
• May 22, 201512:00AM

BILL Harris is just months away from his 100th birthday but the retired detective’s memory is sharper than that of men half his age — and it holds amazing tales you’d be forgiven for thinking were closer to fiction than fact.

• Skills as acrobat led to recognition on television and with colleagues
• Entertained senior police with spontaneous demonstration on table
• Led taskforce that investigated gruesome murders of ‘The Mutilator’
• Still gets birthday calls from NSW’s most senior policeman

BILL Harris is just months away from his 100th birthday but the retired detective’s memory is sharper than that of men half his age — and it holds amazing tales you’d be forgiven for thinking were closer to fiction than fact.

The 99-year-old was one of the state’s first drug squad detectives and the man entrusted with tracking down The Mutilator, one of Australia’s first known serial killers.

But when he wasn’t fighting crime on the streets of Sydney, Harris was moonlighting as an internationally renowned acrobat and was a first grade rugby union player who was selected to play for Australia.

THE MUTILATOR: DEAD AT 90 AFTER HALF A CENTURY IN PRISON

The young cop would head to Bondi Beach to practise hand balancing, something that was apparently a “thing” at the famous beach in the 1940s.

It was there that his talents were recognised by a professional acrobat who suggested he team up with Thelma Harris.

The pair would go on to tour the country with their death-defying acrobatics and even appeared on an early edition of The Graham Kennedy Show.

But his talents almost got him booted from the police force. Ironically it was those same skills that saved him.

[blockquote]With a footballer’s build and the strength of a top athlete, Harris was sometimes called on for some tough tasks.[/blockquote]

After taking a number of weeks off to tour with the Tivoli Circuit, a hugely popular group of roving entertainers, Harris was hauled in front of the Commissioner of Police.

“I’m standing in front of the Commissioner and he’s tearing strips off me,” Harris said. “He said: ‘You young fellas, there’s a book of rules and you just ignore them’.”

His boss who was also in the room urged the Commissioner to take a look at the young constable’s talents and he reluctantly agreed.

“So up I go and jump on his table and do a handstand on his table,” he said.

As Harris continued to perform, the stunned Commissioner picked up the phone.

“He got all the superintendents and all the bosses and they came in (to watch),” Harris recalled with a laugh.

After more than a decade in the drug squad, the then-detective was one day transferred out of the unit and across town to Redfern.

“All of a sudden I was transferred and nobody could tell me why. The superintendent said, ‘You are transferred as of now’ and I said ‘Can I ask why?’ and he said ‘No, you can’t’.”

It was more than 10 years later when Harris got a call from the boss of the unit he had been kicked out of.

That man, who Harris didn’t want to name, came clean with the real motive behind the transfer.

“He said: ‘I was jealous of you and your success and I told the superintendent you were on the take’.”

Harris was stunned.

“It was wrong. I was as clean as a whistle,” he said. “I was found guilty without a chance to talk.”

But he refused to take the man to task and moved on with his career.

“The next thing I had anything to do with him was at his funeral,” Harris said.

However, the move to Redfern led him to head up investigations into one of the most gruesome mysteries of that era — the Mutilator case, which he remembers well.

William McDonald murdered his first victim, Amos Hurst, in Brisbane in 1961 before he terrorised the streets of Sydney, killing four more men he had plied with alcohol before butchering them and cutting off their genitals.

“Not many people know this but that first penis — the only one we recovered — had a tattoo on it,” he said. “It read: All for a night of love.”

Harris led the task force that investigated the murders but was on leave when McDonald was finally caught in Melbourne in 1963.

“My face hit the dashboard and I had hundreds of pieces of glass over my face and one in the pupil of my left eye.”

While Harris is often referred to as one of the country’s first serial killers, Harris said they just didn’t think like that back then.

“No, we never thought about a serial killer then,” he said. “It was just one of those things that happened.”

Harris didn’t have the chance to speak with McDonald in the years after his imprisonment and had been organising to finally interview him at Long Bay jail this year when he heard the news The Mutilator had died.

With a footballer’s build and the strength of a top athlete, Harris was sometimes called on for some tough tasks.

In 1944, Roy Kable, a 32-year-old married father, killed his wife, Irene, with an axe in front of their children and neighbours in Newtown.

When the time came for Kable’s trial, prosecutors believed the killer would lose it when the bloodied axe was presented as evidence.

Harris was called in and told he would be handcuffed to the accused in the dock during the trial.

When the time came for the axe to be shown to the court, Harris — standing alongside Kable with their hands joined in cuffs — prepared for the worst.

But what actually happened left him gobsmacked.

“He turned around to me and said: ‘She was a bloody nagger, what else could I do?’ and that was it!” Harris recounts.

“I couldn’t say anything. I was staggered.”

After a distinguished career, Harris retired from the police force after an accident in a police car left him seriously injured.

“I’ve had two facial reconstructions because when I was in the car, we hit a fence and a pole came through and hit my ear,” he said.

“My face hit the dashboard and I had hundreds of pieces of glass over my face and one in the pupil of my left eye.”

It was the end of one amazing chapter of his life but Harris has remained a big part of NSW Police since and meets regularly with detectives past and present.

He is particularly fond of current Commissioner Andrew Scipione, who calls him on each of his birthdays and visited him at home after a recent accident.

Harris will be honoured by fellow detectives in October when they come together and celebrate his 100th birthday just a few months early.

“It’s what I’m really looking forward to.”  ( Sadly, those celebrations did not happen )

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The Daily Telegraph

ONE of the state’s most loved cops and a legendary detective was laid to rest with an honour guard at a moving ceremony in Sydney this morning.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/nsw-police-farewell-legendary-detective-bill-harris-who-has-died-aged-99/story-fni0cx12-1227464770283

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AMONG the azaleas and roses at the Botanic Gardens grew one of the finest marijuana crops Sydney had ever seen – nurtured by the NSW drug squad with seeds supplied by the FBI.

It is just one of the amazing stories NSW’s oldest living detective – who joined the force in 1938 – has to share.

It was the 1940s and NSW police were incredibly naive about narcotics and drug use.

“We lost our first prosecution for possession of cannabis on a technicality,” retired detective Bill Harris, now 95, said. “The scientists said they needed to grow and test live samples so we wrote to the FBI. A couple of weeks later a package arrived with enough seeds to grow a large crop – which we planted in the Botanic Gardens. They grew pretty well too.”

Despite his age and being retired 40 years, he still inspires and mentors police.

An international acrobat and the oldest surviving NRL first-grade and second-oldest Waratahs rugby player, Bill’s first passion was the police.

He still attends functions as NSW drug squad patron.

“The force is probably as good as it has ever been since I can remember,” he said.

Every day at 8.30am, Bill can be found at City Tattersalls Club – where he has been a member for 50 years – recounting his time catching crooks, playing football or performing with wife Thel as acrobatic duo The Marvettes.

When he was appointed to the drug squad it brought the number in the squad to two.

“Drugs were not a big deal back then. They put me in the drug squad because I had worked in a chemist when I was 14,” he said, smiling.

“Me and Eric Baker. That was the entire drug squad.”

He also recounts how in the ’40s he spotted a car tearing up Pitt St: “We took off after him and finally caught him up around Central.

“He started going off at us, saying, ‘Don’t you know who I am!’. I didn’t and I dragged him down to Central booking and charged him with drive in a manner dangerous.

“That was the first charge ever laid against Lennie McPherson,” Bill adds with a touch of pride. At the time McPherson, unbeknownst to Bill, was the No.1 suspect in the robbery of a payroll at Cockatoo Island the day before. As with most of Bill’s stories there is a sequel.

One night performing his acrobatic show on stage at the Paris Theatre in George St, he peeked out to see the crowd.

“The entire front row was taken up with the commissioner, deputy and other senior police. In the back row was Lennie McPherson and all the crooks in town.” Bill will feature in a book being written by Patrick Lindsay for the NSW Police Force commemorating 150 years of the force. Police have asked anyone with photos or stories to contact www.flickr.com/photos/60610599@N04/

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spritely-old-bill-harris-nsw-oldest-detective-never-misses-a-beat/story-e6freuy9-1226082295133

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Thomas William CHASELING

( late of Paddington )

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. # ?

Rank:  Constable

Stations:  No. 4 Division ( Phillip Street – Water Police Court )

Service:  From  ? about 1893  to  13 November 1899 = about 6 years Service

Awards:  ?

Born:  ? ? 1873

Died on:  Monday  13 November 1899

Cause:  Influenza

Age:  about 27

Funeral date:  Wednesday  15 November 1899

Funeral location:  Waverley Cemetery

Buried at:  ?

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

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Windsor and Richmond Gazette ( NSW )         Saturday  18 November 1899        page 11 of 14

&

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/113691983

&

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/66367795

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 Mary HODSDON – wife of Gary

New South Wales Police Force

Rank:  Police Wife

Stations:  ?, South Region Command, Lake Illawarra,

Service:  From  ?  to  30 July 2015

Awards:  ?

Born:  ?

Died on:  Thursday  30 July 2015

Cause:  ?

Age:  61

Funeral date:  Friday  7 August 2015 @ noon

Funeral location:  South Chapel, Woronora Crematorium, Linden Street, Sutherland

Buried at:  Cremated

.

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Deepest condolences to Gary, Jason & Michael.

May Mary forever Rest In Peace

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Richard Charles WHITTAKER

aka  Dick

NSW Redfern Police Academy # 162

“possible” relation in “the job”:  A.R. WHITTAKER, NSWPF # 8649

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. # 18588

Joined NSW Police Force via NSW Police Cadet system on 1 February 1977

Cadet # 3334

Rank:  NSW Police Cadet – commenced 1 February 1977 ( aged 16 years, 9 months, 16 days )

Probationary Constable – appointed 17 April 1979 ( 19 years, 0 months, 1 day )

Detective – appointed ? ? ? ( YES )

Constable – appointed ? ? ?

Constable 1st class – appointed 16 April 1984

Senior Constable – appointed 16 April 1988

Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed 27 September 1991

Final Rank:  Detective Sergeant – Death

Stations:  ?, Gosford Drug Unit ( Brisbane Waters LAC ) – Death

Service:  From  1 February 1977  to  28 September 1991 = 14 years, 7 months, 27 Service

Time in Retirement:  0

Age at Retirement:  n/a

Awards:  No find on It’s An Honour

Born:  Saturday  16 April 1960

Died on:  Saturday  28 September 1991 @ Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW

Cause: Cerebral Haemorrhage

Age:  31 years, 5 months, 12 days

Funeral date:  ? October 1991

Funeral location:  ?

Buried at:  CREMATED:

Ashes Interred in the Palmdale Lawn Cemetery & Memorial Park, Palmdale Rd, Palmdale, NSW

Rose Garden, 26A, Site 58

Memorial Plaque:  Point Frederick Pioneer Park, 1 Albany St, Pt Frederick, NSW

-33.449594  151.341945

 Memorial Plaque location: 

DICK IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance

Before his death Detective Sergeant Whittaker and other Police had been involved in a major drug investigation which had resulted in the arrest of eighteen offenders. Corruption allegations were made by a number of the offenders resulting in a Police Internal Security Unit investigation.

During the protracted internal investigation the Sergeant was under enormous pressure and as a result suffered a cerebral haemorrhage.

He passed away at the Royal North Shore Hospital on 28 September 1991.

He was posthumously cleared of all allegations by Judge Allen at the Sydney District Court on 30 September 1991.

The Sergeant was born in 1960 and joined the New South Wales Police Service, via the NSW Police Cadet system on 1 February 1977 and was Attested, as a Probationary Constable on 17 April 1979.

At the time of his death he was attached to the Gosford Drug Unit.

When Sarah Matthews returned home after her shift at Gosford Hospital on the evening of April 13, 2002 and spotted a row of waiting police cars she thought the neighbours were having a noisy party.

“It never struck me what was coming next,” remembers the emergency nurse who was told the worst — her fiancée Senior-Constable Chris Thornton had been killed on duty hours earlier.

“It didn’t hit me. Even when I was told. I don’t think that’s something that ever leaves you.”

This week Miss Matthews, Kylie Kerr and Tracey Holt will get together to remember their partners, Sen-Constable Thornton, Sen-Constable Peter Gordon Wilson and Sergeant Richard Whittaker, who all died on duty while with the Brisbane Water Local Area Command.

On Thursday officers from Brisbane Water LAC will take part in a paddle to raise money for NSW Police Legacy to support the families of fallen officers.

“You never want to be a part of Legacy but now we are part of this unique group and without Legacy we wouldn’t have each other,” Miss Matthews said.

But for two of the women, the close bond was forged by their shared loss and haunting similarities in how their partners lost their lives.

Sen-Constable Thornton, 35, died in a motor vehicle accident while on patrol in Woy Woy in 2002, while Mrs Kerr’s long-term partner Sen-Constable Wilson, 41, was killed when he was hit by a car while carrying out speed checks on the M1 at Somersby in 2006.

Both men were based at Brisbane Water LAC, both died in car accidents on a Saturday night, and both had the same patrol car number — 202.

“This special event means our boys haven’t been forgotten,” Miss Matthews said, adding that the support of Legacy has enabled her to move on. “You have to take that step forward. You can’t be angry, because that just eats away at you.”

“This special event means our boys haven’t been forgotten,” Miss Matthews said, adding that the support of Legacy has enabled her to move on. “You have to take that step forward. You can’t be angry, because that just eats away at you.”

“This special event means our boys haven’t been forgotten,” Miss Matthews said, adding that the support of Legacy has enabled her to move on. “You have to take that step forward. You can’t be angry, because that just eats away at you.”

Mrs Holt, whose husband Sgt Whittaker was stationed at the Gosford drug unit and was involved in drug investigations at the time of his death when he died from a brain haemorrhage in 1991, said the annual paddle is a “beautiful day”. “It is amazing the effort Daniel Sullivan and the team put in to keep the memory going of old work mates and have a good time doing it,” she said.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-coast/our-boys-havent-been-forgotten-policemen-honoured-in-brisbane-water-row/story-fngr8h0p-1227528821582

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Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995),

Tuesday 1 October 1991, page 4

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/134156388

Past events in Remembrance of Dick Whittaker.

Paddle for Police Legacy

Paddling from Ocean Beach Surf Club to Bluetongue Stadium along the Brisbane Water on the NSW Central Coast (approximately 15km).

Scott Andrew BLANCHARD

Previous article called: Unnamed policeman

late of Bayswater, W.A.

Western Australia Police Force

Regd. #  9360

Rank:  Detective Sergeant

Stations:  ?, Gang Crime

Service:  From  ? ? ?  to  24 July 2015 = ? years of Service

Awards: Police Medal – 20 years

No find on It’s An Honour

Born:  ?

Died on:  Friday  24 July 2015  @ p.m. at 6kms south of Kalgoorlie, W.A.

Cause:  PTSD – Suicide – self inflicted gunshot wound – service weapon

Age:  45

Funeral date:  Thursday  6 August 2015 @ 2.30pm

Funeral location:  Karrakatta Cemetery, W.A.

Buried at:  Cremated

Memorial location:  ?

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

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Policeman dies of gunshot wound on the outskirts of Goldfields city

July 25, 2015 1:13AM

Police confirmed the fatal incident happened on Friday night on the outskirts of the Goldfields city.

The Major Crime Squad is investigating, but the officer’s death is not being treated as suspicious.

“The circumstances of the firearm incident will be investigated on behalf of the Coroner,” police said in a statement.

Police counselling and chaplaincy services will be offered to the officer’s family and colleagues.

The officer’s name, age and rank has not yet been released.

In a statement released on Saturday morning the WA Police Union said it was “deeply saddened by the tragic death”.

“WAPU is providing support to our members during this difficult time and we have representatives on the ground in Kalgoorlie,” the union said.

“We will continue to work with WA Police to ensure the best possible outcome for all involved, given the circumstances.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the member’s family, friends and colleagues.”

http://www.news.com.au/national/policeman-dies-of-gunshot-wound-on-the-outskirts-of-goldfields-city/story-fncynjr2-1227456289601

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Thursday  6 August 2015

WA Police are investigating the death of an officer at a police station in Perth’s southern suburbs.

It is understood First Class Constable Darren Igglesden, 50, died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at Cockburn Police Station on Monday morning.

In a statement, WA Police said support services were being offered to other officers.

The station has been temporarily closed, and the public has been asked not to attend the station until further notice. They have instead been redirected to nearby Fremantle or Mandurah stations, both of which operate 24 hours a day.

‘Popular member of the force’

Police Commissioner Chris Dawson extended his condolences to the family of Constable Igglesden and colleagues at Cockburn Police Station.

“It appears Darren has drawn his service-issued pistol from the police armoury this morning (Monday), shortly after 6:00am,” he said.

“He was found deceased by colleagues within the Cockburn police building.

“Darren’s death has come as a complete shock to his family, to his friends, and indeed the entire police force.

“At this difficult time I extend my condolences to Darren’s family, his friends, his work colleagues and everyone who knew him.

“A coronial investigation is now underway and so we should let that full investigation be completed, but there does not appear to be any other persons present at the time Darren lost his life.”

Commissioner Dawson said Constable Igglesden was a popular member of the police force.

“Constable Igglesden has been with the WA Police Force for six-and-a-half years, he joined us at about 44 years of age, he has had a varied career in the private sector prior to joining police,” he said.

“Well liked, well respected, a very popular member of the police force.”

Coroner called for more police support

The tragedy comes nearly a month after WA Deputy Coroner Evelyn Vicker released her findings into the suicide of police officer Scott Blanchard, who shot himself while on duty at Kalgoorlie in July 2015.

Ms Vicker found that while Detective Sergeant Blanchard appeared to be coping well with his job as a police officer, he had become “obsessed” that health problems he had were undiagnosable and “consequently took matters into his own hands …”

The inquest into Sergeant Blanchard‘s death heard details of the WA Police Service’s Health and Safety Division, which provides services such as confidential psychological counselling, peer support programs and chaplaincy services to officers and their families, to try to help them manage stress or issues that may arise as a result of their employment.

“At this difficult time I extend my condolences to Darren’s family, his friends, his work colleagues and everyone who knew him.

“A coronial investigation is now underway and so we should let that full investigation be completed, but there does not appear to be any other persons present at the time Darren lost his life.”

Commissioner Dawson said Constable Igglesden was a popular member of the police force.

“Constable Igglesden has been with the WA Police Force for six-and-a-half years, he joined us at about 44 years of age, he has had a varied career in the private sector prior to joining police,” he said.

“Well liked, well respected, a very popular member of the police force.”

Coroner called for more police support

The tragedy comes nearly a month after WA Deputy Coroner Evelyn Vicker released her findings into the suicide of police officer Scott Blanchard, who shot himself while on duty at Kalgoorlie in July 2015.

Ms Vicker found that while Detective Sergeant Blanchard appeared to be coping well with his job as a police officer, he had become “obsessed” that health problems he had were undiagnosable and “consequently took matters into his own hands …”

The inquest into Sergeant Blanchard‘s death heard details of the WA Police Service’s Health and Safety Division, which provides services such as confidential psychological counselling, peer support programs and chaplaincy services to officers and their families, to try to help them manage stress or issues that may arise as a result of their employment.

Police Minister Michelle Roberts said she believed the culture within the organisation was changing.

“I think the police force has changed dramatically over the last 10 years or so, in terms of encouraging officers to come forward and to show some additional care for themselves and their fellow officers,” she said.

“It used to certainly be the case that the attitude was ‘toughen up’ and to show any emotional vulnerability was seen as some kind of weakness. That’s not the attitude that’s been taken by police in recent years.

“We have had some shocking and tragic incidents in recent times where officers have had to turn out to shocking scenes, and sometimes they go to road crashes where they see shocking scenes, so we need to know that they have got the support there.

“And I have certainly received assurances from the Commissioner of Police and others that we have got good supports in place. Sometimes, though, people need to avail themselves of that support.”

Topics: police, suicide, wa, perth-6000

First posted 15 Oct 2018, 6:07pm

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-15/wa-police-officer-dead-from-self-inflicted-gunshot-in-cockburn/10378676

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William Baden PENNEY

aka  Bill

( late of Lavington )

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. # 6789

Rank:  ?

Stations:  ?, Albury ( early 1960’s )

Service:  From  ?  to  ?

Awards:  ?

Born:  ?

Died on:  Tuesday  21 July 2015 at home

Cause:  ?

Age:  84

Funeral date:  Monday 27 July 2015 @ 10am

Funeral location: John Hossack’s Funeral Services, 435 Wilson Street, Albury

Buried at:  ?

[alert_blue]WILLIAM is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_blue] * NOT JOB RELATED

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 Funeral location: 

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Bill attended a retired Police luncheon in Albury last Sunday ( 20 July 2015 ) and two days later he has died.

May Bill forever Rest In Peace.

Thursday, 23 July 2015

Penney, William: Committee, members and staff of the Albury Racing Club extend deepest sympathy to Shirley and family on the sad passing of former committee man Bill. A great supporter of racing. He will be missed by all at the club.

Published in: The Border Mail