Rank: Probationary Constable – appointed 7 November 1955
Senior Constable – appointed 7 November 1966
Senior Constable – Death
Stations: East Gresford Police Station
Service: From pre 7 November 1955 to 13 August 1971 = 15+ years Service
Awards: No find on It’s An Honour
Born: 31 January 1933
Died: 13 August 1971
Age: 38
Cause: Shot – Murdered
Event location: East Gresford Police residence
Funeral Date: ?
Funeral location: ?
Buried at: ?
[alert_green]William IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_green]
William KING
About 6.45pm on 13 August, 1971Senior Constable King went home to the East Gresford police residence for dinner. When he later answered a knock on the front door he was shot in the chest. He died a short time later. Enquiries later revealed that Senior Constable King had arrested the offender, a sixty-two year old labourer, the previous year for a drink driving offence (DUI). The offender was arrested two hours after the murder of Senior Constable King and later sentenced to life imprisonment.
The constable was born in 1933 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 7 November, 1955. At the time of his death he was stationed at East Gresford.
William Edward KING
Location of Police residence
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The Canberra Times Tuesday 17 August 1971 3 of 20
Murder of constable alleged
NEWCASTLE, Monday. — Mr Arthur Clement Warr, 63, timber worker, of Church Street, East Gresford, appeared in Maitland court today charged with the murder of Senior-constable William Edward King, of East Gresford, last Friday.
The police prosecutor, Sergeant B. Bourne, said it would be alleged that last Friday Mr Warr had drunk at a Gresford hotel then had driven to East Gresford police station and that when Constable King had come from the residence in uniform Mr Warr had shot and fatally wounded him with a .22 rifle.
The Canberra Times Friday 24 September 1971 page 6 of 18
Man for trial over death
NEWCASTLE, Thursday.
A 62-year-old labourer was committed in Maitland Court today for trial at the Newcastle Supreme Court on November 8 on a charge of murdering a policeman.
Mr Wilde, SM, refused bail for the man, Mr Arthur Clement Warr, of East Gresford, who is charged with having murdered Senior Constable William Edward King at East Gresford on August 13.
A Gresford station hand, Mr Howard Huckstadt, told the court that Mr Warr had sung out to him, “I shot King Billy”.
He said he had heard Mr Warr refer to Constable King, of Gresford police station, as “King Billy” before.
Mr Warr had asked him if he had any bullets, but he had replied, “no”. He had then said that he had wanted the bullets “to shoot the cop that would come after him”.
Mr Huckstadt said he had asked Mr Warr why he shot Constable King and Mr Warr had replied, “He was all the time picking on me”.
The Canberra Times Saturday 20 November 1971 page 12 of 42
‘Life’ for murder
NEWCASTLE, Friday. — Mr Arthur Clement Warr, 63, fencing contractor, of Gresford, was jailed for life at Newcastle Supreme Court today for the murder of a police constable.
He had pleaded not guilty to a charge of having murdered Constable William Edward King, 38, at Gresford on August 13. Mr Warr did not give evidence or make a statement during his trial.
*** Although NOT confirmed, another article was found with this offenders name and the age between 1943 – 1971 is correct. ***
The Sydney Morning Herald Tuesday 31 August 1943 page 3 of 9
MILITIAMEN ON THEFT CHARGE
U.S. Army Clothing
Charges of having stolen United States Army clothing at Alexandria railway goods yard on August 17 were made against three australian militiamen, at a court-martial yesterday.
They were Privates Roy Westland Smith, 20; Arthur Edward Roberts, 47: and Arthur Clement Warr, 34.,
Alternative charges of having been unlawfully in possession of the goods were dismissed. On the charges of stealing the Court did not announce its decision.
Evidence was that the three men, members of an employment unit, were on duty at the goods yard unloading trucks. A warrant officer said that he saw the accused moving between two lines of trucks in a shed, and on being challenged they dropped several pairs of United States Army trousers.
Each of the accused said he had seen the articles lying on the ground and had picked them up, intending to examine the article in a better light. It was unusual, they said, to see anything lying about in the yards.
At a previous trial, Private John Henry Hanson, 27 was charged with having unlawfully removed a case containing 24 pairs of United States Army trousers from a railway truck at Alexandria on August 17.
Hanson, who pleaded not guilty, said he had not touched any of the clothing.
POLICE KILLED OR WHO DIED FROM INJURIES RECEIVED IN THE EXECUTION OF THEIR DUTIES
On 13th August, 1971, Senior Constable William Edward King, who was then the officer-in-charge of police, East Gresford, was shot dead at East Gresford Police Station by a man who fired upon him with a rifle.
On 29th August, 1971, Constable 1st Class Patrick Mark Hackett died from injuries received in a motor accident at Polis, Cyprus, whilst performing duty with the New South Wales Police component of the Australian Police Contingent of the United Nations Peace Keeping Force.
On 30th September, 1971, Sergeant Second Class William Watson Riley and Senior Constable Maurice Raymond McDiarmid, both then attached to Blacktown Police Station, were shot dead in a house at Toongabbie which they had entered to arrest a man who a short time before had murdered his brother and raped a woman in the same house.
A police funeral with full ceremonial honours was accorded these deceased officers at which appropriate tributes were paid.
In recognition of their outstanding courage Sergeant Riley and Senior Constable McDiarmid were posthumously promoted by me to Sergeant 1st Class and Sergeant 3rd Class respectively. In addition, I submitted recommendations to the Premier for favour of consideration of Royal Awards being granted in both cases.
To assist the widows of the deceased police the Premier approved the payment to each of them of the sum of $12,500 as a gratuity. This payment did not in any way affect their entitlements to payments under the provisions of the Police Regulation (Superannuation) Act.
On 2 October, 1970 Detective Constable Ware was part of a specially formed squad attempting to apprehend an armed and dangerous rapist who had been operating in the Sutherland area. A decoy car was set up at Loftus Oval with a number of police both inside it and surrounding it in the darkness. During the stakeout one of the police could not be contacted on his portable radio and when the decoy vehicle left the oval for a short time Detective Ware went to find out what had happened.
As he neared the man with the faulty radio he was mistaken for the rapist and shot. Detective Ware had not answered when challenged and almost walked over the man on the ground. Visibility and conditions were extremely poor at the time. The detective constable was conveyed to the Sutherland District Hospital where he died a short time later.
The constable was born in 1937 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 16 August, 1965.
Sergeant 3rd Class Ronald Osborne McGOWAN
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Sergeant 3rd Class Ronald Osborne McGOWAN
Motor Vehicle Accident
Pyrmont
25 April, 1970
About midnight on 24 April, 1970 Sergeant McGowan left the Pyrmont Police Station to travel home in his private motor vehicle. It appears that he forgot some personal property at the station and at some stage decided to return to collect it. As he was travelling along Banks Street, Pyrmont a front wheel of his vehicle apparently buckled, causing the vehicle to leave the roadway and collide with a rock embankment. Sergeant McGowan was taken to Sydney Hospital however was found to be dead on arrival.
The sergeant was born in 1919 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 9 November, 1949. At the time of his death he was stationed at Pyrmont.
Constable 1st Class Warren Melvin Hilliary SARGENT
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Constable 1st Class Warren Melvin Hilliary SARGENT
Motor Vehicle Accident
Bathurst
9 February, 1970
In the afternoon of 9 February, 1970 Constable Sargent was returning to Hill End in a police Land Rover after attending court in Bathurst. While travelling along the Turondale Road just north of Bathurst the vehicle left the roadway and overturned. Constable Sargent was thrown from the vehicle, sustaining severe head injuries.
The constable was born in 1944 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 2 November, 1964. At the time of his death he was stationed at Hill End.
David Bruce REIHER
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David Bruce REIHER
Late of ?
NSW Police Academy – Redfern – Class 115
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 13232
Rank: Constable
Stations: Wollongong STP ( Special Traffic Patrol ) – death
Service: From 13 May 1968 to21 December 1969= 1.5years Service
Awards: No find on It’s An Honour
Born: 27 June 1946
Died on: Sunday 21 December 1969
Age: 23
Cause: Motor Vehicle Accident – Police Bike – Rider
Event location: Princes Hwy, Figtree ( on the bends near Figtree Pub )
Event date: Sunday 21 December 1969
Funeral date: ? ? ?
Funeral location: ?
Funeral Parlour: ?
Buried at: ?
Memorial located at: ?
Constable David Reiher ( 1969 )
DAVIDIS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance
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Keira St, cross of Market St, Wollongong
Funeral location: TBA
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FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
On 21 December, 1969 Constable Reiher was riding a Police Special Traffic Patrol motor cycle on the Princes Highway at Figtree. It is thought that the constable was attempting to stop the driver of a station sedan for a traffic offence and as he overtook the vehicle his cycle flipped over. He was thrown into the path of a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction and killed instantly.
The constable was born in 1946 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 13 May, 1968. At the time of his death he was stationed at Wollongong.
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Wollongong police memorials
ALEX ARNOLD
The NSW Police Force carries on its logo the phrase “Proud Traditions since 1862“, but capturing the history of these traditions at an operational level has never been a priority for the force.
However, almost 150 years after it was first formed, NSW Police – and Acting Southern Region Commander Gary Worboys in particular – is using history as a tool to instil pride in those wearing the uniform.
Three memorials for Wollongong police officers who died while serving the community were unveiled at Wollongong Police Station yesterday at a ceremony attended by family members and former colleagues of the deceased officers.
The memorials, located in the hallway of the detectives’ floor, feature images and biographies of the men as well as an account of the incidents that led to their deaths.
The memorial wall was Mr Worboys’ idea, with Senior Constable Dave Henderson given the task of completing the project.
Snr Const Henderson said the project had involved research through police archives, old copies of the Illawarra Mercury and interviews with family members.
Mr Worboys, who will return to his former role as Wollongong Local Area Commander at the end of the month, said he became inspired to record police history during his time as commander of the Goulburn LAC. It was there he heard about a policeman who’d been shot by bushranger Ben Hall’s gang at Collector.
Mr Worboys said research led to the discovery of the grave of the officer, Samuel Nelson, in a cemetery near the police station, but it was found to be an “absolute shambles“.
The grave was restored and distant family members invited to take part in a subsequent ceremony, proving to Mr Worboys the value of history to the police force.
“There is so much history associated with police stations, but as walls get painted and people move on we don’t capture that history.”
“The memorials and the stories they have attached to them provide officers with a link to the past and makes them realise they are not the only ones who have walked these corridors.”
Mr Worboys said the memorials not only represented distinguished service, but the trauma, grief and heartache suffered by families.
He said the last death of a Wollongong officer on duty was in 1969, and he hoped no more stories would be added to the wall: but the memorials were a reminder that policing was a dangerous occupation.
Among those at yesterday’s ceremony were Constable David Reiher‘s father Bruce ( RIP – Nov 2009 ), and Constable Ray Paff‘s widow Valerie, who described the memorial as “a wonderful tribute” to her late husband.
“It may have been a long time ago. But you never forget,” she said.
Early in the evening of 15 April, 1969 Constable Turnbull left the Cooma Police Station to travel to Berridale to assist with enquiries into a stolen motor vehicle. Heavy rain was falling at the time, and just south of the Snowy Mountains Highway ( Kosciusko Rd )(eight kilometres south of Cooma) the vehicle skidded on the slippery road. The vehicle then spun around, travelled backwards for some distance before colliding with a fence post. As a result, Constable Turnbull sustained severe head injuries and died a short time later.
The constable was born in 1939 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 29 February, 1960. At the time of his death he was stationed at Cooma.
Raymond James PAFF
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Raymond James PAFF
Late of Corrimal
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # ????
Rank: Constable
Stations: ?, “possibly” Werris Creek, Wollongong
Service: From ? ? pre January 1949 to 19 March 1958 = 9+ years Service
Awards: No find on It’s An Honour
Born: ? ? 1929 at Nabiac, NSW
Died on: 19 March 1969
Age: 39 – 40
Cause: Motor Vehicle Accident – Pedestrian – directing traffic.
On the night of 5 August, 1953 Constable Paff was directing traffic around a traffic accident on the Princes Highway, near Mt Ousley Road at Fairy Meadow.
A taxi approached the constable, who was using a torch, and slowed down. Another vehicle which had been travelling behind the taxi then attempted to overtake. As it did so it struck Constable Paff, carrying him along about twenty metres and throwing him to the ground.
The constable sustained serious head injuries as a result of the incident.
Due to deteriorating health caused by his injuries Constable Paff was discharged from the police force in March, 1958. He then worked for some time as a handyman on the Wollongong Council. He suffered a fatal cerebral haemorrhage at work on 19 March, 1969.
The constable was born at Nabiac in 1929 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 17 January, 1949. At the time of his injury he was stationed at Wollongong.
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Wollongong police memorials
ALEX ARNOLD
The NSW Police Force carries on its logo the phrase “Proud Traditions since 1862“, but capturing the history of these traditions at an operational level has never been a priority for the force.
However, almost 150 years after it was first formed, NSW Police – and Acting Southern Region Commander Gary Worboys in particular – is using history as a tool to instil pride in those wearing the uniform.
Three memorials for Wollongong police officers who died while serving the community were unveiled at Wollongong Police Station yesterday at a ceremony attended by family members and former colleagues of the deceased officers.
The memorials, located in the hallway of the detectives’ floor, feature images and biographies of the men as well as an account of the incidents that led to their deaths.
The memorial wall was Mr Worboys’ idea, with Senior Constable Dave Henderson given the task of completing the project.
Snr Const Henderson said the project had involved research through police archives, old copies of the Illawarra Mercury and interviews with family members.
Mr Worboys, who will return to his former role as Wollongong Local Area Commander at the end of the month, said he became inspired to record police history during his time as commander of the Goulburn LAC. It was there he heard about a policeman who’d been shot by bushranger Ben Hall’s gang at Collector.
Mr Worboys said research led to the discovery of the grave of the officer, Samuel Nelson, in a cemetery near the police station, but it was found to be an “absolute shambles“.
The grave was restored and distant family members invited to take part in a subsequent ceremony, proving to Mr Worboys the value of history to the police force.
“There is so much history associated with police stations, but as walls get painted and people move on we don’t capture that history.”
“The memorials and the stories they have attached to them provide officers with a link to the past and makes them realise they are not the only ones who have walked these corridors.”
Mr Worboys said the memorials not only represented distinguished service, but the trauma, grief and heartache suffered by families.
He said the last death of a Wollongong officer on duty was in 1969, and he hoped no more stories would be added to the wall: but the memorials were a reminder that policing was a dangerous occupation.
Among those at yesterday’s ceremony were Constable David Reiher‘s father Bruce ( RIP – Nov 2009 ), and Constable Ray Paff‘s widow Valerie, who described the memorial as “a wonderful tribute” to her late husband.
“It may have been a long time ago. But you never forget,” she said.
Constable Raymond Paff, who was seriously injured at Wollongong recently is a brother of Mr. Rory Paff of Wallanbah.
Constable Paff, who is stationed at Wollongong was investigating a car smash when another car ran into him. He received a fractured skull and other injures and was admitted to Wollongong hospital.
POLICEMAN INJURED ON DUTY AFTER ACCIDENT. COURT TOLD
The hearing into a charge in which a man, allegedly under the influence of liquor at the time, allegedly struck down a police constable on traffic duty, began in the Court of Petty Sessions yesterday.
Leslie Wallace Speed. 27 years old engineer of Webber St., Towradgi, was charged with having caused grievous bodily harm to Raymond James Paff, while driving a motor vehicle under the influence. The accident occurred about 6.25 p.m. on August 5, while Constable Paff was directing traffic near the intersection of the Mount Ousley turn-off and Prince’s Highway. It was stated that at the time, Constable Paff was directing traffic around a small car which had overturned.
Speed is alleged to have knocked Paff down as he drove past. Paff received a fractured skull and lacerations to his head, hands and legs.
Det. H. North said that when he questioned Speed he could smell intoxicating liquor on his breath. Speed had admitted having six beers between 4.30 and 6 o’clock that afternoon.
He had claimed that he had not seen Paff until he was right on top of him, said Det. North. Speed, said Det. North, had admitted that his brakes and lights were not as good as they could have been.
When he was being charged Speed had admitted that he was under the influence and had declined the services of a doctor, Det. North alleged.
A motor mechanic, Donald Frazer, of Douglas Rd., Fernhill, stated that he had tested the brakes on Speed‘s car and had found them slow to respond. The hand brake was ineffective and the lights were dull. The case was adjourned until June 7.
South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus (NSW : 1900 – 1954), Monday 10 May 1954, page 5
Engineer Charged With Causing Grievous Bodily Harm to Constable
A 27 years old engineer, Leslie Wallace Speed, of Webber Street, Towradgi, appeared at Wollongong Court last week on a charge of causing grievous bodily harm, by driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor, to Constable Raymond James Paff, of Wollongong.
The hearing of the charge was adjourned after six of the 12 witnesses to be called by the Police had given evidence. The hearing will be resumed on June 2, Speed being allowed: £40 bail.
Det. H. O. North, of Wollongong, said that at 6.20 p.m. on August 5 he went , with Const. Paff to the scene of an accident north of Mount Ousley Road turnoff on Princes Highway. Shortly after they arrived, Constable Millar also came on the scene.
Const. Paff began to direct traffic around a small sedan car that had overturned on the highway. He had a lighted torch in his right hand and was controlling traffic with it. Const. Paff was also illuminated by the lights of the overturned car. Det. North said he heard a bump and Const. Millar called out something. He looked and saw a car travelling towards him at about 25 m.p.h. He saw Const. Paff lying across the bonnet of the car, which was travelling north. The car swerved onto its incorrect side of the roadway and he had to jump out of its way. Const. Paff then disappeared from view and the car continued on and came to a halt on the eastern side of the roadway.
Det. North said he then saw Const. Paff lying sprawled across the centre of the roadway and immediately ran to a phone and contacted the ambulance. When he returned Paff was seated on a wooden ramp on the footpath on the eastern side of the roadway. Const. Millar approached him with Speed and told him Speed was the driver of the car that struck Paff.
Det. North said he told Speed he could smell liquor and asked him if he had been drinking beer. Speed replied that he had six middies of beer at the Wollongong Hotel between 4.30 p.m. and until the time the hotel closed. He said Speed was unsteady on his feet, his breath smelt strongly of liquor and his speech was slurred and hesitant.
After the overturned car was cleared from the roadway, he took the defendant to the police station where Det Clunas questioned him. He told Det. Clunas he very seldom drank beer. When told he would be charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, Speed said ” I’m sorry, gentlemen I am not drunk.” Det. Clunas replied: ” You are not being charged with being drunk. You are going to be charged with driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor. ” Speed told Clunas, according to Det. North, that he did not see Paff until he was right ” on top of him. ” He also said he did not see the overturned car until he was ” right on top of it “. He said Speed claimed he had been following a taxi that pulled off to the side of the roadway and he thought it was picking up a fare. As he went to go around it, the constable was right in front of him.
Det. North said Speed said he knew the brakes and lights on his car were not ” as good as they should be. ” When asked by the station sergeant, Sgt. Bradley, if he wanted to tie examined by a doctor, Speed replied: ” I’ve had six middies of beer and admit I’m under the influence. It would be no use seeing a doctor. ”
Donald Fraser, foreman motor mechanic, of Douglas Road, Fernhill, said he tested the brakes of Speed‘s car on the day after the accident. The footbrake was in a bad condition and due to the battery being low, the headlights were dull. The speedometer was not registering correctly, being 2 m.p.h. fast.
Witness admitted to Mr. McInerney that the battery could have lost a lot of its efficiency overnight.
Constable Raymond James Paff said that he was in uniform on the night of the accident. He was directed to go to the scene and direct the traffic. He remembered commencing to do this.
He was injured, but did not remember how he received his injuries. He had been off duty ever since. He still suffered from ” double vision.” He remembered the arrival on the scene of Constable Millar.
Constable John Blair Millar said that when he arrived, Detective North and Const. Paff were there. There was a car lying on its side on the eastern side of the road. Constable Paff went to the centre of the road and started to direct the traffic with a torch. He saw a car strike Paff and throw him onto the bonnet. Witness said that Speed got out of the car and came over. He admitted he was the driver. Speed smelt strongly of intoxicating liquor and was unsteady on his feet. He said to witness, ” I am sorry, constable ; I didn’t see him.”
At the police station later, witness noticed that Speed‘s eyes were bloodshot and he was holding onto the counter.
Dr. Ian D. Alexander, of Wollongong, said Const Paff was taken to Wollongong Hospital on the night of August 5 last year and, although conscious, he had no recollection of the accident. He had lacerations to the right forehead, multiple lacerations to both hands, the right ear and right knee, swelling of the right eye and bruising of the right forehead. An X-ray showed he had a linear fracture of the right frontal bone of the skull and a probable fracture underneath the right eye. He complained of blurring of the vision, and was discharged as ” quite sound ” six days later. He did not complain of blurred vision when he left.
Const. W. K. Tuchin, of the Scientific Bureau, told of examining the roadway at the scene of the accident two days: later. There were fragments of glass on the edge of the roadway. About 68ft. 6ins. from this point and slightly east of the centre line there was what appeared to be blood on the roadway. He also inspected the defendant’s vehicle and saw a new crack in the windshield and a dent in the bonnet.
South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus (NSW : 1900 – 1954), Monday 23 February 1953, page 8
COULD NOT REMEMBER ANY COLLISION
The driver of a utility who ” could not remember ” having had a collision with a car was fined for negligent driving when he appeared at the Wollongong Court last week.
He was Kenneth Goodman Jones, of 51 Gipps St., Wollongong, for whom Mr. Mclnerney appeared. Constable Paff told the Court that the collision occurred in Corrimal Street, Wollongong, on 19th September last. After receiving a report, the police checked on a motor vehicle number and as a result interviewed Jones, who said he did not remember having been in a collision. When shown a hole in his mudguard, he said to witness, ” That looks like a new one, and I must have hit something.” He also said that when nearing the Harp Hotel, the steering wheel started shaking in his hand, so he gave a stop signal. He had just about pulled up when the shaking stopped, so he got into low gear and drove home very carefully.
To Mr. Mclnerney, witness said Jones was very helpful to the police. The marks on the utility were very minor ones.
Gordon Godfrey McDonald, 6 Matthew Street, Wollongong, said his car was parked in Corrimal Street. After someone had spoken to him, he examined it and found damage to the front bumper bar and wheel. The repairs cost £7/5/0.
James Francis Lear was called as a witness, but did not appear, and when Albert Barnett was was called, Police Prosecutor Sergeant W. J. Smith said he ” had gone home to get a shirt ” so that he might come to Court suitably attired.
Barnett subsequently appeared but by then his services as a police witness were not required.
Defendant Jones, after confirming what he had said to the constable at the time, said he could have hit another vehicle but he did not know that he had done so.
Jones was fined £2/18/0 with 12/- costs and 30/- witness’s expenses:
A charge of failing to stop after an accident was dismissed.
South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus (NSW : 1900 – 1954), Thursday 12 February 1953, page 21
Two Month’s Gaol
A man who on a previous occasion told the magistrate that he took drugs and alcohol together, with disastrous effect, came before the Wollongong Court on Monday and was sent to gaol for two months for assaulting a constable.
He was Reg Lacey, 32, labourer, of 17 Campbell Street, Woonona, who was alleged to have poked his head into the cabin of a police patrol van and ” booed ” at two constables last Saturday. Lacey was charged with offensive behaviour, resisting arrest, and assaulting a policeman.
Constable R. Paff told the Court that after Lacey had put his head into the police van, which was outside the Commercial Hotel, Wollongong, he stepped back, raised his thumb in a vulgar gesture and then ran down the road.
The two constables who had been in the van chased him and tried to arrest him. Witness said that Lacey struggled wildly and kicked him several times in the stomach and legs. He still struggled when they eventually got him to the police station.
Police Prosecutor, Sergeant W. J. Smith said that Lacey had two previous convictions for similar offences and had been warned that a recurrence would be regarded seriously by the Court.
He had been drinking on Saturday and had provoked some other persons to fight. It took a quarter-hour struggle before he could be placed in the police van.
Lacey was fined £5 on each of the first two charges, in addition to the gaol sentence for assault.
Clarence Lawn Cemetery, General, Section B, Lot 176
Warren Dennis BURNS, NSWPF, died 30 October 1968 Touch plate at the National Police Wall of Remembrance, Canberra.
[alert_green]WARREN IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_green]
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In the afternoon of 30 October, 1968 Constable Burns was undergoing police motor cycle training under the supervision of Constable Doaks in the Royal National Park, south of Sydney.
As Constable Burns followed Constable Doaks along Farnell Avenue his cycle skidded on the gravel shoulder of the roadway, struck a guidepost and then collided with a tree stump. Constable Burns was thrown from his cycle into a tree, sustaining fatal injuries. He died a short time later in the Sutherland District Hospital.
The constable was born in 1943 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 5 August, 1968. At the time of his death he was stationed at North Sydney.
Warren Dennis BURNS Clarence Lawn Cemetery, Armidale Road, Sth Grafton. 29 46′ 00S / 152 55′ 41E Credit – Ken Medway 6 March 2014
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Police think of mates, share stories at Remembrance Day service at Gymea on September 29
By Eva Tejszerski
Sept. 6, 2014, 7:20 a.m.
Annual commemoration: This month there will be a remembrance day service held for retired local police officers. John Prince is a member of St George & Sutherland Shire Retired Police Organisation, is organising the event. Picture Chris Lane
WHEN a few blokes gathered at Miranda RSL Club in the 1980s, little did they know their casual chats would become a bigger event of shared memories.
Now, many of those men who formed friendships in the line of duty will join forces again at their annual commemoration of retired police officers.
The south metropolitan associated branch of the Police Association of NSW, established a decade later, is hosting its annual service at St Catherine’s Catholic Church, Gymea, on September 29 — the same month as national police remembrance day.
Former police officers and the community will pay tribute to those killed on duty.
There will also be a eulogy for retired commander Henry (Harry) Brennan, of Caringbah, who died in June this year, at 86, after a 39-year career.
Mr Brennan cheated death when a shot was fired at him at point blank range. Luckily, the bullet missed.
For his bravery, he received the rare George Medal in 1956.
Retired police officer the late Harry Brennan is one of several local retired police officers who will be commemorated at a remembrance day service at Gymea this month. Picture: Police Association of NSW
Probationary constable Warren Dennis Burns, 25, was killed in 1968 when his motorbike collided with a tree in the Royal National Park.
Former police officer Denis Robert Ware, 33, was shot and killed on duty at Sutherland in 1970.
The branch has grown to about 500 members — many of whom regularly meet for social events.
Former police officer John Prince, of Caringbah, organised the service.
“Once you retire, the rest of us stay mates . . . you rely on each other so much when you work together,” he said.
In the early hours of 8 October, 1968 Sergeant Schell and Probationary Constable Dick Letchford attended Halvorsens Boats, Bobbin Head following a report of a break and enter in progress. On their arrival the police were met by the caretaker Mr Frederick Marshall and the sergeant accompanied him to check inside the premises, leaving the probationer outside. A short time later Constable Letchford apprehended two offenders whom he had seen running from the direction Sergeant Schell and Mr Marshall had taken. When police reinforcements arrived a few minutes later they were informed that Sergeant Schell and Mr Marshall had been found critically wounded in a storeroom. Mr Marshall had been shot in the head and Sergeant Schell had been shot five times in the head and body. Despite being rushed to Hornsby Hospital Sergeant Schell died a short time later. The offenders were later sentenced to life imprisonment.
Sergeant Schell was born in 1916 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 3 July, 1939.
Constable Edward Simpson STEPHEN
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Constable Edward Simpson STEPHEN
Motor Vehicle Accident
Cardiff Heights
8 October, 1967
In the early hours of 8 October, 1967 Constable Stephen was riding a police solo motor cycle home at the completion of his shift. He was travelling along Main Road, Cardiff Heights approaching a crest just before Marshall Street when a car made a right hand turn in front of him without indicating its intention. Constable Stephen took evasive action and missed the turning vehicle, however the cycle travelled over a number of wheel ruts on the gravel shoulder of the road and crashed. As a result the constable sustained severe head injuries and died in hospital a short time later.
The constable was born in 1945 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 10 May, 1965. At the time of his death he was stationed at Newcastle.
