Australian Police

Australian Police

The Thin Blue Line – Australian Police

Police Deaths in NSW – 1788 to 1996 (22)

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In Remembrance of those Police Officers who gave their life

McQUEEN, Allan Wayne
Constable
5 May, 1989.

On the morning of 24 April, 1989, Constable McQueen, Constable 1st Class Ross Judd and Probationary Constable Jason Donnelly were patrolling the Woolloomooloo area. All were members of the District Anti-Theft Squad. About 11.35am they saw the offender Porter, apparently attempting to break into a motor vehicle. While Constable Judd parked the Police vehicle, Constables McQueen and Donnelly went to speak to the offender. As he was being detained, the offender produced a concealed weapon and shot Constable McQueen twice in the chest and Constable Donnelly in the abdomen. Both Constables then chased the offender, who continued firing at them, until both collapsed from their wounds. Constable Ross Judd also pursued and fired at the offender before returning to assist his colleagues. He then carried both wounded Constables to the Police car and drove them to the Sydney Hospital. Constable Donnelly was to recover from his wounds, however Constable McQueen had sustained extensive internal injuries and died on 5 May, 1989. The offender was later arrested by Queensland Police.
The Constable was born in 1962 and joined the New South Wales Police Service on 27 June, 1987. At the time of his death he was attached to the Sydney District Anti-Theft Squad. His was posthumously awarded the Commissioner’s Medal for Valour.

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RAMPLING, Glenn Donald FIGTREE, Peter Allen
Senior Constable Constable 1st Class
13 June, 1989.
About 11.25pm on 13 June, 1989, Police in Byron Bay commenced a high speed pursuit of a panel van. The pursued vehicle drove south in the Coast Road, followed by the Byron Bay Police vehicle, and into Ballina. As both vehicles continued south through Ballina, a local Highway Patrol vehicle driven by Constable 1st Class Beaver, with Senior Constable Rampling and Constable 1st Class Figtree as passengers, joined the pursuit. More Police vehicles arrived to assist as the pursuit continued through the township of Wardell. About five kilometres south of Wardell the Ballina Highway Patrol vehicle began to draw level with the offending vehicle. As it did so, the driver of the pursued vehicle drove across to the centre of the roadway and clipped the front of the Byron Bay Police car. As a result, the Police vehicle veered across the road and skidded in loose gravel before colliding with a power pole. All three Police were trapped for some time in the badly damaged Police car, and when freed were conveyed by Ambulance to the Lismore Base Hospital. Constable Beaver was to recover from internal injuries received, however Constable Figtree died before he reached hospital, and Senior Constable Rampling died a short time later.

Senior Constable Rampling was born in 1959 and joined the New South Wales Police Service on 15 January, 1979. At the time of his death he was attached to the Ballina Detectives.

Constable Figtree was born in 1964 and joined the New South Wales Police Service on 28 November, 1983. At the time of his death he was attached to the Ballina Highway Patrol.

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KILKEARY, Paul Anthony
Sergeant
29 October, 1989.

On 4 September, 1989, Sergeant Kilkeary attended a Police baton training session at Mittagong. During this training he was thrown to the ground, falling heavily on the protective training mats. In the weeks following, the Sergeant’s health deteriorated due to cardiac insufficiency. About 2.55pm on 29 October, 1989 he was standing in the Charge Room at the Bowral Police Station where he collapsed. He was conveyed to the Bowral Hospital where he was found to be dead on arrival.
The Sergeant was born in 1946 and joined the New South Wales Police Service on 15 May, 1967. At the time of his death he was stationed at Bowral.

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EASTES, Grant Charles
Senior Constable
13 January, 1990.

On 13 January, 1990, Senior Constable Eastes took his own life in Brisbane. On 20 October, 1989, he had been one of the first Police to arrive on the scene of the horrific bus crash near Grafton in which twenty people died and twenty three more were injuried. At the time it was the worst road accident in Australia’s history. Following the accident the Senior Constable reported off duty on sick report, suffering from Acute Post Traumatic Shock Syndrome.
The Constable was born in 1960 and joined the New South Wales Police Service as a Cadet on 4 July, 1977. At the time of his death he was attached to the Lismore District Accident Investigation Squad.

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HOBSON, Warren Patrick
Sergeant
11 March, 1990.

On 17 March, 1989, Sergeant Hobson was riding his bicycle to work to commence his rostered shift at Campsie Police Station. The Sergeant fell from the cycle at Croydon Park and suffered serious head injuries including a brain haemorrhage. After a long illness, he passed away from complications of pneumonia on 11 March, 1990.
The Sergeant was born in 1950 and joined the New South Wales Police Service on 22 February, 1971. At the time of his death he was stationed at Campsie.

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SHORT, Kenneth John
Constable
11 July, 1990.

About 9.30am on 11 July, 1990, Constable Short was the observer in a Police vehicle travelling along the Old Princes Highway, Yarrawarra. The Police were attending an armed holdup at the ANZ Bank, Jannali, and when approaching the intersection of Old Bush Road, the Police vehicle veered across the roadway and collided head-on with another car. Constable Short was killed instantly.
The Constable was born in 1962 and joined the New South Wales Police Service on 9 April, 1985. He was sworn in on 22 June, 1985. At the time of his death he was stationed at Engadine.

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OAKLEY, David Ian
Detective Constable 1st Class
14 August, 1990.

On 18 December, 1988, Constable Oakley was at the Wagga Base Hospital where he was involved in restraining a berserk offender. During the struggle, the Constable was kicked in the face, causing injuries and swelling to his mouth, face and jaw. When the swelling did not subside, he was diagnosed as suffering from metastatic melanoma and was required to undergo surgery. It was found that the condition had been aggravated by the injuries received on 18 December, 1988. Although he later returned to full duties, Constable Oakley died on 14 August, 1990.
The Constable was born in 1964 and joined the New South Wales Police Service on 15 September, 1984. At the time of his death he was attached to the Chatswood Detectives.

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TICKLE, Peter
Constable
17 December, 1990.

Constable Tickle was a member of the Police Tactical Response Group, and following a barrage of ill-informed and inaccurate media attacks on the squad, he tragically took his own life on 17 December, 1990.
The Constable was born in 1954 and joined the New South Wales Police Service on 26 June, 1978. At the time of his death he was attached to the Tactical Response Group.

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WHITTAKER, Richard Charles
Detective Sergeant
28 September, 1991.
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 on 17 April, 1979. At the time of his death he was attached to the Gosford Drug Unit.

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McNAMARA, Bradley Bernard
Detective Constable 1st Class
31 October, 1991.
On 20 October, 1991, Constable McNamara was taking part in a training run at the Goulburn Police Academy when he collapsed, suffering from heat stroke. At the time he was undertaking the Patrol Support Element Course. He was initially conveyed to the Goulburn Base Hospital, however due to his deteriorating condition he was transferred to Sydney’s Prince of Wales Hospital the following day. He died eleven days later of multiple organ failure caused by muscle meltdown.
The Constable was born in 1967 and joined the New South Wales Police Service on 28 March, 1986. At the time of his death he was attached to the North West Region Major Crime Squad.

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