Police Deaths in NSW - 1788 to 1996 (14)

In Remembrance of those Police Officers who gave their life

In Remembrance of those Police Officers who gave their life

ROBB, Colin Douglas
Constable
7 September, 1963.
On 7 September, 1963 Constable Robb was the observer in a Police Special Traffic Branch vehicle driven by Constable Bartlett when they became involved in a high speed pursuit in Parramatta Road, Auburn. Whilst attempting to overtake the offending vehicle, the Police vehicle collided with another car. The impact burst open the doors on the Police car, throwing Constable Robb to the roadway and causing fatal injuries. He died before medical assistance arrived. Constable Bartlett was not seriously injured.

Constable Robb was born in 1935 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 5 March, 1962. At the time of his death he was attached to the Traffic Branch.

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HOWE, Cyril Elgar
Sergeant 3rd Class
20 December, 1963.
On the evening of the 19th December, 1963 Sergeant (then Constable) Howe detained the offender Little near Oaklands and spoke to him regarding a stolen cheque book. He then directed the offender to drive his vehicle to the local Police Station while he followed in the Police vehicle. En route the offenders sped away, and was pursued by Constable Howe for several kilometres. When the offender eventually stopped, the Constable approached his vehicle. The offender, who had taken cover behind his vehicle door (the doors opened from hinged centre pillars), then produced a shotgun and shot Constable Howe. The Constable crawled back to the Police vehicle where he took cover, and although seriously wounded, returned fire until his automatic pistol jammed. He then sought further cover by crawling underneath the Police vehicle, where he cleared his pistol and fired another shot before it again jammed. The offender then fired at the police vehicle, shooting out the headlights, steering, and the Police sign from the top, before escaping. Constable Howe then wrote the offender's name several times in his Police notebook before dragging himself into the Police vehicle. He was only able to drive it a few metres before it ran into a roadside ditch. After being found the Constable was able to detail the events leading to the shooting. He was taken to the Wagga Base Hospital, however despite a five-hour operation he died at 10.45pm on 20 December, 1963. Constable 1st Class Howe was posthumously promoted to Sergeant 3rd Class, and awarded the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry, and the Peter Mitchell Award. The offender later committed suicide.

The circumstances surrounding the death of Sergeant Howe (pistol repeatedly jamming) led to the introduction of revolvers as general service issue to New South Wales Police.

The Sergeant was born in 1932 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 1 April, 1957. At the time of his death he was stationed at Oaklands.

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SHAW, Allan
Constable
11 May, 1964.
About 9am on 10 May, 1964, Constable Shaw was a member of a Police Wireless Car patrolling the Belmore area when they received a message regarding a break and enter offence. Whilst they were travelling along Reginald Street, a vehicle drove through the intersection of Drummond Street, failing to give way to the Police vehicle. The vehicles collided and all three Police were thrown to the roadway. The injured were conveyed to the Canterbury District Hospital where Constable Shaw died of his injuries at 5pm the following day.

The Constable was born in 1939 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 17 November, 1958. At the time of his death he was stationed at Redfern.

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WATTS, Oswald Travase
Senior Constable
21 April, 1965.
On 27 November, 1955, Senior Constable Watts attended a traffic accident on the Hume Highway at Gunning Gap, just north of Yass. As he was standing beside a semi-trailer speaking to a motorist who had ignored a flagman, he saw a truck approaching at high speed. He dived beneath the semi-trailer to get out of the way, however as he stood up on the far side of the semi, it was hit by the speeding truck. Constable Watts was hit and pinned between the semi-trailer and another vehicle, sustaining internal injuries. He was admitted to the Yass District Hospital. Although resuming full duties the following month, Constable Watts health deteriorated and he was discharged medically unfit on 18 May, 1961. He died on 21 April, 1965.

The Constable was born in 1905 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 13 June, 1928. At the time of his injury he was stationed at Yass.

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McKIE, William Smith
Sergeant 2nd Class
8 July, 1966.
On the night of 5 September, 1964, Sergeant McKie attended a store in Main Road, Boolaroo, where it had been reported an alarm was ringing. The Sergeant entered the store with the manager, and after turning on the lights, they saw two offenders who had broken in. One of the offenders approached the Sergeant who then prevented his escape. The man resisted violently, punching and kicking Sergeant McKie until he was subdued and handcuffed. Following the assault, the Sergeant's health deteriorated and he was discharged from the Service on 30 July, 1965. He died the following year.

The Sergeant was born in 1916 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 7 May, 1938. At the time of his injury he was stationed at Cardiff.

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MAHON, Peter George
Constable
5 October, 1966.
On 5 October, 1966 Constable Mahon was riding his departmental motor cycle on the Princes Highway near Narooma. The Constable lost control of the cycle which slid along the roadway and collided with a guidepost. Constable Mahon sustained severe head injuries and died the same day.

The Constable was born in 1942 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 24 February, 1964. At the time of his death he was stationed at Bega.

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HOLLINGSWORTH, Colin John
Constable
6 November, 1966.
About 1.30am on 6 November, 1966 Constable Hollingsworth was returning home from work at Petersham Police Station when he was involved in a traffic collision on the Great Western Highway, Granville. The Constable's vehicle collided with another vehicle which had come to a halt in the centre of the roadway after another vehicle had apparently failed to give way to it. Constable Hollingsworth was conveyed to the Parramatta District Hospital suffering from extensive internal injuries and was found to be dead on arrival.

The Constable was born in 1943 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 13 August, 1962. At the time of his death he was stationed at Petersham.

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DALEY, Geoffrey Joseph
Probationary Constable
27 December, 1966.
On 27 December, 1966 Constable Daley was riding a Police motor cycle in New South Head Road, Vaucluse. Whilst attempting to negotiate a very sharp bend, the cycle skidded on a patch of new bitumen, crossed the roadway and clipped a motor cycle. Constable Daley's cycle then hit another vehicle head-on and the Constable was thrown under it, sustaining fatal injuries.

The Constable was born in 1942 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 4 April, 1966.

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BAINES, Paul John
Constable 1st Class
23 March, 1967.
About 9pm on 11 March, 1967 Constable Baines and Senior Constable Tutill were engaged in Special Hoodlum Patrol duties when they arrested two men outside a Guildford hotel. After the two offenders were taken to the Merrylands Police Station they refused to cooperate with Police and forced their way out of the dock on several occasions. They then resisted violently as they were returned to the dock. When the two Police removed the men to the cell area a violent struggle ensued and Constable Baines was kicked and punched several times. After the offenders were secured in a cell Constable Baines was found to be in a distressed condition, and shortly thereafter he collapsed. He was taken to the Fairfield Hospital where he suffered a coronary occlusion and died on 23 March, 1967.

The Constable was born in 1929 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 8 July, 1957. At the time of his death he was stationed at Merrylands.

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ROY, Colin
Constable
12 May, 1967.
Shortly before 9pm on 10 May, 1967 Constable Roy was riding a Police solo motor cycle along the Princes Highway, Kirrawee, returning home at the completion of his rostered shift. At the time he was travelling behind a utility, the driver of which was looking for a service station. When the utility driver saw a service station on his right hand side he put his right indicator on. He then spotted a closer service station on his left. With his right indicator still on he turned left in front of Constable Roy who had begun to overtake on the near side. The utility struck the Constable's motor cycle, forcing it off the road and into a low brick wall at the front of the service station. As a result, Constable Roy sustained severe head injuries and was conveyed to the Sutherland District Hospital where he died on 12 May, 1967.

The Constable was born in 1938 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 17 August, 1964. At the time of his death he was stationed at North Sydney.

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