Police Deaths in NSW - 1788 to 1996 (18)

In Remembrance of those Police Officers who gave their life

In Remembrance of those Police Officers who gave their life

BURMISTRIW, Paul
Constable 1sr Class
22 February, 1978.
Constable Burmistriw was fatally injured in a bomb explosion outside the Sydney Hilton Hotel on 13 February, 1978. At the time, the Regional Conference of Commonwealth Heads of Government was taking place at the hotel. It was later ascertained that the bomb had been placed in a garbage bin outside the hotel. Also seriously injured were Sergeant Edward Hawtin, Senior Constable Rodney Wither and Senior Constable Terry Griffiths. Two council employee, William Favell and Alex Carter, were also killed in the bombing.

Constable Burmistriw was born in 1946 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 20 September, 1971. At the time of his death he was stationed at Central Police Station.

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WALTON, John Henry
Detective Sergeant 3rd Class
23 June, 1978.
About 2.45am on 23 June, 1978, Sergeant Walton was a passenger in a Police vehicle travelling along Carlingford Road, Carlingford. A vehicle approaching in the opposite direction drove onto the incorrect side of the roadway, forcing the Police vehicle off the road where it collided with a parked horse float. Detective Sergeant Walton was killed instantly.

The Sergeant was born in 1941 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 15 August, 1960. At the time of his death he was attached to the Armed Holdup Squad.

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PATRECH, Gordon Peter
Constable
10 January, 1979.
About 3.55am on the 10 January, 1979 Constable Patrech was driving his private car home after completing his rostered shift at Ryde Police Station. The journey had taken a considerable time due to the vehicle having broken down a number of times during the journey. As the Constable was driving along Spinks Road, Glossodia, the vehicle veered off the roadway and collided with a stationary garbage compactor. Constable Patrech was killed instantly.

The Constable was born in 1952 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 13 December, 1976. At the time of his death he was stationed at Ryde.

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COLBERT, John Thomas
Sergeant 1st Class
11 March, 1979.
At 11pm on 10 March, 1979, Sergeant Colbert commenced duty as the Supervising Sergeant in the Hurstville Division. Following his inspection of the Kingsgrove Police Station the Sergeant set out for the Peakhurst Police Station. About 1.20am on 11 March, the Sergeant parked behind a panel van in Morgan Street, Kingsgrove, where he spoke to the occupants. The Sergeant then returned to the Police car, and as he opened the driver's door he was struck by a passing vehicle. He was killed instantly.

The Sergeant was born in 1921 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 2 February, 1948. At the time of his death he was stationed at Kingsgrove.

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STEVENSON, Reginald Hugh
Detective Inspector
19 January, 1980.
On 9 December, 1974 Detective Sergeant 1st Class Stevenson was shot in the chest after confronting an armed offender in Newtown. Although seriously wounded at the time, he continued to direct other Police at the scene until he was taken to safety. As a result of the incident Sergeant Stevenson was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct and the Queen's Police Medal for Distinguished Service. He was promoted to the rank of Detective Inspector in 1976. On 19 January, 1980 Inspector Stevenson died of a coronary occlusion, and it was determined that his death was ultimately caused by the injuries sustained when he was shot in 1974.

The Detective Inspector was born in 1926 and joined the New South Wales Police Force as a Cadet in 1943. He was sworn in on 21 February, 1947.

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COULSON, Kevin John
Constable 1st Class
2 February, 1980.
On 30 January, 1960 Constable Coulson was riding a Police solo motor cycle to the Newcastle Police Station to commence his rostered shift. En route the cycle was involved in a collision with another vehicle and the Constable sustained serious injuries. As a result he was discharged from the Police Force medically unfit. During the next twenty years former Constable Coulson's health deteriorate until he passed away on 2 February, 1980. His death was determined to have been a direct result of the injuries received in the collision in 1960.

The Constable was born in 1931 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 10 August, 1953. At the time of the accident he was a solo cyclist attached to the Special Traffic Patrol.

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BURLEY, Ronald James
Senior Constable
5 May, 1980.
About 3.10pm on 5 May, 1980, Senior Constable Burley was riding a Police Highway Patrol motor cycle home at the completion of his rostered shift. As he was riding along the Calga Expressway at Berowra, the stand on the Constable's motor cycle apparently became loose and struck the road surface. Unable to control the cycle, Constable Burley was thrown to the roadway, sustaining severe head injuries. He died before the arrival of an Ambulance.

The Constable was born in 1946 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 1 April, 1968. At the time of the accident he was a solo cyclist attached to the Special Traffic Patrol.

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HAYDON, Keith Alfred
Sergeant 3rd Class
24 November, 1980.
About 12.20pm on 24 November, 1980, Sergeant Haydon drove to Mount Sugarloaf following a report of shots being fired on the mountain. The Sergeant did not know at the time that the person firing the shots was wanted for a double murder at Bondi a few years earlier. When Sergeant Haydon located and confronted the offender he was shot to death. Police were quickly informed of the situation by members of the public who had found the Sergeant's body. A description of a suspect vehicle was then broadcast by Police Radio. A short time later the vehicle was spotted by Constable George Pietruszka of Beresfield Police. Due to confusing and continual radio transmissions (relating to the Sergeants murder), and despite many attempts to do so, Constable Pietruszka was unable to ascertain the reason for the alert on the suspect vehicle. Having little choice in the matter, the Constable stopped the vehicle and spoke to the driver. Constable Pietruszka was then also shot in the stomach and seriously wounded.

Sergeant Haydon was born in 1943 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 24 February, 1964. At the time of his death he was stationed at West Wallsend.

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SPENCE, Lindsay William
Sergeant 3rd Class
13 May, 1981.
On 13 May, 1981, Senior Constable Spence and Constable Michael Bradley were travelling in a Police four-wheel drive along the Sturt Highway, near Galore. As a truck loaded with stock feed approached the Police vehicle from the opposite direction, a tyre blew out and the truck crossed to the incorrect side of the roadway. The vehicles collided head-on. Both Constables were conveyed to the Wagga Base Hospital where Senior Constable Spence was found to be dead on arrival. Constable Bradley was admitted suffering severe injuries. Senior Constable Spence was posthumously promoted to Sergeant 3rd Class.

The Sergeant was born in 1943 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 10 May, 1965. At the time of his death he was attached to the Riverina District Stock Investigation Unit.

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KOHUTEK, Mark Joseph
Constable 1st Class
4 March, 1982.
About 5pm on 4 March, 1982, Constable Kohutek was riding a Police solo motor cycle along the Expressway between Newcastle and Sydney. As he was negotiating a sweeping bend, the Constable lost control of the cycle and crashed into a rock median strip. As a result Constable Kohutek sustained sever head and internal injuries and died a short time later.

The Constable was born in 1957 and joined the New South Wales Police Force as a Cadet on 8 July, 1974. He was sworn in on 3 October, 1976. At the time of his death he was attached to the Traffic Branch.

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