On this day
Chief District Constable
Edward RAINSFORD
YEAR OF DEATH
24 December 1854
JURISDICTION
Tasmania
DETAILS OF DEATH
Injuries suffered from a fall from a cliff
In 2001, it was resolved to establish a National Police Memorial in Canberra.
The Memorial pays tribute to Australian Police Officers who have been killed on duty or have died as a result of their duties since the advent of policing in Australia and to recognise the unique nature of police service and the dangers that police face in their daily pursuits.
The $2.4million memorial was jointly funded by the Australian Government (through the Australian Federal Police), State and Territory Police Services and Police Federation of Australia.
The Memorial was completed and dedicated on 29 September 2006 (National Police Remembrance Day). Following the dedication ceremony, a criteria for future inclusion of names on the National Police Memorial was agreed upon together with a National Police Memorial Co-ordination Committee.
On this day
24 December 1854
Tasmania
Injuries suffered from a fall from a cliff
On this day
24 December 2011
Victoria
On 30th October 1990, Senior Constable David Hobden was travelling on his police motor bike with the lights and siren operating in response to a call from D24 of ‘offenders on’ in a house in Endeavour Hills. At the intersection of Heatherton Road and James Cook Drive, Endeavour Hills he was involved in an accident with another vehicle. He was conveyed to the Dandenong Hospital where he was diagnosed with a broken leg and two broken ribs. As a result of the injuries he was off duty for 12 months. During the following years the injuries continued to trouble him and he required ongoing medical treatment and a further thirty operations. Eventually the discomfort he suffered from the injuries forced him to retire from Victoria Police in 2005. David Hobden joined Victoria Police as a Cadet on 29th January 1980 and after graduating in 1982 he performed general duties at Force Reserve, Melbourne District Traffic and Patrol Division, Cranbourne Police Station, the Metro Traffic Operations Group and Echo District Traffic Operations Group. Upon his return to Victoria Police after the accident he performed duty in a variety of non-operational roles including recruiting, Youth Advisory Unit and as a Youth Affairs / Project Officer. The injuries he sustained in 1990 subsequently led to David Hobden’s premature death on 24th December 2011.
On this day
24 December 1957
Victoria
About 11.20 p.m. Wednesday 24 December 1957 First Constable Simmons was on motor cycle patrol in the Frankston area. His machine ran off the Nepean Highway at Oliver’s Hill and struck a fence fatally injuring the Constable.
On this day
24 December 1925
Victoria
Just before 9 p.m. Thursday 24 December 1925 Constable Clare who was off duty at the time was walking along Victoria Street North Melbourne. He was with Constable Henry Schenke and William Whitehead who had been detailed for a special plain clothes patrol of the area. As the three men approached Chetwynd Street Clare became involved in an altercation with some young Italian men walking in the opposite direction. In the resulting fracas Clare was fatally stabbed by Domenico Condello who then ran from the scene with Schenke and Whitehead in pursuit. Condello was finally apprehended in Roslyn Street North Melbourne after two warning shots were fired by the policemen. At a later interview he denied stabbing Clare and claimed that the policeman had attacked him after which he had fought in self defence. Later tried for murder he and his friends repeated their allegation that Constable Clare had been the aggressor in the incident. Condello still denied the stabbing but volunteered the theory that during the fight the policeman may have impaled himself on a knife Condello had previously been using to clean his pipe. After deliberating for a little over an hour the jury returned a verdict of ‘Not Guilty’.
On this day
24 December 1905
Queensland
Died from injuries received in a riding accident at Clermont.
Remembering mates – Wall to Wall Ride is held in September each year.
Click here for more information.
National Police Remembrance Day is an annually recognised on 29th September.
Please note for 2025, services will be held on Monday 29th September.
Check with your State/Territory police organisation for local information of services to be held, or click here for more information.
The National Police Memorial is located in Kings Park on the northern shore of Lake Burley Griffin adjacent to Queen Elizabeth II Island and the National Carrillion. View in Google maps