On this day
Constable
Terence D O'SULLIVAN
YEAR OF DEATH
23 January 1971
JURISDICTION
Western Australia
DETAILS OF DEATH
Killed in a traffic accident. He joined the Police Service on 29 January 1968.
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
23 January 1971
Western Australia
Killed in a traffic accident. He joined the Police Service on 29 January 1968.
On this day
23 January 1972
New South Wales
On the afternoon of 23 January 1972 Constable Gibb was in a Police vehicle with Constable Buckley and another Constable. In Shirley Road Miranda they spotted a stolen vehicle and gave chase. During a brief pursuit the stolen vehicle drove into a dead-end street where it collided with a fence. Three offenders emerged from the vehicle and ran to a nearby house with Constables Gibb and Buckley in pursuit. As the offenders split up the pursuing Police each fired a warning shot into the air. Constable Gibb caught up with the offender he was chasing as he attempted to scale a fence and as the Constable took hold of him he began to struggle violently. Whilst he was grappling with the offender the Constable`s service revolver discharged and he was shot in the chest. Constable Gibb was conveyed to the Sutherland District Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The Constable was born in 1943 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 15 May 1967. At the time of his death he was stationed at Miranda.
On this day
23 January 1839
New South Wales
On the afternoon of 21 January, 1839 a man named John Pender, known to Sydney police as “Jack the Waterman” was behaving in an indecent manner in Raynor’s Public House, Sydney. As a result of his behaviour he was arrested by InspectorProsser who began to march him to the Sydney Police Watch-house. En route they passed Pender’s home in Phillip Street where a mob attacked the inspector and dragged his prisoner into the house. Prosser clung to his prisoner desperatelyhowever, until he received a blow from a club to the back of his neck, whichresulted in his death a few days later in hospital. Pender was quickly apprehendedand charged with murder, while five others were also charged in relation to the riot. The Sydney Morning Herald dated 25 January, 1839 printed the following briefaccount into the inquest into Inspector Prosser’s death. An inquest was held at the same place the same day, on the body of Peter Prosser, lately an Inspector of the Sydney Police. The evidence was very lengthy but the substance was very simple, viz, that Prosser had a man named Pender in custody, and that Pender in order to make his escape struck the deceased a blow on the head with a New Zealander’s waddy, which was so violent as to cause an extravasation of blood on the brain, from the effects of which Prosser died. The Jury returned a verdict of willful murder against Pender, who was committed on the Coroner’s warrant. At the time of his death the inspector was aged 26 and was attached to the Sydney Police.
On this day
23 January 1828
Tasmania
Constables Logan Tattersall and Allison were sent to the area of Green Ponds to capture two escaped convicts. One (Henry Williams) was captured and Logan remained guarding him whilst Tattersall and Allison pursued the other. Williams overpowered Logan and stabbed him with part of a pair of shears. Constable Logan died later that night. Henry Williams was later convicted of Logan’s murder.
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