Brett Clifford

DETAILS OF DEATH

About 5.50pm on 25 October 1988, Constable Sinclair suffered severe head and internal injuries at North Parramatta whilst attempting to arrest an offender following a domestic dispute. Earlier Police had been called to assist Ambulance Officers at the disturbance in Jeffrey Avenue. The offender who was bleeding from the arm had locked himself in his truck. While Constable Sinclair and Constable Cummins spoke with him he continually threatened them while revving up his truck engine. As the Police approached the offender wound up his window. The Police then smashed the window and attempted to remove the driver from the cabin of the truck. With both Police standing on the step of the truck, the offender began to drive along Jeffrey Avenue. Constable Cummins was able to get off the step but due to his falling to the roadway was unable to assist his colleague. The truck’s speed increased with Constable Sinclair still partially inside and partially outside the cabin. The offender then drove across the roadway where the vehicle collided with a tree crushing the Constable. He was conveyed to the Westmead Hospital where he died a short time later. Constable Sinclair was awarded the Commissioner’s Valour Award for Bravery and Devotion to Duty. The Constable was born in 1959 and joined the New South Wales Police Service on 8 December 1984. At the time of his death he was attached to the Parramatta District Highway Patrol.