Joseph Edward Matthew

DETAILS OF DEATH

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.