Community call Brevet Sergeant Ian Todd a gentleman as colleagues rally round stabbed cops

Locals have hailed the police officer fighting for his life in hospital after Wednesday’s brutal stabbing as a gentleman who always had a smile on his face.

Locals residents have hailed the police officer left in a critical condition after Wednesday’s brutal stabbing as a gentleman who always had a smile on his face.

Brevet Sergeant Ian Todd, 53, and Brevet Sergeant Jordan Allely, 32, were both seriously injured in the attack.

Crystal Brook Community Association said they are “deeply saddened by the tragic events” and “the extreme violence of the situation,” in a statement made on Friday.

“One behalf of the Crystal Brook Community, the Association would like to acknowledge all those people impacted by this event,” it said.

“Our hearts go out to Ian Todd, Jordan Allely and their loved ones at this very difficult time and we wish the two officers a quick and complete recovery.

“To all our first responders and local medical staff, thank you also for the work you do in keeping our community safe and well, and for being there in our time of greatest need.”

Sgt Allely has been sent home from hospital to recover from his injuries while Sgt Todd remains in a critical condition following surgery.

Port Germein Men’s Shed president Darren Skuse said Sgt Todd was a gentleman and a devoted family man who was loved by all in the town.

Brevet Sergeant Ian Todd, 53, who is in a critical condition and Brevet Sergeant Jordon Allely, 32, who is in a serious but stable condition. Picture: Facebook

“You know him as Ian, before you know him as a police officer,” he said.

“He’s just a gentleman, I don’t have a bad word to say about him.

“We could approach him and he would look into things for us, because he wanted to live in harmony like the rest of us.”

Mr Skuse said the community was upset and angry about what happened to their local cop.

“It’s not just about disrespecting a police officer, but disrespecting anyone like that, stabbing Ian like that,” he said.

“The community is very upset, it affects everyone here because he’s a part of us, he’s a part of our town.”

He said the community would be ready to welcome Sgt Todd back with open arms when he had recovered.

“We’ve got a get-well card from the men’s shed that I’m dropping off into Port Pirie Police Station, just to let him know we’re thinking of him,” he said.

“We don’t know whether he will come back as a police officer after all of this, but at the end of the day he will still be part of the Port Germein community,” he said.

One Port Germein resident – who did not wish to be named – said hearing of the injuries Sgt Todd had sustained sent shockwaves through the small town.

Brevet Sergeant Ian Todd, the officer in charge of Port Germein, sustained critical injuries after being stabbed. Picture: Facebook

“He knows everyone,” he said. “I was just absolutely shocked, I’ve had my run-ins with him in the past but he’s always looked out for me. I’d never wish that on anyone.”

The man said he helped him secure his responsible service of alcohol licence.

“I had a few things on my record and he acted as a referee for me and said I was an upstanding citizen,” he said. “I really appreciated that.”

Another resident said he was an integral part of the community.

“He’s been a police officer here for at least five or six years,” he said. “He always had a smile on his face.”

Colleagues of the two police officers also have heaped praise on the men following the Crystal Brook incident.

Officers from Jamestown, half-an-hour drive from Crystal Brook, said their injured colleagues were “highly regarded in the community”, as they reflected on their time working with them.

Nathan Paskett and Mick Hawkes have described the two injured men as “genuinely nice people” and “down to earth”.

“Ian Todd has been in Port Germein for quite some time and he’s a great work mate and highly regarded in the community,” Brevet Sergeant Nathan Paskett told the Port Pirie Recorder.

“He’s a very approachable person and he’s very down to earth and loves a laugh.”

He described the younger officer, Sgt Allely, as having “great potential” and someone who he would “gladly have me backing up for any job”.

Senior Constable First Class, Mick Hawkes, told the Port Pirie Recorder both officers were “genuinely nice people and there’s no nastiness in them”.

Pt Germein police station. Picture: Brenton Edwards

The nearby officers were off duty at the time of the incident at Crystal Brook and Mr Paskett was on leave.

The men are thinking of the injured officers while they recover.

“It is like a family, and we have them in our thoughts,” Mr Paskett said.