What we know about the female police officer found dead at Port Adelaide Police Station

The female officer found dead at the Port Adelaide Police Station was working to positively change the public’s perception of police officers and see the Aboriginal community represented more within the force. Here’s what we know about her tragic passing.

A respected police officer found dead at a western suburbs station on Monday was living her dream working to change the way the community viewed SA Police.

“(I) would like to help turn around the public’s perception of police officers from a negative to a positive,” she wrote as part of her nomination for the City of Port Adelaide Enfield’s 2012 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Awards.

“I love the variety in my work and I love getting the opportunity to help people by making the best out of a bad situation.”

Her award bio for Person of the Year listed another goal was to see the Aboriginal community represented more in SA Police, also advocating on behalf of many local elderly Aboriginal clients.

“She has shown a genuine concern and passion for the community in general and has had life experience which she shares openly with her peers,” the nomination reads.

“She stands up for what she believes in and is very passionate about her cultural heritage.”

The female police officer was found dead at Port Adelaide Police Station on Monday afternoon. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

The Advertiser understands the detective brevet sergeant had two young children, with reports claiming her body was found in the station’s toilet between 2pm and 3pm, according to 7NEWS.

The officer was originally from Whyalla but then lived in Adelaide.

Before becoming a full-time police officer, she worked with SA Police as a community constable.

Community constables are uniformed staff who help officers engage with First Nations and culturally diverse communities, according to SAPOL’s website.

After being sworn in as a police officer in 2015, she was assigned to the family violence unit at Port Adelaide Police Station.

SA Police have requested media outlets not to publish the name or photos of the officer in question due to “cultural reasons”.

Jason Doig was fatally shot in the line of duty in November.

Premier Peter Malinauskas said several tragedies had unfolded in South Australia recently and they were confronting.

“Anytime we see a tragedy of this nature involving anyone in our community it hurts,” Mr Malinauskas said.

Opposition leader David Speirs said SAPOL have had a really hard time lately, they seem to have been hit by one tragedy after another.

Port Adelaide Football Club offered its condolences saying: “The club extends our heartfelt condolences to their family, friends, and colleagues at the Port Adelaide Police Station.”

Acting Commissioner Linda Williams immediately announced an inquiry into the woman’s sudden death. A coronial investigation also will be conducted into the tragedy.

“The sudden death of a police officer at the Port Adelaide Police Station this afternoon is being investigated, the cause of death is not thought to be suspicious,” SA Police said.

It’s the second tragedy to devastate SA Police in as many months, following the death of Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig, who was fatally shot in an incident at Senior, in the state’s South-East, on November 16.

SA Police Legacy president Jodi-Lee Black told The Advertiser the organisation would be supporting the woman’s family for years to come, including the young children connected to the officer.

She said the charity – set up to support South Australia police officers and their families – would also support the many serving police officers who had be affected by the tragedy.

She said the organisation has expanded its support into the mental health realm.

“We have just moved into the space of mental health – we are in our 30th year this year … initially it was a widow support type of thing but it’s becoming more and more about the serving members themselves,” she said.

“We have a monthly mental health workshop where we have special guests come in, we are finding that we are being asked more and more for that kind of thing.”