Police hailed with bricks at teen party nominated for Pride of Australia award

COPS scarred while trying to control teen party nominated for Pride of Australia award.

DUTY HURTS: Police constables Mathew Timoti and Peter Boyle..

IT was a routine call-out to quell yet another rowdy suburban party. But that routine call-out saw constables Mathew Timoti and Peter Boyle hailed with bricks in an attack from which they still bear the scars.

On a Saturday evening in mid-March, the pair was part of a group from the Inala police station sent to shut down a wild party of more than 200 teens in Acacia Ridge.

Officers managed to disperse the crowd, but the trouble moved to a nearby bus stop and as a bus arrived, the crowd began hurling bricks at the bus and the police.

One struck Const Boyle in the head, felling him instantly. Const Timoti and another officer dragged Const Boyle to safety inside the bus, but as he stood in the doorway of the bus, Const Timoti was also struck in the face by a brick.

Const Timoti suffered four fractures to his cheekbone and eye socket, requiring surgery to insert four plates in the cheek, nose and eye socket, as well as titanium mesh to support his eyeball.

Const Boyle still carries scars on his face and skull, but more seriously suffered concussion that resulted in short-term memory loss and migraine headaches.

Another 18 patrol cars were needed to finally control the crowd.

The officers' bravery in facing the angry crowd that night has earned them a nomination for a Heroism Medal in the 2013 Pride of Australia Medal.

Const Boyle told The Courier-Mail he was recovering slowly, but still suffered headaches and dizziness and was still on light duties. He has weekly consultations with either GP, neurologist or neuropsychologist to monitor his progress, and hopes to be back on the road soon.

Honoured by the nomination, Const Boyle played down the pair's heroics, saying they were simply "doing their job".

Const Timoti, who was only two weeks short of graduating when the incident occurred, went back on the beat at Surfers Paradise four weeks ago.

Const Timoti said he was unfazed by the experience which hadn't changed his original motivation for joining the force one bit.

"I joined because I wanted to help kids and change how they felt about police officers," he said. "I grew up in New Zealand among many people who were brought up to think the police were all bad. I also wanted to be a great role model for my own kids."

Tomorrow is your last chance to nominate your unsung hero for a Pride of Australia Medal. To nominate visit prideofaustralia.com.au