Constable Benjamin Warren tormented by nightmares about failing to catch murderer, inquest hears
Senior Constable Benjamin Warren had seemed like the “last person” likely to take his own life, but a sign of his troubles became apparent in the lead-up to his death.
A dedicated police officer – who took his own life in 2022 – was terrorised by recurring nightmares where he repeatedly failed to locate a murderer, an inquest has heard.
Benjamin Warren, 35, has been remembered as a “one-of-a-kind” officer in a coronial inquest investigating how to help traumatised police who are reluctant to accept mental health support.
The court previously heard Senior Constable Warren blamed himself for failing to find suicidal Michael Frank Knowles before the intoxicated man deliberately crashed into another vehicle in December 2014 – killing two young people.
Knowles, who survived the crash, was jailed for at least 23 years but Constable Warren felt responsible for the deaths, potentially leading to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Long-time colleague and friend Senior Constable Matthew Hale revealed that Senior Constable Warren was tortured from recurring a nightmare.
“He was having recurring dreams,” Constable Hale said.
“He made it seem like it could go on for a sustained period of time, not just one night, it could go on for several nights if not longer.
“The way he described them … he would go to sleep and the night in question – back in Whyalla when he was looking for Michael Knowles – he would see himself in the car, looking for him again and again.
“(He would be) trying to make some sort of change in what he was doing to try to get a better outcome rather than what sadly occurred.”
When Constable Warren woke up, he would feel like he had still failed at finding Knowles.
“Then he would go back to sleep and the same thing would happen,” Constable Hale said.
Constable Warren “normalised” the dreams saying they only occurred when he had other work or personal life stressors in his life.
He eventually connected to SA Police’s Employee Assistance Section (EAS) to address his night terrors but the specialist only recommended he exercise more, Constable Hale said.
Constable Hale said his colleague would have hesitated to seek help.
“Police officers, rightly or wrongly, have a perception that there may not be confidence and things said could get back to your boss and may affect your promotion or opportunities,” he said.
Constable Hale, who has now completed a number of mental health awareness courses, said he would never have suspected Constable Warren to have considered suicide.
“In a room full of people, Ben would be the last person who would ever contemplate suicide,” he said.
“He presented as a strong person, in control, knew his direction, a motivated person … and a joker every now and again.”
The coronial inquest continues.
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Originally published as Constable Benjamin Warren tormented by nightmares about failing to catch murderer, inquest hears
