Caboolture Constable Jack Masters’ lasting tribute to fallen father Dave who was killed in line of duty

Constable Jack Masters’ childhood dream has come true, but without his father Dave who was killed on the job nearly four years ago, it’s left him constantly wondering: “how would he have done this?”

Sitting on Constable Jack Masters’ shoulder is the constant reminder of why he’s a police officer – his dad.

His hardworking, dedicated dad – Dave Masters: the man who first sparked the desire for policing in his five-year-old son with repeats of CSI: Miami, but never got the chance to hand the now 25-year-old his own police badge, or tell him how proud he was.

A specially-made patch with Dave’s name is instead attached to the shoulder of the tactical vest first year Constable Masters puts on every day – guiding him as he embarks on his first year with Queensland Police Service.

The eager young cop is a spitting image of Dave almost four years after his father was killed on the job, speaking to The Sunday Mail just a few weeks into his posting at Caboolture Station.

It’s his childhood dream come true, but not quite how he imagined it without his dad to turn to and ask: “how would you have done this?”, “how do you fill this out?”, or “am I doing okay?”.

“I still wish I could talk to him, but I can’t do that though,” Constable Masters said.

“I wish I could see how he did his policing, whether it be watching his body worn, looking at his paperwork – everyone raves about his articulation of jobs – and I wish I could see how he did that and how he interacted with the community.”

Dave Masters’ graduation day with wife his Sharon and son Jack.

Senior Constable Dave Masters – larrikin, mate and workhorse – was killed when he was hit by an alleged stolen car while trying to throw out tyre spikes on the Bruce Highway in 2021.

He was on night shift at Deception Bay and had been helping a young woman going through a mental health crisis when a call came through about a stolen car heading north on the highway.

Senior Constable Masters and his partner, Constable Zack Aegis, went to the scene. It was about 3am when police allege the car swerved and hit him.

He never made it home that night.

Dave’s death sent shockwaves through the service, but his family suddenly had their world turned upside down.

Two senior officers drove to the Masters’ house to tell his son and wife, Sharon Masters, that Dave was gone.

The doting dad who taught Constable Masters how to drive, use a chainsaw, make tracks, or ride a quad on their 50-acre Proston farm full of memories – gone.

Queensland Police Constable Jack Masters, son of police officer Dave Masters who was killed on duty. Picture: Richard Walker

The dad who’d watch every episode of CSI: Miami with Constable Masters on repeat, sparking his desire to become a cop – gone.

The dad who had the best advice, who would spend hours of overtime at work to make sure a domestic violence victim was safe – gone.

Constable Masters said navigating his father’s death was unimaginable.

“The first couple of years … I still struggle now,” he said.

Two women were quickly charged over Dave’s death, with a committal hearing this year hearing how the alleged driver was driving at 153km/h before he was struck.

The court heard how the alleged driver told a witness she swerved towards Dave on purpose – something she’d allegedly done “100 times before”.

Both women’s matters are still processing through the courts almost four years later.

Despite his grief, and while many others may have understandably let the dream go, Constable Masters’ desire of being a police officer never faltered.

“No,” he says, without a second thought, when asked if his dad’s death made him rethink his future.

“I think I always knew the dangers of (the job), I think we all do, having someone who lost their life on the job puts it into more perspective of just how dangerous it can be.

“But no, it didn’t deter me, it made me want to join more, just making him proud and keeping his name going in the job.”

Dave pictured with wife Sharon Masters. Picture Facebook

Constable Masters applied for the Queensland Police Academy in 2023 after getting his electrical trade – a piece of advice his dad bestowed on him to get some “life experience” before policing.

His mum, Sharon, was understandably cautious.

“I didn’t want to see you fail, I didn’t think you would, but I didn’t want any more heartache,” Mrs Masters said.

He was accepted into the April intake last year, completing his studies in the same classrooms and halls his dad once walked.

Dave attended the academy in 2011 and fulfilled his “lifelong” dream of joining the QPS.

Constable Masters was about 10 years old when he remembers his dad coming home and putting his training to work on him.

“He’d be in the kitchen and put me in a hammer lock, or a wrist lock. And now I’m like, ‘I can’t do it back to you’,” he laughed.

“Once I got in, it was a head spin, so full on.

Police officer at the scene where Dave Masters was tragically killed. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“Being in the place where dad started out, and seeing his name nearly everywhere, that felt a bit weird.

“But I think where it hurt most was when I was in the academy, when I was doing assignments, I couldn’t go to him and ask, ‘hey, what do you think of this?’.”

Constable Masters completed his eight months of training and graduated on December 13, but there was one honour he had his sights set on – the community service award. His dad was also given the award when he graduated in 2011.

“With dad, I think he would have been very, very proud, I would have loved to have had him give me my badge, I know he would have been emotional too.

Senior Constable Dave Masters being farewelled with honour by fellow servicemen at his funeral at Burpengary. Picture Lachie Millard

“Getting the community service award without the family knowing and keeping that a surprise was also a really big thing.”

Mrs Masters said it was like “deja vu”.

“It was very emotional … it took me back to 2011.”

Constable Masters has been stationed at Caboolture Station and worked his first shift on December 18.

It was while he was house-sitting for a friend, which made his mum a little uneasy.

“There was none of him coming home or leaving, I had no clue where he was, what he was doing, if he was okay,” Mrs Masters said.

“When he had his first night shift – I hate night shifts – he wasn’t even home.”

On his first day, Constable Masters made it clear he didn’t want special treatment because of his past. Within two hours he had made his first arrest.

“That’s why I wanted Caboolture because I knew how busy it was, how chaotic it was and I figured there’s no other way to learn best than get thrown in the deep end.”

A young Jack admiring his dad's police badge on the day of Senior Constable Dave Masters' graduation in 2011.

Caboolture sits in the Moreton District – the same district his dad worked in and just a few kilometres from his former station at Deception Bay. His current aspirations are for Tactical Crime Squad, but he’s got an open mind.

Constable Masters passes his dad’s mates in the halls of his station, sees his name everywhere, and listens when his colleagues re-tell their favourite Dave stories.

But his absence is a hole that cannot be filled.

“Dad taught me a lot of things in my childhood. I wish he could teach me this now.”

But Constable Masters is determined to keep Dave’s name and legacy alive, to keep telling those stories, create his own, and make him proud along the way.

“I think he would say just keep going, push through, this is only for a brief minute.”