The moment the lives of police officer Dave Masters’ family ‘went to hell’

The family of slain police officer Dave Masters have told of their final hours with their hero – and the moment that tore their lives asunder.

A cigarette and a beer on the back patio would usually signal the end of a busy night shift for Moreton Bay region police officer Dave Masters.

On June 26, however, no cigarette was lit and the beer stayed cold in the fridge.

Thirty minutes after Sen Constable Masters, 53, was due to finish what was supposed to be a run-of-the-mill night shift, his wife Sharon woke to a noise at the door.

“I heard this knocking on the front door and thought, that’s unusual...” Ms Masters said.

“As I walked down the hall I saw shadows through the frosted glass and when I opened the door our life went to hell.

“I hoped they were telling me he was injured and in hospital, but no.”

Senior Constable Dave Masters’ Graduation Day with wife Sharon and son Jack. Picture: Police Journal.

The heartbreaking details of how Ms Masters and the policing community found out about Sen Constable Masters’ death have emerged in a touching tribute magazine published by the Queensland Police Union.

The night before his death, Sen Constable Masters had cooked dinner for Sharon and their son Jack.

“Dad made us mashed potato and rissoles that last night,” Jack said in an interview published in the Police Journal.

“I didn’t eat it; I wasn’t hungry. Dad threw a pretend tantrum saying that’s the last meal he would cook us.”

Tragically, Sen Constable Masters was right.

His life was claimed while on an otherwise regular shift working out of the Deception Bay police station.

He 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 Bruce Highway north of Brisbane.

Senior Constable Dave Masters. Picture: Police Journal.

Senior Constable Dave Masters. Picture: Queensland Police

He and partner constable Zack Aegis raced to the scene, where Sen Constable Masters would lay road spikes in an attempt to slow the car that ultimately struck and killed him.

In the weeks following his death, the Masters’ home was full of floral tributes and letters, including one from the mother of the woman he had helped that night.

She said her daughter had been devastated to hear the news of Sen Constable Masters’ death and that she was grateful that he “took the time” to help her.

One of the largest bunches of lilies was sent by a man who revealed he had been recently suffering a serious mental health episode.

Sen Constable Masters had talked him down from an overpass on the Bruce Highway.

It was just one week after his death that his family gathered around the kitchen table sharing stories about the beloved husband, father and brother when at 8pm, an alarm rang out.

It was Sen Constable Masters’ phone, signalling the moment he should have been getting ready for his night shift.

The spooky moment was remembered by Ms Masters’ as she told of the overwhelming support she felt from the police community.

“To all the police who worked on the investigation, thank you,’ Ms Masters said.

“It was such a relief when the final person was arrested and charged, because all those officers who were working around the clock could go home to their families.

“Thank God they can rest.”

And to all those that have comforted the Masters family in their darkest hours, Ms Masters said: “Be safe. Never go to work complacent.

“I don’t want another family to ever go through this.”