Wieambilla police murders: Inquest findings to address calls for major police reform

Families of slain Wieambilla police officers await crucial findings into their murders, as coroner prepares to deliver recommendations on police safety reforms.

Findings into the Wieambilla police murders are expected to be handed down by State Coroner Terry Ryan next Friday.

Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold were murdered after they arrived at the home of conspiracy theorists Gareth and Stacey Train on the Western Downs in December 2022, prompted by an interstate request to track down Gareth’s brother Nathaniel.

Instead, the trio, who hated police, gunned down the two young officers, as well as their neighbour, Alan Dare, who came to investigate.

The Trains were later killed by officers from the Special Emergency Response Team.

The inquest, before State Coroner Terry Ryan, heard of communication blackspots in regional areas and issues with interstate information sharing between police amid calls for more funding for mental health, officer training and access to aerial drones.

Constable Matthew Arnold, along with Constable Rachel McCrow were murdered after they arrived at the home of conspiracy theorists Gareth and Stacey Train on the Western Downs in December 2022.

Rachel and Matthew’s families have called for an overhaul of information sharing; satellite communications; a national weapons database (including ammunition); better training; and for small aerial drones to be made available to all police to scope potentially dangerous situations before entering properties

The findings come just weeks after a plea agreement for an American man linked to the shooting.

Donald Day pleaded guilty to a watered down indictment after prosecutors agreed to drop more serious charges alleging he threatened law enforcement officials in response to the murders of the officers and Mr Dare.

Day came to the attention of Australian police in 2022 after it was revealed he had been in contact with the Trains in the months before they killed Constables McCrow and Arnold and Mr Dare.

Under the deal, Day pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of weapons that were found stashed in a gun room on a remote property where he had built a gun range and a sniper hide.

The plea deal was proposed to an Arizona court last month and has now been signed off by a judge.