Hero constable who killed terrorist loses right to counselling
The heroic special constable who shot dead the terrorist who killed Curtis Cheng had his workers compensation-paid counselling stopped.
NSW
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The special constable who shot dead terrorist Farhad Jabar after he killed police accountant Curtis Cheng has had his worker’s compensation-paid counselling stopped.
The man, whose identity must remain a secret for his own safety, has never spoken publicly about the 2015 incident at Parramatta police headquarters, but it had had a “huge impact on him,” it was revealed on Thursday.
The man went back to work but has been receiving counselling for PTSD after killing 15-year-old Jabar, the Islamic State-inspired gunman who had just shot dead Mr Cheng.
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While employed by the police on the frontline, armed and ready to protect areas such as NSW Parliament and the Sydney Police Centre, special constables do not get the same benefits of regular police officers, including generous worker’s compensation payouts.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller told a parliamentary hearing on Thursday he would look at the case.
The man’s entitlement to counselling ran out after three years and he was forced to take sick leave he did not wish to take so that his worker’s compensation rights would resume upon his return to the job.
“It has had a huge impact on him,” Public Service Association general secretary Stewart Little said.
“He saved many lives that day,” he said. “It would have turned uglier had he not stopped the perpetrator in his tracks. It was knocking off time and people were leaving the building.”
His case was raised in Budget Estimates by Labor’s Anthony D’Adam, who said he had been asked to help.
Mr D’Adam said it was unfair and special constables should have equal conditions and be treated equally as police.
The man and his two colleagues, who were protecting the Parramatta headquarters, became the first non-police officers to be awarded the force’s highest bravery award.
Police and Emergency Services Minister David Elliott told the parliamentary committee that the wages and conditions of special constables are currently before the Industrial Relations Commission and he did not want to influence the outcome by commenting.
Mr Little said the roles of special constables were becoming more crucial.
“Their roles have changed dramatically and they are on the front line,” he said.
“They are everywhere there is a viable terrorism risk.”
According to the NSW Police Force website, special constables start on a salary of $71,814, rising to $81,297.