Crescent Head: Memorial honours 30th anniversary of shooting murders of police officers Peter Addison, Robert Spears
A memorial has paid tribute to the “selfless” actions of two officers gunned down by a drunken camouflaged rifleman in an idyllic seaside town 30 years to the day.
Mid-North Coast
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A sombre memorial has commemorated 30 years since one of the most shocking murders of serving officers in NSW history.
Senior Constables Peter Addison and Robert Spears were responding to reported domestic dispute when they were gunned down in cold blood by camouflaged rifleman John McGowan in the NSW Mid North Town of Crescent Head at around 1am on July 9, 1995.
A drunken McGowan hid himself in a carport near the Walker St dwelling of his ex partner and trained a high powered Ruger rifle on the two officers, who were only armed with .38 Smith and Wesson revolvers.
At the memorial held in Crescent Head on Wednesday, Acting Commissioner Peter Thurtell said the two men “made the ultimate sacrifice”.
“Senior Constables Peter Addison and Robert Spears were selfless in the face of danger,” he said.
“Thirty years later, they are still sorely missed, and their legacy lives on. They will never be forgotten.”
During the ambush Spears attempted to retreat to the police car but fell to the ground with a fatal shot to the head.
Addison exchanged shots with McGowan and put out a radio call for back-up at around 1.22am but received no response.
Under fire Addison managed to run to a nearby home in a quest to use a landline and call for help but the occupants did not have a phone.
As Addison desperately tried to get to another neighbouring house he was shot dead.
McGowan then turned his weapon on himself and his body was not discovered until 9am that day when police descended on the town in numbers.
Also paying respects at the memorial were active and retired police officers as well as members of the general public.
“They were ambushed, and in trying to protect the community,” Thurtell said.
“Their deaths left behind a profound loss and unimaginable grief – a grief still deeply felt to this day.”
Spears and Addison, both 36, were respectively the fathers of two and three children and both moved to the Mid North Coast for a better lifestyle.
The Daily Telegraph reported that on July 8 both officers kissed their families goodbye as they headed out for the late shift at Kempsey Police Station in northern NSW.
Shortly after their brutal deaths the fallen officers were awarded the Police Force’s highest honour, the Commissioner’s Valour Award.
On the 20th anniversary of the shootings then NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione presented National Police Service medals to the men’s widows Liana and Kath.
The horrific ambush led to major reforms within the force including swapping revolvers for automatic pistols, the issue of bulletproof vests for first response officers, improved radio coverage and equipment as well as state-of-the-art tactical training for uniformed police.
“Their legacy is one of respect and critical reform,” Mr Thurtell said.
“Respect, because their bravery continues to inspire current and future officers. And reform, because this tragedy brought significant change to better protect both officers and the community.”
Also attending Wednesday’s memorial was retired police officer Pat Gleeson who over 10 days has made the mammoth 270km walk from Port Stephens on the NSW Central Coast to Crescent Head.
The long hike was to honour the sacrifice of the two heroes and raise money for NSW Police Legacy.
The charity supports the families of slain police officers and Gleeson’s walk has raised almost $28,000, which is almost double its stated goal of raising $15,000.
Gleeson, 60, retired from the force in 2011 but in 1995 was a 30-year-old officer attached to the homicide team that investigated the shootings.
“We arrived in the early hours of the morning,” Gleeson said.
“That particular investigation was significant and influenced a lot of how I policed.
“I never forgot. It brought the real danger of being an operational policeman.”
Gleeson said the idea for the walk occurred to him when he attended the 20-year anniversary of the shooting.
“I just thought I would put on a backpack and a tent and walk here from Newcastle as part of a personal challenge and it was suggested that I could raise some money for Police Legacy,” he said.
“It was emotional. A lot of people, ex police and current police caught up on the way. We obviously spoke about the incident.”
Gleeson said he had pulled up surprisingly well with only a couple of “tiny little blisters”.
“It was just all the messages, text messages and phone calls along the way provided morale and the motivation,” he said.
“Members of the public who came up here and walked the last 30km from Port Macquarie to Crescent Head.”
Gleeson was also joined by his wife and daughter for the last leg.
He said the public and members of the policing community had been “unbelievably generous” in donating so freely.
Gleeson said he was heading back to Newcastle on Thursday but would enjoy lying on the couch and putting his feet up to watch State of Origin.”
“I am very glad I did it,” he said.
He had spoken to the widows of Addison and Spears.
“They were very appreciate that these two men are never going to be forgotten.”
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