Logan’s death would have been prevented if police eased pursuit, coroner finds
Queensland Police Union has defended Sergeant Bradyn Murphy saying he was “traumatised” after the deadly pursuit of troubled teen Logan Dreier.
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THE Queensland Police Union has defended the character of a police officer criticised by a coroner for choosing not to communicate during a dangerous chase that led to the death of a teenager, saying he is “highly decorated and respected”.
Deputy State Coroner Jane Bentley said in the Southport Coroner’s Court on Thursday that communications co-ordinator (Comco) Sergeant David Martin and Senior Sergeant Braydn Murphy “utterly failed to comply” with their duties and obligations.
Logan Dreier, 18, died when the stolen ute he was driving flipped multiple times as he tried to negotiate the corner of Southport-Nerang Rd and Queen St at 9.30am on August 9, 2019.
The pursuit involved multiple police cars and motorbikes.
The ute was stolen at Movie World after Logan and a group of mates had escaped police while breaking into a home in Maudsland.
Sen Sgt Murphy was the lead police vehicle on his motorbike and followed the ute from Movie World to where it crashed in Southport.
Coroner Bentley found that at no time for the entire pursuit did Sen Sgt Murphy tell other officers that he was the lead vehicle.
“His failure to do so resulted in confusion and lack of critical situational awareness by (other senior officers),” she said.
Coroner Bentley found the crash could have been prevented if police abandoned the pursuit in line with the Queensland Police Service pursuit policy.
She also found there was confusion.
But the Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said he “respectfully disagreed” with Coroner Bentley’s findings in relation to Sen Sgt Murphy.
“Senior Sergeant Murphy is a highly decorated, respected, experienced and professional police officer,” he said.
“The Queensland Police Union and Snr Sgt Murphy’s colleagues fully support him.
“The deceased was well known to police at the time he crashed the stolen ute.
“We need to remember that leading up to being pursued by police, the deceased’s actions including burglary, break-and-enter of homes and the eventual car theft and dangerous driving of the stolen car all occurred.
“The police involved have also been traumatised by this incident and no police officer should have to experience these types of events.”
The union did not comment on Comco Sgt Martin who the Coroner found did not take command of the pursuit as demanded under Queensland Police Service (QPS) policy.
Coroner Bentley said Sgt Martin did not provide a valid reason why he “failed, in every way, to fulfil his duties as a pursuit controller”.
“I find that Sgt Martin was untruthful and an unhelpful witness which is concerning given his position as a senior police officer.”
Sen Sgt Murphy and Sgt Martin both underwent disciplinary action in the QPS following the crash.
Cops ‘utterly failed’ in pursuit that caused teen’s death
EARLIER: THE death of a teenager would have been prevented if police had abandoned a dangerous and unjustified pursuit in Southport two years ago, a coroner has found.
Deputy State Coroner Jane Bentley said in the Southport Coroner’s Court on Thursday that communications co-ordinator (Comco) Sergeant David Martin and Senior Sergeant Braydn Murphy “utterly failed to comply” with their duties and obligations.
Logan Dreier, 18, died when the stolen ute he was driving flipped multiple times as he tried to negotiate the corner of Southport-Nerang Rd and Queen St at 9.30am on August 9, 2019.
As police were giving first aid on the side of the road, Logan uttered his final words: “Is my friend OK?”.
Logan’s 17-year-old passenger walked away from the crash with minor injuries.
The pursuit involved multiple police cars and motorbikes.
The ute was stolen at Movie World after Logan and a group of mates had escaped police while breaking into a home in Maudsland.
“I find that it is likely, had the pursuit been abandoned, that Logan would have ceased to drive dangerously and his death could have been averted,” Coroner Bentley found.
She said Sgt Martin should have taken control of the pursuit as the Comco. The role of Comco is to oversee and marshall all police reports on the Gold Coast and assign officers and units as needed.
Coroner Bentley said Sgt Martin did not provide a valid reason why he “failed, in every way, to fulfil his duties as a pursuit controller”.
“I find that Sgt Martin was untruthful and an unhelpful witness which is concerning given his position as a senior police officer.”
Corner Bentley said Sen Sgt Murphy, who was on a motorbike, was the lead pursuing vehicle and “at no time did he relay that information to other officers”.
She found he chose not to give senior officers details about his location and Logan’s ute because it meant he would be required to relinquish lead position to a four-wheel vehicle.
“I find that there was a total lack of control of the pursuit,” Coroner Bentley said.
“Sen Sgt Murphy, as the (primary pursuit vehicle), was obliged to state that fact and take control of the pursuit. He made no attempt to do so.”
In a scathing 99-page report, Coroner Bentley also found:
● The risk the pursuit posed to the public and police officers “did not justify the dangerous pursuit of two offenders who were suspected of breaking into a house”;
● Sen Sgt Murphy and Sgt Martin had a “comprehensive understanding” of their duties in regard to pursuits but failed to comply with them;
● Sgt Martin had been told he was the pursuit controller by other personnel but failed to act;
● The pursuit should have been abandoned when Logan entered Southport-Nerang Rd – minutes before the crash;
● Senior officers’ efforts to take control of the situation were hindered by Sen Sgt Murphy not advising them of the true situation and Sgt Martin not fulfilling his role;
● If the pursuit had been called properly a four-wheel vehicle would have been designated the lead vehicle and “other units utilised to apprehend Logan”;
● Too many units were attempting to transmit due to the lack of control by the Comco;
● Officers understood the pursuit policy, but had “a general lack of willingness or motivation to apply the policy”;
● A disconnect between the Queensland Police Service (QPS) pursuit practice and the policy.
Coroner Bentley also made three recommendations following the inquest, including:
● That the QPS continue and expedite the review currently in progress to consider the Safe Driving and Pursuit Policy and the review consider whether the threshold for what is a pursuable offence needs to be heightened;
● QPS consider the implementation of a practical scenario-based pursuit refresher training course to be provided to all officers at regular intervals;
● The QPS consider branding bonnets and roofs of police vehicles with their call signs to assist identification by Polair personnel.
Logan was described throughout the inquest as “selfless” but also “impulsive and immature”.
He was known to police before the crash but Coroner Bentley considered that irrelevant to the inquest.
She said police did not know the identities of the teenagers in the ute until the crash.
At the time of his death Logan lived with his mother Kristy Kiker and his father lived in Paradise Point.
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