The day crime stopped in honour of slain cop Glenn McEnallay

The murder of much-loved police officer Glenn McEnallay while on duty sent shockwaves through the NSW force and the wider community — but local criminals found a unique way to pay their respects for weeks afterwards. LISTEN NOW

FOR one month, in one Sydney district, crime ceased to exist.

Glenn McEnallay died after being shot when he stopped a stolen car in 2002.

It was not just the number of incidents going down or a criminal spree shifting elsewhere, crime stopped in a phenomena never seen before by NSW Police.

Crooks had taken time out, but police who were there at that time hope they’ll never see such a period again, since it has been intrinsically linked with the slaying of one of their own.

No body: Cop’s shocking take on child killer Keli Lane’s conviction

Violence: How Bra Boys gangster took on our toughest cop — and lost

On March 27, 2002, Senior Constable Glenn McEnallay was driving an unmarked highway patrol car when he began pursuing a stolen car before it crashed into the kerb in Hillsdale in Sydney’s southeast.

One of the four men in the car, all on parole for other offences, got out, walked up to McEnallay’s car and shot him four times at close range, including in the head. He was 26 years old.

Now retired police superintendent and then command boss at Mascot, Ron Mason, gets emotional talking about the death of McEnallay.

“Glenn was such a lovely guy, well liked, one of these people everybody likes, did his job to the best of his ability, could always be relied on, everyone at the station in Mascot liked him,” he said.

“He was engaged to be married to a lovely woman, there wasn’t a person who wasn’t a friend, he was one of those persons that people are drawn to because he was so friendly. I remember the police station at Mascot, and it is a pretty big station, and you couldn’t move because of the flowers coming in from the community, the letters coming in from the community.”

Tributes to slain officer Glenn McEnallay at Mascot police station. Picture: Frank Violi

Mason had to order staff home at the end of their shifts each night for days, many just not wanting to leave the station that had become an epicentre for the immense outpouring of emotion.

“I’ve been involved in a few police deaths before, but never anything like this,” the 40-year police veteran recalled with a cracking voice.

A SIGN OF RESPECT

Mason said around the time of a commemoration service held for McEnallay something strange happened in the Mascot command — every crime just stopped.

“No crime, I don’t think we even had a break and enter, which normally happens, things weren’t happening so the crooks had taken time off,” he said. “It was the whole area, for weeks and weeks and weeks later we didn’t have any crime reported. There was no complaints, there was just nothing, it was funny to see.”

Ron Mason hopes those responsible for McEnallay’s death are plagued by remorse. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

A memorial to highway patrol officer Glenn McEnallay outside Mascot police station. Picture: Sarah Rhodes

Mason said it was about respect and not fear that somehow police would seek retribution.

“I think it was totally out of respect. Crooks aren’t scared of police action in relation to ‘oh they are going to belt us’ because it doesn’t happen any more. It may have happened before my time, but it doesn’t happen — police don’t go out and flog people and make arrests to take out their pent-up frustration on people.

“I think it was really out of respect. I mean, the areas around us, Maroubra area and Redfern, their crime was still going great guns, even increased, but they weren’t doing robberies in our area, no break and enters, stealing, never happened.”

Leap of faith: Ron Mason’s dicey move as stolen tank threatens city

Family tragedy: Legendary cop driven by murder of grandmother

‘Bring it on’: Cops stand firm against firebombs and bricks

‘JUST DESSERTS’

Bullet holes can be seen in the windscreen of Glenn McEnallay’s car as officers work the crime scene. Picture: Bill Hearne

Two of the four men in the car McEnallay pursued — two brothers from Tonga — were originally convicted of murder, but on appeal won an argument that they were not part of a criminal enterprise and instead pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

The shooter, Sione Penisini, was sentenced to 36 years, and the fourth man Meli Lagi was jailed for 10 years for firearms offences.

The two brothers, Motekiai Taufahema and his brother John, were later ordered to be deported to Tonga after serving their time.

Ron Mason speaks at a memorial marking the 10th anniversary of Glenn McEnallay’s death held at Glenn McEnallay Reserve in Mascot.

Mason said he thought the death sentence would have been too good for the men.

“Live with it, live with what you’ve done because I don’t care how bad you are you’ll have the after thoughts. No matter how big a scumbag you are, you will have some regrets and you live with it.

“If he’s (Penisini) got any decency in him at all, and including the others as well, he would have some sleepless nights over it, and even to this day he’ll regret doing what he’s done. And I don’t care what they’re saying to the court, he’ll have some regret and maybe if there’s an afterlife he might meet his just desserts there.”

HEAR MORE FROM RON MASON: The Bathurst riots, stopping a tank and why he had to play the tough guy. WARNING: Graphic content

Originally published as The day crime stopped in honour of slain cop Glenn McEnallay