Fallen policeman Neil Clinch honoured with paediatric ward at Northern Hospital

Constable Neil Clinch was killed accidentally during a police raid in 1987, just months after getting married. Now his name will forever be linked with saving lives thanks to a new ward at Northern Hospital.

Constable Neil Clinch’s mother Elvie with a Victoria Police Valour medal. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Accidentally struck down in the line of duty, Constable Neil Clinch will now never be forgotten.

A paediatric ward at Epping’s Northern Hospital was named in honour of the policeman last week, who was shot while attending a raid in Fawkner 31 years ago.

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Constable Neil Clinch was a respected and loved policeman

Raised in Coburg and an impressive footballer with West Coburg, Constable Clinch had bought a home in Sunbury and had married just three months before he offered to fill in for a sick colleague on night shift with his station in Broadmeadows on April 4, 1987.

Responding to a reported stabbing in Fawkner, the raid went sour when an offender emerged with a rifle.

Constable Neil Clinch‘s mother Elvie with a Police Valour Award. Picture: George Salpigtidis

The 22-year-old tackled the offender, only to be hit by a bullet fired by a fellow officer.

He died the following day and has since been honoured with the Victoria Police Valour Award, the Victoria Police Star and the National Police Service Medal.

Constable Clinch’s brother Ian said Neil, who was the youngest of five siblings, was a loyal and hardworking man.

“Being the youngest he tended to be a bit spoiled and didn’t do a lot around the house but he was very loved,” he said.

Constable Clinch’s siblings Karen, Lindsay, Debrah and Ian with his mother Elvie at Northern Hospital. Picture: George Salpigtidis

The dedication was enabled by the Blue Ribbon Foundation’s Northern Metro branch.

Constable Clinch’s 91-year-old mother Elvie said the dedication was “really, really lovely”.

Broadmeadows police introduced an annual award in 2007 in honour of the fallen constable.

Hardworking member of the Hume Criminal Investigation Unit, Senior Constable Brad Keogh was handed the award for his service this year.

“Every day I walk into the station and I see Neil’s name on the board and maybe that’s why I’m here, because I think about him every day,” he said.

“That’s the type of person I want to be that day.”

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