State mourns police sergeant Jason Doig, shot dead on remote property in South Australia
A state mourns police sergeant Jason Doig, shot dead on a remote property in South Australia. His alleged killer was in a critical condition on Friday.
A 53-year-old policeman has been shot dead on a remote bush block in South Australia after a routine inquiry turned suddenly and tragically violent.
Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig, a highly-experienced policeman who was well known and respected, died after being shot at 11.20pm on Thursday on a property at Senior, a farming hamlet 15km north of Bordertown, close to the South Australian-Victorian border.
Colleague Sergeant Michael Hutchinson, 59, was also shot but survived and is being treated in Adelaide at the Flinders Medical Centre. A third colleague, Constable Rebekah Cass, 31, was not injured, and provided assistance to Sergeant Doig, as did Sergeant Hutchinson.
Sergeant Doig died at the scene.
The alleged shooter, 26-year-old Jaydn Stimson, was shot by police during the violent encounter, and received life-threatening injuries. He remains under police guard in hospital in Adelaide.
The Stimson family released a statement on Friday, saying “our hearts are broken by the incidents that occurred overnight”.
The family continued: “For now, our thoughts remain with Sergeant Hutchinson and his family while he recovers from his injuries.
“Our thoughts are also with the [state’s] South East community who will all be affected by this tragedy. At this time, our family requests privacy while we process the events that have taken place.”
While the details of the confrontation are yet to be revealed, the incident is a chilling reminder of the shooting on a remote bush block at Wieambilla in Queensland last December 12, which claimed the lives of two young officers, constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, and neighbour Alan Dare, who were shot dead by a trio of domestic terrorists.
Sergeant Doig, who joined the South Australia Police in 1989, was the officer in charge at Lucindale, more than an hour’s drive from Senior, and had spent 16 years policing in the region. Schoolchildren and other community members laid flowers at the Lucindale and Bordertown police stations.
He and his two colleagues went to the remote property on Senior Rd late on Thursday night after a report a man had shot an animal, possibly a dog.
Police Commissioner Grant Stevens, who travelled to Bordertown, said the officers were investigating a report of the “use of a firearm involving an animal”.
“There was nothing in the information we have been able to ascertain at this time that indicated it was a high-risk incident,’’ Commissioner Stevens said.
“It was one of those jobs that would be part of the daily routine for police officers.’’
Sergeant Doig is the 62nd South Australian police officers to have died in the line of duty, and the first to be killed with a firearm in almost 40 years.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has instructed all Australian flags on government buildings in South Australia to be flown at half-mast to honour the officer’s sacrifice.
“Brevet Sergeant Doig has paid the ultimate, shocking and unacceptable price for doing his job – keeping other South Australians safe,’’ Mr Malinauskas said.
“My thoughts are with the family of Jason Doig, his friends, family and work mates.
“All South Australians grieve with them, and they have our full support.
“We should also acknowledge both the suffering and bravery of his colleagues Sergeant Michael Hutchinson and Constable Rebekah Cass.
“Every worker deserves the right to come home at the end of the day. Let us never forget that our SAPOL officers are prepared to put themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe.’’
Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus offered condolences to Sergeant Doig’s family on behalf of the government.
“Today all Australians stand with police officers across Australia grieving the loss of one of their own,’’ he said.
“Every day police officers show incredible bravery and sacrifice, facing dangers to protect our communities.
“Tragically, today we have learnt that bravery and sacrifice will see yet another name added to the 823 names already added to the National Police Memorial wall in Canberra.’’
The property on Senior Rd, which had a long driveway leading past a dam to several farm buildings, remained sealed off on Friday, with Major Crime Detectives, Forensic Response Section and Internal Investigation Section attending the scene.
Commissioner Stevens said Segeant Doig had family in Victoria, where his brother lived in Daylesford and his mother in Warrnambool.
“I can only imagine what the family of Jason are feeling at this time,” he said.
“No one is left untouched by this tragic incident.’’
Police Minister Joe Szakacs said the shooting was a shocking and tragic loss of life.
“I can’t begin to imagine the grief being felt by the police family. But I offer the unconditional support of all South Australians during this awful time,” he said.
“I remain in regular contact with the Police Commissioner and Police Association and commit all support necessary.’’
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