Retired police officer supports campaign to bring DDOs to Wide Bay

A retired police officer who attended hundreds of fatal crashes throughout his career has thrown his support behind a News Corp campaign to bring senior roving officers to Wide Bay.

Retired police forensic crash investigator Steve Webb has thrown his support behind the News Corp campaign to bring District Duty Officers to police stations across the Wide Bay.

A retired police officer who attended more than 500 fatal car crashes during his 37-year career has thrown his support behind the campaign to bring District Duty Officers to police stations in the Wide Bay.

Former sergeant Steve Webb, who attended serious and fatal crashes cross the region, believed the idea was a no-brainer.

Too often, the senior officer on duty was tied up with paperwork, leaving no senior staff member to attend the scene of ongoing serious incidents, whether it involved domestic violence, an assault on the street or a serious car crash, Mr Webb said.

A retired police officer who attended more than 500 fatal car crashes during his 37-year career has thrown his support behind the campaign to bring District Duty Officers to police stations in the Wide Bay.

The campaign to bring District Duty Officers to the region, spearheaded by the Fraser Coast Chronicle, Gympie Times and Bundaberg NewsMail, has begun in the aftermath of an inquest investigating the death of a young father in Maryborough in late October, 2022.

The inquest at Hervey Bay Courthouse delved into the moment William George Grimes, 31, was tasered after he doused himself with fuel on March 3, 2020, at Granville State School.

Mr Grimes, who had schizophrenia, ran from the police while holding a jerry can and a lighter and threatening to self-harm.

Sgt Steve Webb of the Wide Bay Forensic Crash Unit. Pic John Wilson Story Michael Madigan

The inquest heard from experts who were unable to determine if it was the lighter in Mr Grimes’ hand or the taser used by police that ignited the flames that caused burns to 70 per cent of Mr Grimes’ body.

Mr Grimes died of his injuries a week later in hospital in Brisbane.

During the inquest, the role of District Duty Officers was raised repeatedly.

It revealed an urgent need for that specific type of senior police officer across the Wide Bay region – mobile police officers with experience who can provide support and advice in the field.

Mr Webb said the mobility of the officers was the key, as they would be available to attend scenes or provide ongoing support to more junior officers headed to volatile jobs.

William George Grimes. The inquest at Hervey Bay Courthouse delved into the moment William George Grimes, 31, was tasered after he doused himself with fuel on March 3, 2020, at Granville State School.

“You need a roving sergeant, which is basically a DDO, who can roam around the streets and not only back up the troops but check up on them,” he said.

Even with his experience, another senior officer at the scene of serious crashes would have helped coordinate the scene, Mr Webb said.

He said the current situation in the region was actually worse than he had seen in the 1980s, where having a mobile supervisor who less experienced officers could turn to was the norm.

It is understood the Wide Bay is the only region from the Gold Coast to Cairns that does not have a DDO, but the creation of five positions would give coverage to the region seven days a week, 24 hours a day, with a senior officer a phone call away.

DDOs are typically senior sergeants with more than 15 years’ experience on the force.

Retired police forensic crash investigator Steve Webb.

All four officers called to the scene to help Mr Grimes that night agreed a DDO would have been a valuable resource.

The issue of DDOs will be considered as part of Coroner Terry Ryan’s findings, to be handed down in coming months.

But we believe Wide Bay should not have to wait any longer and action should be taken now.

Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said it would not be appropriate to comment while the matter was subject to coronial proceedings.

“The QPS will thoroughly consider any recommendations put forward by the Coroner,” she said.

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Originally published as Retired police officer supports campaign to bring DDOs to Wide Bay