John William Hawke ‘rejoiced’ in cop killings, threatened to bomb police station

An electrician who shared chilling posts celebrating the Wieambilla police shootings and ranted online about getting his own cop killing “high score” has ended up in a real life, terrifying stand-off outside a major Queensland station.

John William Hawke pleaded guilty in Mackay Magistrates Court to failing to provide a specimen of breath, possessing dangerous drugs and possessing a weapon. Picture: Lillian Watkins

An electrician who hero-worshipped high-profile cop killers online ended up in a terrifying standoff with police in real life, ranting about a bomb, brandishing a weapon and threatening to blow up a police station.

These chilling details were revealed in Rockhampton District Court where John William Hawke, 36, claimed he had a grudge against police since New South Wales officers intervened in a family dispute in 2019.

However, Hawke’s criminal record showed his anti-police attitude dated back more than 10 years, Crown prosecutor Matthew Sutton said.

Hawke cursed at police after they told him to move his car, which he had parked in the middle of the road in George Street, after he told them he was being “chased by men with guns” in August 2013.

Mr Sutton said this was after “he caused a ruckus, splashing petrol on the driveway” of a Rockhampton service station, “requesting a staff member to call police”.

John William Hawke. Picture: Lillian Watkins

Hawke refused to give police his name when they were investigating another matter in September 2022.

After he was released from the watch house on bail in September 2022, Hawke posted on Instagram that he wanted to recreate the Walsh Street shooting where two Victorian police officers were killed in Melbourne in 1988.

Mr Sutton said Hawke went on to post again on Instagram, this time with two images – one of the officers murdered at the Wieambilla shooting in December 2022 and the other of officers killed in the Walsh St shootings.

13.10.1988. Front page of The Sun newspaper.

He said Hawke captioned the post: “Let’s see if a hero who was the victim of police corruption in New South Wales can get a high score tonight”.

Mr Sutton said he also added in comments: “F — the blue line. Let’s see what a dad who has suffered five years alone and lost everything because of the f---ing corrupt blue line can do.”

“Clearly the defendant’s reference to ‘a high score tonight’ is in reference to killing police officers and how many can be killed,” he said.

Judge Jeff Clarke said he was worried about the posts as they appeared he was “rejoicing in the fact that police have been killed” and he had a “fixated attitude towards police about a fairly rudimentary order which was made about five years ago”.

Mr Sutton said Hawke later posted an image of a bomb vest, which turned out to be “a controversial piece of artwork”, and captioned it: “I’m in Rocky. Let’s see if I go out with a bang.”

Later that night, Hawke attended the Rockhampton police station on Bolsover Street, about 11.20pm, on January 4, 2023.

Police approached him outside the station, and when asked what his name was, he respond: “My name’s f —ing irrelevant”.

Victor Peirce, one of three men involved in Walsh St killings, being taken into court. Picture: Photo File

The officer told Hawke to “calm down” to which he responded “f--- you guys”.

Mr Sutton said Hawke threw the phone.

After police told him he was under arrest for public nuisance and to take his hand out of his pocket, Hawke revealed a knuckleduster/knife hybrid and said “let’s go”.

At least one officer drew their firearm at this point and repeatedly told Hawke to put the knife down before he started talking about corrupt cops, meandered about bomb materials including “2743kg of ammonium nitrate” and four kilograms of Semtext, and bluetooth for bomb switches.

He also referenced the 1995 Oklahoma bombing of a Federal building which killed 168 people.

Hawke shuffled about while rambling to Rockhampton officers on the footpath in front of the police station.

During this time, police cordoned off the Bolsover and Denham Streets intersection, the court heard.

Queensland police officer Constable Rachel McCrow who was killed in a shooting at Wiembilla.

Hawke told the officers they were “wearing the insignia of my sworn mortal enemies” and babbled about “at the centre of the blast”, “blast radius” and something about an investigation.

“Don’t move towards me,” Hawke told the officers.

“Let’s go.”

While one of the officers was talking to him about where he had been that night and who he was talking to, another officer tasered Hawke and he was arrested.

Mr Sutton said this incident “would have been absolutely terrifying for those officers”, and when looking for cases of a like nature, he could not find a bomb hoax “as serious as this”.

Defence barrister Jordan Ahlstrand said his client had not seen his children since he separated from their mother in 2019.

Queensland police officer Constable Matthew Arnold was also shot and killed.

He said Hawke claimed “his dislike for police was amplified following the collapse of his relationship and he abused alcohol since” and was intoxicated on the night of the bomb incident.

Mr Ahlstrand the qualified electrician had been working at Foxleigh Mine near Dysart up until about 1.5 weeks prior to the bomb threat, losing his job without warning or a reason given.

He said he had been instructed Hawke had been assessed in prison and he engaged with mental health services twice, but there had been no formal diagnosis nor medicine prescribed.

Judge Clarke raised concerns about Hawke’s mental status and risk of future offending towards police.

He adjourned the sentence part heard, ordering a presentence report to include a full psychological/psychiatric assessment, diagnosis and opinion about motivation and risk of reoffending.

Hawke pleaded guilty on March 11 to two counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence; one of using a carriage service for a bomb hoax, one of assaulting a police officer while armed, one of making a false statement to police (about possessing explosive material on Bolsover Street) and one of contravening a police order about providing access to electronically stored information.

Hawke was remanded in custody with his case to be mentioned next on April 29.

Originally published as John William Hawke ‘rejoiced’ in cop killings, threatened to bomb police station