South Australia Police Commissioner Grant Stevens expresses gratitude for outpouring of support after son’s death

South Australia’s top cop and his wife have thanked the thousands of Australians who reached out to them in their time of trauma.

South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens and his wife Emma have delivered a heartfelt message of thanks to the thousands of people across the country who have reached out to them in their time of grief following the death of their son Charlie last month.

Standing at the Oaklands Park Skate Park in suburban Adelaide, a favourite hangout spot for Charlie, Mr Stevens said his family had been “overwhelmed” by the support from friends, family, his police “family”, members of the public, donors to the Operation Flinders charity and the “countless” number of people who the family had never met but had reached out to them with messages of love and support.

“It is an understatement to say that our family is overwhelmed by the show of support we have had from so many people,” he said.

“The flowers, the cards, the generosity, the kindness, the company, the support has truly been overwhelming and really touched us and made it that little bit easier for us to work through this process.”

Commissioner Grant Stevens and his wife Emma asked the public to consider organ donation in their message of thanks. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Charlie, 18, was struck by a car in an alleged hit-and-run crash at Goolwa Beach while out celebrating Schoolies with friends on November 17.

He suffered irreversible brain damage in the crash and died at 7.01pm on November 18 at Flinders Medical Centre.

Mr Stevens thanked the team at the hospital who looked after Charlie.

“They also looked after us and our family and were incredibly supportive to us, particularly the organ donation counsellor,” he said.

“She was exceptionally caring and thoughtful and we would like to thank her.”

Charlie was an organ donor and Mr Stevens said his son had assisted “many other people” as a result of the decision he made when he got his driver’s licence.

Mr Stevens has been a police officer with SAPOL for 42 years. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Mr Stevens also thanked the first responders to the scene.

“We will always be grateful,” he said, his voice catching for a moment.

Mr Stevens has been a police officer for 42 years and he said the support SAPOL had offered his family was “very special”.

“I would just like to acknowledge the Prime Minister (Anthony Albanese) for his words in federal parliament and particularly the leader of the federal opposition Peter Dutton for reading Charlie’s 101 letter into Hansard,” he said.

“It is not something we ever expected but I think it has had a significant impact on the way people think about the road toll and it has put a face to what is normally just a statistic that we all move past very quickly.”

Mr and Mrs Stevens paid tribute to their son in a public letter, addressing him as “101”.

Charlie Stevens marked the 101st life lost on South Australia’s roads in 2023. Picture: Supplied

“I am writing this sitting in a bedroom with dirty clothes on the floor, an unmade bed, six drinking glasses lined up on the bedside table, an empty KFC box next to the glasses, wardrobe doors left open and a row of skateboards leaning on the wall – it is a mess and it’s perfect. This is where 101 lived,” the parents wrote just days after the tragedy.

“101 is Charles Stevens – Charlie, Charlie Boy, Chas, Links, Steve. You lived life and gave so much to so many. You were a force of nature and we will never forget your beautiful cheeky, disarming smile.

“Son, brother, grandson, uncle, nephew, cousin, friends, workmate, teammate. So much more than just a number on a tragic tally.”

Mourners attended a twilight service at the Adelaide Oval on December 1 to farewell Charlie. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ben Clark

Mr Stevens closed his message of thanks by calling on the public to consider organ donation.

“We would like to encourage people to have that conversation with their loved ones about being organ donors and appreciate that in a time of tragedy, you can take some solace from the fact someone you care deeply about has enabled other families to potentially avoid going through a tragic loss.”

Charlie was farewelled at the Adelaide Oval on December 1, with thousands gathering to pay tribute to the beloved larrikin.

Addressing his son directly at the service, Mr Stevens said: “Charlie, your mum and I love you. We are devastated that you were taken from us so soon.

“We said you were a force of nature, full of energy, unstoppable. Unforgettable.”

Mr Stevens said he would return to the police “when the time is right”.

Originally published as South Australia Police Commissioner Grant Stevens expresses gratitude for outpouring of support after son’s death