The police officer who died in an off-duty diving accident on Tuesday has been identified as Cassandra Chapman, a well-respected officer who was once praised by a judge for intervening when her partner tried to make an unlawful arrest.
The first class constable, aged in her 40s, was pulled unresponsive from the water at Mettam’s Pool, just north of Trigg Beach, around 10.30am.
First class constable Cassandra Chapman (centre).Credit: Facebook
The incident sparked a major emergency response, however, despite resuscitation attempts, Chapman was declared dead at the scene.
A number of visibly distraught people arrived at the beach a short time later. Her family has requested privacy.
Police Minister Paul Papalia said the situation was “terribly sad” and that support was in place for those who witnessed the traumatic event.
“I don’t know the officer involved, but I extend my condolences and sympathies to her friends and family, particularly all of the officers,” he said.
“It must have been really confronting for officers to respond to an incident like that and potentially, in all likelihood, they knew the officer who died.”
The WA Police Union also extended their condolences.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of a valued member of the blue family,” it said.
The death isn’t being treated as suspicious and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
Last year Chapman gave evidence against her former police partner, Alister Swift, during his Perth District Court trial for using too much force when arresting a mentally unwell woman during a domestic violence call-out in Cloverdale in 2020.
After arguing with the woman, Swift went on to “drop” her to the floor and yelled to Chapman to assist him, but she refused, later giving evidence that she did not agree with how Swift was handling the situation.
Swift then yelled at the victim to stand up, but didn’t give her an opportunity to before he “dragged her down the hallway by the handcuffs”.
During his sentencing, Judge Mara Barone praised Chapman for speaking out and “going against the culture of supporting a police partner”.
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