Inaugural National Police Legacy Day celebrated on June 17 to recognise life-changing support from organisation

When Detective Sergeant Darren Lees passed away after a painful battle against an aggressive cancer, it was his family in blue that stepped in to support his wife and kids.

Lees family photo. (back) mum Kathy and daughter Jessica, (front) son Hayden and dad, the late Darren Lees.

On her first week at the police academy, Kathy Lees was asked if she wanted to give a few dollars from every pay cheque to the Queensland Police Legacy fund.

It was an easy decision to make, in part because every one of her fellow recruits had agreed to the recurring donation.

“It was the right thing to do,” she said.

What Kathy did not know at the time was that her family would come to rely on the service 26 years later.

Kathy graduated from the academy and served as a general duties police officer in Ipswich and Toowoomba, obtaining the rank of Senior Constable.

It was at the Ipswich station that she met the love of her life, Darren ‘Beefa’ Lees.

They married and moved to Toowoomba where they raised two children, Jessica and Hayden.

Darren worked as a detective in the Child Protection Investigation Unit.

Senior Sergeant Mike Newman (left) and Detective Sergeant Darren Lees received an Assistant Commissioner’s Certificate Operational to recognise their efforts in a Brisbane siege in 1996. Photo: Bev Lacey

“He was a good bloke,” Kathy said.

“Apart from being a police officer he was involved in a QPS rugby side for the Southern Region, he was involved in Downs rugby, cricket, touch footy. Anything and everything.

“He was also the Southern Region Executive Member for the Queensland Police Union, he was a big union man and did not like to see anyone treated unfairly.”

Sadly their time together was cut short when Darren developed a very aggressive lymphoma in 2013.

“He had a battle on his hands from day one,” Kathy said.

The devoted father fought on for 10 months before he died aged 45.

It was here that Legacy stepped up.

Funeral for Toowoomba detective Sergeant Darren 'Beefa' Lees at St Patrick's Cathedral, Friday, August 15, 2014. Photo Kevin Farmer.

The national charity supports the children of police who pass away or are seriously injured.

It paid for Jessica and Hayden’s school fees, including paying for books, stationary and uniforms.

When Jessica enrolled at the University of Southern Queensland, it paid her parking fees.

They sent the children birthday presents and invited them to annual holidays where they could meet other children coming to terms with the loss of a parent.

“I didn’t know the full extent of the help Legacy provided until Darren got sick,” Kathy said.

“It’s all about the kids.

“As a single parent, just trying to get to work, while taking your kids to school or their sports, is really hard.”

While Legacy’s support helped ease that burden, Kathy ended her career with the QPS to focus on her family.

Jessica Lees on her graduation day at the University of Southern Queensland, with mother Kathy Lees.

“The fact that Legacy was there was one of the main factors that made me decide that I could do that and I am extremely grateful to them for everything that they’ve done over the years,” she said.

The QPS is still a big part of the family’s life.

Her daughter Jessica now works as an administration officer at Darling Downs District Police Station, alongside her father’s colleagues.

“Our police family was front and center when Darren got sick and I still have a lot of contact with the people we worked with over the years,” Kathy said.

“If I needed help with anything, they would come running.”

June 17 is the inaugural National Police Legacy Day.

Across the country police will pay tribute to this vital service that most will never need, but few will come to rely on.

Queensland Police Legacy board president Detective Senior Sergeant Kent Ellis spoke about the importance of the day.

“We hope that through National Police Legacy Day we can celebrate and highlight the life-changing work being done by Police Legacy organisations around the country,” she said.

“The mission of Police Legacy is not only to honour the memory of those who served, but to ensure that the lives of those they leave behind are not defined by tragedy, but shaped by hope, resilience, and possibility.”

Originally published as Inaugural National Police Legacy Day celebrated on June 17 to recognise life-changing support from organisation