Overview

In the turbulent years from 1922 to 1952, Australia witnessed a chilling toll as twenty-two dedicated police officers sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. Others fell with them. Emerging from the shadows of World War I, the nation, newly minted and resilient, navigated through The Great Depression's pall, only to confront the re-emergence of war. During World War II, police officers, though deterred from enlistment, were released for service, or seconded for intelligence work, thrusting expanded responsibilities onto those who remained. Operating in an unspoken battleground, law enforcers met their demise at the hands of dangerous criminals – murderous men driven by madness or consumed by hatred, most to cover crimes of little worth. Their stories unfold in gun battles, investigations gone wrong, opportunistic killings, and the disturbing murder of two police officers dismembered and burnt by petty thieves. This collection of stories is more than sensational; they are the tales of lives cut short. Each story stands testament to the indomitable spirit of those who faced duty's relentless call during an era when greed held sway over decency.

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9781923144446

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Alan Leek is a 34-year veteran of the NSW Police Force. He served as a detective in Sydney, its suburbs, and the Hawkesbury and Blue Mountains regions before becoming officer-in-charge of the Blacktown–Mt Druitt detectives. Rising through the ranks to superintendent, he later commanded several of the state’s toughest areas, including Cabramatta at the height of its heroin epidemic and during Australia’s first political assassination. Leek also held leadership roles at Kuring-gai, Newtown, and the St George–Sutherland district, where he was appointed by statute. Leaving school at 15, he began his working life as a rouseabout in a wool store before joining the police cadet corps. He holds an Associate Diploma in Justice Administration (Distinction), a Post Graduate Diploma in Police Management, and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, USA. In 1987, he was awarded the Peter Mitchell Award — not for bravery, he notes, but for outstanding performance. Outside policing, Leek co-founded and directed a fine art gallery from 1983 to 2012. He is a full-term trustee and patron of the Kedumba Collection of Contemporary Australian Drawing, held in trust for the Australian people. Listen to Alan Leek in conversation with Philip Clark on ABC Nightlife: True Crime Podcasts — Help or Hindrance to Police Investigations Listen here Web: alanleek.com.au

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