Force failed me after Darcey death
OFFICER’S CLAIM
A GEELONG police officer in charge when Darcey Freeman’s body was retrieved from under the West Gate Bridge has accused the police force of failing to properly care for her.
Senior-Constable Tamara Wright, now 44, was this year granted leave to sue the force and VicRoads, although many details were suppressed by the court.
Sen-Constable Wright was in charge when Water Police brought four-year-old Darcey’s body ashore after she was tossed over the side by her father, Arthur Freeman.
In a statement of claim lodged in the Supreme Court, she claims she suffered injuries after being called to the bridge on January 29, 2009.
The mother of a young child, Sen-Constable Wright alleges the force failed to: PROVIDE her with or ensure she received proper medical attention after the incident; PROPERLY debrief her; ADEQUATELY monitor her performance and health; and, HAVE a system in place to ensure adequate support was available for officers exposed to stressful events.
She also claims VicRoads was negligent because it had failed to: HAVE adequate guards on the bridge to prevent people harming themselves or others, or minimise the risk to people who were psychologically unwell; DESIGN the bridge to minimise the risk or give any or proper consideration that the bridge would be used for suicides; and, RESPOND when it knew the bridge was being used for suicide and harming others.
Sen-Constable Wright stands to be awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars if successful in her claim.
She continues to serve as an officer in Geelong but told the court in February she was still haunted by memories of the day. Barristers acting for police dismissed her claim, alleging the still-serving officer had not suffered enough to be paid compensation.
Arthur Freeman was in 2011 found guilty of Darcey’s murder and was jailed for life, to serve a minimum 32 years in jail.