CITATIONS FOR BRAVE OFFICERS
FIVE years ago a group of Gold Coast and Tweed Heads police officers put their lives at risk to bring down a pair of wanted men as they shot at them on the Pacific Hwy.
Today the officers will be recognised for their bravery during the “chaos”.
It was February 5, 2015 and a call came over the radio about two wanted men driving a stolen car at high speed down the M1.
Officer in Charge of the Gold Coast Road Policing Unit Senior Sergeant Bradyn Murphy was sitting in an unmarked car when he saw them fly by.
“I tried to maintain visuals on them … as soon as we crossed the border, New South Wales took control and I became a support vehicle, road spikes were thrown in the tunnel and they’ve continued on a little bit further,” Sen-Sgt Murphy said.
“They’re on deflated tyres, the New South Wales police have pulled in behind him, I pulled in beside and he’s got out of the car and started cracking shots off … a couple of them went pretty close.
“He had a couple of shots at me, we couldn’t return fire because there was cars coming down the road. He’s looked back and been hit by a car. He’s looked back at the gun, I’ve closed in on him and jumped on him and took
him into custody.”
On top of a group bravery citation Sen-Sgt Murphy will also receive a bravery medal.
“I got one off the Queensland and New South Wales police at the time … it’s
nice to be recognised in an Australia-wide basis. Obviously, you don’t go to work looking for awards, but it’s nice that you’re alive to collect them and you’re family isn’t collecting them for you, like it could have been in this case.”
Former Tweed Heads police officer Kristie Bell said the incident was “chaos”.
“I was in one of the vehicles chasing them … I was in a Pajero, we pulled up behind them and as we got out of the car, shots towards police and people started coming,” Mrs Bell said. “There was multiple shots. “They were running up the highway, they were trying to carjack people to get out of there.
“I remember thinking ‘what the hell am I doing’ but it was my job to keep everyone safe, I had to do this, there was car accidents, someone hit the shooter, it was chaos, it was absolute and utter mayhem.”
Mrs Bell said it was nice to be recognised.
“It was the scariest thing of my life, but I was a cop … yes it was our job, that’s what you take the oath for, but it’s still very nice to be recognised.
“It’s an honour, all these years down the track you think people forget about it.
“But it’s something I’ll never forget, you don’t.”