Tasmania has recorded its first police shooting death in more than one hundred years, after a veteran officer was shot and killed while executing a court warrant at a rural property on Monday.
The 25-year member of Tasmania Police was allegedly shot by a resident as he approached a house on Allison Road in North Motton, near Ulverstone, at around 11am.
The last time a Tasmanian police officer was killed by gunfire was in 1922, when Trooper Frederick Henderson was fatally shot while trying to arrest a suspect near Swansea.
Constable Ty Bennett was the last police officer to pass away while on duty in Tasmania after a crash on Colebrook Road near Cambridge in 1999.
Commissioner Donna Adams yesterday confirmed the officer was carrying out standard frontline duties when he was allegedly fired upon by a member of the public.
“He was critically injured in the incident and died at the scene,” she said.
A second officer discharged their firearm at the alleged offender, who then surrendered to police.
Commissioner Adams described the fallen officer as a respected and committed member of the force who had served the Tasmanian community with dedication for over two decades.
“It’s a tragic and devastating day for Tasmania Police and the family of one of our own who lost their life,” she said.
“The safety of our officers is our number one priority and to see an officer tragically killed in these circumstances is truly shocking.”
Police Minister Felix Ellis described Monday as “a dark day for our police force and wider community”.
The officer’s name has not yet been released as police continue to support his family and colleagues.
His death is the first fatal police shooting in Australia since South Australian Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig was killed in 2023.
Police, professional standards and the coroner are continuing to investigate the North Motton incident.
