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Senior Sergeant Perry IrwinPrint Page Print this page

26-October-2016
26-October-2016

Photographs supplied by John Huth

The tree commemorates Senior Sergeant Perry Irwin, officer-in charge of the Caboolture station, who died in August 2003 from gunshot wounds while investigating reports of a gunmen walking in bushland near Tallon Street, Caboolture. The memorial was unveiled on the 5th anniversary of his death. Senior Sergeant Irwin was a police officer at Warra from 1992 to 1995.

On the morning of Friday 22 August 2003, Damien Lawrence Coates, 21 years old, was evicted by his father from the family dwelling after an argument. When leaving the house Coates boasted to his father that he intended to 'shoot down planes and shoot coppers'.

Senior Sergeant Irwin and two Constables arrived at the area to investigate the shots. During a search of the vicinity Senior Sergeant Irwin was walking up an incline into a clearing to get signal for his mobile phone when Coates who was partly hidden in a concrete pit ambushed the officer and fired a volley of shots. Although the officer was wearing a bullet proof vest one bullet struck the officer in the neck and another under the arm through the unprotected side of the vest killing him almost instantly. Mr Coates then fatally shot himself.

 

 

Location

Address:Warrego Highway, Warra, 4411
State:QLD
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -26.927031
Long: 150.916729
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Tree
Monument Theme:People
Sub-Theme:Crime
Actual Event Start Date:22-August-2003
Actual Event End Date:22-August-2003

Dedication

Approx. Monument Dedication Date:2008
Front Inscription

In memory of Perry Irwin

Police Officer at Warra 1992 - 1995

Killed in the line of duty at Caboolture on 22nd August 2003

Source: MA
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au