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Senior Sergeant Perry IrwinPrint Page Print this page

11-June-2015
11-June-2015

Photographs supplied by Diane Watson / Fred Brunings / John Huth

The monument commemorates Sergeant Perry Irwin who was Officer-In-Charge of the Yarraman Police before he was tragically killed in the line of duty at Caboolture in 2003.

He was 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. 

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:D`Aguilar Highway & Barr Smith Street, Yarraman, 4614
State:QLD
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -26.842222
Long: 151.981944
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

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

Dedication

Front Inscription

In memory of Sgt. Perry Irwin

Officer-in-Charge of Yarraman Police

16th Oct. 1995 to 16th Jan. 2002

Tragically killed in the line of duty at Caboolture, 22nd August 2003

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