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On September 29 each year, police across the country gather to remember their fallen comrades; on the hallowed ground at the NSW Police wall of remembrance in Sydney’s CBD, the state’s most senior officers and politicians pause to pay tribute to those who died in service of their communities.
On Tuesday, though, the National Police Remembrance Day commemorations carried with them the intensified grief of a rare tragedy that has reverberated throughout the entire force, as a sea of blue honoured Constable Mia Lay. The 20-year-old was killed on Friday when the marked patrol car she was travelling in collided with a tree in Redfern, in Sydney’s inner-south, during an urgent response to a reported vehicle theft.
Lay, a talented footballer, graduated from the force’s Goulburn academy last May and had been stationed at Redfern police station, about 100 metres from where she died.
“Though in the infancy of her career, she was dedicated and passionate about serving her community and showed enormous promise,” NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said.
“She was a wonderfully vibrant, well-respected young police officer and someone who had a bright career.”
Lay’s colleague driving the car, Constable Brandon Torrisi, was discharged from Royal Prince Alfred Hospital on Friday after being treated for minor injuries, including a cut to his face. Torrisi’s driving in the moments before the fatal collision is now the subject of a critical incident investigation being overseen by the state’s policing watchdog, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.
CCTV emerged on Monday showing Torrisi, 24, driving the fully marked Volkswagen Tiguan at significant speed under lights and sirens near the crash site.
Members of the crash investigation unit are examining the circumstances surrounding the crash, the first collision to kill an on-duty officer in a decade. Data taken from the patrol car will be scrutinised to help determine what caused the crash, and if speed was a factor in the collision.
Torrisi holds a silver class licence, which allows officers to engage in urgent duty driving under lights and sirens. Under Australian road rules, officers responding to urgent incidents are allowed to exceed the speed limit, but must drive to road conditions.
According to NSW Police’s safe driving policy, officers can engage in urgent duty when responding to a situation that “has become pressing or demanding prompt attention”. Only officers who have received required training can undertake an urgent duty response.
“I gave an undertaking when I first spoke last Friday that there would be a thorough investigation,” Lanyon said.
“I just ask that we allow due process to happen. I want to make sure that we investigate this accident thoroughly … but we will investigate the matter and take appropriate action as required.”
Lay’s family – including her parents Clem and Tamara, her siblings, and her partner, fellow officer, Constable Daniel Vasquez – embraced as they laid wreaths during Tuesday’s service. Lay’s father, Clem, previously told the Herald that he hoped his daughter would be remembered by as many people as possible for as long as possible.
Lay’s name will be etched onto the wall alongside 285 fellow officers who died during, or because of, their police work. Among them is Sergeant Mark Anthony Bransgrove, who died last July from cancer caused by his 30 years working as a forensics officer. Bransgrove retired in April 2017 after 38 years as a police officer.
“Mark devoted three decades to excellence in police forensics, a field where the risks are often unseen, but very real,” Lanyon said.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said half of the officers graduating from the Goulburn academy each year were under 21.
“It’s a reminder that we ask our police officers to grow up incredibly quickly,” he said.
“When their mates from school are maybe going to uni, or taking a gap year, or getting a start on an apprenticeship, the men and the women of the police force are already on the job walking into danger well beyond their years, and in the process of living a life of public service.”
Lay’s family has been offered a police funeral, which is expected to be held in the coming weeks.
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