A project undertaken by a small group of volunteers will make an important contribution to the history of the Queensland Police Service and in the process will reinforce its commitment to solving and preventing some of the most serious and major crimes.
Following the successful restoration in 2010 of the grave of Senior Constable William Considine (a police officer who died in a horse riding accident in 1887) the Friends of the Queensland Police Museum (FQPM) initiated a project to research and identify the location of the graves of Queensland Police Service officers who have died in the course of their service.
During this project, the grave of Inspector of Detectives Thomas Slattery was identified at ToowongCemetery. Thomas Slattery died in 1878 having served in the Queensland Police and previously the Victoria Police Service and most likely the Royal Irish Constabulary, prior to his immigration to Australia. His grave was paid for with contributions from 136 of his fellow police officers and colleagues.
The FQPM were alerted to the grave by the Friends of the ToowongCemetery. In a state of disrepair, with its headstone lying in three broken pieces after having toppled some 25 years ago and his son (who is buried in the same gravesite) remaining unacknowledged on the headstone, the group commenced a project to restore the gravesite.
“During research into the background it was identified that Thomas Slattery may well have been the first Inspector of Detectives (Brisbane).
“While this project is not about singling out any particular rank or role, it is certainly worth highlighting the importance of this find. Detectives certainly play an important role in investigating some of the state’s most serious and significant crimes,” Commissioner of Police Ian Stewart said.
With the support and assistance of the Queensland Police Service, the Queensland Police Commissioned Officer’s Union and the Queensland Police Union of Employees, the grave has been fully restored and was this morning, rededicated by the Queensland Police Service’s Roman Catholic Padre, Graeme Ramsden OAM.
The grave is located at: Portion 7, Section 9 (Grave 4) of the Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane (see attached map)
More information on how to become involved or to lend your support to the Friends of the Queensland Police Museum can be found on their website at www.friendsqpmuseum.com.au
Anyone with information which could assist with this matter should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au 24hrs a day.
For all non-urgent police reporting or general police inquiries contact Policelink on 131 444 or www.Policelink.qld.gov.au 24hrs a day.
Crime Stoppers is a registered charity and community volunteer organisation working in partnership with the Queensland Police Service.… Continue reading