David Leahy, a Toowoomba farmer, was first sworn in as Constable number 759 on November 1, 1894 at 24 years of age. During this tenure he was stationed at Brisbane; Ilfracombe; Diamantina Lakes; Winton; Middleton and Winton. In April 1901 Constable Leahy was transferred to Childers where he spent six years. Near the end of his time in this small town he was awarded a Medal for Merit for disarming an armed man.
The medal citation reads:
On October 23, 1906, a man named Addis, carrying a rifle threatened a Mr W. MacDonald near Childers. Addis appeared determined to “see it out”, and said he “would fight to the bitter end”, that the “police would not take him alive”, and that “there would be bloodshed”. Constables Leahy and Grigg went in pursuit of Addis and advanced within three yards of him in a paddock. On their approach he wheeled around quickly, rifle in hand. Constable Leahy threw his arms around Addis, and Constable Grigg wrenched the rifle out of his grasp. Addis struggled and yelled fiercely. When Addis was arrested, the rifle was found to be empty but a box of rifle cartridges was found on his person. Addis was subsequently sentenced to one year of imprisonment.
Constable Leahy resigned from the Queensland Police on September 24, 1907. However in 1909, Leahy thought better of his decision and re-joined as Constable number 1297 on December 17 of that year. During his second police career he was transferred to Woodford; Roma; Tewantin; Middle Ridge, Toowoomba and Stanthorpe. Constable David Leahy retired on July 1, 1923 after thirteen years of service.
In 1903 David married Elizabeth Moore at Toowoomba and together they had six children. He passed away in March 1950 at the age of 80.
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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available at the time of writing.
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