Coroner's Court of Western Australia

Inquest into the Death of Dennis Michael GREEN

Inquest into the Death of Dennis Michael GREEN

 

Delivered on : 30 December 2020

Delivered at : Perth

Finding of : Coroner Linton

Recommendations : N/A

Orders/Rules : N/A

Suppression Order : Yes

There be no reporting or publication of the details of any of the versions of the WA Police Emergency Driving Policy and Guidelines including, but not limited to, any cap on the speed at which police officers ae authorised to drive.

and

There be no reporting or publication of the name, picture or any other identifying features of a certain named police officer, as identified in the original suppression order, referred to as T in this finding.

Summary : At the time of his death on 7 December 2017 and while on duty as a police officer, First Class Constable Dennis Green (Den) was participating in a WA Police motorcycle training course. He was undertaking the rural road component of the training when he crashed on Julimar Road in Toodyay. He died at the scene from multiple injuries he sustained in the crash.

Den joined the WA Police force in August 2011 and by 2017 he had reached the rank of First Class Constable. He was stationed at the Traffic Enforcement Group based in Joondalup. He applied to undertake the WA Police “On Public road Training” Course and hoped to qualify and have an opportunity to act as a relief rider undertaking motorcycle policing duties, with a view to ultimately obtaining a permanent role as a motorcycle officer.

On Thursday, 7 December 2017 Den was completing the final two days of the course. Prior to heading out on the road he undertook a safety briefing with his supervisors. The plan was for a ride from Midland along the Great Northern Highway to Toodyay, turning off onto Chittering Road to negotiate bends and various forms of road conditions. Various issues were identified with Den’s riding requiring correction. At one stage towards the end of the ride, Den took a bend wide and went onto the wrong side of the road. The supervisor’s instructed him to downgrade and he was given verbal corrections. Den’s instructors did not consider the incident was serious enough to abort the training ride. They went through some roadworks and then upgraded the ride again at P1 speeds. The plan was to reach Toodyay and then have a break and debrief for about 45 minutes.

As Den entered a bend on Julimar Road it was estimated his speed to be 110-115 km/hr and there was no concern about the speed at that time. Den moved over to the centre of the road to the apex. This movement initially appeared normal and there was nothing to indicate that he would not be able to safely take the corner, however he suddenly sat the bike upright a bit and then veered to the left for no obvious reason. Den’s motorcycle moved onto the gravel verge and once it was on the gravel it was effectively irrecoverable. He lost control and Den and the motorcycle came to rest on the verge. His instructors went to his aid but he had been fatally injured.

The Court was advised the WA Police motorcycle training course was ceased and reviewed immediately after this tragedy. The review was completed in June 2019 and the final report included a large number of findings and recommendations. In light of the WA Police implementing these recommendations, the Coroner did not consider the need to make any further recommendations.

Catch Words : Death of Police Officer while on Duty : Motorcycle Crash : Speed; Accident


Last updated: 27-Jan-2021

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