Cecil William James ELLIS

On the evening of the 18 April, 1956 Sergeant Ellis and Sergeant Fitzpatrick arrested two men in Liverpool Street, Sydney. The offenders were then marched off toward Central Police Station, one to be charged with drunkenness and the other with indecent language. Nearing the courtyard of the police station the offender detained for indecent language began to resist violently, punching and kicking the police. After being subdued and taken inside, the offender continued to climb out of the dock and attempt to assault any police near enough to him. The assault, followed by the effort of constantly restraining the offender exhausted Sergeant Ellis, and the following day he was suffering from severe chest pains. He was placed on sick report on 20 April and unfortunately died nine days later.

The sergeant was born in 1898 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 3 February, 1927. At the time of his death he was stationed at Central Police Station.