John Sidney PROOPS
John Sidney PROOPS
New South Wales Police Force
Joined NSW Police Force via the Police Cadet system on 20 February 1967
Cadet # 2256
[alert_yellow]Regd. # 13782[/alert_yellow]
Rank: NSW Police Cadet – commenced 20 February 1967
Probationary Constable – appointed 26 June 1969
Senior Constable – appointed 26 June 1978
Sergeant – appointed 24 January 1985
Final Rank: Sergeant
Stations: ?, Lakemba – mid 1970’s – ( 13 Division ), Breath Analysis Section ( B.A.S. ), Ashfield ( 1987 ), Enfield ( 9 Division ) – Death
Awards: Queens Commendation for Brave Conduct ( Imperial ) – granted on 24 June 1977 – ( Cst ) – Apprehend an armed man
National Medal – granted 3 September 1985 ( SenCon )
1st Clasp to the National Medal – granted 3 October 1995 ( Sgt )
Born: Monday 26 June 1950
Died: Saturday 22 May 1993
Age: 42
Event Date: Saturday 22 May 1993
Event Location: Ashfield
Cause: Heart Attack during arrest
Funeral Date: 23 July 1993
Funeral location: Woronora Cemetery
Buried: Cremated
1/ Ashes: Henry Lawson Garden Walk
Section E, Plot 0012
2/ Memorial location: Woronora Cemetery, Police Garden
Police National Wall of Remembrance touch pad.
On 22 May, 1993 Sergeant Proops and Probationary Constable Katie Thompson went to a dwelling in Enfield to arrest an offender for a breach of a domestic violence order. During a struggle with the offender the sergeant is thought to have suffered a fatal heart attack.
Constable Thompson attempted to revive the sergeant however she was unsuccessful. He was conveyed by ambulance to the Western Suburbs Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The sergeant was born in 1950 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 20 February, 1967 as a cadet.
At the time of his death he was stationed at Enfield.
Beyond Courage
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[alert_green]John IS mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_green]
Note: It was also interesting to learn that Sergeant Proops while attending another domestic dispute some years earlier, survived a spear-gun wound to his chest. Apparently, the spear lost much of its penetrating force after striking the sergeant’s police notebook in his tunic pocket.
Youtube Video of the Kokoda Trek
At just 10-years-old Warren became a NSW Police Legatee, when his father, Sergeant John Proops, passed away after suffering a fatal heart attack while on duty.
Warren has been part of the NSW Police Legacy family for 25 years and took part in the very first trek to Koko
da. Now, he’s returning to the track to help support the team through the physically and emotional journey that is Kokoda.
To support Warren and the NSW Police Legacy team in Papua New Guinea, you can donate here: https://2019kokodatrek.gofundraise.com.au/pa…/MichaelFuller0
National Police Remembrance Day
29, September 2000
National Police Remembrance Day has been marked by a minute’s silence at services throughout Australasia.
Remembrance Day is held every year on St. Michael’s Day, the patron saint of police, for all officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
During the last 12 months, 10 officers have died in the course of their duties in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Papua New Guinea and Fiji.
233 officers have been fatally wounded while on duty in NSW since 1862. Their names are recorded on a memorial dedicated last December in the Sydney Domain.
The Sydney Service has been attended by Police Minister Paul Whelan, Commissioner Peter Ryan and senior members of the NSW Police Service.
During the service candles were lit by Warren Proops, son of Sergeant John Proops who died on 22 May 1996, Eloise and William Heron, son and daughter of Detective Sergeant William Heron who died on 6 January 1999 and Jessica Ede, daughter of Senior Constable Dallas Tidyman who died on 15 August 1994.
NSW Police Commissioner Peter Ryan said the day offers police and members of the public the chance to remember all officers who have lost their lives while serving their community.
“This important day gives us all the chance to pay our respects to these officers and to reflect upon the role in our society that police play,” he said.
“Police officers killed in the course of their duty must never be forgotten.”
The Canberra Times of 24 May, 1993 briefly reported the sergeant’s death.
“POLICE DEATH
SYDNEY: A police sergeant collapsed and died in a struggle with a man he had been questioning about a domestic dispute in Sydney on Saturday night.
Another police officer had broken his leg in a clash later with the man, who allegedly had breached a domestic violence order, a police spokesman said.
Sergeant John Proops, 42, collapsed in the struggle with the 32-year-old man at a house in Enfield.
The man was remanded in Central Local Court yesterday.”
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126990828
July 4, 1996
Police involved in evil business: judge
By GREG BEARUP, Chief Police Reporter
A District Court judge launched an extraordinary attack on police yesterday, claiming they had been involved in the “evil” business of judge-shopping.
He said it appeared that many of those involved in the matter before him had lied.
Judge Phelan, hearing an appeal by Mr Stephen Smith in the District Court, said in a preliminary appraisal of the case that many police had followed a “screed” when giving earlier evidence before a magistrate and when they got beyond the screed their evidence lacked credibility.
There also appeared to have been an assault upon Mr Smith and that no police were able to explain his injuries.
Judge Phelan said if the matter proceeded, and the police witnesses were called against Mr Smith, it would be likely that he would refer a number of matters to the Attorney-General and the Ombudsman alleging that police had fitted evidence and then lied in court.
The Herald understands that staff from the Police Royal Commission had already shown an interest in the matter.
In May 1993, two police officers went to a house in Enfield where it was alleged Mr Smith had breached a domestic violence order.
It was alleged he had resisted arrest and one officer, Sergeant John Proops, had suffered a fatal heart attack.
Police alleged Mr Smith then tried to attack another officer, Sergeant Southam, and that Sergeant Southam suffered a broken ankle.
Mr Smith alleges he was tackled into Sergeant Southam by other officers and then beaten with a torch. He was later convicted of breaching a domestic violence order, resisting arrest and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Judge Phelan said yesterday that a doctor’s report indicated Mr Smith had an injury to his head, consistent with being hit with a torch, a cut on his forehead, bruises over his body, a broken rib and bruises to his legs.
“… the injuries can only be explained rationally and solely by a police attack upon the appellant which the officers have all denied and this leads to the conclusion that many of the police officers are lying,” Judge Phelan said.
He said that a small dog had apparently been kicked in the head and lost its eye during the arrest and that police could offer no explanations as to how this had happened. The dog later died. The judge also stated there had been behind-the-scenes moves to have him removed from the case when it came to an appeal.
“I find it obnoxious and suspicious that there have been police manoeuvres to change the prosecution person [assigned] to these matters,” Judge Phelan said.
“If judge-shopping is an evil, as it is, equally evil is prosecution shopping. I also find it obnoxious and suspicious that there have been manoeuvres to have another judge conduct the appeal.”
The matter will resume before Judge Phelan in the Downing Centre District Court this morning and it is expected that the Director of Public Prosecutions will then make a decision about offering evidence in the case.
Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995),
Wednesday 9 June 1976, page 10
Book ‘saved constable’s life’
SYDNEY, Tuesday. — A notebook in his breast pocket had saved a policeman’s life when a man had fired a spear gun at him, police alleged in Campsie Court today.
The police prosecutor, Sergeant A. Carter, told Mr Hayes. SM. that the constable had been trying to arrest the man when the spear was fired from almost point-blank range.
Before Mr Hayes was Mr Norman Warren Castle, 53, of Albany Road, Petersham, who was charged with shooting Constable John Proops at Belmore last Saturday with intent to murder.
Sergeant Carter said it was alleged that Mr Castle had smashed a door of a house at Belmore and had menaced the two occupants inside with the loaded spear gun.
Police had gone to the house and Mr Castle had allegedly turned on them.
It was alleged he had fired a spear at Constable Proops which had struck the officer’s regulation notebook in the breast pocket of his uniform.
Sergeant Carter said Mr Castle had been taken to Canterbury Hospital yesterday after allegedly swallowing glass.
“The doctors found he had consumed some plastic buttons ‘ — x-rays taken found no glass or other substances”, he said.
People involved in the case “feared for their safety”. Further charges could be laid.
Questioned by Mr Hayes. Mr Castle said he had been “communicating with my dead father”.
Asked how he had been communicating, Mr Castle replied, “In my mind … He has communicated with me before”.
Mr Hayes refused bail, adjourned the case for mention to June 15, and recommended that Mr Castle be physically, and mentally examined.
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