Aussie cop's death ignites policing debate

An Australian police officer died in a shooting at this tavern on the Gold Coast. Photo / Richard Gosling, Gold Coast Bulletin

An armed robbery has occurred every second day on the Gold Coast since the beginning of the year.

This one, however, was anything but routine.

When the triple-zero call went out from Pacific Pines Tavern late on Sunday night, Detective Senior Constable Damian Leeding and his female patrol partner were first on the scene.

They drove the short distance from Coomera police station, pulled into the tavern car park and started to make their way towards the tavern entrance.

They were the last steps that Det. Leeding would take.

Before he could reach the door, a sawn-off shotgun exploded in his face at point-blank range.

His horrified partner called for help and gave what first aid she could, but there was no way he could survive the catastrophic injuries.

Three days later in a hospital just a few kilometres away, Det. Leeding's wife Sonya, herself a police officer, took the most heart-wrenching decision of her life.

The life support system was switched off. Her husband, and the father of their two young children, died within minutes.

To the end of May there have been 82 armed robberies in the Gold Coast region, including the slain officer's Coomera Police District, which covers the tavern where he was shot.

That's more than one every second day.

A couple of weeks before he was killed, the detective and his father-in-law, Garry O'Brien, were sharing a beer when a story about the spate of armed holdups appeared on the TV.

He turned and said, "Gazza, we'll get the bastards."

But that wasn't to be.

The Gold Coast's foremost criminal lawyer, Bill Potts, lists drugs, poverty and the callous stupidity of criminals as key ingredients in what's been playing out on the Glitter Strip.

He says more targeted policing, and not higher penalties or mandatory sentences, is the answer.

"In particular what they should be targeting is the drug scourge that is ruining the Gold Coast," he told AAP.

Mr Potts pointed to the fact that there were two armed robberies on the Gold Coast the day after Damian Leeding was shot.

"That can only demonstrate that the people doing these things simply haven't got a brain in their heads or are so addicted they don't think ahead.

"These offences are carried out by people who have unemployment, poverty, more often than not drug addiction, but in addition to that a very large amount of stupidity and callousness.

"You can't legislate against, or deter, people who have that kind of mindset.

"If the Gold Coast could be referred to as the OK Corral, it is true we need more Wyatt Earps."

Police Union president Ian Leavers said the events of the past week had reminded everyone in the force just how dangerous their jobs were.

"We are called the thin blue line for a reason.

"We are all that stands between this evil and keeping society safe."

Assistant Commissioner Paul Wilson says that statistically, the level of crime in the Gold Coast region remains steady.

"The armed robberies this calendar year are no greater than the armed robberies last calendar year on the Gold Coast. The statistical data shows that."

Mr Potts, however, said there was a distrust within the community of statistical facts.

"I remember Benjamin Disraeli said there are lies, damned lies, and statistics.

"The public perception is that crime is on the rise, and perception I suspect, is reality in these sort of circumstances."

Mr Wilson said there had been a change in armed robberies during the 35 years he has served as a police officer, with criminals moving away from banks and large businesses to soft targets like corner stores, service stations and pubs.

The question of an armed robbery squad for the Gold Coast is currently under discussion.

But Mr Potts said care must be taken not to react in haste in the wake of Damian Leeding's death.

"I think we need to be careful that we don't stampede our politicians and our community into demanding higher penalties.

"Penalties are already tough, and justice, though it might seem slow and somewhat strange to some people, in fact does work."

Damian Leeding will be laid to rest with full honours after a memorial service on Tuesday at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, the only venue large enough to accommodate the thousands expected to attend.

His sister arrived from England on Wednesday morning and was at his bedside with his wife, son Hudson, 2, and three-month-old baby Grace and other family members when he passed away.

His father flew in the next day.

Less than 24 hours after life support was turned off, charges against the three people arrested over his shooting were upgraded to murder in Southport Magistrates Court.

It took only moments to complete the formalities.

Moments which could add years to any sentences, if the woman and two men are ultimately found guilty.

- AAP