Constable William O'Dwyer - Taroom, QLD - Police Memorials on Waymarking.com

A plaque fixed to a small sandstone boulder outlines the death on duty of Constable William O'Dwyer.

The plaque states: This monument is dedicated to the memory of Constable William O'Dwyer Reg. No. 138 Taroom Station who was murdered whilst serving the people of Queensland at Juandah on 26 January 1883. Rest in Peace.

It was unveiled on Police Remembrance Day 29 September 2011.

Monument Australia, the website listed below, has the following information about the events leading to the murder:

Constable O’Dwyer was stationed at Taroom when a warrant was issued for the arrest of a male suspect for attempted murder. O’Dwyer, Senior Constable Wright and a police tracker, left Taroom on January 24, 1883 to ride to a location on Woleebee Creek via Wandoan where the suspect had been seen.

The group saw smoke and believed it to be the suspect’s camp fire. Tactically, they waited to daylight the next morning to execute the warrant. On approaching the suspect and executing the warrant, the suspect resisted arrest and struck O’Dwyer’s head with a tomahawk. The offender was then shot several times by Senior Constable Wright and killed.

O’Dwyer succumbed to his wounds approximately 30 minutes later, and is buried at Wandoan.

Website pertaining to the memorial: [Web Link] List if there are any visiting hours: In the open. Entrance fees (if it applies): Type of memorial: Plaque

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