Coroner recommends psychiatric assessments for state police — ABC News Australia
In Australia, South Australian coroner Naomi Kereru recommended that police introduce mandatory psychological or psychiatric assessments for officers who have experienced significant repeated exposure to traumatic events. The recommendations were released following an inquest into the death of Senior Constable Benjamin Warren in 2022.
According to ABC News Australia, Warren, a 35-year-old father of two, died by suicide. He was found on February 27 in an administrative office at the South Australia Police Academy after his former wife contacted police over concerns for his safety.
Coroner's findings
Kereru concluded that Warren's death could not have been prevented. At the same time, she noted that the case exposed a significant gap in psychological support for police employees with post-traumatic stress disorder.
According to the coroner's findings, Warren had suffered from PTSD for several years before his death, and the disorder resulted from his involvement in critical incidents while on duty. The hearings also considered a possible link between his condition and a road crash involving two fatalities that he attended in December 2014 while serving in Whyalla.
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Proposed changes
Kereru made four recommendations to the police minister. In particular, she proposed more actively informing employees about confidential services provided by the employee assistance program and other external providers that they can access independently.
The coroner also recommended creating an electronic platform that would record and flag police officers' repeated involvement in potentially traumatic assignments. She proposed mandatory assessments for employees who reach a specified level of such exposure. With the officer's consent, such assessments may include consideration of the views of a partner or next of kin.
Police Minister Michael Brown expressed condolences to Warren's family and said the recommendations would be considered together with the police commissioner.
