Police Officers Assaulted at the Western Suburbs League's Club
Due to time being against me I have been unable to provide the exact time and from memory the date was the 23 March 1983. I will also keep this format short till I am able to get my records. ( I have them )
On the above date I was rostered for duty on afternoon shift and after completing our shift went over to the Western Suburbs League's Club with some workmates for a few beers. We where at some time approached by some staff member inviting us to go upstairs to have a look at their new disco. My colleague and I accepted the invitation and we where also accompanied upstairs by a local businessman. We stood by the bar talking amongst ourselves and the staff member who accompanied us left to continue doing his rounds I would imagine. A short time later I saw our friend being king hit by someone with my colleague also receiving an unexpected punch from behind. The whole cowardly act took about thirty seconds. I watched as the offender calmly walked away. I saw my colleague was injured and I immediately walked up to the bar and said to the barman " Quick give me the phone my mates has been assaulted." He replied words to the effect that it was alright and not to worry. I then asked him again and this time I said to him firmly " Come on you know who we are, Police have been assaulted get someone here now " He just turned his back on me. I then walked towards the foyer as I saw that the offender was trying to leave and I stopped him. I said words announcing my office and before he had even turned around a felt a hard blow to the back of my head. After that it was just a rain of punches coming from all directions at me. To the back of the head mostly concentrated to the left side of me. At some point I fell to the ground and this frenzy continued. I curled up into a ball so they just kicked me in the back over and over and over and over again. I honestly thought I was going to die that night. Whilst all this was happening no one intervened. I was picked up by the shoulders and thrown down a flight of steps.
It felt like a very long time but eventually Police Officers arrived. One of them came to me and offered to render assistance and we walked around the Club as I identified at least two or more of the offenders involved in the assault. I was taken to Western Suburbs Hospital treated and allowed to leave. I was not photographed but a good description when you have been pummeled with kicks and punches is my face looked like hamburger mince. The whole left side of my face was swollen and I was bleeding from my left ear. The diagnosis soft tissue injury, yeah right .
I was off work for quite some time and when my face was restored to what appeared to be normal I returned to work. What did not return with me is total to hearing to my left ear, the occasional ringing that went on for quite some time and there is one other thing I have no feeling to the left side of my cheek. This is what I believe they identified as soft tissue injury. I call it no feeling to my left side the face because I can't feel my left cheek. Or should I say the left cheek feels like a lump. The first thing I did when I returned was look for an entry to see how many offenders were charged. I was absolutely stunned, there was not one person charged with any offence. I went into the Detectives office and spoke to one of them I asked why there was no one charged for assaulting me, my partner and the local businessman ? I was then informed that we were attacked that evening by the Reserve Grade players of the Western Suburbs Rugby League Club. It was later discovered and it also became very obvious that this was a planned attack on Police Officers. Apparently they had lost the match that day and I was told that they were a bit upset. Well apparently you have to give these prima donna's a bit of latitude. I was off course upset, my wife and family would later also become upset and they discover your worth nothing. But off course I am later also to discover this (1) the club did not want any adverse publicity (2) A high ranking officer told the Detectives not to charge anyone. Why ? Because he got free meals and free drinks at the Club. So my colleague and I are told don't make waves. Don't claim criminal compensation because the Department will look after you.
Is this making any sense to you. Can you believe this really happened ? Go ahead and touch my left cheek and I will tell you. But there is more to come because Carlos Carceller has not had all of his dignity stripped yet.