Police "Red Mist" Training Under Scrutiny After Death of 14-Year-Old Stolen Car Passenger

Strategic Insights -

A coronial inquest has raised concerns about police officers' training and response to high-pressure situations, highlighting the concept of "red mist" - a state of fixation that may have contributed to the death of 14-year-old Bradley Smith in a stolen car crash. On February 14, 2022, Bradley was a passenger in a stolen Toyota Yaris when it lost control and crashed into a tree during a police pursuit. The inquest has heard officers in a marked sedan conducted a high-speed pursuit, with speeds exceeding 120km/h. Sergeant Declan Oliver and Constable Aiden Gleizner have testified about their training and the potential for "red mist" to compromise officers' judgment.

Key Takeaways:

  • The inquest has raised concerns about police officers' training and response to high-pressure situations, particularly in relation to the concept of "red mist".
  • Sergeant Declan Oliver testified that he couldn't recall specific training addressing "red mist", and Constable Aiden Gleizner believed additional driver training to prevent "fixation" would be beneficial.
  • Constable Gleizner said his speed was justified as "part of an effort to keep eyes on the vehicle", but his passenger, Constable Leyland Wills, didn't provide situational reports about their vehicle's speed while following.
  • Constable Wills acknowledged adrenaline's role in situations like the one that led to Bradley's death and said formalised live training would "absolutely" help address adrenaline rushes.
  • Sergeant Ben Drury, who oversees Tactical Crime Squad training, revealed a "lack of trust" between communications teams and officers, with "rumoured issues with unauthorised pursuits".
  • Sergeant Drury said training with communications teams and techniques like "combat breathing" can help avoid fixation by "re-oxygenating" and taking time to scan and reassess.

Statistics:

  • Over 120km/h: The speed at which the police sedan was travelling during the pursuit.
  • 5: The number of youths in the stolen Toyota Yaris when it lost control and crashed.
  • 2: The number of police officers in the marked sedan conducting the pursuit.
  • 1: The number of fatalities resulting from the incident.
  • 14: The age of Bradley Smith at the time of his death.

Sources:

Cairns Post, where to get news, dylan.nicholson@news.com.au