NSW Police commissioner's touching gesture before rookie officer's death

The pregnant wife of a young NSW Police officer killed in a head-on crash has paid tribute alongside his colleagues outside the station he served.

Probationary Constable Timothy Proctor, 29, died on Sunday after a head-on crash at Lucas Heights in Sydney’s south on Thursday.

The 65-year-old woman in the other car remains fighting for life.

Tributes flowed for the 29-year-old father-to-be as it emerged NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller promoted the rookie officer to the rank of constable before the young man died.

His wife was seen outside Liverpool Police Station on Sunday with his colleagues who observed a moment’s silence. She is pregnant with their first child.

Many stood shoulder-to-shoulder with paramedics as the flag was lowered to half-mast.

The police association’s Tony King said Const Proctor’s death was hard to deal with.

“Collisions like this are real difficult to attend (and) when you actually see that it’s one of your own involved it just hits you that much harder,” Mr King said.

Comm Fuller paid tribute to Const Proctor on Sunday and visited his bedside before he died.

In a show of gratitude, he promoted the probationary officer to the rank of constable as his grateful family watched on.

The commissioner said in a statement his thoughts were with the police officer’s wife, Dianne, along with friends and colleagues during “this incredibly difficult time”.

“Timothy was certainly well on the way to a wonderful policing career and was well-respected by his colleagues and all who knew him,” Comm Fuller said.

“He joined the police force after being a volunteer firefighter, and had a tremendous passion and commitment for all emergency services and the community.”

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