The NSW Police Force lost a highly respected and much-loved member of its family last night.

Sergeant Geoffrey Richardson from the Port Stephens Local Area Command was killed when the police car he was driving crashed into a tree on Lovedale Road, Allandale, around 11.50pm yesterday (Saturday 6 March 2016).

At the time, Sergeant Richardson had been driving to assist colleagues who were engaged in a pursuit. He was the only person in the car at the time of the crash.

Further police and Ambulance Paramedics were called to the scene, and got there a short time later, however Sergeant Richardson had passed away before their arrival. He was the sole occupant of the vehicle.

The matter is now the subject of a Critical Incident Investigation, which will be supported by the Newcastle Crash Investigation Unit and overseen by the Professional Standards Command.

Sergeant Richardson graduated from the NSW Police Academy in 1998. He served the Campbelltown Local Area Command as a Constable until 2005, when he was transferred to Cobar and promoted to the rank of Senior Constable.

In April 2010, he was transferred to Central Hunter Local Area Command, before moving to Lake Macquarie Local Area Command upon his promotion to the rank of Sergeant in December 2010.

He served Lake Macquarie until July of 2015, at which time he transferred to Port Stephens Local Area Command.

Sergeant Richardson provided 18 years of dedicated and distinguished service to the people of NSW. He was the recipient of numerous awards, including a Regional Commander’s Commendation for Bravery after he arrested a number of offenders while off-duty at Nelson Bay in 2012.

In every sense, he was a hard-working, highly regarded, popular and committed police officer, who will be sorely missed by the organisation he so ably represented and the communities he diligently served.

Above all else, he was a loving and much-loved husband and father. His wife, Senior Constable Margaret King, and his two young sons, are naturally devastated, and we ask that their privacy be respected during this extremely difficult time.

As the men and women of this organisation always do in times of tragedy, we will band together and support Sergeant Richardson’s family , his friends, and each other, through this extremely difficult situation.

A Critical Incident Investigation has been launched following the death of a police officer in a motor vehicle crash in the Hunter Valley.

About 11.50pm yesterday (Saturday 6 March 2016), a police vehicle was travelling on Lovedale Road, Allandale, when it left the road and struck a tree.

Further police and Ambulance Paramedics attended however the driver, a 43-year-old Sergeant attached to Port Stephens Local Area Command, died at the scene. He was the sole occupant of the vehicle.

The officer was making his way to assist other officers who were engaged in a pursuit.

A Critical Incident Team assisted by Newcastle Crash Investigation Unit will now investigate all circumstances surrounding the incident.

That investigation will be overseen by the Professional Standards Command.

All information will be provided to the Coroner who will determine the cause of death and make any findings about the events leading to the officer’s death.

No further details are available at this time; however, police are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Anyone who can assist police should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

A man has been charged after allegedly threatening police with a weapon following a domestic violence incident in the Lake Macquarie region.

About 10.30am today (Saturday 5 March 2016), police responded to a domestic violence incident occurring at an address on Makoro Street, Pelican.

It is alleged a 28-year-old man assaulted his 52-year-old father before locking himself in a shed at the rear of the premises.

Inside the shed, police allege the man armed himself with a large knife which he had attached to the handle of a hockey stick.

When police attended, they attempted to unlock the shed at which time the man allegedly struck the inside of the door with the weapon, causing the blade to penetrate the door, narrowly missing the officer’s head.

Police set up a perimeter and requested specialist officers attend.

Prior to the arrival of the specialist officers, the man surrendered and was arrested without incident.

He was taken to Belmont Police Station where he was charged with common assault, intimidation, malicious damage, and use offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention.

He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Sunday 6 March 2016).

A man has been charged over alleged child grooming and possession of child abuse material.

About 3.30pm today (Saturday 5 March 2016), detectives from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command attended a home in Windale and arrested a 38-year-old man.
The man was taken to Belmont Police Station where he was charged with one count of possess child abuse material and two counts of procuring or grooming a child under 16 for unlawful sexual activity.

Police allege the man attempted to groom a 14-year-old girl on a social media site.

He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Sunday 6 March 2016).