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Twenty years gone, but never forgotten
BY JESSICA PORTER
The memory of Detective Senior Constable Charles Scott 6452 was immortalised last month after a boardroom at Albany Police Station was named in his honour. 01 A plaque outside Albany Police Station now records all the names of the men lost after the tragic plane crash in 1996. 02 Charlie’s daughter Sarah was only 12 when her father died in the plane crash but honours his memory at the memorial. 03 Deputy Commissioner Stephen Brown unveils the new Charlie Scott Boardroom at Albany Police Station. 04 Senior Vice President Brandon Shortland represented WAPU and organised funding to be provided for the memorial service.
16 POLICE NEWS APRIL 2016
It has been 20 years since Det-Sen. Const. Scott was tragically killed in a plane crash alongside four others while investigating a drug smuggling ring near Albany. Charlie, as he was known, was killed when the Cessna 337 he was in crashed near Manypeaks, killing pilot John Bell, Australian Federal Police agent Stephen Hill and Customs officer Peter Siep. Long-time friend and colleague, Inspector Tony Vidovich, organised the 20-year memorial service and for the boardroom to bear his name. “I think it’s fitting because this station will probably be here longer than we will be,” Insp. Vidovich said. “People at the moment know who Charlie was, but in 50 years’ time they may not, but hopefully, they will find out who he was and what he did for this community.”
Remembering Charlie with his family and friends present was very important for Insp. Vidovich. “He was a great mate, and as I said, he was the salt of the Earth,” he said. “He was loyal, he was committed to mateship. He was just as happy sitting around a campfire with family and friends as he was in a five-star hotel. Charlie just loved his family and he loved that core group of mates that he had. “I miss him dearly and I always will.” Insp. Vidovich said at the time of Charlie’s passing, it all happened so quickly that there wasn’t enough time to mourn or remember his mate. “It just seemed to happen and then there was the funeral, and everything seemed to be over in a flash,” he said.