Constable Mia Lay was remembered by her family, colleagues and senior politicians at the National Police Remembrance Day service in Sydney on Tuesday, days after the 20-year-old officer was killed in a patrol car crash.
Lay died on Friday when the marked Volkswagen Tiguan she was travelling in struck a tree in Redfern, in Sydney’s inner south, while responding to a reported vehicle theft. She had been stationed at Redfern police station, about 100 metres from the crash site.
Her parents, Clem and Tamara, siblings and partner, fellow officer Constable Daniel Vasquez, attended the ceremony at the NSW Police wall of remembrance in the Domain. The family embraced as they laid wreaths in her memory.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon described Lay as a promising young officer who was committed to serving her community.
“Though in the infancy of her career, she was dedicated and passionate about serving her community and showed enormous promise,” he said. “She was a wonderfully vibrant, well-respected young police officer and someone who had a bright career.”
Investigation into fatal police crash
The officer driving the vehicle, Constable Brandon Torrisi, 24, was treated for minor injuries, including a cut to his face, and discharged from Royal Prince Alfred Hospital on Friday.
His driving before the collision is being examined in a critical incident investigation overseen by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission. Crash investigators are also studying data from the patrol car and the circumstances of the collision, including whether speed was a factor.
CCTV released on Monday appeared to show Torrisi driving at significant speed with lights and sirens near the crash site. He holds a silver class licence, allowing officers to undertake urgent duty driving, although police responding to urgent incidents must still drive according to road conditions.
Mr Lanyon said a thorough investigation would be conducted and urged people to allow due process to take place.
“I just ask that we allow due process to happen. I want to make sure that we investigate this accident thoroughly … but we will investigate the matter and take appropriate action as required,” he said.
Lay graduated from the NSW Police Goulburn academy last May. Her name will be added to the wall alongside 285 officers who died during, or as a result of, their police work.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said many recruits were still under 21 when they graduated from the academy, and paid tribute to the demands placed on young officers.
“It’s a reminder that we ask our police officers to grow up incredibly quickly,” he said, noting that some of their peers were still at university, taking a gap year or beginning apprenticeships while police recruits were already entering dangerous situations in public service.
Lay’s family has been offered a police funeral, which is expected to take place in the coming weeks.
