Episode description

At approximately 2:00pm on 20 March 1997, members of the Westgate District Task Force were performing plain clothes duties in the Footscray area when their attention was drawn to a male acting suspiciously in the car park at the corner of Donald and Droop Streets.

Constables Pauline Williams and Matthew Neilson maintained their observations of the male's activities and then witnessed him run towards a vehicle and appear to conduct a "bag snatch but in fact was an armed robbery".

Williams and Neilson chased the offender down a laneway. As an unarmed Neilson turned the corner, the male suddenly stood up from between two parked cars and pointed a pistol at him. Following close by, Constable Williams drew her service revolver and ordered the male to put the weapon down. The man moved the pistol momentarily in Williams direction and then held it at point blank range towards Neilson. In fear of Neilson's life, Williams fired off two rounds which distracted the male and gave Neilson the chance to dive for cover.

The offender then moved towards Williams and pointed his pistol directly at her. She believed her life was in danger and fired off one reaction shot which caused the offender to back away. Both constables started to walk towards the male and reiterated that they were police and for him to drop his weapon. The male did not respond and Williams was forced to fire another round which struck the male dropping him to the ground. Williams immediately approached him and dragged the weapon away with her foot whilst maintaining her stance.

Both police officers would eventually receive the Victoria Police Valour Award, awarded to sworn police employees for a particular incident involving an act that displayed exceptional bravery in extremely perilous circumstances.

But this story is more than just one moment of bravery, we sit down with Pauline Williams as the now Inspector shares her story of PTSD and living with the consequences of that day.

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