Cops face unavoidable trauma, inquest told

A veteran Tasmania Police sergeant has told an inquest officers face unavoidable trauma and there are challenges in finding the best formula for providing support.

An inquest into the suicides of four officers between 2016 and 2020 is examining police policies and procedures relating to welfare.

Sergeant Peter May, who was a wellbeing officer for several years until 2020, said there was an "obvious need" for additional welfare resources when he started the role but the situation had since improved.

He provided support to Sergeant Robert Cooke, 49, who died by suicide at his home in October 2020 after serving in the force for some three decades.

Sgt May described his death as a "tragic shame".

The inquest has been told Sgt Cooke, who was on a return-to-work program, was being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder and feared he couldn't return to his rural posting.

Sgt May said Sgt Cooke had once been the first responder to a fatal car crash simply because the pair had taken different routes from a job.

"I've seen Robert at his best. I've seen Robert at his lowest," he said.

"Unfortunately policing comes with unavoidable situations, as far as exposure to traumatic events."

Sgt May said Sgt Cooke always came across as quite optimistic and was a glass-half-full person.

"Wellbeing support is not an exact science … (you) can't be with a client 24/7," he said.

"You can do your best to ... encourage a client to have support and engage with professional supports.

"You can encourage the best coping mechanisms but you can't stop some clients who have negative coping mechanisms.

"(Sgt Cooke) was someone who was willing to engage. He was self aware. He tried. He really did.

"To get that formula right, as to who would be the right person at the right time to be the support and give the correct advice is very challenging."

The inquest is also investigating the suicide of Constable Simon Darke at his home in 2019 after he left a night shift early.

Sgt May said Const Darke, who the inquest has been told was suffering stressors in his personal life, had earlier turned down mental health support from Tasmania Police.

"I never would have picked Simon. I don't think his supervisors would have either," Sgt May said.

"To get that phone call in the middle of the night that he'd taken his own life. That was completely out of the blue."

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