Dennis Harvey: Relative of Floreat murder victims Jennifer and Gretl Petelczyc slams WA Police after report

The brother and uncle of murdered Floreat mother and daughter Jennifer and Gretl Petelczyc has slammed WA Police after an internal investigation found eight officers failed in their duties. Dennis Harvey hit out after the report found officers should have issued a restraining order against killer Mark Bombara and seized his 13 guns before the murders. The inquiry was launched after Mr Bombara’s daughter Ariel said police had ignored her repeated warnings about the danger her father posed. Mr Bombara later shot dead Ms Petelczyc and her 18-year-old daughter in their western suburbs home while searching for his estranged wife and Ariel, before turning his gun on himself. Ariel had tried to raise concerns the gun was missing from his collection in the lead-up to the double murder. A summary of the report’s findings were released on Friday but some details have not been made public. Mr Harvey, who said he is a registered firearms owner, said he was outraged his sister and niece’s deaths could have been prevented. “FFS, if the police done the job right the first, second or third time, Jennifer and Gretl would be alive today,” he said. “I put the blame on both the minister and police commissioner, along with middle management for the systemic failures, not only over this but the serious crime in our State. “My confidence in the current Government and the police is at an all-time low. “The police commissioner’s statement and minister’s was no more than a slap on the wrist.” Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Police Commissioner Col Blanch and Police Minister Paul Papalia took responsibility for the failings considering their roles. Mr Blanch said the internal inquiry had made 18 recommendations, 11 of which had been implemented. Eight police officers were found to have failed their duty in the lead-up to the deaths. None have lost their jobs. The Corruption and Crime Commission, WA Ombudsman and State Coroner have been provided copies of the report and may choose to take further action. Mr Blanch said the CCC may choose to release further details, such as what disciplinary action was taken against the officers. Mr Harvey said the public deserved to know exactly where the police failed after only a summary of outcomes from the inquiry were published on Friday. “Governments talk about transparency, until it comes to them when they shut the doors,” he said. “There is more about what transpired about the incident but not willing to say in respect to family members. “But the coronial findings , the CCC and police findings must be made public. “I accept names to be redacted but we need to know where they blew it and what actions they are going to take so it doesn’t happen to someone else. “Myself, family and friends have lost the trust in senior police and government. Am I angry, yeah!” Mr Harvey also revealed more details about what happened on the day of the deaths. “To give you some perspective without too much detail, when my niece walked down to a police car adjacent to her home, she informed them that there was a gunman in the home with Jennifer and Gretl,” he said. “The two police then sprang into action and got out of their patrol vehicle, drew their notebooks from their pocket and took her details, the informed her that she can she stay with a friend up the street. “Hmm , great job sitting in the car WAPOL.” Mr Harvey slammed the fact police failed to remove Bombara’s firearms. “I myself am a legal firearms owner and have asked the question why did the police not act to remove the firearms from Bombara at the start when his family were distressed?” he said. “Under the previous firearms act, any police office can remove the firearms given the right circumstances for public safety. This was never done! Nor after other opportunities.” Speaking to reporters on Monday, Mr Papalia said the old gun laws were “totally inadequate” and that the Floreat murders prompted legislative changes. “Under the old law, it was possible for somebody to collect both a Glock semi automatic modern handgun and the ammunition for that firearm with a separate collector’s license,” he said. “The previous laws were totally inadequate. That’s why we changed them in response to the Floreat tragedy”. Mr Papalia said the new laws also meant police couldn’t exercise discretion when removing guns from a firearm holder reported to be a domestic violence perpetrator. “We have changed that discretion will be removed under the new law and it would mean that a police officer encountering a situation where they become aware of FDV related matters, and they are aware that there are firearms involved, will seize those firearms,” he said. “Under the previous law there was the ability for an officer to exercise discretion with regard to that matter and so we have addressed those matters directly.” 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)