Police fire on postal worker after responding to reports he was armed with a knife at a post office

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

A postal worker who was “held in high regard by colleagues” has been shot dead by police outside a post office in New South Wales.



The man was reportedly shot three times by police after moving toward them while armed with a knife at Warners Bay, south of Newcastle, on Wednesday afternoon.

Jim Metcher, the branch secretary of the CEPU union, which represents communications workers, said: “Despite his long history of mental health disorders that has resulted in this horrific and tragic sad circumstance, he was always held in high regard and supported by his colleagues,”

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends along with our local retail members who have been subjected to this horrific ordeal.”



An internal police investigation with oversight from a standards body is underway.