WA police officer Cassandra Chapman dies tragically

EXCLUSIVE

A brave police officer who intervened to stop a colleague from physically attacking a young woman has tragically died in a diving accident.

First Class Constable Cassandra Chapman was off duty on Tuesday and enjoying a swim at Trigg Beach, in Perth’s northwest, when she got into trouble about 10.30am.

Emergency services rushed to the scene after beachgoers raised the alarm that she was in distress, but despite their efforts she could not be saved.

Unconfirmed reports suggest she became trapped underwater under a ledge.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal Constable Chapman, in his 40s, was a respected member of the WA Police Force.

Last year she was embroiled in a high-profile lawsuit after her superior, First Class Constable Alister Swift, was charged with assault after dragging and kicking a woman during an unlawful arrest.

The incident occurred in 2020 when two officers were called to a domestic violence incident at a home in Cloverdale, in Perth’s east, involving a man and a woman.

Police had spoken to the man about whether he wanted to file a protective order against the woman, who then insulted Swift.

Cassandra ‘Cass’ Chapman (pictured) tragically died in a diving incident on Tuesday

Police are pictured at Trigg Beach in Perth after Constable Chapman encountered problems in the water

Deciding to make an arrest, Swift pushed the woman into a bedroom and placed handcuffs on her, after which Officer Chapman pulled them off her and helped her wash her hands and face.

Swift then handcuffed her again and pushed the woman against her partner’s car.

Officer Chapman reprimanded him for his behavior and said, “What are you doing?” and ‘You’re going too far.’

Swift then kicked the woman as he tried to get her into a police vehicle. When Officer Chapman pulled him over, he responded, “Do as I say, I’m your superior.”

Swift, who was charged when Constable Chapman complained about his behaviour, was sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty by a jury of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and deprivation of liberty.

At his sentencing hearing in November, Judge Mara Barone praised Constable Chapman for risking her career to testify against her colleague, saying she had upheld society’s expectations of how a police officer should behave .

“Agent Chapman doesn’t deserve your ridicule. She didn’t deserve it that day and she doesn’t deserve it now,” Judge Barone told Swift.

“Officer Chapman did exactly what the community expects from a police officer. You did the opposite.”

Her actions were also praised by the public, with one person writing online: ‘What miracle has happened for the existence of a police officer like Cassandra Chapman.

Constable Chapman was a much-loved member of the Collie PCYC before leaving in April to pursue her ‘dream job’

Emergency services, including police and surf lifesavers, rushed to the scene after the alarm was raised that the woman was in distress (photo police and beach visitors on site)

“I need thousands more like them, and none like Alister Swift.”

In more recent years, Constable Chapman was an active member of the community in Collie, a town of 7,600 people 186km south of Perth.

In a local news article from April last year, she is pictured next to someone in an Easter Bunny costume as they prepare to hand out Easter eggs around town.

She was also a youth police officer for Collie PCYC, where she participated in events and accompanied children on field trips.

In April this year, the PCYC announced she was leaving to take up her ‘dream job in forensic medicine’ and that she would be ‘sadly missed by our staff and young people’.

Tributes have been pouring in online for Constable Chapman, who is remembered as a ‘kind person’.

“She was more than a top-notch cop, she was a top-notch person with an infectious smile and a big heart,” one person said.

In a statement on Chapman’s death, WA Police said the tragedy had hit her colleagues hard.

“Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to her family and colleagues,” police said.

“Paying attention to life-and-death situations is an everyday reality for first responders, but incidents involving one of our own are especially difficult for our officers.”