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The NSW Police Force has honoured our nation’s first detective during a memorial service, more than 190 years after his designation.
In 2018, the NSW Police Force Detectives Board engaged an archival and research team from the Rookwood Historical Cemetery, NSW State Archives, and NSW State Library to assist State Crime Command to identify NSW’s first detective designation.
Their research uncovered the colourful exploits of former convict Israel “Izzy” Chapman, which includes his policing career in NSW and the nation’s first designation, as appointed by then Governor of NSW, Sir Ralph Darling.
The group also recovered and replicated his absolute pardon and the first fictional novel published in Australia – “The Adventures of George Flower: the Celebrated Detective Officer” – which honours the deeds of Detective Chapman.
It was also discovered that Detective Chapman was laid to rest in an unmarked grave at Rookwood Cemetery, which was located with the assistance of the Jewish Historical Society.
Further research identified his descendants, who also became involved in the project.
With the assistance and funding of the Jewish Board of Directors and the Police Association, researches and Detective Chapman’s family made arrangements for a headstone to honour his contribution to law enforcement in NSW.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller and his Executive Team joined the Chapman family to place the headstone on his grave at Rookwood Ceremony on Wednesday (24 October 2019).
The memorial reacknowledged Israel Chapman’s contribution to enforcing the law for the safety of colonial Australia.
Commissioner Fuller said Detective Chapman’s legacy lives on in modern criminal investigation across Australia.
“After revisiting Israel Chapman’s story, it’s impressive to see that while technology has developed, the essence of investigation remains the mostly the same,” Commissioner Fuller said.
“NSW has a proud history of criminal investigation – the names on our Detectives Honour Roll clearly show that – and Detective Chapman’s story shows these skills have been helping protect our community for almost 200 years.
“Detective Chapman demonstrated the same tenacity, skill, and fortitude as our current detectives and it was my honour to be able to acknowledge him and his career as a trailblazer for policing in Australia.
“It was an honour to meet Detective Chapman’s family and to be able to formally recognise his enthusiasm and commitment to the colony’s emerging police force.
“There is a strong tradition of NSW Police caring for their officers and family members and – despite the length of time since Detective Chapman left the Force – it is important that we stand with his descendants.
“I have such great pride in our Force and take every opportunity to acknowledge the service of officers who do – and have done – their bit for the community, whether in the 1800s or 2019,” Commissioner Fuller said.
THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL “IZZY” CHAPMAN
Born in Chelsea, London, in 1794, Israel Chapman was sentenced to transportation to Australia for life on HMS Glory in 1818.
He was a model convict and appointed the principal overseer for the Hyde Park prison barracks. He was granted a provisional pardon in 1821 and joined the Sydney Police as a constable.
Over the next few years, Detective Chapman’s duties took him far and wide across the colony, capturing bushrangers and burglars – which would see him wounded on a number of occasions. This work also led to a full pardon, which was granted in April 1827.
On 6 June 1827, the Colonial Secretary awarded Detective Chapman’s designation as a police detective. From this day, he would popularly be known as the ‘George Street Runner’, much like the UK’s Bow Street Runners, who were immortalised in the works of Charles Dickens.
Detective Chapman was described as a colourful character, with his exploits closely followed by the colony’s three newspapers: Australian, Monitor, and the Sydney Gazette.
The results of his exceptional detective skills were regularly published, including his special tactics, which included disguising himself to conduct surveillance on potential perpetrators and unsavoury people – the first Australian documented undercover work.
One such story was published in 1826, which said Detective Chapman – acting on information he’d received – led some constables to a house on Parramatta Road for a search warrant. He was armed with a cutlass and shot ball pistol, and charged into the home announcing his office,”Here is Chapman – who is going to kill him now”. Following a violent struggle, five bushrangers – three of which were wounded – were taken into custody to await trial and ultimately a date with the gallows.
In 1833, Detective Chapman was appointed to Wardsman (similar to today’s rank of Inspector) on a modest salary of 73 pounds.
He would again regaled by the newspapers in relation to the arrest of 34 convict runaways, while the Mounted Police managed to capture four.
In the following years, Detective Chapman dedicated himself to protecting the community, but suffered multiple injuries during encounters with bushrangers, and by 1843, he was unable to continue his service as a police officer.
Sadly, his later years were tumultuous, leading Detective Chapman destitute at an asylum at Liverpool.
Israel Chapman died in 1868 at the aged of 74 and was unceremoniously laid to rest at Rookwood Cemetery in an unmarked grave.
On Wednesday 24 October 2019, a headstone was placed on Detective Chapman’s grave honouring his service.
