Hero police officer Amy Scott has been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer.
NSW Police Inspector Scott is praised for stopping the Westfield Bondi Junction stabbing attacker Joel Cauchi on April 13, 2024. She shot Cauchi dead when he charged at her, after he had fatally stabbed six people, including five women.
Following her brave actions, Inspector Scott was recognised with the Commissioner’s Valour Award.
“Just as she is so much more than her diagnosis, she is so much more than ‘the hero of Bondi Junction,’” said the NSW Police Force’s charity, Police Legacy NSW in a statement.
“She is a loving wife, mother of two young boys, devoted to serving the community through her work as a NSW Police Officer, and widely known as selfless, compassionate, and kind.”
Rallying around Inspector Scott with support, the charity has set up a fundraiser to help ease “the financial burden” of the diagnosis on herself and her family. More than $90,000 have already been raised as of Monday afternoon.
“She is fiercely independent and the first to champion others. Whilst she is being well supported by her family, friends and colleagues, Amy has a long uphill battle ahead to beat this insidious disease,” Police Legacy NSW said. “Amy now needs the strength, compassion, and support of her community.”
“This is a powerful reminder that even our strongest people are human, and this fundraiser has been created to ease the financial burden for Amy and her family during this incredibly challenging time”.
Addressing Inspector Scott’s cancer diagnosis, NSW Premier Chris Minns described her as a “bona fide Australian hero”, adding that he was “devastated” by the news.
“She is a genuine, bona fide Australian hero and someone we owe a huge debt of gratitude to, not just because of her heroic actions in Bondi Junction of a couple of years ago, but also she’s been an inspiration to the exact same officers that attended the [Bondi Beach] terrorism event on the 14th of December,” Minns said.
“If anyone deserves a break, it’s Amy, and we just wish her the very best. She’s an absolute champion.”
NSW police minister Yasmin Catley expressed her devastation as well, saying Scott was “the epitome of the brilliance of the NSW police force”.
“The whole police family is suffering at the moment with the knowledge of her diagnosis.”