Kings Cross officer brutally bashed

Dozens of police littered the back streets of Darlinghurst and Kings Cross on Wednesday afternoon but were no closer to catching the assailant responsible for the brutal assault on a female sergeant early that morning.
The 34-year-old Kings Cross police officer was found by her colleagues at a bus stop at Craigend Street in Darlinghurst just before 7am, bleeding heavily.
She sustained severe head injuries and, after being treated at the scene, she was taken to St Vincent’s hospital, where she remained in a critical condition.
Areas of Kings Cross and Darlinghurst were extensively sectioned off, from Barcom Avenue to Ward Avenue, across the New South Head Road footbridge, prohibiting pedestrian access.
Police stationed at closed-off areas were questioning curious locals who came to view the teams of riot police patrolling the area and the forensics teams fingerprinting car bonets.
“It’s still very early on in the investigation process, its still very early hours for us,” said Sergeant David Rose of the Police Media Unit.
“And, obviously, there needs to be a fairly intensive search and investigation now.
“Again we’d just like to renew that appeal for anyone who might have seen or heard anything at the early hours of this morning in that location,” he said.
Assistant Commissioner Catherine Burn, commander of the central metro region, admitted at a press conference following the attack that details of the incident were extremely limited.
“We really don’t know the circumstances of what happened. There’s a lot to piece together,” she said.
The officer was attacked between 5.30am and 6.40am on Wednesday. She was on her way to work, however was dressed in plain clothes, clouding the possible motive of the attack for police investigators.
Police were patrolling Craigend Street shortly before 7am when they noticed the injured woman, still conscious. It is believed she dragged herself to the bus shelter.
Commissioner Burn called the injuries horrific, but not life-threatening and she is expected to undergo surgery.
Anyone who has information about the incident is asked to call Kings Cross Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.