By JESSE GRAHAM
A POLICE officer stabbed in Healesville in 2010 is being honoured today with a special award for seriously injured or killed officers.
Lilydale police Leading Senior Constable Christopher Bullen will today be awarded the Victoria Police Star in an event in Ringwood.
Leading Sen Const Bullen was on duty in Healesville on 7 December, 2010, when he attempted to arrest James D’Zilva at Healesville’s Coles Express petrol station about 10.20pm.
D’Zilva – who had a diagnosis of Disorganised Schizophrenia and had not taken his medication – stabbed Sen Const Bullen eight times in the head, eye and torso, before fleeing.
The incident sparked a month-long man-hunt through Christmas Hills, Kangaroo Ground, Yarra Glen, Hurstbridge and Healesville.
D’Zilva was arrested in Richmond on 5 January and sentenced to time already served in 2012.
Leading Sen Const Bullen received surgery at the time for his wounds, and was discharged from hospital on 10 December, 2010.
The Victoria Police Star was introduced in 2006, and honours Victoria Police employees killed or seriously injured while on or off duty – Leading Sen Const Bullen is its latest recipient.
For the full story, see next week’s Mail.
