Who is Raptor 13? Meet the officer who has gained notoriety for his no-nonsense policing style 

The no-nonsense police officer who calls himself ‘Raptor 13’ has built a cult following of fans and critics thanks to his uncompromising policing style.

From challenging bikies to issuing defect notices and confrontational traffic stops, the constable has earned a reputation as one of New South Wales’ toughest officers.

Raptor 13, whose real name is Senior Constable Andrew Murphy, is part of an anti-gang police enforcement squad called Strike Force Raptor, established in 2009.

The strike force is an elite militarised police unit understood to be made up of 55 top cops with the primary goal of dismantling violent bikie gangs.   

The NSW police officer who calls himself ‘Raptor 13’ – named after his officer number – has hit headlines yet again this week for his controversial policing style

Officers accepted into Raptor’s tactical unit have to prove their worth in the ring with their command leader, according to a Daily Telegraph report last year.

The ‘fight club’ is ruthless, and officers rarely come out on top against Detective Chief Inspector Darren Beeche, a fierce boxer with a background in Jiu Jitsu too. 

Raptor has since branched off into extra units – Raptor South in the Illawarra region and Raptor North in the Hunter region – in a bid to regain control in areas marred by violent turf wars.

The strike force is made up of some of the state’s most talented officers; a diverse group of accountants, indigenous people and fearless men and women willing to put their bodies on the front line.  

Over the past two years, officer Raptor 13 has caught attention for a series of incidents caught on camera by members of the public.

Included among them was a confrontation with a group of men travelling in limousines to slain Comanchero president Mick Hawi’s funeral.

Mr Murphy was seen drawing his taser and shouting ‘You’re going to get searched’ as tensions flared between the group of burly men. 

He was praised on 2GB broadcaster Ray Hadley’s program for doing an ‘incredible job’. 

Senior Constable Andrew Murphy is part of an police enforcement squad called Strike Force Raptor, established in 2009 to tackle Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMCGs)

Senior Constable Andrew Murphy is part of an police enforcement squad called Strike Force Raptor, established in 2009 to tackle Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMCGs)

His latest run-in was with Sydney truck driver Ramzy Ali who recorded the officer slapping him with two tickets – one for defect passenger seat and one for an expired registration label

But many people are more critical, pointing to other incidents. 

Mr Murphy has previously been seen on camera refusing to show a driver his speed radar and holding a metal pole to a man’s head.

In another incident he was filmed pushing away an elderly motorcyclist wearing a Veterans Motorcycle Club vest during a tense roadside confrontation.

In the video, Raptor 13 can be heard telling the grey-bearded man to ‘move it’, before adding: ‘I’m not asking, I’m telling ya. Move it.’ 

Last week, Mr Murphy pulled over Sydney truck driver Ramzy Ali, slapping him with two tickets for a defect passenger seat and an expired registration label.   

After an inspection of the vehicle by the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) and a thorough check of their website, it soon emerged that neither case was valid.

‘RMS inspectors said the seat meets manufacturer guidelines as well as Australian compliance standards,’ Ali told Daily Mail Australia. 

WHAT IS NEW SOUTH WALES POLICE STRIKE FORCE RAPTOR?

In 2016, the cop was filmed holding a metal pole to a young driver’s head, in an alleged demonstration of how it could be used as a weapon

When bikies bludgeoned a man to death with a metal bollard at Sydney Airport in front of petrified plane passengers nearly a decade ago, worried NSW police officials made a resolution.

The outlaw motorcycle gangs running amok throughout the state could never be allowed to do something so brazen again.

Such was the genesis of Strike Force Raptor, an elite unit of specialised cops with the balls and legal brains to bust the bikie clubs.

Founded in 2009, the unit has become known for using every available legal means to punish bikies and their associates, from arcane 1800s laws to road violations.

It sounds familiar when you consider the case of ‘Raptor 13′, Senior Constable Andrew Murphy – regularly filmed defecting motorbikes and getting in peoples’ faces.

‘(Strike Force Raptor’s) entire motivation is to be as prominent as the bikies are and rattle their cages,’ said former police officer and crime author Duncan McNab.

‘What they’ve achieved is to destabilise the facade of the bikies and piss some of the serious players off’. 

But it’s clear they’ve managed to irritate some punters outside the motorcycle gangs as well. 

Mr Murphy became the target of vile online abuse after a petition was launched in March calling for a public inquiry into his conduct as a policeman.

The petition said: ‘Officer Murphy has gone too far and something needs to be done’.

More than 17,000 people signed the petition, with hundreds labelling the constable  a ‘bully’ who ‘treats everyone with blatant disrespect’.

‘Police officers shouldn’t go out looking for trouble… Not all cops are like this, but this bloke has pushed the limits of his power,’ one said.  

‘There is a multitude of evidence that officer Murphy has gone too far in his duties as a police officer and something needs to be done!’ another passionately claims.

‘Disciplinary action MUST be taken for obvious reasons. Police should be protecting our civilians instead of harassing them.’

Further footage of the police officer shows him throwing a motorcyclist’s licence to the ground

The Raptor 13 officer has also been filmed meticulously measuring a motorcyclist's bike

The Raptor 13 officer has also been filmed meticulously measuring a motorcyclist’s bike

Despite the outcry on the petitions, NSW Police said they backed Mr Murphy’s behaviour in footage circulating on social media.

Speaking to news.com.au in March, a NSW Police spokesperson said all allegations of misconduct against the constable were a part of his police duties.

Controversial incidents posted on social media were found to have been within protocol and police said there were ‘no issues’ with his behaviour. 

Strike Force Raptor has shut down at least 40 OMCG clubhouses since 2012, forcing many clubs – including Hells Angels, Rebels, Bandidos and Commanchero – to relocate to parts of South East Asia.

According to a recent investigation by News Corp, there is now evidence of 36 Australian-affiliated clubs in Thailand alone.

Daily Mail Australia contacted NSW Police for comment on the altercation between Senior Constable Andrew Murphy and truck driver Ramzy Ali earlier this week  

Strike Force Raptor’s achievements

  • Strike Force Raptor has made more than 4,000 arrests across New South Wales since 2009
  • The group has also laid almost 10,000 charges for a variety of offences, ranging from the most serious and violent through to traffic and consorting
  • Strike Force Raptor has shut down at least 40 OMCG clubhouses since 2012, forcing many clubs – including Hells Angels, Rebels, Bandidos and Commanchero – to relocate to parts of South East Asia
  • Investigators have worked closely with the NSW government to develop new laws, such as Firearms Prohibition Orders, which allow them to search anyone they suspect of having an illegal firearm 

 

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