Yesterday, dramatic video footage surfaced showing a detective senior constable bravely confronting armed attackers. As the assailants unleashed gunfire on crowds from a footbridge, the officer, without any protective gear, strategically positioned himself behind trees to return fire with his pistol.

The officer’s decisive actions are credited with neutralizing the threat; his shots reportedly killed 50-year-old Sajid Akram and injured 24-year-old Naveed Akram, who was subsequently apprehended at the scene by police.

This courageous officer, Cess Barraza, is no stranger to the public eye. Over 15 years ago, he appeared on the police reality TV show, Recruits. During the program, a youthful Barraza declared, “My name is Cess Barraza, I’m 26 and I want to be a police officer because I hate crime.”

Barraza appeared on the police reality TV show Recruits more than 15 years ago.

“My name is Cess Barraza, I’m 26 and I want to be a police officer because I hate crime,” he said on the program.

This afternoon, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said authorities had not yet confirmed Barraza’s shots struck the Akrams, but praised his actions in confronting them.

“We’re still awaiting ballistic examination before we can confirm who fired that shot,” he said. 

“I’m proud of the officer who has been identified, as I am of every police officer there on that day. 

“The bravery they went through to approach and resolve that situation is incredible.”

A statement from his family said he has a challenging recovery ahead of him, including several rounds of surgery, after “miraculously surviving”.

He has only served in the police force for four months, but Lanyon assured that he will be supported.

“We will find appropriate duties for him, depending on the nature of that injury and his capacity,” the commissioner said.