WA news LIVE: WA’s top cop reveals missing Attadale man likely dead

Sticking with WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch’s interview with ABC Radio Perth this morning, the top cop has confirmed that officers who are subject to family violence restraining orders are now being confined to desk work due to the state’s tough new gun laws.

Since the law change last year, police officers can no longer carry a gun if they are subject to an interim or ongoing family violence restraining order.

A police officer allegedly drew a gun and pointed it at a colleague during an argument.Credit: Joe Armao

Blanch said before the law change, officers in the situation would have been removed from frontline duties anyway.

“They had their firearms removed as part of our policy, but it wasn’t the law. I could provide an exemption during the interim, or the family violence order period if I thought that they did not pose a risk to the person who is protected,” he said.

“The law has been changed that brings police in line with the rest of the community … and I think it’s correct.

“It will impact on those police officers going through the process, just like it would impact anyone else who has a licensed firearm of their employment.”

Under the new laws, a licensed firearm holder will have their guns temporarily confiscated if they are subject to an interim or ongoing VRO.

The overhaul was sparked by the murders of Floreat mother and daughter Jennifer and Gretl Petelczyc in 2024, who were killed by a man looking for his estranged wife.

The man’s family members had repeatedly told police they were concerned he possessed multiple guns, and that he was threatening harm to his wife, but no action was taken.

The WA Police Commissioner has revealed a missing person linked to an Attadale unit forensic investigation is likely dead.

Speaking on ABC Radio Perth just now, top cop Col Blanch said Jayden Selfe, 33, has not been heard from since May.

Jayden Selfe is the subject of an ongoing police investigation which saw a unit in Attadale searched extensively.Credit: WA Police/9News Perth

He said police recently received vague information that the man may have met with foul play, sparking an extensive search of a Money Road unit which commenced a week ago.

Based on what was found at the home, and further information gathered, Blanch said he believes Selfe has died in suspicious circumstances, with the homicide squad now leading the investigation.

He added the incident was “very confined” and “related to people very close or around Mr Selfe”.

Asked why police remained so tight-lipped about the case in the initial days of the search, he said police hadn’t yet verified the information they had received about Selfe being missing.

“It would make no sense to go to the public and say ‘We actually don’t know what’s happened’,” he said.

“Now that we have done that investigation ... we’re investigating the suspicious disappearance of Mr Selfe.”