He said his initial briefings said there was an association to NSW, and it elevated concerns the Trains could flee the state.
“Who shoots police and just sits there and waits?” he said.
The Trains had gunned down constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold that afternoon, their two colleagues, constables Randall Kirk and Keely Brough, escaping under heavy gunfire and the fires the shooters lit surrounding their property.
A photo of the Trains’ property tendered to the Wieambilla inquest.
The officers had attended the property to investigate a missing persons report from NSW regarding Nathaniel Train.
Partridge told the inquest on Wednesday that when he confirmed reports of a shooting on the Western Downs, he began making calls to get SERT operatives into position.
This included sending the police armoured vehicle BearCat onto the road immediately, given its slow speed. Several operatives, including team leaders and snipers, were sent in an aircraft to get to Wieambilla quicker ahead of Partridge.
The armoured police BearCat, used by the tactical response team that eventually killed the Trains, came under fire.
Partridge drove to the scene with two intel officers, and was receiving briefings from other teams, who informed him two officers had been shot, and one was missing, while another had escaped.
He said there had been a high likelihood a member of the team would be killed.
“There was a very good chance someone would be shot and killed and yet not one of them hesitated.”
He said he did not know Arnold and McCrow were dead until about 7pm.
An aerial image shown to the inquest of the Wieambilla property.
Partridge said he arrived just before 9pm, and remained concerned the Trains could escape the police cordon.
Partridge said the fact a civilian had also been killed had increased his concern, and it was a relief to see the Trains at the scene, as police knew where they were.
Partridge said he continued to urge SERT teams to move in toward the Train home. He said he was unable to communicate with officers in the BearCat via radio, but he managed to call on their mobiles.
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He said he told them he understood it was probable he was pushing them into tactically compromised positions, and there would likely be gunfire.
But he said he remained concerned the BearCat vehicle and other teams were not able to stop the Trains quickly if they escaped in their car.
The Trains did not respond to negotiation attempts by police, and were killed by SERT after 10.30pm.
At the inquest, Partridge detailed a range of changes that could be made to SERT, including putting marksmen in aircraft above the scene, a capability available to other states. He said SERT were working to fix communication issues.
SERT were also challenged on the night as they did not have thermal imaging equipment, he said.
The inquest continues.
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