Three Police Officers Awarded for Bravery in Mordialloc Shooting Response
Mordialloc, Victoria — On January 13, 2022, at 9:10 PM, three officers from Mordialloc police station responded to reports of an active shooter at a nearby block of flats. The officers were Sergeant Brad Dettman and Senior Constables Michael Gaetano and Jared Eames.
Upon arrival, they encountered a 73-year-old man, Rodney Lee, who had shot and killed two fellow residents, Tibor Laszlo and Saumoto Gasio, following a dispute over a communal garden hose. Lee had fired five shots from a single-barrelled shotgun, reloading repeatedly, and had announced his intent to kill all residents.
"You're gunna get it."
Sergeant Dettman challenged Lee, who raised the weapon and issued the threat. Dettman fired a shot that missed, prompting Lee to retreat into his flat. The officers established a cordon, preventing further harm. Lee surrendered 41 minutes later when the Critical Incident Response Team arrived.
On Friday, May 9, 2026, the three officers received bravery awards from Chief Commissioner Mike Bush. Dettman received the Medal for Courage, while Gaetano and Eames received chief commissioner certificates. Lee pleaded guilty to two counts of murder and was sentenced to 30 years in prison with a 24-year non-parole period.