WA Police have faced intense scrutiny following the tragic Floreat murders last May, where Mark Bombara shot dead his wife’s best friend, Jennifer Petelczyc, and her teenage daughter, Gretl, before taking his own life. An internal investigation revealed significant failures in the police's handling of warnings about Bombara’s violent behavior, prompting disciplinary action against eight officers involved.
The investigation, finalized on January 31, 2025, has been described as both damning and sobering, with Police Commissioner Col Blanch announcing the findings and actions taken during a press conference. "Sadly, we got this one wrong, but we are committed to making sure it is never repeated," Blanch stated, highlighting the grave mistakes made leading up to the murders.
Internal documents revealed officers failed to properly assess the risk posed by Bombara, who was licensed to own 13 guns. This oversight prevented the use of legal powers under the Restraining Orders Act and Firearms Act, which could have restricted his access to firearms. The report confirmed there was inadequate action taken to determine whether Bombara was fit to hold such licenses, even after his family expressed clear and urgent concerns.
Ariel Bombara, who continuously pleaded for police intervention, expressed her frustrations during the press conference. "We told you he was going to murder us. So did you not believe us? Or did you just not give a shit?" she emphasized, relaying the sense of defeat and anger she felt amid the systemic failures surrounding her family’s safety.
Ariel and her mother had sought help from the police several times before the murders, citing their fear of Mark Bombara and his access to firearms. Over the weeks leading up to the tragic events, they communicated specific risk factors including his history of abuse and recent health problems. "This report identifies all the risk factors we communicated to the police," Ariel noted, criticizing the police's lack of action.
According to the internal review, which outlined 18 recommendations aimed at preventing such failures from happening again, 11 measures have already been completed. Among these was the establishment of dedicated family violence coordinators available at the WA Police operations command center to provide consistent expert advice on cases involving domestic abuse.
During the investigation, significant gaps were identified, including insufficient training and outdated policies among officers dealing with domestic violence incidents. Ariel expressed her gratitude for the report but reiterated the harrowing reality of the situation: "Jenny and Gretl should not have been murdered. They deserved so much more. This was the perfect storm of apathy and compassion fatigue from officers combined with shoddy systems.”
Following the public reaction to the investigation, the WA Government swiftly took action, passing new firearm laws which now limit the number of guns allowed to license holders and mandate mental health checks. Ariel, reflecting on the urgency of these reforms, remarked, "I hope these recommendations are the first step toward fixing a broken system."
The internal report required for the bombshell findings accused the officers of missing numerous warning signs — failures Ariel described as not just regrettable, but indicative of larger systemic issues within law enforcement. She stated, "Red flags seemed so obvious to me, and it baffles me... police officers did not take this risk seriously. They should have taken our warnings to heart, but those lives were lost instead."
Unfortunately, the heartache does not end with the investigations and disciplinary actions for the Bombara family. Ariel continues to grapple with her father's actions and the aftermath of the murders, recognizing the heavy burden of being involved with such chilling events. "I will forever carry this weight, and we must change the narrative around domestic violence. Too many families have suffered, and we cannot let history repeat itself. We need to protect vulnerable individuals and families," she said.
The Floreat murders have now become emblematic of the pressing need for police reform and improved measures to protect victims of domestic violence. The case serves as both a tragic reminder of how urgent it is for police to take threats seriously and as motivation for lawmakers to address shortcomings within the system. After Ariel shared her painful story, the hope is now set firmly on action, change, and finally holding the police accountable to fulfill their duty to protect.