On 11th of February 1968, police officers attended a domestic incident in Cockburn Avenue, Albany to arrest William Arthur Smith who was armed with a rifle.  

Police searched Smith's home to find him crouched in a cupboard pointing a rifle at them, as officers retreated, Smith escaped, and a search party was formed. 

Constable Cusack was part of the armed search party who located Smith hiding in dense bushland near the Albany Hospital. Constable Cusack was kneeling in a ditch with only his head showing when Police used Smith’s dog ‘Sooty’ to pinpoint his location.

As Smith broke cover, Constable Cusack shouted at him to halt, Smith then shot Constable Cusack through the left temple, and he died at the scene. 

Four days later, Smith returned to his house and after a brief siege, he shot himself. 

Constable Cusack left behind his wife Glenys and two children.