On 12th of October 1979, Sergeant Keelan and 1st Class Constable Pense attended the farming property of Donald Edwin Parre to execute a local court warrant. 

1st Class Constable Pense parked the Police van in the driveway whilst Sgt Keelan knocked on the front door. Parre emerged from a nearby shed, shooting Sgt Keelan in the wrist and stomach with a .22 calibre rifle. Sgt Keelan returned to the van to get the Police service pistol, Parre began to advance towards the van firing the rifle from his hip.

1st Class Constable Pense ran towards Parre, who shot 1st Class Constable Pense four times in the upper area of his body.

Upon reaching Parre, 1st Class Constable Pense knocked the rifle from his grasp and placed Parre into a hold. During the struggle, Parre retrieved a small pistol from his top pocket and shot 1st Class Constable Pense three times in the chest.

Sergeant Keelan fired at Parre, striking him in the face, but he managed to run into a nearby shed.

Sgt Keelan attended to 1st Class Constable Pense, but he was already dead.

Parre then emerged with another rifle firing at Sgt Keelan who managed to drive the Police van to a nearby farmhouse to call for help, when other officers attended, Parre gave himself up without a struggle.

On 17th of October 1979, 1st Class Constable Pense was cremated at Karrakatta Crematorium with full honours, he was survived by his wife Mary, and three children, with two brothers also serving members of the WA Police Force. 

1st Class Constable Pense was posthumously awarded the George Medal for Bravery on the 4th of November 1979.