Wayne Patterson

Blue Heelers character


image_size = 220
name = Wayne George Patterson
gender = Male
rank = Constable
first_ep_name = A Women's Place
first_ep_no = 1 (Pilot)
first_ep_date = 18/1/1994
last_ep_name = An Act Of Random Violence
last_ep_no = 96
last_ep_date = 2/4/1996
eps = 96
reason = Died after being hit by a car
actor = Grant Bowler
spouse = Roz Patterson

Wayne George Patterson was a character on the long-running Australian police drama Blue Heelers and was played by actor Grant Bowler. He starred in the show from its beginning until he was tragically hit by a car and killed in episode 96 in 1996.

Wayne is a young member of the Mt. Thomas team and is about Maggie’s age. Maggie and Wayne attended the police academy together and dated for a while. After Maggie’s mother died, Wayne and her lost touch and drifted apart until Maggie was posted in Mt. Thomas to discover Wayne had actually been married to Roz Patterson and that he had been posted to Mt. Thomas and was staying in the police residence.

Wayne goes through a lot while at Mt. Thomas including the time he was shot and left for dead by the driver of a car he was about to help. He and Maggie were also taken hostage by dangerous criminals in the Mt. Thomas hospital in the first season 3 episode ‘Once Only Withdrawal’. He was held at gunpoint numerous times, been accused of corruption and drug offences and was also known in Mt. Thomas as a bit of a ‘ladies man’. He was part of the Traffic Operations Group at Mt. Thomas and, later, became the District Firearms Officer.

Wayne’s time as a Heeler was ended in the season 3 episode ‘An Act Of Random Violence’ when he was struck by a car and killed right outside of the Mt. Thomas Police Station while he crossed the road. Wayne’s position was initially filled by a senior detective (Frankie J. Holden) who was later found charged with falsifying evidence. He was then replaced by Constable Dash McKinley (Tasma Walton). Wayne’s wife Roz briefly returns for Wayne’s funeral, much to Nick’s dislike who suspects she only returned to receive his life insurance and police benefits.