Alan Leek launches book: The Killing Chronicle Police, Service and Shattered Lives

Mr Leek said many of the men died in ways which were incredibly courageous and brave.

"I wanted their stories to be told correctly and I wanted them to be remembered for what they'd done," he said.

The Camden Head resident and veteran of the police force acknowledged that unfortunately with the passage of time many of the men became "just names chiseled into stone".

Mr Leek said humanity has a strange and growing fascination with the genre of crime, particularly murder.

"Publishers tell me this is the leading genre," he said.

However Mr Leek didn't write to fit the popular genre, he just wanted the stories of the brave and gallant men to be publicised.

Mr Leek said the period of the 1900s was a particularly dangerous one and the widows who were left behind weren't treated well by society.

Through his research Mr Leek uncovered police did it tough during a time where firearms were poor and communication between officers wasn't instantaneous.

The book highlights strange incidents which occurred, including a serviceman who fought overseas in several wars before returning home, where he was murdered on Anzac Day.

Mr Leek discovered the reporting of the murders in the media was conducted very differently to how it is done today.

Newspaper photographs from the time are published in Mr Leek's book. Some photos captured the moment where widows were told their husbands had been murdered.

In 2018 Mr Leek released his second book titled 'Frederick Whirlpool VC - Australia's Hidden Victoria Cross'.

The book explores the true story behind the false name of the first man in an Australian uniform to be awarded the Victoria Cross.

Mr Leek said he's now uncovered "the trifecta" for the police force of people who have served gallantly and bravery and have been awarded the Victoria Cross, George Cross and Cross of Valour.