A police officer who spent years having run-ins with the notorious Bra Boys gang has told of his encounters with one its most formidable members.
Sergeant Ron Mason has lifted the lid on his stand-offs with gangster Tony Hines, whose reign came to an end when was found dead at the bottom of a cliff in 2003.
The gang, which originated in Maroubra in Sydney's south-east, rose to local prominence in the 1990s after it had gained a reputation for street violence, drugs and other organised crime.
Bra Boys gang member Tony Hines (pictured in prison in 1994) was found dead at the bottom of cliffs in Maroubra in 2003. He grew to be one of the gang's most feared members and had multiple stand-offs with police
Over the years, Hines - who grew up in public housing in city's eastern suburbs - developed a grudging respect for Mason, and vice-versa, as a result of their frequent encounters.
'I lived in the eastern suburbs at the time (and) I'd met him a few times. (I'd say,) "Tony, how are you going?" and he was civil to me and nice, but I'd never turn my back on him,' Mason told True Crime Australia.
Sergeant Ron Mason has lifted the lid off his stand-offs with standover gangster Tony Hines, including a time when he knocked him out during an arrest in 1989
He recalled one memorable showdown with Hines at a bar in 1989, when he showed up to arrest the gangster, but quickly realised he was vastly outnumbered.
Hines had a warrant out for his arrest and had been hanging out at the Maroubra Hotel with at least 15 to 16 other gang members, when Mason showed up with a partner.
He decided to go in with a friendly approach, hoping Hines would surrender himself if he asked nicely.
'I went in and said, "Tony, I've got a warrant for you, and I'm also going to arrest you for the assault of the police officer".'
But Hines, calm, cool and collected, replied that he was drinking his beer.
His reaction set the scene, drawing in spectators who quickly prepared to watch a clash.
Mason, still playing good cop, then asked Hines once more to give himself up, and that's when things escalated.
He watched as Hines emptied his beer glass, preparing to smash it on him, but Mason acted quickly, knocking him out with one punch.
Hines was removed from the bar and taken to the police station.
