A West Australian police officer has recounted the moment he captured a snappy freshwater crocodile from a Kimberley backyard.

The scaly encounter, dubbed “Operation Crocodile”, occurred late last month at a Junjuwa home, on the outskirts of Fitzroy Crossing, about 2,400 kilometres north of Perth. 

Fitzroy Crossing police officer-in-charge Mark Howes said he headed to the property after colleagues were flagged down by shocked residents.

A baby crocodile on a bucket

Residents in Fitzroy Crossing received a shock when a freshwater crocodile turned up on a front porch. (Supplied: WA Police)

“A staff member rang me and goes: ‘Hey boss, do you know who gets rid of crocodiles in Fitzroy Crossing?’,” he said.

“I made a couple of phone calls and no-one was available, so I went down there and had a go myself.”

Croc waiting on porch

Senior Sergeant Howes said the reptile, believed to be about a metre in length, was waiting on the front porch when he arrived. 

Hoping to push the croc “out the front gate” and guide it to the river, the officer’s plan was foiled after the freshie absconded to the backyard.

“I picked up the shovel and, of course, best laid plans, it went out the back of the house where there’s no gate,” Senior Sergeant Howes said.

A police officer holds a baby crocodile under the mouth

Senior Sergeant Mark Howes came to the rescue after a crocodile was found in a resident’s backyard. (Supplied: WA Police)

After finding a “piece of metal with a fork on the bottom”, the outback police officer managed to pick the crocodile up under its front leg.

“It gave me enough time to jump in behind it and grab it so it didn’t bite me,” he said.

With a firm grip around its neck, Senior Sergeant Howes emerged safely from the backyard, in front of bewildered onlookers, who can be heard laughing and giggling throughout the ordeal.

The crocodile was soon loaded into the back of a police wagon.

While the croc was relocated back to the river without incident, the officer said the snappy reptile was not overly compliant.

“It still had sharp teeth and it was having a red hot crack at me,” Senior Sergeant Howes said.

It is not the first time remote police officers in the town have attended crocodile call-outs. 

Two croc encounters in 2018 and 2023 went viral on social media, with local police praised for their brave efforts.