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THE VICTORIA POLICE MAGAZINE
Rusted on A POLICE OFFICER IN NORTHERN VICTORIA IS THE MAINSTAY OF HIS LOCAL COMMUNITY PLUS REMEMBERING THE 2009 BUSHFIRES > LEARNING ABOUT LIFE ON THE STREETS POLICE PREPARATION FOR THE ROYAL VISIT AND MORE
SUMMER 2019
SUMMER 2019
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Life on the streets A man who spent years sleeping rough on Melbourne’s streets is helping police understand the plight of the homeless.
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Like fathers, like sons Two officers working together in Frankston are following in the footsteps of their fathers, who spent years on the beat together.
COVER: Boort’s long-serving Leading Senior Constable Ray Stomann. Photography: Brendan McCarthy Police Life is produced by the Media & Corporate Communications Department, Victoria Police, GPO Box 913, Melbourne, 3001, Fax: 9247 5982 Online police.vic.gov.au/policelife facebook.com/victoriapolice twitter.com/victoriapolice Email policelife-mgr@police.vic.gov.au Managing Editor Superintendent Jo Dolan
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Editor Roslyn Jaguar
Winning partnership Negotiators are reaping the rewards of a program that boosts the safety of police, the community and people with mental health issues.
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Rugby team’s rapid rise The Victoria Police Rugby Club is proving that crime is not the only thing its members can tackle.
Journalists Joel Peterson Maria Carnovale Jesse Wray-McCann Anthea Cannon Donna Magness Caitlin Swarts Emily Wan Graphic Design Fluid – fluid.com.au Subscriptions 9247 6894 ISSN 0032-2598L Crown Copyright in the state of Victoria. For permission to reprint any part of this magazine, contact the editor. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Victoria Police.
REGULARS
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Behind the Badge By the Numbers Out & About True Crime
Royal Treatment Huge crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as police provided a watchful eye.
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER In 2014, Victoria Police commissioned the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission to undertake an independent review of sex discrimination and sexual harassment in our organisation. Sadly, the report showed that many of our female colleagues don’t feel respected or safe in the workplace. We accepted all of the report’s recommendations, and wholeheartedly committed to change. Since then, we have tackled the issues head on. Fostering a culture that’s safe, respectful and inclusive is a long-term piece of work. I am confident we will achieve meaningful change. This month marks three years since the Commission’s report was released, and I am pleased that we are seeing significant improvement across our organisation. Our leaders are working to shift attitudes, we have an increasing number of women in leadership positions, staff are challenging poor behaviour, and we have more flexible work practices. 2
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We also have established local women in policing committees and networks across the organisation to provide advice, support services and model better leadership. As time progresses, we need to keep up our momentum and continue to advocate the importance of ending gender inequality in Victoria Police and in our community, because gender inequality drives violence against women in their homes, their workplaces and on our streets. Women play a critical role in Victoria Police. Their increased presence and contribution in our organisation makes us better at policing and our organisation a better place to work. I look forward to continuing our efforts in 2019 to make Victoria Police a safe, respectful and inclusive workplace for all. I wish everyone a safe and happy festive season. Follow CCP Ashton on Twitter at @GrahamAshtonCCP
MAKING NEWS For the latest police news visit vicpolicenews.com.au
SCIENCE STEPS UP TO SOLVE CRIME A number of new forensic capabilities will provide Victoria Police with the tools to catch criminals faster. Two forensic hubs will be built in Morwell and Ballarat in early 2019 and nine new specialised scientific instruments for processing DNA are also giving police an edge on solving crime. The services add to the suite of forensic tools at Victoria Police’s fingertips. The hubs will significantly improve police services in regional Victoria, giving investigators more immediate access to preliminary results and allowing them to detect and apprehend criminals before they can commit further offences. Both forensic hubs will accommodate 12 forensic specialists and support
staff and remove the need for certain types of evidence to be transported to Melbourne for examination. The forensic officers will be trained to perform evidence recovery across a range of biological, chemical, digital, botanical, and fingerprint specialties, including DNA and drugs testing. State-of-the-art robotic technology has also been introduced to the Victoria Police Forensic Services Centre at Macleod, modernising capabilities in the area of DNA analysis. The specialised instruments will reduce the time it takes to extract DNA and process it for analysis to provide faster results to police. It will allow forensics officers to perform parts of the DNA analysis process within hours, as opposed to days.
Victoria Police’s Executive Director of Forensic Services John Doherty said the new instruments were a welcome addition to improving Victoria Police’s scientific capabilities. “DNA is an important tool in police investigations, and the new specialist instruments will bolster our ability to quickly and accurately process evidence and solve crime,” he said. “The quicker police are able to identify offenders and patterns of behaviour, the sooner we can put criminals before the courts and prevent further offences from occurring.”
Editorial: Maria Carnovale Photography: Andrew Henshaw POLICE LIFE | SUMMER 2019
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SMALL TALK VOXPOP
POLICING PRESENTS
What’s your tip for staying safe on the roads this holiday season? SENIOR SERGEANT DAGMAR ANDERSEN Westgate Family Violence Unit
“Christmas can be a busy time of year catching up with friends and family. Make sure you get some rest and have a transport plan in place if you’re thinking of drinking.” SENIOR SERGEANT SARAH CARMICHAEL Road Policing Command
For a variety of holiday gift ideas, visit the Victoria Police Museum.
Centre, Mezzanine Level, 637 Flinders St, Melbourne.
Pick up your stocking stuffers like our special edition Victoria Police bauble for $8.
The museum will be open for three special Summer Saturdays in 2019. For more information, visit policemuseum.vic.gov.au
Got a budding young detective in the family? Our Secret Agent Super Spy kit will keep the kids entertained during the summer holidays for $26 and our limited edition Trooper the horse, $25, is perfect for cuddling. If you’re on the hunt for an enthralling summer read, look no further than the collection of policing and crime-related books including The People’s Force by Robert Haldane, $49. The Victoria Police Museum is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, at the World Trade
SECRET LIFE OF POLICE This style of racing incorporates individual and team events which can include trail running, trekking, navigation, ocean and river paddling, white water rafting and caving to name a few, and can last from a few hours to multiple days.
“The coming holiday season should be about family and friends and creating happy memories. When you’re driving or travelling on our roads, take your time, drive safely and look out for one another.”
“I really like being able to work together as a team, and it combines many different sports – the tougher the better,” he said. Sen Const Boote has successfully competed across Australia and abroad in events such as the Adventure Racing European championship in Russia, the Wulong Mountain Quest in China and the Adventure Race Japan.
SENIOR CONSTABLE MARK ARCHIBALD Centre for Operational Safety
With his team ‘Thought Sports’, he recently won the Australian Adventure 1 racing championship, which secured his team a place at the Godzone Adventure race in New Zealand in March next year.
“Don’t leave children or animals unattended in cars.”
BE PART OF THE STORY Join the Conversation Police Life loves hearing what you think about the magazine, your local police and Victoria Police in general. Police Life GPO Box 913 Melbourne, 3001 Email: policelife-mgr@police.vic.gov.au
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But when asked where his favourite place to explore is, Sen Const Boote proudly said “my own backyard, East Gippsland”. Senior Constable Timothy Boote likes to live life on the edge – and finding him on one isn’t out of the question when he competes in multisport and adventure races. As a general duties officer in the picturesque town of Lakes Entrance, Sen Const Boote enjoys the open space and natural surroundings. This has led to a passion for outdoor sport, which has seen him become one of Australia’s top adventure racers. “I started by taking part in local triathlons almost 10 years ago, and it was a natural progression to multisport and adventure racing when you live in scenic East Gippsland,” he said.
“It’s made up of so many vast terrains, from the well-known beaches to the mountains and rivers. There are so many different activities to do and there is always somewhere new to visit,” he said. When not policing or competing, Sen Const Boote is also an amateur beekeeper who likes to read.
Image Action man Senior Constable Timothy Boote revels in the great outdoors. Editorial: Emily Wan
BEHIND THE BADGE
BRAD LAWRENCE Rank: Detective Senior Sergeant Age: 48 Graduated: 1993 Station: Westgate Family Violence Investigation Unit
Why did you join Victoria Police? Working for Victoria Police appealed to me as I saw it as a way that I could help people and contribute to the community in some way. It also seemed to be an exciting occupation with a great career opportunity. Tell us a little about what being a specialist family violence investigator involves? At the Family Violence Investigation Unit we investigate serious family violence crime as well as manage high-risk cases of family violence. Our victims are not necessarily just adults, we provide a lot of assistance to children as well. We are there to make victims feel safe and supported and it’s important that our investigators are empathetic towards the trauma they have been through. Saying this, we are committed to helping make the process as easy as possible while holding perpetrators to account for their actions. Due to the nature of our work we often interlink with partnering agencies and services. The beauty of where we work is that we are all in one building together and not based at a police station. It helps make the situation as stress-free as possible and means our victims aren’t driving all around town to get the assistance they need. What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? I think being able to intervene and help people, predominantly women and children, through really tough and turbulent times. We often see a spike in family violence during the Christmas period – what would be your advice in this sometimes tough time for families? For me Christmas is all about families and enjoying all the good things
that go with it, but we understand that it can be a very tough and stressful time for some people. Look out for your family and friends and support each other over the festive season. If you need support or wish to report family violence, please call police or alternatively a family violence support service. What is the most interesting thing that’s happened to you at Victoria Police? I am not sure about the most interesting, but definitely the most embarrassing. As a junior constable working the divisional van at Altona North, I attended a report of a large aggressive dog causing concern to the public. We located a german shepherd wandering the main street and public park near the beach at Altona, stopped beside the dog and got out of the van, leaving the front doors open. The dog jumped into the cabin of the divisional van and sat in the driver’s seat, refusing to get out. We couldn’t coerce the dog to get out of the van, leaving us looking a bit stupid. Luckily the council ranger arrived about 10 minutes later, dealt with the angry dog and saved the day. Needless to say, two very embarrassed constables got back into the van a little sheepish and drove off. You’re more suited than you might think. Consider a career in policing and find out how you can join at policecareer.vic.gov.au
Editorial: Caitlin Swarts Photography: Andrew Henshaw POLICE LIFE | SUMMER 2019
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VICTORIA POLICE BY THE NUMBERS:
$615,000 1,450 information reports have been taken from victims and/or witnesses by Sano Taskforce detectives. Read more on page 24.
is the amount raised by Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton and The Police Association of Victoria’s Wayne Gatt for the Victoria Police Provident Fund’s Mental Health Fund during their Head to Head Walk. Read more on page 10.
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MORE THAN
14,000
new-look ballistic vests will be rolled out to Victoria Police officers from early 2019. The new vests have been developed to improve the safety of all police, Protective Services Officers and Police Custody Officers.
427,000
is the combined following of Victoria Police’s 54 Eyewatch pages on Facebook. The pages help local communities stay connected with police, providing safety and crime prevention information and promoting community initiatives. Find your local page at police.vic.gov.au/eyewatch
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is the number of vehicles in Victoria Police’s Highway Patrol fleet, all of which will be fitted with mobile automatic number plate recognition and in-car video technology by March 2021.
93
is the number of years Leading Senior Constable Ray Stomann has spent at the helm of Boort Police Station. Read more on page 20.
per cent of youth offenders who have undertaken a diversion program have not committed a crime since. Read more about youth diversion on page 12.
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unregistered vehicles were detected in Bulleen as part of Operation Cube, conducted by Doncaster police and Nunawading Highway Patrol.
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police officers from Rosebud plunged into the chilly surf at Safety Beach in October to rescue a drowning kangaroo.
Keep up with the latest police news at vicpolicenews.com.au
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Get the latest police news at vicpolicenews.com.au
SNAPPED ON SOCIAL
Bairnsdale Highway Patrol officers became adoptive parents to Ralphie the baby wallaby after his mother was killed by a car at Forge Creek. Ralphie weighed just 600 grams when he joined Highway Patrol, but after a lot of love and care he now weighs a whopping 2.75 kilograms. Ralphie regularly hops into the office for cuddles with anyone having a bad day or rough shift.
Police were on hand to help Geelong residents light up the night as part of the city’s White Night festival in October. Streets and laneways were transformed with colourful projections and interactive works, as the city was reimaged through art, music, colour and light.
Current and former Victoria Police employees, their families and friends remembered police who have died in the line of duty on National Police Remembrance Day. The metropolitan march and service, held on 29 September, also honoured five police officers who were added to the Police Memorial Honour Wall, ensuring those fallen officers are never forgotten.
ODD SPOT CORNER Out of the frying pan, into the fire A man running from police in Seymour has been caught after unknowingly asking an off-duty police officer if he could hide in his house. A police patrol was called to a Seymour technology business in Anzac Avenue after a silent alarm was activated. When officers arrived, a man was seen in the backyard of the business before fleeing over a fence. In an effort to evade police, the Fitzroy North man looked for a place to hide and, noticing a house with its front light on and country music playing inside, he thought he had found the ideal place. He asked if he could hide inside, to which the resident, an off-duty local police officer, kindly responded by inviting him inside to take a seat. A quick phone call from the off-duty officer to his work mates saw the 27-year-old visitor collected by the patrol pursuing him. He is now set to be invited in as a visitor to the Magistrates' Court at a later date.
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IN BRIEF PROACTIVE POLICING STORIES
ROUND OF APPAWSE FOR DOG TEAMS Victoria Police has two new top dogs after a pair of canine competitors stole the show at the Australasian Police Dog Championships. Police dogs Archer and Ike, with leading senior constables Michelle Dench and Heath Drew, defeated reigning champions New Zealand by 15 points to win the Patrol Team title. The triumph handed Victoria Police its first win in the category since 1999. Fifteen handlers and dogs from across Australia and New Zealand took part in the four days of intense competition in October. Dog Squad’s Inspector James Duggan said the trials were particularly challenging due to the varied scenarios, time constraints and the fact competitors were assessed by their peers. “The Dog Squad has achieved a fantastic win against New Zealand Police, who have held the team title since 2001, and we look forward to bragging rights for the next two years,” he said.
BOOST TO PUBLIC ORDER RESPONSE Victoria Police's response to major events and public order incidents has been bolstered by the rollout of four new transporters. The Operations Response Unit (ORU) has been hitting the streets in the new vehicles, which can carry up to eight police officers at once, since October. Operations Support Division Acting Superintendent Greg Barras said the transporters provided easy access to operational and crowd control equipment, and allowed for a more unified response to public order incidents. “They give ORU an increased capability to swiftly intervene in any public event where people act in a manner that puts the rest of the community or police in danger,” he said.
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vicpolicenews.com.au
NEW EYES IN THE SKY
WORTHY WINNER
Victoria Police’s Air Wing will improve its bird's-eye view of the state with three new helicopters and an aeroplane set to take to the skies in 2020.
The skilful and thorough work of Detective Senior Constable Renee Prestia has been recognised with the 2018 Mick Miller Detective of the Year award.
Acting Superintendent Mark Arneil said the four new “world class” aircraft would replace the existing fleet of four helicopters and increase police capabilities in emergency management, search and rescue, extended offshore marine safety and law enforcement, public safety and operational policing.
Det Sen Const Prestia, part of the Hume Crime Investigation Unit at Broadmeadows, took the top prize for an investigation into significant family violence offending.
“The aeroplane (a Beechcraft Super King Air 350ER) is a new capability for Victoria Police,” he said. “It will have more than double the endurance and range of the helicopters (Leonardo AW139s), providing a valuable, uninterrupted observation platform that can support police across the state.”
The investigation presented several challenges, including a reluctant victim, historic offending and cultural and language barriers, and Det Sen Const Prestia was praised for her resilience and strong victim focus. The Detective of the Year award, established in 2012, is named after former Chief Commissioner Mick Miller. Read the full story in the Autumn 2019 edition of Police Life.
The Air Wing has been in operation since the mid-1970s and responds to more than 5000 jobs a year.
UNSPEAKABLE TAKES TOP PRIZE Victoria Police’s first podcast, Unspeakable: Understanding Sexual Crime, has been honoured with a national award. The six-part series, which explores themes including reporting sexual crime, investigation of cases and victim experiences, won the Public Relations Institute of Australia’s Golden Target ‘Thought Leadership Campaign’ award. The series was produced by the Media and Corporate Communications Department in conjunction with Family Violence Command's Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Team. Media and Corporate Communications Department Executive Director Merita Tabain said the series had paved the way for other police forces to create innovative tools to engage and educate the community. “This award recognises the lifechanging effect this podcast has had on its audience, particularly those who have come forward to report a crime or sought help after listening to the series,” Ms Tabain said. The podcast is available on iTunes or SoundCloud.
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The blisters may have healed and the fatigue subsided, but the achievements of the Head to Head Fundraising Walk are still fresh in the mind of Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton. CCP Ashton and The Police Association of Victoria Secretary Wayne Gatt trekked a combined 1000 kilometres from opposite corners of Victoria in October, raising funds to improve the mental health of police veterans through the Retired Peer Support Officer (RPSO) program. Through countless hours of fundraising by Victoria Police employees and community groups across the state, the walk raised more than $600,000 to fund the vital, voluntary work carried out by the RPSOs.
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Starting in Mallacoota and Mildura respectively, CCP Ashton and Mr Gatt (pictured top right) were flanked by their dedicated support teams and enjoyed enormous community support along the length of their marathon journey. After setting off at the start of the month they met in Wangaratta on 23 October, having tackled some of Victoria’s most challenging terrain. CCP Ashton’s journey took him through the dense forests and undulations of East Gippsland into Victoria’s high country, including a gruelling stint in which he contended with snow on Mount Hotham.
Conversely, Mr Gatt walked through the red dirt of the Mallee and followed the Murray River to the Goulburn Valley and on to Wangaratta. A community celebration to close the walk was held at Wangaratta’s King George IV Gardens, where a cheque for $593,644 was presented to representatives from the RPSO program. But further funds rolling in with the groundswell of support for CCP Ashton and Mr Gatt’s efforts saw the final tally jump to more than $615,000. Both CCP Ashton and Mr Gatt agreed that while the gruelling walk had been a success, it was just the start of a long journey toward improving the mental health of police veterans.
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It has been almost two years since the introduction of diversion options for youth offenders, and the results speak for themselves.
An overwhelming 93 per cent of young people deemed suitable for diversion have completed their conditions and have not committed a crime since. The benefits of this success are twofold. Not only are youth offenders being turned away from a life of crime, but it has also prevented potential future crimes from being committed. Victoria Police’s Specialist Children’s Court Prosecutions Unit managing principal lawyer Laura Chipp said many youth offenders were back on the right track thanks to diversion options including drug and alcohol education, counselling or other, more creative avenues. “The first contact a young person has with police should be the last,” Ms Chipp said. With a background in Legal Aid, working mainly with young offenders, Ms Chipp helped to set up the specialist children’s unit one year ago to focus on ensuring young people in the justice system are given the resources to help set them straight. It includes 80 prosecutors across the state focused on child matters, where legislation is vastly different to that in adult cases. The prosecutors work closely with police informants to determine the best outcome for victims and offenders, including considering diversion. In Victoria, about 43 per cent of all child offenders progress to diversion, while the rest go through a range of sentencing options at the Children’s Court. The numbers are showing diversion is working better than other court outcomes for recidivism and that cautions and diversions are being used more often in youth offending with positive results.
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“Of course, if it’s a serious matter, cautions and diversions may not be appropriate or recommended by police,” Ms Chipp said. “A child aged 10 or older can be charged by police. However, if caution or diversion is determined to have a better result, a sergeant may discuss with the child a way to get them back on the right path, without having it appear on their criminal record.” If a prosecutor and the Magistrate agree, they can order a child to undertake a diversion program. This is nothing new for Victoria Police. The Ropes diversion program, which pairs police with young offenders to tackle an adventure course, is celebrating 17 years of operation. Leading Senior Constable Mick O’Meara started the program in 2001, and has seen 1,950 young people through its doors. In March 2016, youth crime was highlighted after groups of young people disrupted Melbourne’s Moomba festival. Ms Chipp said when that incident occurred, police used an evidence-based restorative justice model for some of the young people without prior criminal records, so they would be diverted out of the justice system. “Restorative justice was used to put the child in the victim’s shoes, make them think about what they had done,” she said. “Some of them didn’t think about the effect their actions had on their families and others. “A community conference was held with police, victims, Moomba organisers, the young people and their families where they discussed how their offending had impacted them.
“That really brings it home.”
“Diversion has been shown to work in stopping a young person reoffending as it rectifies the underlying issues and gets the young person linked in with school and services they desperately need, but were never assessed for,” Ms Chipp said.
Ms Chipp said 45 per cent of young people who committed crimes were not attending school.
Similar options are also available for young people caught stealing vehicles.
“Diversion for them could include getting re-enrolled or going to an alternate or bettertailored school for a period of time," she said.
They can be sent to sessions where they hear from family members of road trauma victims.
“Many of these young people were forced to look at the situation from the victim’s eyes and responded with ‘what if my mum was there?’ and ‘I would be so angry if my little sister saw a group of people fighting like that’.
“Once they complete all the conditions of their diversion, their charges can be withdrawn. “I know of a case where a woman stole a Mars bar when she was 14 years old and pleaded guilty at the time. Twenty years later she tried to apply for a liquor licence to run a pub, but it was rejected. “A criminal record can be there for life.” In 2017, 1,527 children were provided with diversion options, accounting for about a quarter of all children in the justice system. Ms Chipp said young people committing crimes were often doing so because of issues at home, school, or mental health issues. “It’s important to get to the core root of the problem,” she said. “Looking deeper into the child’s circumstances and making sure there are appropriate conditions to help the underlying cause and issue.”
“Having real stories, understanding the impact it could have, makes a real difference,” Ms Chipp said. She said about 65 per cent of young people in the justice system had experienced abuse, trauma and neglect. “When I was a legal aid lawyer… I had a child say to me ‘the only people who care about me are paid to care for me’. The saddest part is that the child was right," Ms Chipp said. “All the things the kids might need – drug and alcohol support, school, other diversion plans – the whole focus is wrapping the services around them, stopping the root cause of the offending and correcting social issues. “Diversion works much better than the kids getting a criminal record.”
Editorial: Maria Carnovale
She described a situation where a young boy started a fire at a factory. Diversion was initiated and the boy took part in a juvenile fire awareness course with the Country Fire Authority and received counselling.
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It’s been three months since Protective Services Officers spread their wings and began riding metropolitan trains, a move that has attracted overwhelming support from the community. It’s a Saturday night in early October. Two Protective Services Officers (PSOs) are working their usual evening shift at a western suburbs railway station, when a group of disruptive youths arrive. Moments later, a train pulls into the platform. The doors of the carriage open, and two more PSOs alight from the train. Suddenly, the ratio of youths to PSOs evens out, and any potential situation is diffused. This example is one of dozens that has landed on the desk of Acting Superintendent John Felton, from the Transit Safety Division, since PSOs began targeted deployments on trains in early September. “If those PSOs weren’t on the train that night, then the PSOs at that station potentially would have had to manage that situation themselves,” A/Supt Felton said. “We could have had a very different outcome, so it’s a really good illustration of why having mobile PSOs is very beneficial. “Our police do a fantastic job supporting our PSOs, but the reality is back-up and support takes time to arrive.” 14
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For almost six years, PSOs have been stationed on all metropolitan train platforms, and at selected regional stations, from 6pm to the last train. The new ‘mobile’ model is aimed at increasing the visibility of PSOs and boosting public safety. “We know there are times that our PSOs are busy – they could be in the car park or at other places around the train station dealing with incidents or issues, so commuters might get off the train and not see a PSO,” A/Supt Felton said. “Having PSOs actually riding the trains is an extension of our efforts to make the community feel safe in their surroundings.” Senior Sergeant Martin Kappel, who oversees PSOs in Melbourne’s west and has spent shifts riding the trains alongside them, said community feedback had been positive. “The PSOs receive lots of comments and smiles from train patrons and it’s clear that people are happy to see them,” Sen Sgt Kappel said. “And the PSOs are really enjoying the expansion of their role – there’s certainly plenty of people putting their hand up to be rostered on for mobile shifts.”
A/Supt Felton said the mobile deployments were targeted at areas and times where an increased police presence was required. An additional 100 PSOs are being employed over four years to provide resources for the extra deployments, which will not affect existing PSO commitments on station platforms. “The public is really enjoying the engagement they’re having with our PSOs and seeing them respond to any anti-social behaviour that they come across, so that’s quite beneficial,” A/Supt Felton said. “And our PSOs see it as a wonderful opportunity to use more of their skills and training – they can see they’re making an impact in the community, which is a great feeling for them.”
Images Friendly faces 01 Protective Services Officers Justin McMahon and Jessica Richmond are helping to boost public safety on trains. Editorial: Roslyn Jaguar Photography: Scott McNaughton
A refurbished memorial at the Stringybark Creek Historic Reserve is set to better honour three police officers killed by the Kelly gang 140 years ago. The reserve, north of Mansfield, has become one of Australia’s most historically-significant sites after bushranger Ned Kelly and his brother Dan Kelly killed Sergeant Michael Kennedy and constables Thomas Lonigan and Michael Scanlan in an ambush on 26 October, 1878. The three officers and Constable Thomas McIntyre – who managed to escape the ambush alive – were sent out into the rugged bushland to capture and arrest the Kellys. The police killings at Stringybark Creek saw the Kelly gang’s infamy rise, along with the authorities’ attempts to bring them to justice. In the decades since the ambush, the site has been transformed from an area of informal pilgrimage for history buffs to an official location reflecting the fateful circumstances of that day 140 years ago. In 2001, a police memorial was created to honour the three slain officers, but in recent months the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), in consultation
with Victoria Police and other groups, has significantly refurbished the site.
a historical perspective and for the families of the policemen who were killed there,” Ms Spencer said.
A ceremony to mark the opening of the refurbished site was held on 8 December, 2018.
Victoria Police has also produced a podcast that delves deep into the events leading up to the search for the Kellys, the attack at Stringybark Creek and its aftermath.
Benalla Senior Constable Mark Kennedy (no relation of Sgt Kennedy) has worked with the descendants of the officers and other stakeholders to create a memorial that helps the community better understand the incident. Sen Const Kennedy said the deaths of the officers had often gotten lost in the folklore surrounding Ned Kelly. “Being so closely involved with the families and with the hierarchy of Victoria Police through this process, I’ve really come to see how much of an impact this had on the community and police at the time, and even since then,” he said. “I am extremely proud to be involved in this, and hopefully it will stand there for another 100 years to honour those officers.” DELWP’s senior community partnerships officer Catherine Spencer said the memorial included a new walking trail near where Sgt Kennedy was killed and where Const McIntyre escaped, upgraded interpretive signs, and three individual memorials to the fallen police. “This is an extremely important site from both
Image Lasting legacy The memorial honouring slain police officers Const Tom Lonigan, Sgt Michael Kennedy and Const Michael Scanlan (top, left to right) at Stringybark Creek has been refurbished (above).
This podcast is available on iTunes, Spotify, and at policemuseum.vic.gov.au
Editorial: Jesse Wray-McCann POLICE LIFE | SUMMER 2019
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WALK IN MY SHOES
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Police are learning about life on the streets from a former firefighter who survived years of homelessness. As a firefighter in New South Wales, Jason Russell spent his time saving others. Dealing with broken bones and burns was a common occurrence in his job. In his personal life as an Aboriginal Elder, he provided guidance and support to his community. His years of experience never involved wounds of the mind, so he was in unfamiliar territory when a previously dormant mental illness surfaced 13 years ago. “I didn’t realise at the time I had adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and bipolar disorder,” Mr Russell said. After being misdiagnosed as a psychotic schizophrenic, he was prescribed lithium and shock treatment. “It was as horrific as it sounds,” he said. Mr Russell said as an Aboriginal Elder, it was frowned upon to suffer in public. That’s what led him to walk away from his job, wife and three children and resort to living on the hard streets of Sydney’s west. Mr Russell then spent close to three years surviving on the streets of Melbourne. Looking at Mr Russell now in his trench coat and suit surrounded by well-heeled locals in Fitzroy, it’s hard to believe the story he’s telling the tour group is his own. A dozen Melbourne East police officers are taking part in the ‘Walk in My Shoes’ tour to better understand homelessness. Melbourne East Inspector Craig Peel said his team regularly worked with local government and the Council to Homeless Persons, but this tour was a way to get a different perspective.
streets in Collingwood and Fitzroy, Mr Russell stops to point out the places he sought refuge from the elements. Many of the places are hiding in plain sight, surrounded by high-end shops and apartment blocks. When a participant asked why he left Sydney, he said he was spiralling out of control and wanted to get away from the place where all his family and friends were. “I wanted my kids’ last memory of me to be how I used to be, not some homeless bum on a coroner’s slab,” he said. “I knew where I was heading. It was just a matter of time.” During his years on the streets, Mr Russell’s health continued to deteriorate, resulting in a collapsed lung. It was at this point he considered ending his life. Instead he decided to go to a doctor, who finally diagnosed his mental illness and encouraged him to seek help. “If it wasn’t for a diligent doctor, I wouldn’t be here,” he said. It was from there he started to get his life back on track. After spending six months at the St Vincent’s Mental Health Service, Mr Russell was provided adequate housing and support to rebuild his life. Now he’s back to doing what he does best – helping others. Mr Russell conducts these tours as often as he can to raise awareness and, hopefully, create change. “I have always wanted to defend the homeless and be responsible for a city again,” he said. “When I started doing these talks, I finally got my mind back.” Insp Peel said police play a significant part in the rehabilitation of those experiencing homelessness. “We can be the only contact these people have in a 24-hour block,” he said.
“Listening to someone’s personal journey really humanises the issue,” Insp Peel said.
“Historically police only had an enforcement role, but we can do it in an empathetic manner.
“It’s not necessarily the typical story you’d hear regarding homelessness and it resonated with us even more because he was an emergency services worker.”
“It can make a real difference.”
As the walking tour snakes through alleyways and main
Editorial: Ashlee Williams Photography: Ana Raica
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After the Ashes February 2019 marks the 10-year anniversary of the 2009 Victorian bushfires, one of the worst natural disasters in the state’s history. Police Life spoke to two police officers in Marysville and Kinglake about the devastation of the bushfires and the renewal and recovery of their communities.
LEADING SENIOR CONSTABLE MARK WILLIAMS, KINGLAKE
But mental health issues, drug and alcohol problems and welfare concerns had become more prevalent.
“Totally different place, totally different vibe.”
“It was more community support than old-style policing,” Ldg Sen Const Williams said.
That’s how Kinglake’s Leading Senior Constable Mark Williams describes his town, about 55 “We were a steady presence and, as a result, kilometres north-east of Melbourne, in the years the community really got behind us.” following the 2009 bushfires. Ldg Sen Const Williams was due to start his He said policing in Kinglake and surrounding shift at Kinglake at 6pm on the evening of Black townships had changed dramatically since the Saturday, but fire hampered the trip from his Black Saturday blaze ripped through, leaving Warrandyte home. little standing in its wake. “I got to St Andrews and a fireball landed just “Kinglake Police Station doesn’t have just up in front of me on the road,” he said. one town, we have Kinglake, Kinglake West, His efforts to scout around the fire and reach Flowerdale, Glenburn and Toolangi,” Ldg Sen the town proved futile, so he drove to nearby Const Williams said. Whittlesea, where he helped out in the watch“Each town has its own flavour – they’re all house. totally different places. “I was frustrated that I couldn’t get to Kinglake, “And they’ve changed a hell of a lot since the fires.” but in some ways it was good that I was there (at Whittlesea), because a lot of locals from my area He said call-outs to family violence incidents dropped dramatically in the five years following were calling there,” Ldg Sen Const Williams said. the devastating blaze – “people survived the “I was a familiar voice and I knew the area so I fires and decided there was more to life, so if could talk to people.” they were thinking about separating, they did it” Ldg Sen Const Williams spent the following days – and the crime rate had plummeted. and weeks combing through the ruins of Kinglake for victims of the blaze. “There were streets where there was nothing left,” he said. 18
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“Sometimes it feels like it was a lifetime ago, other times it feels like it all happened last week.” He said Kinglake had grown enormously since the fires, with new estates bringing young families to the area. “The town is forever changed,” Ldg Sen Const Williams said. “We still have flow-on effect from the fires and we’re probably going to have that for another five years or so, but the impact for the area has gotten less and less as the years go on and the wounds heal. “The impact on the individuals, including police members, is still surfacing from time to time.”
The 2009 Victorian bushfires devastated many other towns across the state. Communities in Gippsland’s Latrobe Valley were affected in the week leading up to 7 February, known as Black Saturday, from blazes that ravaged the Strzelecki Ranges. On 7 February, fires were first reported at Kilmore before spreading to communities such as Kinglake, Marysville, St Andrews, Narbethong, Strathewen and Flowerdale. Fires also impacted Bendigo, Horsham, Beechworth, Coleraine, Churchill, Redesdale and Bunyip.
LEADING SENIOR CONSTABLE PETER COLLYER, MARYSVILLE In the days after devastating bushfires tore through Marysville in the scorching summer of 2009, Leading Senior Constable Peter Collyer made a telling prediction. “I said at the time that it would take 10 years for Marysville to recover,” he said. “And you might say, well, it’s pretty much back to normal now – but it’s certainly different.” Picturesque Marysville, in the foothills of the Yarra Valley, was one of the hardest hit towns when bushfires of a terrifying scale and ferocity tore across Victoria, claiming 173 lives. Thirty-five people died in Marysville alone, and the town was all but levelled. Almost a decade on, new shops and homes line the streets and native bush once again covers the surrounding hills. Marysville Police Station, reduced to ashes in the inferno, has been rebuilt and stands prominently in the town’s main street. But some of the less visible scars still remain. “Some people won’t ever come back because it’s not the same,” Ldg Sen Const Collyer said. “Everything now becomes pre-fires or post-fires. It’s like there’s a big mark in history.” Ldg Sen Const Collyer was rostered on for a 6pm shift at Marysville on 7 February, 2009 – known since as “Black Saturday”.
It was around lunchtime, and the pair chatted about smoke coming over the hills, then attributed to a huge blaze at Kilmore, about 100 kilometres away. “When I left the roadhouse, I drove up a hill in Buxton to get a clearer view,” Ldg Sen Const Collyer said. “There was a lot of smoke blowing this way and you could see that it had travelled 100 kilometres or more because it was all wispy. “But some of the smoke, lower down to the hill line, was much more defined. “I made a quip that if I didn’t know better, that (fire) was just the other side of the hill – and that’s where it was.”
Their swift action to evacuate about 200 people from the oval earned the officers Victoria Police Valour Awards. When burning debris started landing around the police car, Ldg Sen Const Collyer and Ldg Sen Const Dwight followed the convoy towards Alexandra, stopping several times to warn residents of the impending danger. The next morning, Ldg Sen Const Collyer got a lift with a council worker back to Marysville and began the grim task of searching properties and locating those who had not survived the firestorm. “It was like a war zone. There were only 11 houses in Marysville that didn’t burn,” he said.
Sensing the conditions had taken a turn for the worse, Ldg Sen Const Collyer sent his family from their home in Buxton to Alexandra, 30 kilometres to the north.
Almost a decade since the fire, Ldg Sen Const Collyer still works at Marysville and lives comfortably with the many changes it brought about.
He followed on his motorbike to Alexandra Police Station and hitched a ride with two colleagues back to Marysville.
“We can’t change the past,” he said. “So while the fire was sad and terrible, you’ve got to accept it because it’s happened.
The trio, along with Woods Point’s Leading Senior Constable Ken Dwight, headed to Marysville’s Gallipoli Oval, where gut instinct told them residents would congregate.
“That’s how I’ve gotten through it, I think.
Huge gum trees surrounding the oval were already ablaze when the four officers arrived, and they began herding vehicles out of town towards Alexandra.
“The trees are still here, the flowers still bloom. “Marysville was a pretty town before the fires – and it still is.” Editorial: Roslyn Jaguar Photography: Nicki Connolly
His memories of the day are vivid. He recalls running into Leading Senior Constable Ian Thompson, who was on duty at the time, at the roadhouse at nearby Buxton.
The 2009 bushfires were a traumatic and distressing event, and anniversaries can be particularly difficult for people. Support services are always available: Lifeline – 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au beyondblue – 1300 224 636 Victoria Police Wellbeing Services, for Victoria Police employees and their immediate families, can be contacted (03) 9247 3344.
Visit vic.gov.au/2009-bushfires for the latest information on anniversary events and support services.
Ldg Sen Const Collyer features in an upcoming exhibition about the 2009 bushfires, Things of Fire and Ash Remembered, which opens at the Victoria Police Museum in February 2019. Visit policemuseum.vic.gov.au
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CAREER IN FOCUS
When he took up the post as the lone officer in the lakeside town of Boort in northern Victoria, Ray Stomann wasn’t sure what to expect. He certainly never guessed that he would remain in the position for 30 years and become a mainstay of the local community. Leading Senior Constable Stomann says he has always been a country boy, growing up in Seymour, and joined the police while still a teenager in 1974.
“I guess that just comes back to the fact that I like people, I really like the community and I’ll do what I can to help out,” Ldg Sen Const Stomann said.
He worked for more than a decade in his home town before working his first day in Boort on September 1, 1988.
Even others within the community who have given plenty of their time to local causes recognise the contribution Ldg Sen Const Stomann has made.
But what takes someone from home to a place 200 kilometres away, with a population of not many more than 1,000 people? The answer is little more than chance.
Councillor Neil Beattie has twice been mayor of the Loddon Shire, which includes Boort and surrounding towns such as Wedderburn, Bridgewater and Inglewood.
“A few years earlier my wife and I were actually going to a funeral in Swan Hill and we went through Boort. I used to love my water skiing so I was a bit taken with the place,” he said.
He has lived in the region for more than 60 years and said Ldg Sen Const Stomann has had a “huge impact”.
“I came here not knowing a soul, I only knew the town existed in terms of the lake and the service station.” It didn’t take Ldg Sen Const Stomann long to make his mark. Outside of policing he is best known as the community’s money man, volunteering in finance roles with the Lake Boort and Boort
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Park committees of management and local sporting clubs, among other organisations.
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“He’s probably in some ways been the police officer for the whole Loddon Shire, not just Boort,” Cr Beattie said. “We’ve got a very safe town and Ray does a great job. When he needs to be strict he is, and when he needs to be a bit more lenient he is. “And he’s been very good at splitting those the roles and being a resident on those community groups as opposed to always being seen as the police officer.”
Ldg Sen Const Stomann’s service to Victoria Police has also been recognised with the Australian Police Medal as part of the 2015 Queen’s Birthday Awards. The citation for the awards stated Ldg Sen Const Stomann was the epitome of what a single-officer station commander should be. “I’m not one for those kind of things, but it was nice to be recognised. It’s probably something for my two kids to reflect on and have as a bit of history,” Ldg Sen Const Stomann said. And having been involved in the community for so long, he certainly has no regrets. “I got into the job because I like people and I like helping people. I’m very outdoorsy and this suits me perfectly, I spend plenty of time on the road,” he said. “It’s a great part of the world and it’s really been a great job. I’m glad I made the move.”
Images All in a days work
Ldg Sen Const Stomann out on the road, at the local men's shed and in the office. Editorial: Joel Peterson Photography: Brendan McCarthy
FULL CIRCLE Growing up in the tiny town of Pyalong, Dan Sowden always looked up to the local police officer. Thirty years later, Senior Constable Sowden is now the officer who has the local children hoping to follow in his footsteps. After 10 years working at Mill Park, Eltham and with State Highway Patrol, Sen Const Sowden returned home in May this year to take the reins at the single-officer Pyalong Police Station. Pyalong is the kind of town most people drive through without knowing that it is really there. Located on the Northern Highway between Kilmore and Heathcote, its most notable feature is the enormous dip in the road as it descends toward Mollison Creek. But turn left onto High Street and you’ll find what Sen Const Sowden calls “the best station in Victoria”. “It was done up in 2012 and the facilities are very modern. I’m pretty lucky,” he said. Sen Const Sowden didn’t have to look far for inspiration as a youngster. His father, Malcolm, was an officer of 35 years who worked in several local stations including Seymour, Kilmore and Broadford. “It was always something I strived for, it’s always excited me and I still enjoy it now,” he said.
Image Coming home Sen Const Dan Sowden (left) and Inspector Peter Koger at Pyalong Police Station. Editorial: Joel Peterson Photography: North Central Review
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OUT & ABOUT
M A E T A N O K N A B O T 0 9 6 3 a g n o d Wo
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On the banks of the Murray River and serviced by Australia’s second busiest motorway, Wodonga faces policing challenges like few other regions in Victoria. Not only do Wodonga’s police have offenders on their own side of the border to worry about, but they also have the unusual challenge of assisting to fight crime across the New South Wales border. The city of 45,000 people becomes closer to 120,000 when you factor in the adjoining Albury, a stone’s throw across the Murray River, which serves as the border between the two states. Seasonal demand on the Murray, the huge number of vehicles using the Hume Highway and the border itself all contribute to the challenge of policing in the Wodonga area. But Victoria Police’s officers do not go it alone. A weekly tasking and coordination meeting with NSW Police allows the two to work closely together in planning, and their day-to-day operations are just as tight-knit. “Even with that population base it’s quite easy because we have a dual jurisdiction and a terrific relationship where we work very closely with NSW Police,” Inspector Paul Hargreaves said. “What we’re doing is asking where’s our focal point and where do we need to make combined efforts? “So imagine you’ve got a group of detectives or a plain clothes unit on your tail in Victoria. All of a sudden you’ve got twice that impact because you’ve got them on your tail in NSW too.” Officers from Albury and Wodonga are sworn in on both sides of the border and receive radio communication from each state, allowing them to operate with freedom. “It’s really the added pressure and that added focus and it really makes your toolbox, in terms of what you can do, a lot bigger,” Insp Hargreaves said. Eastern Region Division 4’s Superintendent Kerin Moloney said Wodonga employs a
A weekly tasking and coordination meeting between police from Victoria and NSW keeps both sides of the river on the same page.
collaborative approach to policing in the region along with NSW Police and the station is a “wonderful example of a collegiate complex”. Wodonga’s Detective Sergeant Graeme Simpfendorfer said the interaction with NSW police occurs on a daily basis. “It’s essentially working as one Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) in different offices. We chase the same targets, share intelligence live and routinely discuss how to best achieve agreed outcomes,” he said. “The river and legislation differences can cause issues at times but the strength is in the relationships between the officers to negotiate these issues and get the job done.” On the roads, the Hume also throws up its own set of challenges. The freeway, which spans from Melbourne to Sydney, bisects the town and is the main crossing between Wodonga and its nearest neighbour. The sheer volume of traffic would be enough on its own, but the diverse nature of that traffic – trucks, passenger vehicles and cars with boats headed to the nearby Hume Weir in the summer months – adds to the dynamic. “There are many challenges with the Hume, even within day-to-day policing with that volume of traffic,” Insp Hargreaves said. “Traffic management during incidents or emergencies is delicate – cars back up quickly and often, in extreme conditions like a heatwave. “You have to consider all the safety factors and the best way to keep people moving. “In addition, we are mindful the route is also used by criminals to carry contraband across the border.”
numbers during the summer months, as people flock to the region to soak up the sun and use the Murray and nearby waterways for a host of water sports. Policing the river is not without its challenges, but is governed by clearly-defined borders. “We control up to the high water mark on our side of the river and NSW looks after the river itself,” Insp Hargreaves said. “But again, it’s not as though we just leave it if it’s not in our area. We both know what’s going on, whichever side of the river something happens on. “It's two cities but one community. Our positive and ongoing partnership with NSW Police is extremely important, and pivotal to our success in delivering outcomes and providing a safer environment for all.” With a huge variety of policing tasks, its officers say Wodonga is always throwing up new challenges. “It’s a great place to work. Like any rural area we are invested in our community, involved in sporting clubs and youth,” Det Sgt Simpfendorfer said. “Professionally the work is varied enough and that keeps skill sets and interests high.” Stay connected with the police in Wodonga and surrounds at facebook.com/ eyewatchwodonga Image United front Insp Paul Hargreaves catches up with NSW Police alongside the Murray River. Editorial: Joel Peterson Photography: John Russell
Wodonga and surrounding regions explode in
The busy Hume Highway creates plenty of work for Wodonga’s Highway Patrol.
Sergeant Mal Blake and Senior Constable Braithe Gibson chat with local residents.
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TRUE CRIME
CASE Sano Taskforce detectives don’t measure their success on convictions but on their ability to help. Sitting across the table, Detective Leading Senior Constable Geoff Webb is keen to make the right impression. “You can lose a victim or a witness in two to three seconds,” he says. “They are constantly assessing whether they should tell you something they may have never told anyone before. “So you need to have the right body language to gain their confidence. “Sometimes getting their trust and taking a statement can take hours, days or months.” It is clear the four years Det Ldg Sen Const Webb has spent investigating historical sexual offending has made him a better detective. Not that he wasn’t without extensive experience from his time in the Moorabbin Sex Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team and 14 years on the divisional van, but the work of Sano is somewhat unique. Created in response to the Betrayal of Trust Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into the handling of child abuse by religious and other non-government organisations, Sano Taskforce has gone on to take 1,500 statements and reports. “I think I got the job because of my interest in family history,” Det Ldg Sen Const Webb said. “Once we take a report, we have to pin the people to the location with records. We’ve had people reporting things that happened to them down to the age of three and particularly in the 1960s, a child would never use the Christian
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name of someone important. I had one case where the victim said the perpetrator was Brother John and there were three Brother Johns at that school over that time period. “In religious institutions the person’s name might not be their real name, or people can remember a different name because it was popular at the time. “Then there’s changes in spellings of names and variations and when you’re looking for witnesses some people who spent time in institutions go on to use their middle name or change the spelling to disassociate themselves, and women may change their name after marriage, so you always have to take a broad look.” Finding the people and securing evidence that places them in a location is a sleuthing achievement in itself, but the hard work is far from over for Sano. There are witnesses to interview and, often, a race against time. “We’re conscious of the fact we’re dealing with older people,” Det Ldg Sen Const Webb said. “Some cases have been discontinued due to the accused dying, having dementia or similar issues. “The level of offending was high in some of these cases and there were a lot of victims who felt cheated but I don’t know what we could have done differently. “I feel very sorry for them, they're like the ones that got away.
“A case can go on for years and there can be many twists and turns so we have to be mindful not to build expectations. “My message to anyone out there is it’s quite OK to give us a call anonymously to go through the options. It’s not always about going to court, it’s more about the victim telling their story and being acknowledged and believed. “Some people just want to know if the offender is dead and that’s all part of the job. The last thing you want to say is ‘I think he’s dead’ – that’s not good enough. Occasionally it’s impossible if the name is very common but we try our very best.” The taskforce has had a number of high profile prosecutions but Det Ldg Sen Const Webb said investigators don’t measure themselves by charges laid, but by the level of assistance they’re able to provide. “I don’t think it’s fair to measure levels of offending against other cases or to look at the amount of charges – I look at the summary explanation to tell the victim’s story,” he said. “I get a lot of pleasure finding people and solving problems. “I find it very rewarding speaking to someone who, despite such a terrible start to life, has managed to turn themselves around. There are plenty of us that don’t excel even with a supportive family. I come back on a high after a trip meeting people and the closure they get telling someone for the first time is quite incredible.”
Stats on Sano Up to 60 investigators have been part of the Sano Taskforce. More than 270 investigations have taken place. 1,450 information reports have been taken from victims and/or witnesses. 1,540 victims have been referred to support services or other assistance. More than 150 offenders have had charges laid against them. The earliest offences occurred in the 1950s and the most recent were in the 1990s.
The taskforce’s Detective Acting Senior Sergeant John Radi said it took a special kind of investigator to work on these cases.
“We still have daily enquiries with new victims coming forward either on our toll-free number or via email.
“Our staff have to have resilience in investigating offences of this nature,” he said.
“The work doesn’t stop and with the National Redress Scheme now in place and with added media coverage the taskforce's work will continue in some format.
“They’re a dedicated, professional bunch of investigators working in an emotionallycharged, difficult area, dealing with victims of institutionalised sexual abuse. “The cases can be long, drawn out and comprehensive and it’s the people with a real interest and genuine skills in finding that needle in a haystack who are invaluable to the team.
“Our victim management is what we take pride in. “Whatever the outcome, the victim having a sense of being believed and supported is what’s most important to the staff here at Sano.”
Contact the Sano Taskforce at on 1800 110 007 or email sanotaskforce@police.vic.gov.au Image Case Closure Sano Taskforce's Det Sen Const Rob Galtieri, Det A/Sen Sgt John Radi, Det Ldg Sen Const Geoff Webb and Det Sen Const Colleen Connolly are specialist sexual assault investigators. Editorial: Anthea Cannon
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All in the
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Their dads were best mates and worked hundreds of divisional van shifts together, so it’s a happy coincidence that Senior Constable Tim Walker and First Constable David Tempest are enjoying a similar relationship. Their fathers, Sergeant Max Walker, now at Springvale Police Station, and Leading Senior Constable Geoff ‘Stormy’ Tempest, now deceased, became firm friends soon after meeting for the first time in the early 1980s. “I was stationed at Hastings in 1982, and Geoff came down from Traralgon with his young family in 1983,” Sgt Walker said. “He and his wife Rhonda, who was a Victorian Public Service employee for 27 years, and young David, then about 12, and daughter Kellie, then about nine, settled down in Hastings, and the rest is history. “We ‘clicked’ at work and our families formed a friendship that has become life-long.” These strong bonds held the two policing families tightly together when Const Tempest’s father Geoff was diagnosed with mesothelioma after having served 35 years. Const Tempest said his father’s lung cancer resulted from having been exposed to asbestos during his time in the navy, while on tour during the Vietnam War. “The dangers of asbestos were not understood then, and Dad was breathing it in all that time he was in service. It was used as a fire-retardant on the bulkheads of the ships,” he said. Ldg Sen Const Tempest was diagnosed with cancer in early 2015, a few months before Const Tempest started training at the Victoria Police Academy. A qualified electrician by trade, Const Tempest, was fulfilling a dream to become a police officer, and follow in his father’s footsteps. Sadly, due to complications from the cancer, Ldg Sen Const Tempest did not live to see his son graduate just a few weeks later. Despite the grief and shock at losing his father, Const Tempest persevered with training and did not take any time off, graduating as scheduled. “My dad had a favourite saying: ‘Stay the course’,” Const Tempest said. “And I did. I promised Dad that I would stay true to that. “I had great support from my entire squad. They all showed up to an event to honour my dad. It was really heart-warming and I appreciated it.” A hugely gratifying moment during graduation is the presentation to new police officers of their identification badge.
“Not in 100 years,” Sgt Walker said. “My plan had been to put the paperwork through to get approval for Geoff to present the Freddie but we missed it by a couple of weeks when he died unexpectedly,” he said. “After Geoff died, I took it upon myself to get approval to present Dave’s Freddie to him, and I told the Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton that I was there on behalf of Geoff, as a matter of honour and respect. “It was so wonderful to be allowed to do it, and CCP Ashton even mentioned it in his graduation speech; that the tradition had been broken. But to me, David and his family are part of my wider police family.” But back to the next generation of police: Const Tempest, 45, and his mate Sen Const Walker. Despite working together for several months at Frankston, they had their first shift together not so long ago. Sen Const Walker, at 28, has known Const Tempest all his life. “Our first shift together was awesome,” Const Tempest said. “I remember saying to Tim that it feels good but a bit weird. I was thinking of our dads a lot.” Sen Const Walker agreed. “It was surreal initially. It was like, ‘Ah cool, we’re in the same division’. Dave’s probationary station was Frankston, about six months later, we ran a shift together. It was great fun," he said. “We even took a selfie and sent it to our parents. “Policing is special. I think lots of other jobs don’t have that aspect where people develop such strong, life-long relationships. It’s such a massive thing to be able to have.”
The badge, nicknamed the ‘Freddie’, is presented either by the Chief Commissioner or a family member of the graduating officer. But with his father only recently gone, Const Tempest felt his loss very sorely. The honour of presenting the Freddie then fell to his second dad, Sgt Walker. The only problem was this had never been done before.
Main image Strong Bonds Const Tempest, Sgt Walker and Sen Const Walker share a special friendship, and (inset) Ldg Sen Const Tempest. Editorial: Donna Magness Photography: Nicki Connolly
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Meticulous planning ensured the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s whirlwind Melbourne visit went off without a hitch. When news broke in September that Prince Harry and his new bride, Meghan, would make a flying visit to Victoria on their October trip to Australia, it came as no surprise to Victoria Police. Preparation for the royal visit was well under way.
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While thousands of royal enthusiasts began making welcome banners, choosing their outfits and readying their bouquets, Victoria Police’s State Event Planning Unit was busily making arrangements to ensure the Duke and Duchess’ visit would run smoothly and safely. With huge crowds expected for the couple’s hectic six-hour Melbourne visit on 18 October, part of their first major overseas tour, Victoria Police’s planning process had to be thorough and perfectly executed.
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And it all had to be completed with just five weeks’ notice. More than 350 Victoria Police personnel were involved in the police operation on the day of the visit, ranging from general duties officers to specialised units including the Airwing, Operations Response Unit and the Mounted Branch.
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Highway Patrol units blocked roads and provided an escort to the official motorcade, and plain-clothed officers from the Critical Incident Response Team walked closely
behind Prince Harry and Meghan, providing high-level security. Commander Neville Taylor was the police Forward Commander for the royal visit, tasked with overseeing the police response and making any strategic decisions that were required. On the Thursday of Prince Harry and Meghan’s visit, Cmdr Taylor was positioned in the State Police Operations Centre (SPOC), a centralised command post. He was surrounded by a team of experienced police officers and Victorian Public Servants to co-ordinate the police response on the ground, provide intelligence and make operational decisions. He said safety – not only of the visiting dignitaries, but also of Victoria Police employees and the community – was his top priority when leading large-scale policing operations. “Events such as the royal visit are always thoroughly enjoyed by the people of Victoria,” Cmdr Taylor said. “However, the sheer number of people the visit attracts and the high profile of the royal family requires a lot of planning to ensure safety and security is never compromised.” In the weeks leading up to the royal visit, a series of detailed briefings were held at Victoria
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Cmdr Taylor said the Duke and Duchess’ visit had been an operational success.
Police to discuss the resources and logistics required for the visit, the current threat environment for Melbourne and any activist groups or individuals being monitored.
“Everyone switched into top gear and within minutes the motorcade’s route had been adjusted, our roadblocks were moved and the Duke and Duchess’ personal protection was notified.
Cmdr Taylor said the briefings included a scenario-based workshop, where key personnel could practice their decision-making and response to potential issues.
“For us the unexpected is something we expect – everyone handled the change in plans well and the safety of the motorcade and the public were never compromised.”
“It is important that everybody involved understands the overarching operation, but specifically their role in making it a safe and enjoyable day for all involved,” he said.
With Prince Harry and Meghan’s Melbourne visit split across four locations, a zone commander was appointed to oversee each area, make decisions in the field and provide information back to the SPOC.
“But for us, the operation didn’t stop there.
Acting Inspector Rhonda Brown was the zone commander for the royal couple’s lunch at Charcoal Lane in Fitzroy.
Cmdr Taylor said capturing what Victoria Police learnt from Prince Harry and Meghan's visit would form a vital part of planning for future police operations.
“Everyone being on the same page allows me to make quick but informed decisions as the day progresses and the intelligence changes.” Victoria Police’s ‘ready for anything’ response was tested on the day of the Duke and Duchess’ visit, when an accident on the Tullamarine Freeway forced the motorcade to take an alternative route to reach their first engagement at Government House. Cmdr Taylor said the swift and successful manner in which police were able to manage that detour was testament to good planning and communication.
“Fifteen minutes before the plane was due to land, we were told there had been an accident on the freeway,” he said. “It was here that I really saw the benefit of all our planning.
Her role was to undertake the pre-planning for her zone, make sure the area was secure on the day, manage the police in the area and conduct ongoing risk assessments. “Some of the things we had to take into consideration were the co-ordination of traffic, keeping the crowds content and patient as they waited, monitoring persons of interest and reporting to the SPOC any updated intelligence we became aware of,” A/Insp Brown said. “And although there was a great deal to do on the day, there were just as many tasks in the lead up. “We worked with the City of Yarra to arrange street cleaning, emptying of bins and restrictions on car parking. “They might seem like small things, but the planning and execution of these tasks are an essential part of keeping the area as safe and secure as possible.”
“After Prince Harry and Meghan were safely on their way back to Sydney, the Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Federal Protocol and International Visits Division both commended Victoria Police on their efforts,” he said. “To wind everything up, our key personnel came together for a debrief – that’s where we examine what we did well and what we could do better.”
“The royal visit was a great example of the importance of detailed planning for large-scale events and the impact it has on their success,” he said.
Images Out in force 01, 02 The Operations Response Unit monitors the crowd as the Duchess of Sussex makes her way to Government House. 03 Cmdr Neville Taylor and Supt Paul Hollowood in the State Police Operations Centre. 04 Mounted Branch members keep watch over the crowds. 05 Police and royal enthusiasts await the Duke and Duchess at South Melbourne beach. Editorial: Caitlin Swarts Photography: Penny Bradfield/Auspic/DPS, John Pallot, Andrea Hince
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Help at
Hand. A partnership between police negotiators and mental health services is having a profound impact.
While police negotiators are trained to respond to a person in crisis, how to best help that person isn’t always clear.
“On the way to a job, our negotiators call a dedicated, 24-hour phone line and get direct advice from mental health clinicians about the person involved in the incident,” he said.
But a partnership between Victoria Police’s Security Services Division and NorthWestern Mental Health (NWMH) is helping to fill those gaps.
“If the person has a mental health record, the clinicians can tell us what to expect in their behaviour, if they’re taking medication and what reaction we might expect if the person is using drugs or alcohol.
The Enhanced Critical Response Program (ECRP) allows negotiators to tap into the mental health records of people involved in critical incidents.
“That information doesn’t necessarily give our negotiators the panacea to fix everything, but it puts them in a better position to understand the issues at play.”
And almost three years in, the results are undeniable.
CIRT negotiator Senior Constable James Taylor said the advice provided by NWMH was a vital tool in understanding how to assist the person in crisis.
Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) Senior Sergeant Darren McQueen said the effectiveness of police negotiators had leapt from 22 per cent to 70 per cent in the first year of the ECRP. “That’s pretty remarkable,” Sen Sgt McQueen said. “The program has improved safety not only for people experiencing mental illness, but also the wider community and our police officers.” 30
Sen Sgt McQueen said more than 50 per cent of subjects engaged by police negotiators had a mental health record, meaning NWMH was able to provide valuable insight.
POLICE LIFE | SUMMER 2019
In October, the ECRP was announced as a joint winner of the Minister for Mental Health’s Award at the Victorian Public Healthcare Awards, for excellence in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of Victorians. “That was a huge honour,” Sen Sgt McQueen said. “It validates what our negotiators are doing and the peaceful outcomes they’re striving for.”
In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000). A range of mental health support services are always available if you, or someone you know, requires assistance. Lifeline 13 11 14 – lifeline.org.au beyondblue 1300 224 636 – beyondblue.com.au
“Our phone calls are answered straight away and we’re able to get a full run down of the person’s Images Getting results diagnosis, as well as general advice on mental CIRT negotiator Sen Const George Tsinaris discusses a scenario with CIRT Senior Sergeant health conditions,” Sen Const Taylor said. “We’re also given the name of the person’s case manager, who can provide us with even more detailed, recent information.”
Rebecca Marshall.
Editorial: Roslyn Jaguar Photography: Jesse Wray-McCann
WORTH A TRY Three years ago it didn’t exist, now Victoria Police Rugby Club’s women’s team is enjoying significant success The fledgling arm of the longstanding Victoria Police Vikings is taking all before it and set to grow further as the club aims to continue its rapid rise. Coach Mark Archibald started the club in 2015 after a trip to the United States, where he was encouraged by other nations to start an Australian police team. Having been involved in rugby during his time with the Army, Sen Const Archibald made moves to add another team under the Vikings umbrella. The club has been around since 1890, but has only fielded men’s sides for the vast majority of that time. Now its women’s rugby union and sevens sides are leading the way, having won gold at two major events in 2018. “We have girls who have played before and plenty who have never played, but have made huge progress in a short time,” Sen Const Archibald said. One of those who had previous experience is half-back and Constable Jasmine Bennedick.
She played club rugby before joining the Vikings and has progressed to the ranks of the Melbourne Rebels Super W team. “It’s been great, to have this environment where you’re around people who love the sport you do but also you have that connection with your work,” she said. The Vikings women cleaned up at the Australian Police Rugby Championships in Wollongong, going undefeated en route to the inaugural women’s title. Const Bennedick, Senior Constable Amber Rawson and First Constable Chelsea Harrison were named in the Australian representative team, and Const Harrison took home player of the tournament honours. The Vikings then played a Country Fire Authority team in Bendigo in the first ever match pitting the two emergency services against one another and ran out 25-5 victors. Sen Const Archibald’s work with the team was also recently recognised with the Most Outstanding Police Sporting Achievement Award at the Victoria Police Amateur Sports and Welfare Society’s annual dinner.
Not only do they enjoy success, but Const Bennedick believes the team’s participation in the Vikings program carries over positive benefits into their everyday work. And given there’s more medals on offer, further success on and off the field could be just around the corner. Main image Rapid Rise Constable Jasmine Bennedick and Senior Constable Mark Archibald are part of the success of the Vikings' women's team. Editorial: Joel Peterson Photography: Yuri Kouzmin POLICE LIFE | SUMMER 2019
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YOU’RE MORE SUITED THAN YOU MIGHT THINK
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