Police Journal August 2018

HOW DEEP THE MENTAL SUFFERING

“I couldn’t see anything in his hands, but I remember seeing him lift one of his arms above his head, and I thought: ‘This is it!’ ”

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EDITOR

Practitioners in most fields have a far better understanding and appreciation of psychological injuries today than ever before Most in policing now accept that the job, at times, has a major mental and emotional impact on cops

Senior Constable Tash Smith and Senior Constable 1C Lauren McSorley each came across that one job that left them struggling to recover from precisely that impact. For Smith, the suffering was also physical, owing to a brutal assault an offender committed against her.

Both women agreed to talk openly about the incidents which caused them psychological injury and the challenges they’ve faced in their attempts to recover And each shares ther thoughts about making a return to full-time front-line police work

Constable Luke Anderson suffered an assault too – a vicious punch to the head by an offender in Hindley St last year

Luke understood that incidents like that were all part of police work He wasn’t complaining and never really had an issue with the attack, until SAPOL spared the offender accountability

In his first Industrial piece for the journal, new member liaison officer Steve Whetton insists that rank-and-file cops can “influence change” in their workplaces.

Dr Rod Pearce looks at the quality of the very air we breathe, and Police Association president Mark Carroll considers the issue of military back-up for police

Brett Williams brettwilliams@pj asn au

Publisher: Police Association of South Australia Level 2, 27 Carrington St, Adelaide SA 5000 T (08) 8212 3055 F (08) 8212 2002 www.pasa.asn.au Editor: Brett Williams (08) 8212 3055 Design: Sam Kleidon 0417 839 300 Advertising: Police Association of South Australia (08) 8212 3055 Printing: Finsbury Green (08) 8234 8000

The Police Journal is published by the Police Association of South Australia, 27 Carrington St, Adelaide, SA 5000, (ABN 73 802 822 770). Contents of the Police Journal are subject to copyright. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the Police Association of South Australia is prohibited. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor. The Police Association accepts no responsibility for statements made by advertisers. Editorial contributions should be sent to the editor (brettwilliams@pj.asn.au).

12 How deep the mental suffering

For one cop, it was a bashing she took on duty and, for another, is was the horrific images of her wounded, bleeding colleagues.

18 How a blatant assault went unpunished

No copper wants an offender who violently assaults him or her to get away with it but, in this case, that’s exactly what happened

22 Cops’ kids excel as artists

With their prize-winning artwork, four youngsters have shown just how well they understand their parents’ roles in policing

COVER: Christies Beach senior constable Tash Smith Photography by Steve McCawley

Andrew Heffernan Member Liaison Officer

Nadia Goslino Grievance Officer

Steven Whetton Member Liaison Officer

Allan Cannon Vice-President

Mark

Michael Kent Treasurer Bernadette Zimmermann Secretary

Trevor Milne Deputy President

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

REPRESENTATIVES

Housing

Brett Williams Editor Anne Hehner Jan Welsby Sarah Stephens

Shelley Furbow Reception

Caitlin Blackney Office Assistant

Damiani

Bronwyn Hunter Manager

Mitch Manning Samantha Strange

Chris Walkley

Daryl Mundy

Julian Snowden

Mick Casey Brett Gibbons

Legacy Sam Strange

Police Dependants Bernadette Fund Zimmermann

Superannuation Bernadette Zimmermann

SOGII

Nadia Goslino

POLICE A S S OCIATION OFSOUTH AUSTRALIA

Police Association of South Australia

DELEGATES

Metro North Branch

Port Adelaide Kim Williams (chair)

Elizabeth Nathan Long

Henley Beach Matthew Kluzek

Holden Hill Nigel Savage

Gawler David Savage

Golden Grove Stuart Smith

Salisbury Taryn Trevelion

Northern Prosecution Tim Pfeiffer

Northern Traffic Michael Tuohy

Country North Branch

Ceduna Chris Lovell

Coober Pedy Glenn Batty

Kadina Ric Schild

Nuriootpa

Jeffrey Ellbourn

Peterborough Nathan Paskett

Port Augusta Peter Hore

Port Lincoln

Port Pirie

Metro South Branch

Adelaide Paul Blenkiron

Adelaide David Zauch

Netley Paul Clark

Norwood Rebecca Phillis

South Coast Andrew Bradley

South Coast Phillip Jeffery

Southern Traffic Peter Tellam

Sturt David Handberg

Country South Branch

Mount Gambier Andy McClean (chair)

Adelaide Hills Joe McDonald

Berri

John Gardner

Millicent Nicholas Patterson

Murray Bridge Stephen Angove

Naracoorte

Renmark

Mark Heading

Gavin Mildrum

Whyalla Les Johnston

Crime Command Branch

Fraud Jamie Dolan (chair)

Major Crime Rob Beattie

Adelaide Alex Grimaldi

DOCIB Melaina Sponheimer

Elizabeth Mark Shaw

Forensic Services

Adam Gates

Holden Hill Narelle Smith

Intelligence Support Kevin Hunt

Port Adelaide Scott Mitchell

South Coast Sasha Lisle

Grant Baker

James Bentley

Operations Support Branch

Dog Ops

Bryan Whitehorn (chair)

Police Academy Paul Manns

Police Academy Rhett Vormelker

Band Andrew Ey

Comcen

Brenton Kirk

Firearms Brett Carpenter

HR Kerry Rouse

Mounted Ops Melanie Whittemore

STAR

Andrew Suter

State Tac/ Op Mandrake Mark Buckingham

Traffic David Kuchenmeister

Transit Richard Hern

ATSI Branch Shane Bloomfield (chair) (no delegates)

Women’s Branch Mardi Ludgate (chair) (no delegates)

Officers Branch Les Buckley

President Mark Carroll

When is military back-up appropriate?

At what point during a public incident, such as a siege or terrorist attack, do authorities have the power to call upon the military to flex its considerable muscle?

Neither police nor the public often contemplate the answer. The Turnbull government, however, recently brought this very issue into sharp focus. It has introduced legislation into federal parliament designed to lower the threshold for calling for the involvement of the Australian Defence Force in such incidents

The measures came from a counterterrorism review last year, prompted by the Lindt Café siege and other recent international terrorist attacks

Currently, state and territory authorities can only call upon the military as a last resort, when all police resources have been exhausted.

But the new bill would, if passed, allow for a call-up on occasions when ADF involvement would be deemed simply to “enhance” the ability of the police

…

feedback from members indicates that the legislation must be underpinned by strong guidelines and operating procedures developed in close consultation with police across all jurisdictions.

The first instinct of a police officer would be to baulk at such a notion. Special Tasks and Rescue police spend every day of their careers training for these highly dangerous incidents

They also train directly with the military They are specially trained to deal with terrorism, sieges and riots

If the government is considering lowering the threshold for military support, its agenda should also focus on ensuring specialized police are fully resourced when it comes to recruiting and deployment.

This is not to say that the Police Federation of Australia, and other police unions across the country, do not support this bill

But feedback from members indicates that the legislation must be underpinned by strong guidelines and operating procedures developed in close consultation with police across all jurisdictions

The margin for misunderstandings is potentially huge.

What if members of the ADF must use lethal force? What powers would the coroner have in a subsequent investigation? At what point is the incident no longer a police matter, but an ADF matter?

The lawmakers need to address these, and other, police concerns

Likewise, civil libertarians across the nation have expressed concern that troops will have the power to detain, search and question Australians –powers traditionally exercised only by police.

All these issues will form part of the conversation as the legislation is tabled – a conversation in which the PFA intends to have significant input

I urge members to disregard any information which is not distributed through official Police Association channels.

Enterprise Agreement 2018

The current enterprise agreement expires in May 2019 It provides for a first salary increase in the next EA (to apply from the beginning of the first full pay period commencing on or after July 1, 2018)

It also stipulates that negotiations for a subsequent agreement are to commence no later than April 1, 2018

I have already met with government representatives to commence that process and with Treasurer Rob Lucas to advise him when the first salary increase in the next agreement will apply.

(The government has recently restructured the role of the commissioner for public employment, and negotiations for public-sector EAs now rests with the Industrial Relations and Policy Division of the Department of Treasury and Finance )

Since the finalization of the 2016 EA, the Police Association has closely monitored member and delegate views in respect of the upcoming enterprise bargaining process.

We have also been meeting with local branch officials and will settle on claim topics soon We will provide these details to members

Existing EA conditions are not automatic entitlements in the new enterprise bargaining process The first task in the process is to ensure that these existing conditions are maintained

It is our policy that no existing entitlements be “sold off” during negotiations for a new agreement

We will update members on enterprise bargaining through:

• The Police Journal.

• E-mails to work e-mail addresses.

• PASAweb

• PASAapp notifications.

• Direct mail to home addresses. Particularly unhelpful in the bargaining process is the dissemination of misinformation on various unofficial social media platforms I urge members to disregard any information which is not distributed through official Police Association channels

Fearless defender of police

Former Police Association secretary

Sam Bass died on June 28. He served in the secretarial role from 1988 to 1993.

Sam was a larger-than-life character, driven by a strong sense of justice He fearlessly battled for, and defended, the industrial rights of police officers

He drew on the experience of his own 33-year police career, which included 21 years as a detective, and he intricately understood the many challenges that come with the police profession

The association remains grateful for the contribution Sam made as its 16th secretary.

We extend our deepest sympathy to his family, friends and former colleagues.

How deep the mental suffering

Many cops pay a high mental and emotional price for what they see and respond to in policing. Two Police Association members outline their experiences and their battle to recover.

By Brett Williams

Senior Constable 1C

Lauren McSorley (left) and Senior Constable Tash Smith.

“… I’d never seen rage like that before. I can only describe it as like a rabid animal.”

IT WAS ROUTINE POLICE WORK, BUT IT LEFT SENIOR CONSTABLE TASH SMITH WITH THREE BROKEN RIBS, A FIGHT FOR BREATH, AND UNBEARABLE PAIN. Her chest felt as if “it was on fire” and her right upper arm as if “it was burning”

The disoriented single mother, 45, lay flat on her back on a paved suburban footpath thinking she was going to die

“I’m not going to see my son again,” she thought “Who’s going to tell him (I’ve died)? Who’s going to look after him?”

Smith could hear the sound of distant ambulance sirens and her colleagues screaming “Tash! Tash!” They moved quickly to rip open the Velcro fastenings on her loadbearing vest and relieve the pressure on her battered rib cage

“I just couldn’t get air in,” Smith remembers, “and I was in a world of hurt I remember screaming: ‘My God! Get it (the vest) off my arm!’ ”

Several back-up police officers had by now pounced on the inexplicably enraged attacker, Owen Williams, who had belted Smith with a solid steel pole And she had done nothing other than seek to speak with him about a neighbour complaint concerning damage to a fence.

Smith and her probationer partner, Lee Hartley, scored the job just before the end of a Thursday day shift last September

The complainant had accused Williams, her back-door neighbour, of the fence damage and claimed he had threatened her with a stick or pole So, the officers approached his “Fort Knox-like” home, with its CCTV cameras and roller shutters across its front

Smith recognized the Noarlunga Downs house as one she had been to before for a noise complaint; and, even now, she could hear music blaring inside. She knocked on the front door while announcing herself and her partner as police but got no response.

For at least the next two minutes, Smith

kept on knocking and even placed herself directly in view of a CCTV camera. That was to ensure that Williams could see that she was indeed a police officer.

“You could hear the music booming and could have sung along with the words,” she recalls “It was that loud So, we couldn’t hear if there was a person inside ”

Still, Smith kept knocking and calling on Williams to answer the door until, finally, there came a response

“Suddenly,” Smith says, “the main door opened and there was the most enraged male person I think I’d ever seen in my entire police career. He screamed profanities at us like: ‘F--- off you pig c---s, you f-----g pieces of shit! F--- off! This is my property!’

“The tendons in his neck and veins in his face were bulging and he had spittle coming out as he was screaming I’ve been, and mixed, with angry people in my career, but I’d never seen rage like that before I can only describe it as like a rabid animal ”

After his bizarre outburst, the hoodieclad Williams, 33, slammed his front door shut so forcefully that it “rattled the house”

And after he retreated, he turned his music up even louder.

Smith and her partner kept their cool and considered their situation and next move, which was to arrest the offender under the Environment Protection Act But the two cops, plus the cadet with them that day, would need back-up

Smith made a call for assistance and soon had her sergeant and five or six other cops on the scene She outlined her plan to make the arrest and, with her colleagues, tried again to draw Williams to his front door

They knocked on that door and on windows as they announced themselves as police and called on him to present himself. Smith even activated the lights and sirens on her patrol car and used its PA system to communicate with him

But he did not respond to a single appeal, and that left the officers no option but to break into his house to make their arrest. They levered the front screen door off with a halligan tool before the sergeant forced open the main timber door with a sledgehammer

Now, with passage into the house, Smith took half a pace beyond the front door into a dark hallway She could see little ahead of her until, suddenly, her “enraged” attacker appeared

He was “not running and not rushing” but striding menacingly toward her Smith, thinking “I’m going to get hurt here”, quickly stepped backward, out of the doorway and off the porch.

“I couldn’t see anything in his hands,” she says. “But I remember seeing him lift one of his arms above his head, and I thought: ‘This is it!’

“Then I felt extreme pain to the inner side of my right upper arm and chest I just thought I’d been shot or stabbed The pain was so intense

“I let out a pretty big scream and pretty much fell to the ground on my hands and knees It turned out that he’d hit me with a solid steel pole about two feet long

“I opened my eyes, saw the pole on the ground, grabbed it with my left hand, got up and turned around. ”

Then, as Williams started to move his hands toward the pockets of his bright red hoodie, the back-up cops reacted And their reaction was so right Concealed in those hoodie pockets were two knives

Says Smith: “I remember seeing a flood of blue jump on top of ‘red man’ and hearing my name being screamed out

“And once I’d seen lots of blue jump on this bloke, I went hobbling, or semi-crawling, about 20 metres across the front yard. I got behind a police car and just lay down on my back . ”

The ambulance Smith could hear was soon on the scene. Its officers gave the suffering copper a green whistle for her intense pain and rushed her to the Flinders Medical Centre

“Then I felt extreme pain to the inner side of my right upper arm and chest. I just thought I’d been shot or stabbed. The pain was so intense.”

Herinjuries were clearly serious, and not just physical With the bashing came a deep psychological impact

As Smith explains it, “the whole head process” began at the hospital

There, where she had to recount the bashing for medical staff, thoughts and visions of the incident swirled around in her head She could not help but analyse, and re-analyse, her actions to assure herself that she had done no wrong.

Then there were the tears that preceded the phone call she made to her son, Zac She had to let him know what had happened and that she would be in hospital overnight

“It was the hardest call of my life,” she says “My son struggled and was angry My mother was very upset, too It was a very difficult time for everyone ”

The mental strain continued with news of the six- to eight-week recovery time her body would demand It meant that, while her injuries healed, she would miss at least two triathlons she had trained for over the previous six months. She felt “robbed” and “really angry”

“I cried many tears and struggled with not being able to compete in my triathlon season and my first Half Ironman,” she says. “I felt like it (the attack) had taken my entire life away. ”

At home, as she undertook her recovery, Smith simply could not erase images of the bashing from her mind She suffered panic attacks, anxiety, sleeplessness and nightmares

Seeing friends or just getting out of the house became a task rather than a pleasure And sessions she undertook with a psychologist were, at first, distressing for her It was the pain of reliving the assault and the difficulty of learning survival mechanisms.

“After the sessions, I would sleep for hours due to exhaustion,” she says. “Or, I’d be so upset that I’d lock myself away in my bedroom, so my son wouldn’t see my trauma ”

Ultimately, the psychologist diagnosed Smith with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression

But Smith was a conscientious cop desperate to get back to the front line, and did last Christmas Day, just three months after the attack She got through the busy festive season but now concedes that she pushed too hard to return to work so soon.

In fact, by February, she had become both physically unwell and “quite anxious” at work

Left and above: bruising to Smith’s upper arm after the assault.

“ ‘I want that fire back in my belly. I want to be the person I was before this happened. I’m not quite sure where she got lost.’ ”

“I was starting to forget things,” she says. “I’d put something down and not be able to find it. I wasn’t sleeping properly, and I’d be tremoring and shaking and constantly felt nauseous. I had huge weight loss, too – eight or nine kilos ”

Her colleagues, who could see her mental and physical health declining, encouraged Smith to take time off to rest They sensed that she “had nothing left in the tank” Some felt so concerned that they alerted their superiors to her plight

At first, Smith railed against the suggestion of stepping away from patrol work but soon realized it was in her best interests. In a move she herself suggested, she ended up off the road working in the Christies Beach police cells

But her condition continued to decline Self-doubt crept into her thinking and made her question her performance in her new post and even her suitability to remain a copper

She confided in a colleague, explaining that she felt she had lost direction and her passion for police work .

“My self-esteem was rock bottom and I felt very self-conscious,” she says. “I even thought people were talking about me and thinking that I was a head case who was just taking the Mickey

But I was so fatigued, and never had I felt like that before. ”

Then came a candid conversation with her sergeant one Friday morning last February He understood the depth of her suffering and ordered her home, not to return until the following Wednesday

“I went home and pretty much spent the next four days in bed,” she says “I was wrecked I was so exhausted ”

Still, she returned to work on that Wednesday as agreed and took part in scheduled training. As she listened to a lecturer, however, she felt “something inside me snapped”.

She walked out on the training and launched into some paperwork but ended up in another conversation with her sergeant

“He simply said: ‘You’re unwell,’ and that was the end of me,” she recalls “I burst into tears and said: ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with me I can’t think I can’t sleep I just can’t process anything ’ ”

Smith (second from left) at work last New Year’s Eve, three months after the attack, with teammates Kristen Vos, Louise Worsley and Lisa Cahill; below: at the police academy to receive her 10-year service medal last September, two weeks before the attack.

The sergeant, rightly concerned about Smith, arranged a consultation for her with the SAPOL Employee Assistance Section. He had a colleague she was close to drive her there the next day.

“And, just for once in my life, I opened up,” she says “I cried a lot and just said: ‘I want that fire back in my belly I want to be the person I was before this happened I’m not quite sure where she got lost ’ ”

Smith wisely accepted the help she needed from both her GP and psychologist And, after some time away from policing, she began a returnto-work plan last June.

It was, and remains, a case of small steps, beginning with just a few hours’ work a day, three days a week, and building back up to full-time hours nd that is exactly what Smith wants: to don her uniform and be back on the front line, where she most enjoyed police work

“I’m not cured,” she insists, “but I’ve definitely come a long way I’m a work in progress; and I’m a real advocate for mental health

“The issue of stigma has got a lot better in SAPOL but there’s still such a long way to go. I just think it’s really important that SAPOL continues to allow people with problems to be open about how they’re feeling ”

Above:

The blood-and-gore images of the Hectorville triple murder and attempted cop killings have never left Senior Constable First Class Lauren McSorley Even now, seven years later, she can still visualize them with 100 per cent clarity

Both officers injured in the shooting were her Norwood teammates She and her partner, Tim McAlister, had rushed to their aid in the early hours of that April morning in 2011.

“That night, my reality changed,” McSorley says. “My career flashed before my eyes This was the ultimate near miss (for two cops), and I’ve carried a lot of guilt over that this whole time ”

Others assured McSorley that her feelings of guilt were misplaced She, however, could not help but think that it could have, or indeed should have, been her in the line of fire in that Montacute Road house

And the fact that she emerged from the incident physically unscathed added to her sense of guilt.

“I realize there was nothing I could do to change the outcome of that night,” she says “But other people lost their lives, or came very close to it, and those people were dear friends of mine

“And I felt guilty because, maybe, I wasn’t as brave as I was supposed to be, but you don’t know how you’re going to react to a situation until you’re faced with it. ”

This situation, and its clearly “huge impact” on McSorley, left her with a vastly different perspective on front-line police work

“It was no longer just about getting into the patrol car and seeing what the next job was,” she says “There was this underlying feeling that there was the potential for my life to be changed or destroyed

“I did get to the point where I was scared to get out of the car on night shift. Every time I was going to a job that even resembled some sort of violence, it’d hit me again. I’d remember that feeling of arriving at the (Hectorville) job ”

McSorley stuck it out on the front line for around 12 months after the Hectorville job and then, finally, took the break she knew she needed. In 2012, she secured a position in Training and Officer Development at the police academy, which remains her post

She considers she made a “healthy choice” which gave her “room to breathe and reflect”

Within the first 12 months after the Hectorville job she consulted a psychologist but, later, pursued other avenues of healing “A bit alternative”, as she describes them, they included relaxation techniques, “meditative-type” practices, and exercise such as running.

And photography, which she loved but had not practised for some time, proved equally helpful

But simply talking about the mental and emotional effect Hectorville had on her was likely her greatest saviour

“Had I not talked and cried as much as I did,” she says, “I can see that I would’ve developed anxiety I’ve been so lucky to have family and friends and people around me who have been happy to talk about it

“I think part of our resilience (as cops) is admitting that we need to talk about things a lot more.

“I’ve benefited a lot from telling the story at the academy to cadets who were very receptive and appreciated hearing it

“And I felt guilty because, maybe, I wasn’t as brave as I was supposed to be … ”

So that, in a way, has probably steered me away from any sort of mental-health issues. ”

But McSorley concedes that she remains emotionally scarred by the Hectorville incident and steers clear of the triggers for bad memories An obvious one is movie and television violence She watches none of it

Tears still well in her eyes during some passages of conversation about Hectorville

But McSorley is determined never to allow killer Donato Corbo and his evil actions to define her

And, although six years have passed since she took her place in a patrol car, she does not rule out a return to the front line

She insists that, after traumatic incidents, cops should not “be afraid to feel the fear, the anxiety, the anger”.

“It’s sad for people who’ve bottled those things up because of the stigma that’s attached to (mental ill health),” she says

“And we’ve seen police officers take their own lives because it’s become too much

“The worst thing you can do is deny the feelings you have It’s like trying to push a balloon as far down underwater as you can, but it’s just going to keep coming up ” PJ

See Shotgun slaughter – the survivors (Police Journal, August 2012) for the full story of the Hectorville murders.

Above: Senior Constable First Class Lauren McSorley.

HOW A BLATANT ASSAULT WENT UNPUNISHED

Stills showing Fitzgerald in the doorway where he started the fight; the security guards containing him on the footpath;

ASSAULT

By Brett Williams

It was a street offence about which two things were certain. The offender had thrown a deliberate, full-force punch, and it connected with Hindley St constable Luke Anderson outside the Woolshed on Hindley

No doubt surrounded the incident because it was caught on CCTV and was clearly visible in the associated footage

To Anderson and his colleagues, including those on the scene with him that March morning last year, it was an open-and-shut case of assault police

“He just turned on me in a second,” Anderson says of his attacker, Terance Fitzgerald. “He swung the punch so as to hit me in the face. ”

And Anderson felt that flying left fist graze the side of his head Had it landed squarely on his jaw or temple, it might well have left him knocked out cold on the street – his workplace Only through good luck did he emerge without an injury

Still, neither the arresting officers nor Anderson saw any reason not to charge Fitzgerald with assault police.

So, that was precisely the charge he wound up facing, as well as resist arrest and fail to leave licensed premises.

But, nine months later, in a move which hard-working Hindley St beat cops and others could scarcely believe, SAPOL decision-makers refused to proceed with the assault-police charge

The decision left Anderson deeply aggrieved He appealed to prosecutors to reverse it and made clear his total willingness to give evidence of the assault in court.

But his plea for justice brought no reversal of the decision, so Anderson turned to the Police Association for its support.

That led to direct communication between the association and the

Prosecution Services Branch OC, who refused to intervene. Association president Mark Carroll considered the failure to pursue the assault charge a “wholly unsatisfactory outcome” for all cops He conveyed that sentiment, and others, in a letter to Commissioner Grant Stevens last January

In its opening paragraph, the letter detailed the facts of the Fitzgerald assault on Anderson and indicated the CCTV footage as a key source of evidence.

In fact, the action caught on camera left nothing open to question.

In the lead-up to the assault, Fitzgerald had tried to gain entry to the Woolshed on Hindley around 4:35am The CCTV footage showed him speaking with a security guard in the doorway of the nightclub for around 75 seconds

Then, without warning, he attacked the guard who, along with two of his co-workers, reacted instantly It took the three guards to overpower Fitzgerald, drag him out of the doorway, take him to ground, and restrain him face-down on the footpath

Around three minutes later, the first police officer arrived on the scene on a motorcycle Then, after another minute, Anderson turned up on foot around 40 seconds ahead of a couple of his foot-patrol colleagues

He jumped to no conclusions about whether Fitzgerald was “a genuine offender” His experience told him it could easily have been a case of “security being heavy-handed”.

“So,” Anderson says, “I helped him (Fitzgerald) up and said: ‘Come over here and we’ll sort out what’s happened ’

Anderson escorting him toward the bin and then beginning the conversation.

Foreground: Constable Luke Anderson; background: the punch striking Anderson directly to the side of his head.

“I started walking him over to a police car and he was a little bit disorientated He wanted to stop at a bin to check out his mouth, which was bleeding ”

As the pair stood by a bin close to the kerb outside the nightclub, Anderson tried to get a conversation going The only talk from Fitzgerald, however, was about his teeth and mouth pain.

“He didn’t want to tell me what had happened,” Anderson says, “and he started to look like he was probably the offender in the incident

“So, I said: ‘Come over to the police car and I’ll have a chat to you,’ and he said: ‘No, I don’t want to go over there ’ ”

Then came a hysterical reaction from Fitzgerald as he screamed at Anderson and raised, and drew backward, his right arm It was clear to Anderson that Fitzgerald was about to strike him with a backhander.

“To stop myself being hit, I grabbed his right arm and he straightaway punched me in the right side of my head,” Anderson recalls “He hit my

temple area with the side of his fist, and I felt it brush past my ear

“Then he pushed me backwards and I stumbled onto the roadway, where there was a taxi rank and cars going past But there were four or five other police around and, in a split second, they just pounced on him ”

And, as Fitzgerald found himself overpowered for at least the second time that morning, he writhed in resistance against those restraining police So, he had now met the criteria for each charge the arresting officers would bring against him –including the assault on Anderson

“It was a text-book assault,”

Anderson says “I’m standing there, I’m treating him as if he’s a victim, and he punched me It was so textbook it wasn’t funny

“And then you look at the footage, and you go: ‘How is it even disputable that he punched me?’ ”

But, of course, Fitzgerald scored a pass on the assault-police charge. Anderson got the disturbing news,

“We’re seeing legislation introduced around the country in response to violent behaviour on our streets. And, at the same time, we’re giving a free pass to an offender who, with no provocation, clearly assaulted one of our members.”

that the charge was not to proceed, in a phone call from a police prosecutor That left him angry, frustrated and feeling as if SAPOL had failed him

So disturbed was Anderson that, on a day off, he sent Adelaide Prosecution a lengthy e-mail seeking the reinstatement of the assault charge

Adelaide Prosecution responded with its view, that the charge of resist police “adequately reflects the nature and extent of the criminal conduct”.

But, as Anderson explains it, other factors came to light in the communication he undertook with SAPOL

One was that, of the total number of prosecutors who viewed the CCTV footage, half believed it showed clear evidence of assault police

And SAPOL, according to Anderson, had considered the costs it might have been liable for had Prosecution lost the case in court.

The Police Association had urged Grant Stevens to intervene – and he did. He halted all action on the case and ordered an independent review of the

decision to drop the assault charge

But that review, conducted by a senior prosecutor, failed to back the call to charge Fitzgerald with assault police

Stevens explained that the review “did not find any grounds to disturb the original decision to accept a plea to (the charge of) resist arrest”

But Anderson, the Police Association and many others disagreed – and still do – with the finding of the review.

Not lost on association president Mark Carroll was the willingness to drop an assault-police charge in the current era of coward-punch fatalities

“We’re seeing legislation introduced around the country in response to violent behaviour on our streets,” he says “And, at the same time, we’re giving a free pass to an offender who, with no provocation, clearly assaulted one of our members

“What kind of support is that for cops who put themselves at bodily risk to police our entertainment strips and other places? And what message does it send to offenders, and potential offenders?”

“She asked: ‘Why aren’t these people protecting you? Why don’t they have your interests at heart? What if you’d cracked your head open, got put in a coma, couldn’t work – or had died?’ ”

Anderson asks precisely the same questions and laments the stress that the withdrawn assault-police charge caused in his private life

“I told my wife,” he says “She’s obviously on my side and was very angry

“She asked: ‘Why aren’t these people protecting you? Why don’t they have your interests at heart? What if you’d cracked your head open, got put in a coma, couldn’t work – or had died?’ ”

And, in the workplace, Anderson has few if any workmates who perceive the Fitzgerald attack as “anything other than an assault” One seasoned officer labelled it “blatant”

“Among some of my colleagues,” Anderson says, “there’s very little confidence in the prosecution (process) when it comes to actually proceeding to trial with evidence. ”

PJ

The Police Association intends to investigate any other cases in which charges of assault against its members have been withdrawn. President Mark Carroll urges any member who has had, or knows of, an experience of this type to contact the association on 8212 3055 or by e-mail (pasa@pasa.asn.au).

Above: stills showing the sequence of events: facing page, top row, third from left: the punch to the head; above centre: the push which forced Anderson to stumble back toward the roadway; below: back-up officers contain Fitzgerald after the assault.

“I think it was a great initiative … because they got the family

involved. There should be more of it.”

Facing page: top:

Senior Constable 1C

Daniel Blachut and daughter Dahlia and her drawing in the Police Club display cabinet; far left:

Senior Constable 1C

Nick Patterson and son Angas (his drawing above); centre: Brevet Sgt Lauren Kearns and Sgt Richard Hoar with their daughters Georgia and Logan (her drawing below) with her winner’s cheque; right: Senior Constable Ben Martin and daughter Jessica (her drawing above).

Cops’ kids excel as artists

By Brett Williams

Fouryoung budding artists have made their cop parents beam with pride after winning prizes in the Police Association Kids’ Art Competition last month Dahlia Blachut, 10, and Angas Patterson, 11, were the winner and runner-up respectively in the age category for nine- to 12-year-olds.

Entrants had to produce their drawings or paintings in line with the theme My Mum/Dad is a Cop.

Dahlia impressed the judges with her action-packed drawing of police catching bank robbers on a chevronshaped road beneath a police building And, adding to the action is a news crew filming the arrest and a helicopter supporting cops on the ground with its searchlight

Black and gold crime-scene tape borders the entire drawing, which features an important warning not to drink- or drug-drive

Senior Constable First Class Daniel Blachut (Foundation Training) said his daughter had spent around six hours on her drawing over several days

“She’s very creative,” he says. “She loves designing things and making particular objects, so I knew drawing would be one of the things she’d like to do. ”

Angas Patterson showed his creativity with a drawing of a front-line police officer in all his kit: a load-bearing vest, accoutrement belt, and baton in hand Around the officer are boxed written notes explaining the purpose of each of the items

Competing was not a new experience for Angas, who had come runner-up in another art competition as recently as last May

His Millicent-based dad, Senior Constable 1C Nick Patterson, was “very proud of his effort” in the Police Association comp

“He took himself off to his desk in his bedroom and set himself to task,” Nick says. “Drawing is his number one pastime.

“He couldn’t believe he’d won a prize. I was at work when he received his notification (from the Police Association)

in the mail, and he sent me a picture of the letter ”

Six-year-old Logan Hoar and eight-year-old Jessica Martin were the winner and runner-up in the eight-andunder category

Proud parents Sergeant Richard Hoar (Sturt) and Brevet Sergeant Lauren Kearns (Major Crash) were the cops Logan featured in her drawing.

In two distinct settings, both under bright sun and blue skies, it depicted Richard watching over a prisoner in the Sturt cells and Lauren examining a crash scene.

“She loves drawing and was very keen to partake,” Richard says “As soon as I told her about the competition, she was straight out with the pens and pencils and she was away ”

Logan, who was “over the moon” with her win, shared her excitement with her parents before she got “straight on the phone to her grandmother”

Jessica Martin undertook her drawing in Alice Springs where she was on holiday with her family She featured her dad, Senior Constable Ben Martin (Christies Beach), with handcuffs in hand, and a broad red and blue chequered band between two strips of yellow police tape.

“When she commits, she commits pretty well and will have a go,” Ben says “She just got down and stuck into it and worked away at it She doesn’t believe in leaving things half done

“I think it (the competition) was a great initiative for the association to come up with because they got the family involved There should be more of it ”

The idea for the competition came from the artwork children had contributed to the production of the Police Association booklet A Cop in the Family

The two winners, Dahlia and Logan, each received a voucher for a $250 Police Credit Union account. Runners-up Angas and Jessica received $100 vouchers.

All four winners’ drawings remain on show in the new Police Club display cabinet in the newly renovated foyer of the Police Association building PJ

it

As a police officer, how

As a police officer, how much are you planning to accumulate for the future or to receive as an income?

As a police officer, how much are you planning to accumulate for the future or to receive as an income?

The Japanese proverb says “A plan without action is a daydream, but action without a plan is a nightmare!”

The Japanese proverb says “A plan without action is a daydream, but action without a plan is a nightmare!”

The Japanese proverb says “A plan without action is a daydream, but action without a plan is a nightmare!”

By clearly defining your needs and objectives and getting the most out of your money and savings, you can remain on track for future financial success.

By clearly defining your needs and objectives and getting the most out of your money and savings, you can remain on track for future financial success.

By clearly defining your needs and objectives getting the most out of your money and you can remain on track for future financial

Attend one of these free seminars which have been created specifically for police officers.

Attend one of these free seminars which have been created specifically for police officers.

Attend one of these free seminars which been created specifically for police officers.

Steven Whetton Member Liaison Officer, Police Association

Scope for members to influence change

Police Association members have recently experienced the most significant organizational change since the introduction of local service areas in 2000

Six LSAs have become four districts under the new SAPOL district policing model

Our most experienced police officers are used to change. They have witnessed divisions, centralization, decentralization, closing of police shop fronts and, now, a return to more centralization. And the rationale? A strengthening of front-line services, providing accessible, innovative and efficient use of police resources

The roll-out of the organizational change brings with it catch phrases

… sometimes we don’t use those skills when it comes to workplace issues.

such as “adapt to change”, “best practice”, “big picture” and “DPM-consistent approach”

There is always an opportunity for SAPOL to draw on members’ knowledge and experience for advice in respect of staffing, rosters and organizational structure

Our recent retiring members’ dinner celebrated the careers of 113 retired police officers who, collectively, had left with 4,310 years’ experience. Most of those officers had each provided more than 40 years’ service

So, how can members engage in effective communication to influence change?

The Fair Work Ombudsman (Best practice guide, Consultation and

co-operation in the workplace) reads:

“Successful change involves consultation and co-operation with all parties involved, including managers, employees and any employee representative ” Safe Work Australia (Work Health and Safety Act, section 48) highlights the requirements of consultation:

• Relevant work health and safety information is shared with workers.

• Workers are given a reasonable opportunity to express their views and to raise health or safety issues.

• Workers are given a reasonable opportunity to contribute to the decisions-making process relating to the health and safety matters

• The views of workers are taken into account

CIB Reunion

Letters

Letters to the editor can be sent by:

Regular mail Police Journal, PO Box 6032, Halifax St, Adelaide SA 5000

Email editor@pasa asn au Fax (08) 8212 2002

Internal dispatch Police Journal 168

The 12th Retired CIB Reunion will be held at the Police Club from 2pm to 6pm on Monday, September24, 2018

Any former or retired detectives, or serving detectives who are soon to retire, are invited to attend

A modest $10 covers organizational costs and refreshments

As usual, invitations will be sent out via e-mail and post to all current group members on our list

I would ask anyone who has never attended but would like to attend one of the reunions and receive future e-mails, to contact me at grahamwp2@gmail com or by phone (0417 881 745).

Graham Puckridge Detective Sergeant (ret) Retired CIB Members Group

• Workers are advised of the outcome of any consultation in a timely manner

SAPOL already has an established employer and employee representative committee called the Workplace Consultative Committee (general order 8420, Human Resource Management Industrial Relations, Workplace and industrial consultation in South Australia Police).

Significantly, the general order highlights that “employees are responsible for constructive and active participation in workplace consultative processes”

This means that members have a voice We all have experience in preparing court files or case management but, sometimes, we don’t use those skills when it comes to workplace issues

We can call meetings when required, and there are referral procedures – including raising the issue with the Police Association –when the item raised for discussion has implications extending beyond the workplace

Remember, this process can enable the resolution of issues at a local level or form the basis of industrial action if necessary

A current example is the dispute notified by the association in respect of the proposed change of roster for sergeants, brevet sergeants and constables working at Holden Hill police station custody management

The proposed roster did not have clear weekends off as required and brevet sergeants were performing regular work in the place of sergeants. A police officer should not be doing the work of a higher-ranked officer without adequate payment.

A benefit to everyone is that Holden Hill members are actively involved and engaged in protecting their conditions of employment in not only in their area but the entire workforce

Owing to the notice of dispute, a workplace consultative committee meeting was scheduled, and members were given an opportunity to contribute to the decision-making process and provide evidence-based opinions.

Brevet Sergeant

Since the introduction of the brevet sergeant rank, members have been subjected to transfer with no right of return to their existing location, team or roster

Therefore, members appear to be performing an “operational relief position” as opposed to being placed in the specific position for which they applied.

Therefore, members appear to be performing an “operational relief position” as opposed to being placed in the specific position for which they applied An example is Norwood or Holden Hill members being transferred to the City Watch House

Such significant change has an immediate effect on members’ personal situations, including alterations to childcare and school drop-off and collection. Forced transfers have an immediate effect on a member and his or her family’s welfare and can cause a considerable stress within the family unit

They contribute to additional financial and logistical issues that exist because members plan their family activities around their workplace location and roster

Members need to be conversant with section 52 of the Police Act (Review of Transfers) and the hardship definition (general order 8420, Human Resource Management Administrative grievance management, selections, transfers and termination)

Police officers are resilient, but stability in their work is surely not too much to ask

Police Journal like Christmas

Just wanted to say what a fantastic read, yet again, the latest issue of the Police Journal was (June 2018)

I find myself inadvertently thinking of Christmas each time I find the yellow envelope waiting on my desk with the latest issue inside Hope you all keep up the great work Can’t wait to see what other interesting stories you have to share in forthcoming issues

Kind regards Daniel Yeow Employee

Dr Rod Pearce

When poor air quality can kill

Australia has had some lethal issues with its air quality, like the thunderstorm asthma that killed 10 people in Victoria in 2016

Lightning smashed the rye grass pollen into small pieces, causing the particles to get further into the lungs of asthmatics, who died from their asthma.

Still, Australia is considered, by world standards, to have good air quality, although the actual measurement of that quality is complicated

Air pollution can be measured by the concentration of particles smaller than 10 micrometres (PM10) Sometimes the measurements will be of smaller particles, such as 2 5 micrometres and might be quoted as PM2 5

Air quality changes from moment to moment and from place to place so much that direct comparisons become very difficult. But comparisons, using averages of numbers of particles of certain sizes, suggest Australia does well

Our capital cities tend to fluctuate between good and very good, which is in stark contrast to many other international metropolises

The global urban annual average is 71(PM10) Sydney had an average annual count of 12, Canberra 10, Perth 13, Darwin and Adelaide 14, Brisbane 18, Melbourne 13, and Hobart 12 .

Australia compares favourably to London (29), Paris (38), Berlin (26), New York City (21), Milan (44), Tokyo (23) and Moscow (33)

It is estimated about 3,000 Australians die prematurely each year from outdoor air pollution, and our motor vehicles are a major component of that pollution, particularly in trafficcongested areas.

Measurements by Beijing municipal government in January 2013 showed the highest recorded level of PM2 . 5 was at nearly 1,000. Cars emit a mix of carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ground-level ozone, and particulate matter, some of it visible as smog or haze

Australian air is polluted every day by fuels such as coal, gas, petroleum and wood, but a notable portion – about 75 per cent – is from motor vehicle emissions This causes:

• Respiratory tract irritation and infection

• Exacerbation of asthma.

• Decreased lung function.

• Exacerbation of, and increased mortality from, cardiorespiratory diseases.

• Myocardial infarction

• Premature mortality

• Atherosclerosis

Estimates vary as to the numbers of people affected by this, and hospitalization and deaths are the tip of the iceberg

It is estimated about 3,000 Australians die prematurely each year from outdoor air pollution, and our motor vehicles are a major component of that pollution, particularly in traffic-congested areas. Diesel contains more particulates and nitrox compounds than does petrol

Car emission standards have changed but testing overseas has shown that, even when cars have particulate filters to meet higher standards, diesel emissions remain a problem under realworld stop-start driving conditions

We still don’t know what proportion of asthma exacerbations are owing to air pollution each year and extreme events, such as bushfires and dust storms.

One study has suggested about 3 per cent of all asthma hospitalizations in Melbourne in 2006 were related to

exposure to nitrogen dioxide and about 4 per cent of asthma hospitalizations of children aged 0 to 14 were related to particulates in the air.

There is general agreement that there is a real increase in disease because of the pollution

Wearing surgical and paper masks does not provide protection from the particles in smoke, and even less from gas like ozone

The quality of the air you breathe can change from one second to another and you must be aware of the immediate environment around you If you are standing behind a car blowing out smoke, you are at more risk than you are in an open field.

If you have a particular sensitivity to dust, pollen or smoke, there is an advantage in staying inside and using air conditioners or other filters to reduce the amount of particles you inhale

Direct pollution into your lungs by smoking cigarettes is far more serious

Half of the people who smoke will die from it, whereas the increased risk to an asthmatic from air pollution might be less than 0 1 per cent

Wearing a mask might not help but, in the case of extreme pollution, it might reduce the immediate particulate exposure.

However, the real effect in the short term is likely to be your own sensitivity to the pollutant, with any long-term harm likely to be related to the total amount of exposure to pollutants over time

Pollution is an issue for all of us to consider You can check websites for international travel suggestions about places with high pollution, but conditions change from day to day.

Motoring

Jim Barnett

Model Honda Civic Type R

Price $50,990 plus on-road costs .

Engine 2 .0-litre VTEC turbocharged four-cylinder petrol 228kW 400Nm .

Transmission Six-speed close-ratio manual with rev-matching .

Safety Full suite of driver assistance and crash avoidance, rear- and left-side cameras, six airbags

Entertainment Seven-inch touch screen, 160-watt display audio with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, DAB+ radio and Bluetooth connectivity

Fuel 95 RON recommended, tank 47 litres, economy 8 8 litres/100km

Honda Civic

Type R

DESIGN AND FUNCTION

The British-built Honda Civic Type R has taken a giant leap forward . According to Honda, this latest version holds the quickest-ever lap record for a front-wheel drive car around Germany’s famous Nürburgring racetrack

The single-model ($50,990) Civic Type R is a stunner During the week, it’s a useful, decent-sized and well-equipped four-door runabout On the weekend, this thing is ready for the racetrack

Big 20-inch wheels shod with 245/30 tyres, red Brembo brakes with cross-drilled front rotors, flared guards, a big rear wing and vortex generators at the back of the roof are only part of the picture

Other external features include an aggressive grille with large air intake, sporty sill panels and a unique triple exhaust setup

Under the bonnet sits a turbocharged 2 0-litre VTEC engine pumping out 228kW of power (6,500rpm) and 400Nm of torque (between 2,500 and 4,500rpm). That’s slightly more power than WRX STi.

Unlike STi, drive is to the front wheels through a delightfully smooth closeratio six-speed manual transmission with rev-matching function

Type R’s light and rigid body structure, four-wheel adaptive damper system, helical-type limited-slip differential, variable-ratio electric power steering and three drive modes (Comfort, Sport and +R) ensure the best possible performance and road holding. Inside, Type R looks sporty. It’s comprehensively equipped and nicely laid out. The rear seat offers very good comfort levels

Racetrack record holder

Boot space varies between 414 and 764 litres with a tyre repair kit replacing the spare wheel

DRIVING

The first thing you’ll notice, apart from the airiness and good visibility, is that the dash is particularly uncluttered.

The body-hugging front sports seats not only look great but are extremely comfortable and supportive

Push the start button and the powerful VTEC donk fires with little noise or fuss The clutch is light, and the gear shift smooth enough that it’s never a task

The default Sport mode shows the worst of Adelaide’s potholed roads so go for the comfort setting around town

Hit the throttle and acceleration is awesome Off the line there’s just a hint of torque steer which adds to the excitement. On the open road, fast, flat cornering, brilliant braking and breathtaking acceleration make Type R an exhilarating drive

Model Toyota Camry Ascent Hybrid

Price $29,990 plus on-roads

Engine 2 5-litre four-cylinder petrol coupled to 650V AC electric motor (160kW)

Transmission CVT with manual mode

Fuel economy 4. 2 litre/100km (combined).

Toyota Camry Ascent Hybrid

DESIGN AND FUNCTION

Since the closure of its Australian assembly plant, Toyota has completely revamped its popular Camry sedan line-up The eighth-generation Camry, now fully-imported from Japan, is available in a choice of four equipment grades with four-cylinder, V6 or Hybrid drivetrains

Along with a raft of unseen improvements, Camry sports a classier looking body and interior. Standard across the range is pre-collision autonomous braking, lane-departure with steering assistance and seven airbags

Camry Hybrid is a standout in the range Those who think hybrids are complicated, expensive and unreliable should think again

The latest entry Camry Ascent Hybrid has been reduced to $29,990, just $2,400 more than a standard fourcylinder variant. Considering it has 27kW more power and can use almost 50 per cent less fuel, it’s good value.

It’s not complicated: a computer operates the hybrid system seamlessly

Safety Seven airbags, lane departure with steering assist, pre-collision autonomous braking, reverse camera

Luggage space Large (524-litres), emergency spare wheel Warranty/servicing Three-year/100,00km warranty, eight-year warranty Hybrid battery. Servicing 12 months or 15,000km, $195 per service first five years or 75,000km.

and automatically The hybrid battery has an eight-year warranty and servicing costs are reasonable

At its heart sits a new and more powerful 2 5-litre (Atkinson Cycle) petrol engine coupled to a 650V AC electric motor driving the front wheels through a six-step CVT automatic transmission with manual mode

This new system provides a usable 160kW combined power while sipping just 4 . 2 litres/100km (combined cycle).

DRIVING

Camry Ascent Hybrid has a spacious and comfortable interior The modern dash layout features varying textures and utilizes soft materials

The car is well equipped Its standard features include touch-screen audio, trip computer, reverse camera, dualzone climate control and USB inputs

The height adjustable driver’s seat has an electric lumbar support. Visibility is excellent and features such as auto lights with auto high beam, and keyless push-button entry and start, make life easy

Hybrid a seamless operation

Driving Camry Hybrid feels the same as driving any other car The drivetrain is smooth and quiet during normal driving and becomes almost silent in EV mode or when the petrol motor is not required

Push it hard and this lean green car can provide quick acceleration with long highway legs. Drivers can select between four drive modes: EV, Normal, Eco and Sport

The good news is with a gentle right foot the claimed fuel figures are achievable

Banking

Paul Modra, Executive Manager –Member Value and Distribution, Police Credit Union

Crime Stoppers making a difference

Sometimes the numbers speak for themselves and, reflecting on the first of our three-year partnership with Crime Stoppers South Australia, this couldn’t be truer

Since joining forces in July 2017, Crime Stoppers South Australia chair Sharon Hanlon said the partnership with Police Credit Union had assisted to engage the community, encourage people to share information anonymously about criminals and their activities, and deliver a range of crime prevention campaigns

As a trusted link between the South Australia Police and the community, Crime Stoppers plays an important role in providing leads and critical information and can help to eliminate potential lines of enquiries that might be wasting time

Ten key numbers standout as we look back over the success of the Crime Stoppers 2017 programme:

• 19,439 calls from people calling anonymously to provide information about criminals and their activities

• 4,222 online and other reports lodged using the Report Suspicious Behaviour app or Crime Stoppers website

• 911 apprehensions including wanted fugitives, arsonists, armed robbers and thieves

• 1,901 charges laid for drug dealing, firearms, robbery, serious assaults and child pornography offences.

• 79 firearms seized.

• 1,266 plants and 241kg of cannabis found, equating to 86,229 street deals.

• 12 clandestine drug labs shutdown

• 1 3kg of amphetamine seized, equating to 16,920 street deals

• 477 ecstasy tablets confiscated

• An average of 25 crimes are solved a week

Further solidifying Crime Stoppers’ results in helping police with their investigations is the impact they have had when supporting police-run operations.

After Crime Stoppers stepped in to support Task Force Lincoln, the group put together to solve the case of

Got something to say?

missing Port Lincoln woman Susan Goodwin, the results were instant

After turning five patrol cars into mobile billboards, distributing hundreds of posters and offering a reward of up to $200,000 for any information that would lead to the recovery of Susan’s body, the task force received 20 phone calls in the first week alone.

This ultimately gave investigators the information they needed to narrow down their search for Susan’s body and her killer.

From cold cases to issues affecting the front line, the Make the Call Cut the Supply Stop the Hurt ice campaign is just another example of how Crime Stoppers is taking action

Ice has devastated families, particularly those in rural communities where children as young as 11 have been known to be addicted

Recent tests carried out by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission show that Adelaide has the highest levels of methamphetamine use in the nation

Got a comment about a story you’ve read? Do you have strong views on a police issue?

Is there someone you want to acknowledge? Know of an upcoming social or sports event? Whatever the subject, put it in a letter to the editor.

After Crime Stoppers stepped in to support Task Force Lincoln, the group put together to solve the case of missing Port Lincoln woman Susan Goodwin, the results were instant.

Regular mail Police Journal, PO Box 6032, Halifax St, Adelaide SA 5000

Email editor@pasa.asn.au Fax (08) 8212 2002 Internal dispatch Police Journal 168

With ice and other drug use at epidemic levels, the day-to-day impact on police is very real and the need for information has never been more important

The hope is that this campaign will encourage people who might know something, even just a small piece of information about a street-level dealer, to make the call.

Crime Stoppers South Australia is a not-for-profit organization and, despite the lack of state government support, continues to actively work to make the community that we live in, better, with Police Credit Union’s help

We see the need for the work that it does, as it not only benefits the community but also helps you, the police, in your work, every day

Police Credit Union Ltd ABN 30 087 651 205 AFSL/Australian Credit Licence 238991. All information is current as at 10/07/2018.

Change of Address

The Police Association of South Australia needs your change- of-address details. If you have moved, in either the recent or distant past, please let the association know your new address. Its office does not receive notification of changed addresses by any other means. The association will need your new address, full name, ID number, telephone numbers (home, work and/or mobile). Members can e-mail these details to the association on pasa@pasa.asn.au or send them by letter through dispatch (168).

Free Legal Service for Police Association Members, Their Families & Retired Members.

Leading Adelaide law firm, Tindall Gask Bentley is the preferred legal service provider of the Police Association, offering 30 minutes of free initial advice and a 10% fee discount.

To arrange a preliminary in-person or phone appointment contact PASA on (08) 8212 3055

INJURY COMPENSATION

• Motor accident injury compensation

• Workers compensation

FAMILY

& DIVORCE

• Public liability

• Superannuation claims (TPD)

Matrimonial, De Facto & Same Sex Relationships

• Children’s Issues

• Child Support matters

• Property Settlements

• “Pre Nuptial” style Agreements

BUSINESS & PROPERTY

• General business advice

• Real estate & property advice

• Business transactions

• Commercial disputes & dispute resolution

WILLS & ESTATES

• Wills & Testamentary Trusts

• Enduring Powers of Attorney

• Advance Care Directive

• Advice to executors of deceased estates

• Obtaining Grants of Probate

• Estate disputes

Rosemary Caruso Michael Arras

Reynella

Whyalla

Darwin (NT)

Gary Allison Amber Sprague

Wendy Barry Dina Paspaliaris

John Caruso Giles Kahl

Legal

Nick Mules, Senior Associate, Tindall Gask Bentley Lawyers

The dollars and sense of your property settlement

What’s the first question your family lawyer will ask you when you step into his or her office? Answer: “What are you and your spouse worth?”

It’s true. When we get down to it and are in the process of offering you advice as to your entitlements and approach to negotiations, the first thing we will look at is the value of your “asset pool”, that is the net value of all your, and your ex partner’s, assets, liabilities, superannuation and financial resources

Only with that information are we able to let you know what a reasonable division of your property will be and what sort of entitlement you can expect

We’ll also look very carefully at how your and your partner’s assets are held and, even more important, whether your partner will be able to deal with those assets to your detriment without your consent. Think draining bank accounts, frivolous spending, commuting pension entitlements, etc

If that is possible, it might be that urgent legal action is required to protect your interests

What we sometimes find when meeting clients for the first time is that they have no idea of the overall financial situation they and their spouses are in

A client and his or her spouse might know that they own a business and that it delivers a reasonable income, but they have no idea about what that business is worth or how much debt it carries. Or, indeed, how that debt is secured

Or a client might know that his or her partner has investments in property or shares or superannuation, but not the actual value of those assets

It might involve a considerable amount of legal work to find out that information, which can end up costing a lot in legal fees.

So, what does that mean for you if you are in the process of separating from your partner?

The key step for you is to do all the background work you can before you separate and potentially lose your access to your family’s financial documents and records

If you can, get copies of your and your partner’s tax returns (including the financial statements of any business), recent bank account statements and superannuation statements before you leave the family home.

If you are not in the position to do that anymore because you have already separated, or those documents are “under lock and key,” all is not lost

Each party in a matrimonial or de facto property settlement negotiation or proceeding is entitled to “full and frank financial disclosure” from the other party That means if your partner asks to know about your holdings of assets and liabilities, he or she is entitled to have that information and you are required to provide it.

Your partner is also required to provide the same to you . The rule engenders fairness in the negotiation and settlement

Each party in a matrimonial or de facto property settlement negotiation or proceeding is entitled to “full and frank financial disclosure” from the other party.

process and, when both parties comply, can result in a far more costeffective and, ultimately, less destructive separation

Once you and your lawyer understand what assets there are to divide, we can provide you with advice on a fair and legal division of those assets by looking at the contributions that each of you made to those assets and each other. Cooking, cleaning and caring for children are contributions, just as paying the mortgage and saving for retirement are, and each of the parties’ needs for the future

Many people are able to negotiate the process themselves without the need for lawyers to advocate on their behalf That is without doubt the simplest and most cost-effective way to proceed and it might be that the only involvement you will require from a lawyer is to formalize that agreement so that it is final and binding.

If you intend to negotiate a settlement yourself, do not forget about your right to negotiate from a position of knowledge

First, make sure you know all you need to know about your partner’s holdings of assets and liabilities And, second, consider obtaining early advice from a lawyer who specializes in family law as to what an appropriate settlement should look like

That doesn’t mean you will have to get lawyers involved in the negotiations but at least you will know what your entitlements are and the steps you should go through to bring the financial aspects of your relationship to a favourable and risk-free conclusion

The Sons

Anton Svensson Hachette Australia, $29 99

After six years in prison, Sweden’s most notorious criminal Leo Dûvnjac is free, acquitted of all but two of the 10 bank robberies he and his two younger brothers pulled off

While behind bars, he befriended Sam Larsen, who was convicted of murdering his own father – and also happens to be the brother of Detective John Broncks, the cop who caught Dûvnjac

With Larsen at his side, Dûvnjac seeks out his nowlaw-abiding brothers for one last job and a chance at redemption – or revenge. But Broncks is on to him, and Dûvnjac’s father has plans for his sons.

Now two sets of brothers will play out the tragic and thrilling destinies of childhoods built on heartbreaking betrayal

Win a book or in-season movie pass!

For your chance to win one of the books or an in-season pass to one of these films (courtesy of Wallis Cinemas) featured in this issue, send your name, location, phone number and despatch code, along with the book and/or film of your choice to giveaways@pj.asn.au

Thirteen

Steve Cavanagh Hachette Australia, $29 99

They were Hollywood’s hottest power couple They had the world at their feet Now one of them is dead and Hollywood star Robert Solomon is charged with the brutal murder of his beautiful wife.

This is the celebrity murder trial of the century and the defence wants one man on its team: con artist-turned-lawyer Eddie Flynn

All the evidence points to Solomon’s guilt but, as the trial begins, a series of sinister incidents in the courtroom start to raise doubts in Flynn’s mind.

What if there is more than one actor in the courtroom? What if the killer isn’t on trial? What if the killer is in the jury?

Robicheaux: You know my name

James Lee Burke Hachette Australia, $29 99

Greeks Bearing Gifts

Philip Kerr Hachette Australia, $32 99

Munich 1957: Bernie Gunther’s latest move in a long string of varied careers has him working for an insurance company

It makes a kind of sense: cops and insurance companies have a vested interest in figuring out when people are lying to them, and Gunther has a lifetime of experience to call on

Sent to Athens to investigate a claim from a fellow German for a ship that has sunk, Gunther takes an instant dislike to the claimant

When he discovers the ship in question once belonged to a Greek Jew deported to Auschwitz, he is convinced the sinking was no accident but an avenging arson attack .

Then the claimant is found dead, shot through both eyes It’s at least a win for Gunther’s employers: no one to pay out, even if the claim is genuine But who’s behind the murder and why?

Detective Dave Robicheaux is fighting his demons to overcome his toughest case yet Powerful mob boss Tony Nemo has a Civil War sword he’d like to give Levon Broussard, a popular local author

The sword’s history can be traced back to Broussard’s ancestors, and Tony figures it belongs to Broussard But Nemo’s intentions aren’t so pure.

Then there’s Jimmy Nightengale, the young poster boy of New Orleans wealth and glamour Nightengale’s fond of Broussard’s work, and even fonder of Broussard’s beautiful, enigmatic wife, Rowena

Nemo thinks Nightengale can be a US senator someday and has the resources and clout to make it happen.

There’s something off about the relationship between these three men and, after a vicious assault, it’s up to Robicheaux to uncover the truth

What You Want to See

Kristen Lepionka Faber, $29 99

Who really was Marin Strasser? And who could have wanted her dead?

When private investigator Roxane Weary takes on a client who suspects his fiancée is cheating on him, she’s happy to have finally landed a run-ofthe-mill surveillance job Until the woman she’s been tailing turns up dead

The police are convinced her client is the one who pulled the trigger. Certain – and scared – that things aren’t so straightforward, Roxane starts to follow a paper trail that gets more dangerous the further it goes

Hangman

Daniel Cole Hachette Australia, $29 99

Eighteen months after the “Ragdoll” murders, a body is found hanging from Brooklyn Bridge, the word “BAIT” carved into the chest

In London, a copycat killer strikes, branding another victim with the word “PUPPET”, forcing DCI Emily Baxter into an uneasy partnership with the detectives on the case, Special Agents Rouche and Curtis

Each time they trace a suspect, the killer is one step ahead With the body count rising on both sides of the Atlantic, can they learn to trust each other and identify who is holding the strings before it is too late?

Johnny English Strikes Again

Season commences September 20

The new adventure begins when a cyberattack reveals the identities of all active undercover agents in Britain, leaving Johnny English as the secret service’s last hope

Called out of retirement, English dives headfirst into action with the mission to find the mastermind hacker

As a man with few skills and analogue methods, Johnny English must overcome the challenges of modern technology to make this mission a success.

Johnny English Strikes Again

stars Rowan Atkinson and Emma Thompson

Venom Season commences October 4

When Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy, Dunkirk , The Revenant) acquires the powers of a symbiote, he will have to release his alter-ego, “Venom”, to save his life

A lethal protector, he is one of Marvel’s most enigmatic, complex and badass characters

Venom also stars Michelle Williams (The Greatest Showman, All the Money in the World ) as Anne Weying

Mile 22

Season commences August 30

An elite American intelligence officer, aided by a top-secret tactical command unit, tries to smuggle a mysterious police officer with sensitive information out of the country

Mile 22 stars Mark Wahlberg as James Silva, Lauren Cohan as Alice, Ronda Rousey as Sam Snow and John Malkovich as Bishop.

First Man

Season commences October 11

Universal Pictures’ First Man is the riveting story of NASA’s mission to land a man on the moon, focusing on Neil Armstrong and the years 1961-1969

A visceral, first-person account, based on the book by James R Hansen, the movie explores the sacrifices and the cost — on Armstrong and on the nation — of one of the most dangerous missions in history

First Man stars Ryan Gosling (Blade Runner 2049 , The Nice Guys) as Neil Armstrong and Claire Foy (The Crown , Vampire Academy) as Janet Armstrong.

Going overseas? Your

may be

Koonara Wines

Penola, South Australia

www koonara com

Koonara is a small, familyowned, organically certified winery in the heart of Coonawarra, owned by Dru and Nicole Reschke The family lives there surrounded by its vineyards

Koonara practises vineyard bio-diversity and were the first vineyards in Coonawarra to be certified to Australian organic standards

It uses organic elements on its vines, which help build complexity in the grapes

Koonara’s wines contain no residual sugar, below organic levels of sulphur, and are vegan-friendly.

Wanderlust, Coonawarra, Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

This wine has huge colour and decanting for an hour will allow you to see the true depth of flavour.

It will also show you that this wine is almost unique at this price, in that it will get better over 10 years

No residual sugar, below organic levels of sulphur, and organically grown.

• Five stars Winestate magazine

The Guardian Angel, Mount Gambier, Sparkling Pinot Chardonnay 2016

Everyone needs a guardian angel Mount Gambier is the coolest region in mainland Australia, allowing flavours in the grapes to develop longer while still keeping their crispness

This produces rich lemon and lime Chardonnay and luscious Pinot Noir. And this, coupled with the minerality from the rocky flint under just 10cm of soil in our Mount Gambier vineyard, helps create a complexity of flavours and long finish

Lucy and Alice, Mount Gambier, Pinot Gris 2016

Koonara’s best vintage yet Crisp, fresh lively nashi pear with oyster shell mineral tones. Hints of guava notes stemming from the time on skins and the partial barrel ferment.

As it warms in the glass, hints of honey and strawberry flesh shine through

• Gold at the Melbourne International Wine Competition.

THE POLICE CLUB

Police Club High Tea

Join Channel 7’s Amelia Mulcahy for High Tea and the latest fashions by Aqua Boutique

Includes: High Tea lunch, complimentary glass of Sew&Sew sparkling, fashion, lucky squares, raffle, silent auction and more …

Friday, September 7, 12pm – 3pm Tickets $55.00

Book online: www.trybooking.com/146601

For more information: Police Association (08) 8212 3055

Honour our fallen colleagues on Police Remembrance Day

Post-service luncheon

Friday, September 28 | Police Club from 1pm

Since days of old, the Feast of Saint Michael, Patron Saint of Policing, commemorates and celebrates the rich culture, history and tradition that define policing across the ages.

In Australia on this September day each year, the police family comes together to pay personal and professional tribute to its honoured fallen – some of whom served beside us.

Join Police Association president Mark Carroll and secretary/luncheon host Bernie Zimmermann, along with riders from the 2018 Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance, to be part of the tributes taking place around Australia and the world.

…to feast and give thanks…

$30 per person for a choice of two main meals; drinks available from the bar.

bookings www.trybooking.com/218573 or phone Bronwyn at the club on 8212 2924.

BASTILLE DAY DINNER – PARIS TRIP WINNERS

There was a one-in-20 chance for each of 40 couples to win a trip for two to Paris at the Police Association Bastille Day dinner last month.

The lucky winners were Kym (Ops Support Branch) and Leanne Thomas, who had only recently signed up as the latest members of the Police Wine Club.

Their good fortune came courtesy of Aaron Sard of Mobile Travel Agents (MTA) and guests enjoyed a spectacular five-course French-inspired meal prepared by Police Club chef Gary Petrus.

Accompanying the food was Champagne and French wine by Negociants fine wine shippers.

L The Last Shift

For the full version of The Last Shift, go to PASAweb at www.pasa.asn.au

Robert Broadbent

Geoff Churchett

Silvano Coden

Bryan Dicker

Peter John Evans

John Hay

Jenny Kemp

Bob Mulder

Alby Quinn

Jim Tappin

Brevet Sergeant Geoff Churchett

Kimba Police Station

43 years’ service Last day: 09 05 18

Comments…

“The past 43 years with SAPOL has been very rewarding I thank everyone I have worked with during this time, mainly Port Augusta, Whyalla and Kimba for the last 19 of those years.

“I wish everyone left all the best for their future years. ”

Senior Constable 1C

Robert Broadbent

Elizabeth Police Station

32 years’ service Last day: 16 07 18

Comments…

“I wish everyone I have served with the best for the times ahead

“I definitely thank the staff and members at the Elizabeth police station for their help and assistance over the last few years

“With the new changes coming in, the old adage that ‘police will make it work’ is definitely the only way this ‘new’ system is going to work .

“Anyway, thanks to everyone and I really do wish the best to everyone ”

Senior Constable 1C

John

Hay

Communications Centre

42 years’ service Last day: 18.07.18

Comments…

“I thank Mark Carroll and all staff at the Police Association for all their assistance over the last 42 years

“It’s been a pleasure having had their assistance and the constant work they do for the betterment of SAPOL members

“I send my thanks and best wishes to past and present members I have worked with over these years. Having been in this job for 42 years, the good times definitely outweigh the bad. ”

Senior Constable 1C

Bob

Mulder

Operational Safety Training Team

42 years’ service Last day: 18.07.18

Comments…

“I thank the Police Association for the support it’s given all its members

“I have been a proud member of SAPOL and the Police Association for the last 42 years

“As a recruit, I entered the Fort Largs police academy in 1975

“After working in Adelaide, Stirling, Mount Barker and Mount Gambier, I have ended my career as an instructor within the new academy in 2018.

“Thank you all those who I have worked with over the years ”

Chief Inspector

Alby Quinn

Barossa LSA

41 years’ service Last day: 18.07.18

Comments…

“I have had a wonderful career in SAPOL and I thank all those wonderful people who, at the coalface, I have had the privilege of working with, from Region D Para Hills and Elizabeth including ‘Kaza’, Port Lincoln, Port Pirie, Holden Hill, Internal Investigations Section, Whyalla, Strategic Projects, Elizabeth LSA, Adelaide LSA (including the Adelaide Oval staff) and my current staff in the Barossa LSA .

“I joined SAPOL to be a police officer at the coalface, where I still believe we need to be foremost, and where we can make the greatest difference to people’s lives

“Good luck, take care, look after yourselves and your mates and thanks for the memories ”

Sergeant Jim Tappin

Kadina Police Station

45 years’ service Last day: 18 07 18

Comments…

“I thank all association members who supported me during the 23 years I spent as delegate and committee member, 23 of the most rewarding years of my career.

“I feel privileged to have served as a police officer and wish all the members the best for the future ”

Inspector Silvano Coden

Communications Group

42 years’ service Last day: 19 09 18

Comments…

“I sincerely thank the Police Association for achieving the excellent working conditions and remuneration we all have benefited from.

“I thank all the professional and dedicated people throughout SAPOL I have had the pleasure to work with as I believe police officers are a unique group of people

“I enjoyed the many good times and learnt from the tough times “SAPOL provided me with the opportunity to travel and experience working in a number of excellent locations

“I leave with nothing other than great memories, experiences, friends and no regrets. ”

Senior Sergeant 1C Peter John Evans

Prosecution Support Section

42 years’ service Last day: 16 07 18

Comments…

“I sincerely thank Mark Carroll, Tom Scheffler and the executive committee of the Police Association for their support and assistance during my service within SAPOL .

“I also extend my gratitude to the many friends and colleagues I have worked with in the various areas of SAPOL and wish them the very best for the future ”

Brevet Sergeant Bryan Dicker

Williamstown Police Station

33 years’ service Last day: 18.07.18

Comments…

“Thank you for the time spent negotiating with the government to obtain a better working environment for the members

“I wish all persons within SAPOL all the best for the future My wife and I will be taking up residence in Western Australia enjoying the change of scenery ”

Senior Sergeant 1C Jenny Kemp

Recruit Training Team

31 years’ service Last day: 31 07 18

Comments…

“I now assume the title of ‘retired police officer’ While most people leaving SAPOL talk about missing the people, I differ a little: I will miss the job I have loved it ”

Fenwick Function Centre June 22, 2018

1. Claire Hatchard, Marcus Wong and Rebekah, Sarah, Anne and Katherine Hatchard

2. Chris Hannah and Stephanie Hannah

3. Adam Blackburn and Bradley Tiljak

4. Scott Boin and Courtney Hughes

5. Racheal Aikman and Luke Withey

6. Lisa and Michael Cahill

7. Kane and Rebecca Smith

8. Oliver Von Doussa and Beth Hubmayer

9. Susa Francis and Chris Hodgson

10. Zac Amundson and Tahlia Vermeulen

11. Amber Lillyman and Kirsten Hatswell

1. Luke Withey and Derek Mattner

2. Claire Hatchard

3. The course marches toward the parade ground

4. Graduates swear the oath

5. Jasmin Budich-Brain

6. Rhiana Dabinett delivers a speech on behalf of her course

7. Rebecca Smith congratulates a coursemate

8. Amber and Tess Lillyman

9. Lisa and Michael Cahill

10. Jasmin Budich-Brain and Steven Brain

11. Police Association president Mark Carroll with Academic Award winner Alexa McIntosh

12. Graduates toss their caps after dismissal

Retiring Members’ Dinner

William Magarey Room

Adelaide Oval July 6, 2018

1. The dinner features on the historic Adelaide Oval scoreboard

2. Sarah and Michael Warman, Maggie, Dianne and Andrew Luke, Ben Searle, Jesse Luke, Scarlett and Brad Yeomans and Jordan Luke

3. Peter and Deb McGuire

4. Merge and Deb Presser

5. Chris Randall and David Gardner

6. Peter Wilson, Mark Cook, Ian Di Bartolo and Rudi Tromp

7. Mark and Marcelle Renfrey and Stephen and M’Liss Steel

8. Joe and Sue Gavini and Guy and Jenny McKenzie

9. Andrew Dale, John Myers and Tania Radis

10. Wolfgang Koenig, Eddie Breda, John Hood, Doug May and Martin Kennedy

11. Brian Hocking, Paul Warren, Graham Smith and Martin Gornall

12. Howard, Judy, Mark and Michelle Davies

MOBILE TRAVEL AGENT

AARON SARD - YOUR TRAVEL SPECIALIST

MOBILE TRAVEL AGENT

AARON SARD - YOUR TRAVEL SPECIALIST

With 18 years’ experience as a top-flight travel designer including five years as a Platinum Member of national MTA –Mobile Travel Agents Pty Ltd, Aaron Sard is ‘beyond experienced’ when it comes to managing his clients’ corporate, business and luxury leisure travel. No matter how complex the travel requirements Aaron’s all-encompassing travel knowledge, fuelled by his personal and very extensive travel experience, provides the best in designed travel experiences to the discerning traveller. He has a proven capacity to design any travel itinerary as if he was planning

With 18 years’ experience as a top-flight travel designer including five years as a Platinum Member of national MTA –Mobile Travel Agents Pty Ltd, Aaron Sard is ‘beyond experienced’ when it comes to managing his clients’ corporate, business and luxury leisure travel. No matter how complex the travel requirements Aaron’s all-encompassing travel knowledge, fuelled by his personal and very extensive travel experience, provides the best in designed travel experiences to the discerning traveller. He has a proven capacity to design any travel itinerary as if he was planning

“During my travels around the globe I’ve been extremely lucky to have seen many wonderful and amazing places and I really enjoy using my knowledge to create personal, custom travel experiences for my clients so that they too can enjoy and experience the wonderful places I have been lucky enough to visit,” he says. “I love to hear my clients’ travel stories and sharing in their excitement upon their return. It’s one of the key things that makes the effort so worthwhile.”

“During my travels around the globe I’ve been extremely lucky to have seen many wonderful and amazing places and I really enjoy using my knowledge to create personal, custom travel experiences for my clients so that they too can enjoy and experience the wonderful places I have been lucky enough to visit,” he says. “I love to hear my clients’ travel stories and sharing in their excitement upon their return. It’s one of the key things that makes the effort so worthwhile.”

Anyone using Aaron’s travel services has complete peace of mind via his access to MTA’s extensive range of luxury product and ‘invite only’ affiliations with some of the world’s foremost travel providers such as Virtuoso, and with the peace of mind of MTAs’ unique ‘Zero Flight Risk™ guarantee, an assurance his client’s money is safe in the event of any approved MTA supplier becoming insolvent and being unable to deliver the product or service purchased.

Anyone using Aaron’s travel services has complete peace of mind via his access to MTA’s extensive range of luxury product and ‘invite only’ affiliations with some of the world’s foremost travel providers such as Virtuoso, and with the peace of mind of MTAs’ unique

‘Zero Flight Risk™ guarantee, an assurance his client’s money is safe in the event of any approved MTA supplier becoming insolvent and being unable to deliver the product or service purchased.

No ifs or buts, it’s all part of Aaron’s capability and just one more reason to book your travel with MTA - Mobile Travel Agents.

Contact Aaron to personally book a time and place that is convenient for you - Discover the perfect holiday for you!

No ifs or buts, it’s all part of Aaron’s capability and just one more reason to book your travel with MTA - Mobile Travel Agents.

Contact Aaron to personally book a time and place that is convenient for you - Discover the perfect holiday for you!

Aaron Sard

Mobile Travel Specialist

MTA Platinum Member

0437 548 767

e: asard@mtatravel.com.au

w: www.mtatravel.com.au/asard

e: asard@mtatravel.com.au w: www.mtatravel.com.au/asard

My previous life

CONSTABLE

JULIE EDANGE

(Parks Police Station)

“It was my first time on patrols, investigating offences and prosecuting offenders. I loved it. I knew it was made for me.”

Her toughest-ever decision was to stay in Australia, rather than return to her family and, potentially, a job in French policing or with Interpol.

I worked two part-time jobs before joining SAPOL, one as French Consul assistant and the other as a law clerk. I provided administrative services for the consul and assisted French citizens in the event of serious illness, arrest and/or custody. As a law clerk, I got to work on a wide range of cases, such as murder, sexual assault and driving offences

At the law firm I worked for, I was involved in defending a drink-driver who crashed his car. I had to look for case law, so the client could get a reduced sentence . I had to be professional, but I hoped he would get the sentence he deserved . I realized the defence side of law was not for me. Not long after, I applied to join SAPOL

I completed my master’s degree in criminal law in France and, as part of work experience, I spent a few months in a police station. It was my first time on patrols, investigating offences and prosecuting offenders . I loved it . I knew it was made for me. And, for a few months, I was an assistant to the DPP back in France.

I always wanted to follow in my dad’s footsteps and become a police officer. I moved to Australia with limited English but was prepared to start again and got jobs in restaurants . After my English skills improved, I joined a law firm and worked with highly knowledgeable criminal lawyers . But my life ethics are more in phase with police values than with lawyers’ world

I always had the option to return to France but, by joining SAPOL, I committed to stay in Australia. Telling my family that this was where I was going to live was a difficult decision but, beyond doubt, the right one. I know they’re proud and happy for me, but not returning to France was, and still is, the most difficult decision I’ve made.

In policing, I expected excitement, challenges and teamwork. I have a great team under the supervision of an amazing sergeant and I couldn’t ask for anything better I’ve met new colleagues and new friends When I was younger, I remember saying that I wanted a job I’d be happy to go to when I get up in the morning . Thankfully, that’s how I feel .