25 years on

from the association and John Schumann, Fiona Stevens, Mark Reidy and The Road Home for their fantastic support through the Police Support Group. This has been invaluable in my recovery. “Mental Health in SAPOL must be in the forefront of every member’s thoughts. If you know of someone who has mental-health issues, offer assistance and do not be afraid to make contact if they are not at work. This contact has been very rare for me and I find it disappointing. “Thank you to my senior sergeant, Andy Daly, for his wholehearted support and assistance. “Every member of SAPOL, whether I know you or not, has my highest respect and I wish you all the best with your careers. Remember to look after each other, especially with mental health.”

Senior Constable 1C Simon Pichl Barmera Police Station 30 years’ service Last day: 13.11.19

Comments… “I thank the association for its efforts in improving many facets of the working conditions of its members, especially wage growth and member welfare. “I also thank all of those who I have worked with across the years. The job has many amazing people who I had the absolute pleasure of working with. “All the best to everyone and keep fighting the good fight.” “Those in this job who I have met over my career have all been outstanding people who deserve every bit of respect from the government and residents of this state. “I’m going to miss you all greatly and hope never to lose touch. “I wish the association and its members the very best for the future.”

Sergeant John Robinson Parks Operations 43 years’ service Last day: 12.01.20

Comments…

“I thank the association for all that it has done for me and the service in general over the past 43 years. “I feel blessed to have had such a rewarding career in SAPOL. I have spent virtually my whole career at Western District (Parks patrols) and I could not have hoped for a better working experience than this. “To all those who have passed through Parks, team five: you made it fun.

Sergeant Kevin Hall Murray Mallee Local Service Area 42 years’ service Last day: 22.11.19

Comments… “I wish to thank all those persons who have worked for the Police Association during that time and who have provided us all the conditions that we now enjoy. “I also thank the many persons who I have worked with over the years and wish you all the very best for the future.”

P O L I C E A S S O C I A T I O N O F S O U T H A U S T R A L I A

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).

Senior Constable Eric Schwenke (Southern District Teams Christies Beach)

I’ve worked at Transit Services, Sturt, Victor Harbor, Aldinga and Christies Beach. I found all areas interesting and always enjoyable. Why? The characters I’ve encountered – and I’ve met a few people over that time – and the various activities experienced. I’ve acquired wisdom, maintained an even keel, kept my nose clean, and largely enjoyed myself.

I was unsure what to expect and learned as I went along. I wasn’t naïve. I’d spent quite a few years working the doors in hotels from Elizabeth to Victor Harbor while primarily working as a labourer before policing and, before that, as a youth/social worker. I’d already established a hardy cognitive and physical veneer that prepared me for a journey in policing.

Policing here in SA has always had this unsaid mantra about changing the world, making it a better place, and refers to itself as that thin blue line. I like the sentiments. But, the reality, in some ways, dispels the actual dynamic, where I still see this us-and-them mentality, as if we’re not part of the social microcosm, that we’re elite and set apart.

My most memorable job was one night shift several years ago. Haidon Linke and I attended a job where two English bullmastiffs had been run over. Both were collarless. One was totally incapacitated, and his mate was jealously guarding him. I suggested the dogs needed putting down. Linke vehemently disagreed. He contacted a 24-hour veterinarian service.

We were asked to bring the dogs into the clinic by cage car. A totally crazy idea but I got a blanket under the near-dead dog as his mate growled and snarled at me. We lifted him into the cage car. Moments later, the other mastiff limped in with his mate. Unbelievable. We slowly conveyed the wounded dogs to the vet clinic and left them with the staff. They both survived. I didn’t imagine I’d last this long in policing. I’d considered my mindset to be psychologically and politically left of centre, and perhaps not even suitable. After policing, I plan to head back to Samoa and run the family coconut/ banana plantations. It’s been an enjoyable journey; and, in the words of Paul Simon: “I’m still crazy after all these years.”

P O L I C E A S S O C I A T I O N O F S O U T H A U S T R A L I A

DECEMBER 2019

On a mission “It was hard to hear stories like that. And then there’s people who have lost kids with leukaemia. But these people are so brave. They just speak so openly about it.”

P O L I C E A S S O C I A T I O N O F S O U T H A U S T R A L I A