Police Life steps out with Emerald police, taking in tourist attractions and off-road hotspots.
“We work with the community, attend local events, fetes and markets, going out and talking to people to build trust and the confidence to be able to talk to police.”
It’s been a long time since Solo One patrolled the streets of Emerald, but he’s left it in good hands.
Emerald attracts thousands of tourists daily. Puffing Billy is a popular spot with a surrounding lake and picnic area and police are met with waves from children as the train steams by.
I’m told to ‘Google it’ to understand the reference to a 1970s Australian TV show based in Emerald, featuring the solo motorcycle police officer who solved problems in his community. A lot has changed since then. Emerald Police Station, part of the Cardinia Shire and east of Melbourne in the Yarra Ranges, is a peaceful part of Victoria, where a team of 20 police are led by Senior Sergeant Carolyn Hill. Emerald is a small area, and the police station is part of a cluster of police stations covering the Cardinia area, all the way from Lang Lang to Cockatoo. “We’re very involved with our community,” Sen Sgt Hill said. This is evident as police walk along the main street and are stopped constantly by locals looking to chat.
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The popular event in April attracts runners and spectators, and means police are on-hand to manage traffic around the area. Year-round police work hard to maintain road safety. “The roads around here can be very unforgiving,” Sen Sgt Hill said. “We have a strong traffic focus because of the winding roads and steep embankments.” As the police four-wheel-drive navigates its way from the main street of Emerald and along quiet off-road tracks and through a small stream, Senior Constable Sean Neylan said the quiet, remote areas were hot spots for young people hanging out, sometimes taking drugs.
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More formal evidence shows through the World Health Organisation’s recent recognition of Cardinia as one of Australia’s eight International Safe Communities.
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One of the main events is the Great Train Race, a 13.5 km challenge where runners attempt to beat Puffing Billy on its route from Belgrave, ending in Emerald.
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An assessor from South Korea named Cardinia for its commitment to safety, particularly its proactive work in family violence, crime, traffic, drug and alcohol issues and mental health. Cardinia Police Service Area’s Inspector Shane Smith said growth was the biggest challenge for the area, but that police were working with the community to prevent issues. “The safe community recognition was based on proactive initiatives for improving safety across the whole shire,” he said.
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The police know the off-road tracks in their patch well, sometimes helping other emergency services navigate their way.
“There are a few spots like this that we like to try to cover,” Sen Const Neylan said. The secluded area has also been known to host the occasional outdoor rave party, a recent one where police escorted ambulance officers through the bush to treat a party-goer who had a run-in with a leech on her eye. “We know the roads here really well,” Sen Const Neylan said. “It was in the state forest, where we guided the ambos along local tracks to get to her.”
Off the road and in the cool section of the supermarket, Constable Mathew Jukes is handed a USB with CCTV footage on it. “There was an attempted break-in a few weeks ago,” store employee Matthew Blake said. “The Dog Squad and three or four police units came out, the crim was still here.” While they haven’t tracked that offender down yet, it’s only a matter of time, especially with CCTV footage on hand. The area’s Eyewatch page on Facebook was launched early last year and is already helping to solve crime like this. One success story led to police tracking down the thief of a donation tin after an image of the man wanted by police was posted on the Eyewatch Cardinia page. The post resulted in a number of other small businesses coming forward, having had their donation tins stolen too. The culprit was promptly arrested. And half an hour was all it took for another man to front up at the police station asking for his photo to be taken off the page, when police posted it, asking for help to identify him. “We didn’t even have to go out looking for him,” Insp Smith said.
Keep up with Cardinia police at facebook.com/eyewatchcardinia
Watch the Emerald police as they head out and about at youtu.be/yTfzK_p4_3w Image Hidden gem 01 Const Jukes and Sen Const Neylan take in the scenery at Emerald. Editorial: Maria Carnovale Photography: Andrew Henshaw
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In the local supermarket, manager Bill Hopkins talks about a theft that occurred recently at the store.
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Const Jukes checks drivers are obeying the speed limit.
POLICE LIFE | AUTUMN 2018
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