When she’s not busy being a police officer, Arson and Explosives Squad’s Detective Senior Constable Di Dale keeps herself occupied by wearing other important hats. Det Sen Const Dale is accustomed to the smell of burnt and smouldering debris. She works hard with the squad investigating suspicious fires, and when off-duty, she fills her time volunteering with the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and State Emergency Service (SES). At any time, Det Sen Const Dale is ready to put out spot fires. And that’s how she likes it. Her efforts to support her community have not gone unnoticed. Her colleagues recently nominated her for an Australia Day award, which she duly won, naming her Citizen of the Year in Macedon Ranges. The award recognised her community-centred efforts, as well as peer support and welfare work with the organisations. “It was very unexpected,” Det Sen Const Dale said. “A couple of my colleagues from the SES completed a submission to the council and I wasn’t aware I was a recipient until close to the award ceremony.” And if that’s not impressive enough, she also found time to train for and compete in the gruelling Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb, held in September at the Crown Metropol Hotel. In the challenge, Det Sen Const Dale wore 25 kilograms of fire-fighting uniform and breathing apparatus and raced up 28 floors alongside more than 650 firefighters. This feat she completed in a mere 10 minutes and 26 seconds, placing her second in her age group. She’s not resting on her laurels though.
“I’m training again for my second attempt,” she said. “The Stair Climb is for a great cause, it raises funds to support those organisations that support people. Facilitating welfare and support to people is very important to me, especially in the emergency responder sector. Last year’s funds recipient was the Black Dog Institute, which supports people with mental health matters.” So how does she fit it all in? It’s easy, when it’s part of your upbringing, explained Det Sen Const Dale. “Both my parents were volunteers in their community, so that’s where my volunteering passion stems from,” she said. “We all have a vested interest in our community, and as volunteers in our community, we work with people that have a common doctrine. “If you love what you do, it’s not difficult to fit everything in. It all just integrates into my life. I don’t feel as though I have to juggle anything.” Det Sen Const Dale didn’t start her working life as a police officer. “I was a chef before deciding on a career in law enforcement,” she said. “I graduated from the Victoria Police Academy in December 2007, and completed my constable training in Craigieburn. I also spent time at the Bendigo Divisional Response Unit, the divisional van in Keilor Downs, and did temporary duties with the Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team, Brimbank Embona Taskforce and Community Policing Unit.”
These varied experiences have prepared Det Sen Const Dale for her current role, one she is thoroughly enjoying. “The Arson and Explosives Squad is a great place to be a detective because we are fortunate enough to undergo training in both arson detection and investigations, and in addition are trained in bomb scene examination. The certifications are recognised statewide and nationally,” she said. “It is a great place to put your training into practice. I plan to stay in the squad long term and continue to upskill to become as proficient as I can be as an arson detective. There is a lot of opportunity to enhance and acquire new skills.” Det Sen Const Dale said her core role as a detective at the Arson and Explosives Squad was to investigate suspicious fire deaths, or injury likely to result in death, bomb/explosive devices and fatalities involving wildfires and bushfires. The squad also responds to and supports regional policing units in investigating fire-related deaths, politically-motivated fires, complex suspicious fires and other bushfire incidents.
Image Volunteer extraordinaire Det Sen Const Dale at work at an arson crime scene. Editorial: Donna Magness Photography: Andrew Henshaw POLICE LIFE | WINTER 2018
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