Closed ranks

Editorial and photography: Jesse Wray-McCann

The organisation’s only remaining chief inspector has called time on his 45-year policing career, much of which has seen him play crucial roles in training officers of all ranks, from constables to Chief Commissioners.

Chief Insp Coster is the last remaining officer at the rank, which began to be phased out in 1999 along with the rank of chief superintendent.

His career involved a blend of general duties, proactive and preventative initiatives, including establishing the Neighbourhood Watch program in the early 1980s.

Yet he spent the majority of his career in training and education.

Chief Insp Coster said delivering leadership programs that strengthened Victoria Police was a particular highlight.

“Those of us who ran those programs would take much satisfaction from seeing the participants overtake us in rank,” Chief Insp Coster said.

“We once had a young fellow in a course by the name of Ken Lay. He ended up as Chief Commissioner.

“And there was another young fellow by the name of Shane Patton, who is now one of our deputy commissioners.

But despite regularly working with the upper echelons and rising through the ranks himself, Chief Insp Coster was determined never to lose sight of the work of constables.

“The only way I could be successful in more strategic roles was to remember my roots and to remember what we do on the ground,” he said.

This philosophy determined everything he did in training and education.

“I made a point of being in contact with constables to learn something I didn’t know about, what they’re doing or thinking, or how we can be doing better for them,” he said.

“I think it’s important we always remember that we’re sworn into the office of constable, not the office of superintendent or inspector or anything else.

"At the base level, all of us are simply constables."

Station officer – The last station officer retired in 1974 from the former Bourke Street West Police Station. This rank sat between the senior sergeant and inspector ranks.

Chief superintendent – The last chief superintendent was Peter McDonald, who retired in 2015. This rank sat between the superintendent and commander ranks.

Chief inspector – This rank comes to an end with the June 2019 retirement of Chief Inspector Chris Coster. It sat between the inspector and superintendent ranks and at its peak, there were about 60 chief inspectors at Victoria Police.

In descending order of seniority:

• Chief Commissioner

• Deputy Commissioner

• Assistant Commissioner

• Commander

• Superintendent

• Inspector

• Senior sergeant

• Sergeant

• Leading senior constable

• Senior constable

• First constable

• Constable