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WINTER 2021
Cold cases revisited Victoria Police’s Homicide Squad is using a new platform to shed light on unsolved murders.
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COVER: Craig Harwood, Jim Morrison and Michael Hayes were among the Victorian and Tasmanian Special Operations Group police who responded to the Port Arthur tragedy in 1996 and arrested the offender. Now, 25 years on, they’re continuing to commemorate the event and contribute to the good that came out of that dreadful day.
Yes, drill sergeant Having spent more than three decades instructing at the Victoria Police Academy, Sergeant Jonathan Payne has led thousands of police officers to graduation.
Photography: Yuri Kouzmin Police Life is produced by the Media and Corporate Communications Department, Victoria Police, GPO Box 913, Melbourne, 3001 Online police.vic.gov.au/policelife facebook.com/victoriapolice twitter.com/victoriapolice
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Email policelife-mgr@police.vic.gov.au Managing Editor Roslyn Jaguar
Rise and shine An early morning exercise routine is helping break down barriers between police and young people.
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The science of shootings Every bullet tells a story – Victoria Police’s Ballistics Unit is dedicated to uncovering them.
Editor Grant Condon Journalists Danielle Ford Cathy Le Nadine Lyford Lane Mihaljevic Jesse Wray-McCann Emily Wan Graphic Design Fluid – fluid.com.au
FSC POSITIONAL ONLY PRINTER TO STRIP IN. 100% From wellmanaged forests
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Subscriptions (03) 8335 8564 ISSN 0032-2598L Crown Copyright in the state of Victoria. For permission to reprint any part of this magazine, contact the editor. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Victoria Police.
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10 On the record
By the numbers Behind the Badge Out and About In Brief
A freezer containing DNA, a book filed away in police storage and a determined detective came together to solve a horrific sex crime almost 30 years after it took place.
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER Victoria Police is in the midst of planning the service tribute to Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Senior Constable Kevin King, Constable Josh Prestney and Constable Glen Humphris, who tragically lost their lives on 22 April 2020. The members were performing routine police duties on the Eastern Freeway at Kew. The State Memorial Service, which has been on hold for some time due to coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions, will now be held on 29 September 2021. We look forward to commemorating their service. In this edition of Police Life, we have highlighted areas where Victoria Police continues to build capability, with articles featuring: I invite you to join me at a State Memorial Service on National Police Remembrance Day to pay respect and honour the sacrifice of our fallen colleagues.
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POLICE LIFE | WINTER 2021
• The launch of Victoria Police’s new Cold Case Hub, which will promote high-profile unsolved homicide cases on a bi-monthly basis on the Victoria Police website.
• The introduction of Explosive Detection Dogs to the Bomb Response Unit. • How Victoria Police’s PRIME training is improving the response to mental health incidents. Also in this publication, we have reflected on Victoria Police’s inaugural deployment of specialist police to the Port Arthur tragedy and the recent efforts made by the first responders to raise money for the Alannah and Madeline Foundation. Wednesday, 28 April 2021 marked the 25th Anniversary of the Port Arthur incident where 35 people were killed and 23 wounded. It was a privilege to join my counterparts across the Emergency Services sector in Tasmania to recognise the efforts of the local and interstate first responders. Stay safe and well.
Follow Victoria Police on Twitter at @VictoriaPolice
