FIELD REPORT

KEVIN McDONALD

Field Officer

FIELD REPORT

It’s great to be back!

THREE YEARS ON FROM MY retirement from not only the WA Police Force but also the WA Police Union’s Board of Directors, I’ve returned to active union service as one of our association’s field officers.

After exiting the WA Police Force at the rank of Detective Sergeant in 2018, I kept my investigative skills sharp, working as a senior investigator with a federal government agency. While I enjoyed that three-year period, particularly the people with whom I collaborated, the pace of that job was slow, so when I heard the WA Police Union were looking to recruit a field officer, I applied without hesitation.

A final point worth highlighting is the value of a meal claim a decade ago was $6.30. Today, the value of the same meal claim is $6.35. An increase of a paltry five cents in 10 years!

The WA Police Union have been a part of my life for nearly 20 years. From 1999 to 2012, I was an official across various branches. In 2012, our members elected me to one of our Metropolitan Region directorships, and I served in that capacity until 2018. It’s with tremendous passion and enthusiasm I take on a new union role.

Since my return in the final week of August, I’ve been listening to members, and it seems some of our long-term problems never get resolved. I stumbled across an old Police News article I wrote 10 years ago, and its content is as relevant today as it was back then.

My 2011 Police News story included some observations about time off in lieu (TOIL). Since its publication, we’ve achieved a hard-fought victory that ensures the WA Police Force calculates TOIL in parity with overtime rates instead of accruing it simply hour for hour.

Another notable point was related to meal claims. I was disappointed to learn there are still some supervisors today standing in the way of constables wanting to claim this entitlement – not good enough! A final point worth highlighting is the value of a meal claim a decade ago was $6.30. Today, the value of the same meal claim is $6.35. An increase of a paltry five cents in 10 years!

As always, there’s much to do, but I encourage our members to contact me or one of my colleagues with issues of importance to them. Also, I encourage our members to get involved in their branches. You are your union. Remember, there’s strength in unity.