WAPU Police News September 2021

SEPTEMBER 2021

Operation TIDE Since the end of 2019, COVID-19 has dominated the way we live and police.

Polar Plunge Cops and athletes Freezin’ for a Reason.

Fight Night Our members, men and women in blue on the frontline, used as punching bags and the targets of violent outbursts.

THE MAGAZINE FOR THE

WA

POLICE UNION

In loving memory WAPU life members, Retired Superintendent John Foley (2908) and Retired Sergeant Denis Hayden (5334).

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SEPT 2021

POLICE NEWS THE MAGAZINE FOR THE WA POLICE UNION

CONTENTS

10

Operation TIDE

Take a look inside the COVID-19 Taskforce, Operation TIDE.

16

Polar Plunge

Cops and athletes Freezin’ for a Reason in the inaugural Law Enforcement Torch Run WA (LETR) Polar Plunge.

24

Fight Night Our members, men and women in blue on the frontline, used as punching bags and the targets of violent outbursts. Violence against police officers is increasing.

4 POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

28

Officers recognised for firey rescue

Two officers received recognition at this year’s WA Police Force Bravery Award Ceremony for their courageous conduct that saw them risk their lives to prevent a man from burning to death.

36

In loving memory

The WA Police Union were saddened to hear of the passing of two of our life members, Retired Superintendent John Foley (2908) and Retired Sergeant Denis Hayden (5334).

06 W APU DIRECTORS AND STAFF 08 P RESIDENTS REPORT 23 F IELD REPORT 31 L EGAL 32 H EALTH 33 M OTORING 34 N EW MEMBERS 38 R ETIREMENTS, RESIGNATIONS AND VALE 39 FROM THE ARCHIVES

WA

POLICE UNION

639 Murray Street West Perth WA 6005 P (08) 9321 2155 E admin@wapu.org.au OFFICE HOURS Monday-Friday 7am-4pm AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY DIRECTOR 0438 080 930 www.wapu.org.au Follow us facebook.com/WAPoliceUnion Twitter @WAPoliceUnion Instagram instagram.com/wapoliceunion PUBLISHED BY WA Police Union 639 Murray Street West Perth WA 6005 (08) 9321 2155 ADVERTISING WA Police Union (08) 9321 2155 DISCLAIMER WAPU (“Publisher”) advises that the contents of this publication are the sole discretion of the WA Police Union and the magazine is offered for information purposes only. The publication has been formulated in good faith and the Publisher believes its contents to be accurate, however, the contents do not amount to a recommendation (either expressly or by implication) and should not be relied upon in lieu of specific professional advice. The Publisher disclaims all responsibility for any loss or damage which may be incurred by any reader relying upon the information contained in the publication whether that loss or damage is caused by any fault or negligence on the part of the Publishers, its Directors or employees.

COPYRIGHT All materials in this publication are subject to copyright and written authorisation from WAPU is required prior to reproduction in any form.

ADVERTISING Advertisements in this journal are solicited from organisations and businesses on the understanding that no special considerations other than those normally accepted in respect of commercial dealings, will be given to the advertiser. All advertising is undertaken in good faith and WAPU takes no responsibility for information contained in advertisements.

COVER Inspector Matt Froude, Sergeant Anthony Whitting and Officer in Charge, Acting Inspector Brad Robinson.

ABOVE Operation TIDE at Perth Airport.

Photos: Jody D'Arcy.

POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

WA

POLICE UNION

Board of Directors 24/7 EMERGENCY DIRECTOR

HARRY ARNOTT President

MICK KELLY Acting President & 24/7 Emergency Director 0438 080 930

PAUL GALE Vice President 0403 314 426

WARD ADAMSON Treasurer 0457 603 311

BRAD BIRD Director 0427 743 889

ALICIA CURCHIN Director 0417 911 502

CHRISTINE FREY Director 0428 688 747

LINDSAY GARRATT Director 0407 775 050

Staff

PAUL HUNT Secretary 6 POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

CHRIS VITLER Finance Manager

MARK WORWOOD External Media Communications Manager

JESSICA CUTHBERT Media Officer

CLAUDIA FUENTES BELTRAN Industrial Officer

MARK SHIPMAN Industrial Lawyer

MATTHEW PAYNE Research Officer

JA GE Di 0437

NE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS & STAFF

JASON GENTILI Director 0437 417 467

MICK GILL Director 0427 097 000

GARY KEENAN Field Officer

KEVIN GUY Director 0436 859 835

BRAD SINCLAIR Finance Officer

MARK JOHNSON Director 0488 352 525

TARRYN SMITH Finance Officer

GRAEME MACEY Director 0436 946 699

HARRY RUSSELL Director 0412 585 429

PENNY BROWN Member Services Officer

DEBORAH THOMAS Administration Officer

CLINT WHALLEY Director 0409 118 381

BRANCH PRESIDENTS Academy Tiffany McAlinden Air Wing John Gobbels Armadale-Gosnells Paul Burke Avon Dave Flaherty Bunbury Australind Gareth Reed Cannington Doug Stjepic Causeway Matt Turner Central Great Michael Le Poldevin Southern (Vice President) Central Midlands Jake Hendry Central West Coast Gus Forbes Commissioned Kim Travers Officers East Kimberley Stuart Lapsley Eastern Goldfields Fergus Mackinnon Eastern Wheatbelt Ben Reid Financial Crimes Peter Birch Fortescue Kristen Teale Fremantle Rosie McKee Gascoyne Chris Fox Geraldton John Cranley Great Southern Chris Bell Intelligence Contact WAPU HQ Operations Joondalup Ben Giff Leeuwin Naturaliste Bryn Papalia Licencing Paul Baker Enforcement Lower South West Darren Gill

(Vice President) Major Crime Greg Hart Mandurah Harry Russell Maylands Complex Scott Sulley MFPF Martin Glynn Midland Mike Pearce Midland Workshops Jeanette Maddison Mirrabooka Todd Robinson Murchison Max Walker North Eastern Carl Logan Goldfields North Pilbara Alex Kay Northern ROG Sam Brocklesby PAO Property Branch Kym White Perth Christine Frey Perth Watch House Kate Valentine Professional Chris Lockwood Standards Prosecuting Branch Sharon Cumbers Protective Service Wade Van Luyn Office Rockingham Kwinana Andy Allison Serious & Jennie Jannings Organised Crime Sex Crimes Cliff Daurat South East Eyre Aaron Honey South West Matt Fogarty Hinterland Southern ROG Contact WAPU HQ State Traffic Matt Hudson Operations Traffic Enforcement Lance Munckton Group North Traffic Enforcement Shane Wheeler Group South Upper Great Mick Williams Southern (President) WAPU Now Kareene Santoro Water Police Adam McGregor West Kimberley Michael Sedgman West Pilbara Dejan Pavlovic

7

POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

MICK KELLY

Acting President

Fighting to turn the tide THAT WESTERN AUSTRALIA IS ONE OF THE SAFEST PLACES TO LIVE IN OUR COVID-19 WORLD is down to our members, not only those police officers seconded to Operation TIDE but also their colleagues who are covering their absences from regular duties.

That is why the WA Police Union are desperately disappointed with the unfair, unjust and unwavering stance of the WA Police Force in our 2021 Industrial Agreement negotiations. We are three WA Police Force offers into a process we had hoped would take just a few months, and we are yet to receive a proposal from the agency we deem worthy of our membership's consideration.

The WA Government's wages policy, which stipulates industrial agreement wage increases must be limited to $1,000 per year for full-time-equivalent public sector employees, including police officers, is an obstacle proving difficult for us and other unions to overcome in our fight to secure better working conditions.

We are three WA Police Force offers into a process we had hoped would take just a few months, and we are yet to receive a proposal from the agency we deem worthy of our membership's consideration.

8

Heartened by the Queensland Government's award to officers of a one-off $1,250 payment and an extra two weeks leave for going above and beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic, our counter offer to the WA Police Force's second proposal included a $1,000 payment and an additional two permanent rest days to the two we secured in our previous agreement. "You can have one more rest day, but that's all," they said. "No thanks," was our blunt reply.

Maybe the WA Police Force hierarchy will change its tune after reading our cover story about Operation TIDE, in which we detail how our members are protecting the public in a pandemic through phenomenal policing. The people whom our members serve think they deserve a decent pay rise, more leave from what is one of the state's toughest jobs and the right to disconnect outside rostered hours. Hopefully, the people who employ our members think likewise soon.

The WA Government is delivering on its promise to put more officers on the beat – for example, 141 new constables graduated from the WA Police Academy in August, and there are another 300 recruits in training with the facility at capacity – but we need even more brave men and women in blue.

Assaults on police officers are trending in the wrong direction, particularly in Perth's entertainment hub, Northbridge, after dark on weekends. Speak with officers based at Perth Police Station, and they will tell you every Friday and Saturday night is Fight Night. We are lobbying the powers that be for them to provide not only more police officers but also more tools such as leg restraints.

Our Police News story catalogues the recent unsavoury incidents in which our members were treated like human punching bags while doing their jobs.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT

The people whom our members serve think they deserve a decent pay rise, more leave from what is one of the state's toughest jobs and the right to disconnect outside rostered hours. Hopefully, the people who employ our members think likewise soon.

01

Life membership of our union is an exclusive club, the honour bestowed on only 20 people in our 109-year history.

Since the June 2021 issue of Police News, that club of our all-time greats has lost two of its extraordinary members, Retired Superintendent John Foley and Retired Sergeant Denis Hayden.

A couple of paragraphs in my report would not do justice to the legacies of Rtd Supt Foley, who served as our first-ever Vice President, and Rtd Sgt Hayden, who served as our firstever Senior Vice President and Emergency Director, hence why this Police News edition includes detailed obituaries of both men.

Also in the last three months, the suicides of two serving officers has rocked the WA police family. The average annual suicide rate per 100,000 WA Police Force officers from 2015 to today is more than 150% higher than it was in the 2000-2014 period. That is why we are lobbying the Commissioner to introduce not only a right to disconnect policy like the provision included in the most recent Victoria Police enterprise bargaining agreement but also other welfare initiatives.

Finally, there are three new faces at our West Perth headquarters. Claudia Beltran is our new Industrial Officer, Kevin McDonald is our new Field Officer and Mark Worwood is our new External Media Communications Manager.

Join me in welcoming Claudia, Kevin and Mark to our union's team.

02 03

01 Officers at Operation TIDE. 02 The late Denis Hayden.

03 The late John Foley.

9

Operation TIDE

10 POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

on DE

– phenomenal policing in a global pandemic

BY JESSICA CUTHBERT

Since the end of 2019, COVID-19 has dominated the way we live and police.

Two years on, global deaths attributed to COVID-19 exceed four million people and the way in which we go about our daily business is unrecognisable from the last day of the previous decade.

But amid all the upheaval, there has been one constant: phenomenal policing.

Police officers, along with other emergency and frontline workers, have been at the coalface of Western Australia’s COVID-19 response, and their service has been outstanding.

In March 2020, the WA Government declared a State of Emergency and a Public Health Emergency on back-to-back days.

Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. The WA Police Force seconded more than 400 officers from across the agency to form specialist teams tasked with protecting the public in a pandemic.

From there saw the establishment of the WA Police Force COVID-19 Business Continuity Response Plan, which is commonly known as Operation TIDE. Assessing and processing applications for G2G passes from people wanting to enter the state. Monitoring and investigating compliance breaches. Assembling and manning border protection points, including conducting vehicle checks at road boundaries, screening arriving passengers at airports and transporting incoming travellers to quarantine facilities; Operation TIDE was born out of necessity.

Operation TIDE began its life at the State Operations Command Centre, but the special task force quickly outgrew the Maylands premises, relocating to Optus Stadium.

From there once things appeared to have stabilised, the team down sized and moved to the top floor of Curtin House. This was short lived, however, and the requirement to rapidly expand to over its current strength of more than 450 officers meant the Department of Communities building at 99 Plain Street was chosen for the team to all come under one roof.

PROCESSING DIVISION Operation TIDE’s Processing Division oversees the mandatory G2G Pass registration and declaration system that is essential to the management of the state’s controlled border arrangements with other states, territories and countries.

The division is made up of sworn and unsworn police staff and workers from the defence, maritime and mining industries.

They assess each G2G Pass application on its merits.

Acting Superintendent Paul Daly told Police News there is a team of people who supervise the persons quarantining at home with self-check-in systems.

“These people don’t have police officers knocking on the door unless we’ve reason to think they’re breaching the rules.

Members of this team use really great technology that allows them to monitor these people remotely and request a photo check-in at any time,” he said.

Applications are mandatory for everyone who wishes to enter the state and it includes the reason for their application and the number of applications they’ve lodged.

“These profiles enable us to keep tabs on everyone who’s completing their quarantine. We can check on them at any time and request photographic proof of their location.”

Another divisional team is responsible for managing industryrelated G2G Pass applications, including requests from people who want to fly in and out of the state to work, truck drivers who want to transport freight into the state and sailors who want to come ashore. ▷

11

POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

The team track everyone who comes off vessels and triage the medical staff who’ve been on board. They gather all the necessary information from the Australian Border Force and present it to either a senior sergeant or inspector for approval.

“When the pandemic kicked off, most of the applications were on paper. We’d have officers at the State Operations Command Centre with mountains of paper on their desks to assess, process and archive. It was soon clear we couldn’t work off pieces of paper as the pandemic evolved, so we developed a digital solution that has continued to evolve,” Acting Supt Daly said.

Other officers within the team review the G2G Pass applications their colleagues have classified as posing a medium risk to the state.

These police officers go through each medium-risk G2G Pass application with a fine-tooth comb before relaying their decision to the applicant.

Due to the high demand of G2G passes, the team can see anywhere up to 1,400 applications come in overnight.

Should an applicant provide sufficient information to demonstrate their extenuating circumstances, there is a good chance they will obtain approval to enter the state, conditional on them spending two weeks in quarantine.

An officer in this team told Police News the tight restrictions were tough and any applications coming in were on compassionate grounds.

“We receive applications that contain tragic stories of illness or death, but there are strict rules in place. For example, a man’s aunty has cancer and only days left to live, but because he’s not an immediate family member, his application may be denied. It’s tough,” he said.

“We’re constantly assessing the applications of people who find themselves in difficult circumstances. We’ve got to not only approve or deny their application but also contact them with our decision and often explain our reasoning.

It’s a big responsibility.

“And we’re constantly adapting how we assess applications because the rules and regulations are liable to change at a moment’s notice as the pandemic evolves.”

Acting Supt Daly said the Processing Division was just one part of Operation TIDE that was a hard environment in which to work.

“We all know how to police, and that hasn’t changed, but it can get slippery quickly in this COVID-19 world. There’s confusion, chaos and new policy directions overnight,” he said.

“It’s not easy, but members of this division are doing their very best, and their work is exceptional. The teams are operating around the clock, encountering tragic circumstances day in day out and having difficult conversations with people experiencing tough times.”

12 POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

01

“The teams are operating around the clock, encountering tragic circumstances day in day out and having difficult conversations with people experiencing tough times.”

01 Vehicle check points (Image supplied by WA Police Force).

02 Officers processing passengers from a NSW flight. 03 An Operation TIDE officer processing a passenger.

BREACH COMPLIANCE AND ASSURANCE DIVISION This division is made up of processing staff (police officers and staff), the Self Quarantine Assurance Team who carry out physical checks of people in quarantine and the Breach Investigation Team.

Predominantly made up of detectives, Operation TIDE’s Breach Investigation Division handles violations of COVID-19related regulations, including quarantine rules.

In the majority of cases, these investigations are triggered by the proactive unannounced visits carried out by the Self Quarantine Assurance Team where people are found to be breaching their quarantine conditions.

Anonymous phone calls to Crime Stoppers, people dobbing in their neighbours and reports of people not doing the right thing are just some of the ways in which they discover breaches.

“There’s no-one out there in the community who’s escaped quarantine or broken quarantine rules and not been tracked, located and brought in,” Acting Supt Daly said.

“In general, we’ve got a compliant state. We’ve asked people to do things, and they’ve done so. Of course, there’ll always be people who ignore the law, but we deal with them.”

Detective Sergeant Adrian Roberts, one of the officers whom the WA Police Force seconded to the division, told Police News the Self Quarantine Assurance Team checks on quarantined people, and when someone is not where they should be, he and his colleagues go to work.

“Breaches occur for many reasons. Some people haven’t read their instructions properly. Some people don’t speak English well. Some people haven’t realised they’re making a breach. And some people just have complete disregard of the restrictions,” he said.

“Generally, we track them down quickly, explain the specifics of their breach and advise them of the consequences, which may be further assessment, closer monitoring or arrest.

“Also, we assist police officers in the state’s regional areas if they’ve had anyone in their community leave their quarantine accommodation without receiving approval to do so.”

“Police officers meet every passenger off every plane that lands in WA to ensure every incoming person scans in, holds an approved G2G Pass and meets all the criteria to enter the state, criteria that may’ve changed while they were up in the air.”

02 03

AIRPORT OPERATIONS DIVISION Operation TIDE’s most public-facing group is its Airport Operations Division, which is conspicuous at Perth Airport, where it processes every passenger who lands in the state.

Acting Inspector Brad Robinson, Officer in Charge of the Airport Operations Division, told Police News the large crew he led was a remarkable one.

“This division runs eight teams of 20 staff. Police officers set up at gates in the terminals, ready to assess each passenger as they come in from their flight,” he said.

“Each passenger gets processed by police officers behind screens, and from there, they go to fully functional COVID-19 testing areas that health professionals run.

“It’s a big undertaking. Police officers meet every passenger off every plane that lands in WA to ensure every incoming person scans in, holds an approved G2G Pass and meets all the criteria to enter the state, criteria that may’ve changed while they were up in the air.”

Police officers in this operation also manage the safe transportation of overseas travellers from Perth Airport to hotel quarantine, and many of them were involved in getting the people who fled crisis-stricken Afghanistan from arrival lounges to accommodation sites.

“Our biggest priority since we started this operation has been ensuring our people have personal protective equipment, including shields, which we constantly sanitise, goggles, masks and gloves. Safety is of paramount importance,” said Acting Insp Robinson.

He said the biggest challenge the team has faced is comprehending last-minute rule changes and legal directions and then communicating them to incoming passengers.

“It’s a very exciting operation, and it’s always changing. I love what I’m doing at the airport, and it’ll be something I’ll look back on fondly as being a part of,” said Acting Insp Robinson.

Superintendent Martin Haime told Police News many officers who have done a rotation in the division have thoroughly enjoyed the work, with some opting for a longer secondment. ▷ 13 POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

“The dedication of our staff is phenomenal. They’re getting the job done in a rapidly changing environment, executing an outstanding police response and making a meaningful contribution to the state.”

04 05

06

“It’s policing but not like we’ve seen it before,” he said.

“It’s completely new territory and changing every day.

The challenges the operation is facing are the nature of the work in what’s an unpredictable pandemic.

“Members of the airport-based division are working in a highpressure environment, frequently dealing with people who are here in trying circumstances. It can be quite confronting as often police officers are telling people things they don’t want to hear.”

Supt Haime said he was incredibly proud of every person working on Operation TIDE. “We’re doing a lot of things that no-one had ever planned to do,” he said.

“We’ve never experienced a state of emergency previously.

We’ve never had to deal with a pandemic like this, complete with the associated border controls and other police responses, either. We’re asking people to do things we haven’t done before.

“The dedication of our staff is phenomenal. They’re getting the job done in a rapidly changing environment, executing an outstanding police response and making a meaningful contribution to the state.”

He said the taskforce was lucky to have some great minds and a dedicated workforce working in this operation.

“The offences on which the breach investigators are working are, in theory, simple offences under the legislation, but their complexity, the expectation of how we deal with them and the health outcomes associated with them demand a deep level of investigation,” he said.

“The health and welfare services available to the police officers are excellent and reinforce we’re doing work we aren’t used to doing when you factor in compassionate grounds, family separations and scrutiny levels. Some of the decisions we make are based on imperfect information and dealings with emotional people. It can be chaos.

“It’s a unique situation, and I think police officers will look back fondly on being a part of something so foreign. We’ve been responsible for achieving great outcomes for the state.”

Operation TIDE is phenomenal policing protecting the public in a pandemic.

■

04 Operation TIDE. 05 Passengers must comply with a COVID-19 questionnaire after landing. 06 Border check point (Image supplied by WA Police Force).

14 POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

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Cops and athlete Freezin’ for a Rea

BY JESSICA CUTHBERT

16 POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

tes eason

It was a sight to behold when Special Olympics athletes joined hundreds of WA police officers and a WA Police Union team in an icy plunge into Hillarys Boat Harbour’s wintry waters to raise a five-figure sum for people with intellectual disabilities.

Police and community groups from all over WA braved the cold conditions on Sunday 8 August to take part in the inaugural Law Enforcement Torch Run WA (LETR) Polar Plunge.

Active in WA since 2011, LETR works with the WA Police Force and Special Olympics WA to support people with intellectual disabilities in WA to reach their potential through sporting achievements.

LETR’s fundraising events over the last 10 years have enabled it to supply equipment to WA-based sports clubs and finance Special Olympics athletes to compete in National and World Games.

As with the Olympics brand, Special Olympics World Games are held in summer and winter occurring roughly every four years.

Little is certain in our COVID-19-afflicted world, but German capital Berlin is preparing to host the next Summer Special Olympics World Games in June 2023, and Italian city Turin is getting ready to stage the next Winter Special Olympics World Games in January 2025.

WAPU not only sponsored the LETR Polar Plunge but also entered a team in the event. The dives performed by Acting President Mick Kelly and his son Tom Kelly, Director Brad Bird and Media Officer Jessica Cuthbert may not have been Olympic Games standard, but the team raised $870 for the cause.

The roll call of LETR Polar Plunge participants also included WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson and his Executive Team, the Regional Operations Group, the Tactical Response Group, the Canine Section, officers from numerous stations and Special Olympics athletes from a range of sports.

One athlete, Korbyn, travelled from Kalgoorlie to join the Regional WA team led by LETR President, Commander Alan Morton APM. Sergeant Chris Newman, LETR Vice President, said he was overwhelmed by the backing the first Polar Plunge had received.

“It was just incredible to see so much support from the WA police family and to see the local community get behind the event,” he said.

“As it was the 10th anniversary of the first torch run in WA and the 40th anniversary of the torch run internationally we thought there was a need to celebrate and recognise these milestones with a fun event everyone could get involved with.”

Sgt Newman told Police News the main aim of LETR was to shine a spotlight on Special Olympics athletes.

“We represent some of the 110,000 law enforcement officers worldwide who volunteer their time to raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics. Having the police on board as big supporters, especially in our line of work, boosts awareness of Special Olympics 17 and the struggles athletes face,” he said. ▷ POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

01 02

03

01 Special Olympics athletes. 02 WA Police Mounted Section.

03 A team who took the plunge. 04 Team WAPU’s Director Brad Bird, Acting President Mick Kelly, Tom Kelly and Media Officer Jessica Cuthbert.

05 Team WAPU taking the plunge.

06 Officers at Regional Operations Group.

07 Officers after taking the icy plunge.

08 A team running into the water at the Polar Plunge.

09 Team WAPU after their icy swim back to shore.

All photos: WA Police Force

04 05

18 POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

“Our connection through sport is an engaging way to break down barriers for the athletes to build trust with the police.

“We wanted to do something that would be a lot of fun through an inclusive event where we could raise money and awareness of our connection to Special Olympics WA. We never imagined raising as much money as we did.”

Twenty-eight teams accepted the Polar Plunge challenge, and the event raised more than $50,000.

“We raised $10,000 and thought fantastic, but it just kept climbing. The total we raised in this one event was more than we raised in the last couple of years,” he said.

“We’re so grateful to the corporate sponsors who jumped on board and all the teams who participated.

“We had teams signing up at the last minute, like the Regional Operations Group officers. They were terrific and great supporters of the cause, raising almost $5,000.”

Sgt Newman said educating the WA community and other police officers in the state about what LETR does was one of the Polar Plunge’s significant achievements.

“We now have so many more people wanting to get involved creating a really positive impact,” he said.

“Being involved in LETR you can really see and experience the positivity of the athletes, and the difference we can make for them.

“These Special Olympic athletes are such a diverse group of people. They have such a way of looking at the world, and they appreciate the very small things in life. Every officer who comes along to one of our events feels the positivity and connection to the cause when they meet the athletes.

Sgt Newman said some of the officers involved in the Polar Plunge who have children with intellectual disabilities were thrilled with the event turnout saying it was another opportunity to extend support across the blue family.

“They said it was just phenomenal that so many people and officers turned up on a cold and wet Sunday morning to support the cause,” he said.

“One Special Olympics athlete, Blake, is the son of Sergeant Rick Veaney. Blake’s career goal was to be a police officer just like his dad,

but that won’t happen because of his intellectual disability.

Events like this enable athletes to engage with police and it makes them feel very proud. Out of the 14 athletes in the Polar Plunge teams, three were children of current serving officers.

Blake’s father, Sgt Rick Veaney, said the Polar Plunge was fantastic and exceeded all expectations.

“We raised well over double what we’d targeted, but it was the participation of Special Olympic athletes like Blake and the support of fellow police officers and staff and so many other community groups that made it such a special day,” he said.

Sgt Veaney said entering the water with the Regional Operations Group was a highlight for Blake.

“Acting Senior Sergeant Sam Brocklesby of the Northern Regional Operations Group took Blake under his wing, and his team made Blake feel very welcome and special,” he said.

“I can’t thank those guys enough. The photos show how happy and proud Blake was to be part of the Regional Operations Group team, and I know all the Special Olympic athletes were made to feel special by the teams they plunged with.

“It made me proud to be a police officer, and I cannot thank everyone enough.”

Sgt Newman said he hoped the event’s success would enable LETR to expand and get behind more Special Olympics WA initiatives.

“We’d love to stage another Polar Plunge event next year, and it’d be great to see more officers around the state put their hand up and become involved in the regions because most areas have sports clubs that cater for people with intellectual abilities,” he said.

“We now want to make sure this money makes a real difference.

We will work to ensure it goes to the best possible places, hopefully extending funding out to WA’s regions to provide opportunities for special athletes with greater access to sporting programs.”

Over the year the LETR run several different events including volunteer nights and sporting competitions where new volunteers are always welcomed.

LETR will be attending the Special Olympics WA State Games in October and the committee are looking forward to the next Torch Run on 2 December for International Day of People with Disability.

The run, which is open to anyone to join, will kick off from Police Headquarters in East Perth and progress into the city.

To volunteer your services to LETR, email letr@police.wa.gov.au

■

09

06

“The photos show how happy and proud Blake was to be part of the Regional Operations Group team, and I know all the Special Olympic athletes were made to feel special by the teams they plunged with.”

07 08

19 POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

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VISIT WWW.SHOPRITE.COM.AU … to find out how you, as a WAPU member, can access thousands of ShopRite discounts on life's essentials and more.

So says WA Police Union Acting President Mick Kelly, who uses his ShopRite account, which is just one of the many great benefits bundled with his WAPU membership, to save hundreds of dollars on everyday and big-ticket items.

A few months ago, Mick was in the market for a leather lounge. Mick liked the look of a lounge on the floor of his local Harvey Norman store, but he did not like the look of its price tag. Mick used the negotiating skills he has developed over his many years as a police officer and union official to source competitive quotes from three different Harvey Norman franchisees. But Mick knew he could do even better with a helping hand from the ShopRite team.

Established in 1996, ShopRite is a WA-based discount buying service that has spent 25 years providing moneysaving benefits to members of participating organisations, one of which is WAPU. Mick is one of ShopRite's regular clients, rarely making a major purchase before checking out its latest member offers, unlocking huge savings on several essential household items down the years.

“Kitchen appliances, computers, furniture. You name it, I've bought it and saved a lot of money by going through ShopRite," said Mick. "When I needed to buy a lounge, I knew ShopRite would advise me how to get it for the lowest price.”

“Tone Greenough viewed my three quotes, and after reviewing ShopRite's range of special offers, told me to buy Harvey Norman e-vouchers at a discounted rate available to ShopRite account holders and use them instead of cash.

“Tone's tip saved me an extra $400, and ShopRite's online system made it easy for me to get the deal done. I've been hugely impressed with ShopRite's warm and professional service every time I've interacted with its staff,” he said.

When Mick is not supporting WAPU members in his Acting President role, you will find him putting up his feet at home on his recently delivered lounge, which did not cost him an arm and a leg because he used ShopRite to shop right.

■

POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

EMERGENCY 24/7 DIRECTOR

Mick Kelly

0438 080 930

EMERGENCY DIRECTOR

639 Murray Street, West Perth WA 6005 PH: (08) 9321 2155 F: (08) 9321 2177

WAPU

www.wapu.org.au admin@wapu.org.au

* WAPU SCHOOL HOLIDAY BALLOT APPLICATION APPLICATIONS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED ON THIS FORM, It can be emailed or posted to the Union office.

Complete and return by Friday 22 October 2021 to: WA Police Union 639 Murray Street, West Perth WA 6005 Email: admin@wapu.org.au Results to be advised by Friday, 29 October 2021

Only mark the holiday periods and locations you are prepared to accept in numerical order of preference.

Note: Bookings are available from Saturday (2pm) to Saturday (10am) only.

WEEK 1 02.07.22 – 09.07.22

ALBANY

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PORT DENISON YALLINGUP

JULY 2022

WEEK 2 09.07.22 – 16.07.22

EITHER WEEK

FIELD REPORT

GARY KEENAN

Field Officer WA Police Union

Here to field your concerns A WHIRLWIND. THAT IS HOW I would describe my first three months as a WA Police Union Field Officer.

I am your first port of call within WAPU, and you can email or call me to start a confidential conversation about any issue impacting you or one of your colleagues.

WAPU’s Field Team assists members and branch officials with issues that impact their day-to-day duties.

However, one of my early observations since joining WAPU is many members do not know how the Field Team operates and, consequently, how they can flag matters with the group.

I am your first port of call within WAPU, and you can email or call me to start a confidential conversation about any issue impacting you or one of your colleagues. Every Monday, the WAPU Field Team sits down with Acting President Mick Kelly to discuss all the issues members have brought to our attention and identify any common themes because some issues are unique to individuals, and some issues have agency-wide implications. This methodical process enables WAPU to plan our responses and ensure member interests are at the heart of our decisions and actions.

The issue of tenure can have a devastating impact on WAPU’s branch officials and often leads to us losing our local union structure as active members transfer in and out of stations or districts.

Recently, WAPU’s Gascoyne Branch experienced this misfortune, losing all of its branch officials in a short period of time. Subsequently, I visited both the Gascoyne and Geraldton regions to meet members policing those regional areas and work on re-establishing WAPU’s Gascoyne Branch.

At the Annual General Meeting of WAPU’s Gascoyne Branch, we discussed several hot topics, including COVID-19 and vaccinations , Gover nment Regional Officer Housing and the Industrial Agreement. Thank you to not only the newly elected branch officials – Sergeant Lindsay Collett, Sergeant Christopher Fox and Detective Senior Constable Gemma Knight – for standing and helping WAPU retain a great presence in the district but also the members who attended the gathering.

Preparations for WAPU’s Annual Conference are in full swing, and the Field Team’s motions review has identified the provision of fit-forpurpose kit as a significant issue we need to discuss with the WA Police Force. In an effort to address the issue prior to November’s event, we met with Shanelle De Vere, Procurement Officer at the Uniform and Equipment Research and Development Team.

Ms De Vere told WAPU’s Field Team COVID-19 is impacting the delivery of equipment to the WA Police Force, but she stressed our members should not suffer in either silence or frustration and encouraged them to reach out to her. On the specific matter of bodyworn armour, Ms De Vere acknowledged its turtling effect and offered to assist our members with fitting tips and tricks.

Supporting WAPU members caught up in a managerial or disciplinary process is one of a Field Officer’s critical duties. Stress, fear and discomfort are just three of the consequences associated with such proceedings,

and while the process is the process, there are serious human costs to WAPU members, which we raise on a regular basis during our discussions with senior police officers.

If you are subject to either a managerial or disciplinary process, contact a WAPU representative immediately. That person could be me, one of my WAPU Field Team colleagues or one of your branch officials. We will talk you through the disciplinary minefield. We will provide you with the information you require to make the best decisions for your personal circumstances. We will support you during meetings, brief you on what to expect and fulfil the role of an interview friend. During the process, you may have an opportunity to submit a written mitigation statement, in which case we will assist you with that as well. We are here to help you, and we are just an email or call away.

It has been three months since my Field Officer mentor, Dean Giacomini, retired and I stepped into his big shoes.

Dean served WAPU with great distinction during his 11 years with the association, and I hope I can match the exemplary service he provided to members.

The welcome I have received from WAPU’s staff, directors and branch officials, all of whom are totally committed to delivering the best possible outcomes for members, has been warm and made my transition easy. Thank you.

23 POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

FIGHT NIGHT

– ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

01 02

BY JESSICA CUTHBERT

It’s been described as Fight Night.

Our members, men and women in blue on the frontline, used as punching bags and the targets of violent outbursts from punters out in the city.

Whether it’s a car ploughing down an officer or a fist outstretched and ready to connect, police officers are getting assaulted, and it’s happening too regularly.

While it’s not just subject to Northbridge, violence against our members on Friday and Saturday nights is increasing in the city.

Policing is a dangerous occupation, and our members know the risks involved, but it’s disturbing the lengths to which some people in the community are going to intentionally bring harm to police officers.

Officers are kitting up for the night knowing the chances of them ending the shift with a bruised temple, maybe a broken nose or a split lip, are high.

Constable Andrew Currie, who is just one of several police officers across the state who has been assaulted on duty in the past few weeks, said there was a noticeable change in behaviour in Northbridge after dark.

Cst Currie told Police News that while he had been stationed at Perth Police Station for almost a year, he had been assaulted several times in the last few months.

“Friday and Saturday nights generally start off with a fairly nice and relaxed atmosphere with families in Northbridge, but as the night goes on you see a noticeable change in the clientele,” he said.

24 POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

“They become far more intoxicated, and the radio becomes a lot busier with fights being called out nonstop.”

Recently, Cst Currie was working on the Perth bikes team as part of Operation Nightsafe when he was assaulted.

“We were outside The Library nightclub following a number of fights at that location and had just arrested about four or five people. We’d calmed things down by a combination of issuing move-on notices and getting people taken back to the lockup,” said Cst Currie.

“We were standing as a team and regrouping when I heard a female yelling about 20-30 metres down the road from where I was. As I turned, I saw a large male violently tackle a small female onto the road.

“He was lying on top of her as I ran towards them. I could see the female struggling under the male, who weighed about 130 kilograms, and he was hitting her from above.”

Cst Currie reached the man, taking hold of his shoulders to pull him off the woman.

“Then he reached out with both hands and took hold of my ankle firmly and pulled it towards his face. I felt an extreme pain coming from the side of my calf and realised he was biting me,” said Cst Currie.

“The male was arrested and handcuffed shortly after.

As I moved away from him and pulled up my trousers, I saw my leg was bleeding and swollen.

01, 02 & 03 An officer reveals his bite injury.

01 02

“Violence in Northbridge and assaults against our members are increasing.

We’re calling on the WA Police Force executive to immediately increase officer numbers to put a stop to this behaviour.”

03

“I remained in the area for another 15 minutes because my colleagues were still breaking up fights and making arrests and I know the effect of having one fewer police officer on the team.”

Cst Currie said he returned to Perth Police Station, where he cleaned the bite and patched it up before going back out for the final hours of the night.

At the end of Cst Currie’s shift, he went to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital for treatment.

The accused submitted to blood testing while in custody, so Cst Currie had to wait six days before confirmation the offender did not carry any infectious diseases.

Cst Currie told Police News he had witnessed several assaults against officers on his team, including an officer who was knocked out and left with a cracked cheekbone and an officer who was choked from behind while an offender threw several punches at his head.

In July, police responded to an out-of-control gathering in South Fremantle at which several people were intoxicated and acting in a disorderly manner.

At the same time, police officers were attempting a vehicle intercept when the driver of the vehicle mounted a kerb and struck an officer.

The police officer was thrown several metres into the air.

He sustained lacerations to his head that required stitches and injuries to his knee that needed surgery.

Recently in Karratha, our members were responding to a series of burglary offences in the Nickol area.

Two police officers located the suspects, and while attempting to perform arrests, a man turned on them, assaulting both with several punches.

One police officer was held on the ground and punched repeatedly to her face and head. Weeks after the assault, she required further medical treatment in Perth.

Mick Kelly, Acting President of the WA Police Union, said any assault against an officer was a disgraceful and indefensible act.

Assault Police Officer offences - WA 1,100 1,080 1,060 1,040 1,020 1,000 980 960 940 920

941

975

1,005

1,092

2017-18

2018-19

2019-20

2010-21

900

“Assaults occur when our members are carrying out their lawful duties, and this sadly highlights the dangers that our men and women face every shift, further reinforcing the need for more officers on the beat,” said Mr Kelly.

“Violence in Northbridge and assaults against our members are increasing. We’re calling on the WA Police Force executive to immediately increase officer numbers to put a stop to this behaviour.

“It’s incidents such as these that led us to fight for mandatory sentencing for those people who assault police officers. Our message is simple: assault an officer, expect to go to jail.” ▷ 25 POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

Here are some of the many assaults reported to WAPU in the past three months.

TUESDAY 13 JULY – KARRATHA

Karratha Police were responding to a series of burglary offences in the Nickol area. Police officers on patrol located two suspects and attempted arrests. During the arrests, one of the suspects turned on the police officers and assaulted them. One police officer was held on the ground and punched repeatedly to her face and head.

WEDNESDAY 14 JULY – NORTHBRIDGE

MONDAY 19 JULY – GERALDTON

JULY

FRIDAY 11 JUNE – SOUTH HEDLAND

JUNE

Police responded to calls of concern over a man’s welfare.

On attendance, the man became irritated, and without warning, he formed a fist and punched a first class constable to the left side of his face. The first class constable stumbled back and fell to the ground, hitting the back of his head on the side of a hospital bed, momentarily losing consciousness.

Officers responded to a suspect causing damage to a closedcircuit television camera and apartment buildings in East Perth. Police responded and handcuffed the offender due to his violent and aggressive demeanour. During the arrest, the suspect spat towards several police officers stating, “I’ve got Hep C, c**t”. While being placed in the pod, the suspect shouted, “I’ll break your fucking nose, c**t” and lunged his head backward at a police officer, contacting his forehead.

MONDAY 7 JUNE – MIDLAND

Police were at South Hedland Magistrates Court, where they observed a man throwing rocks towards buildings and the South Hedland Police Complex. A member requested him to stop what he was doing. The man continued misbehaving and began shouting abuse at police officers and launched towards an officer, punching him several times, causing his face and mouth to bleed.

SATURDAY 12 JUNE – NORTHBRIDGE

Police were responding to reports of a fight in Northbridge.

While a police officer was in a vulnerable position arresting a male suspect, another man approached the officer and stated, “I am going to smash you, dog c**t.” The man forcefully and deliberately punched the police officer with a closed right fist to the left side of his face, causing instant pain, redness and swelling to his cheek. Two more police officers were also punched.

Our member was assaulted while she was responding to reports of public fighting. During the arrest, a man struck her face several times, causing eye and cheekbone injuries.

Both strikes were glancing, but the first caused a minor scratch to our member’s eyeball, and the second caused swelling and pain to her right cheek.

THURSDAY 29 JULY – MANDURAH

While responding to a family violence incident, an offender became verbally abusive and physically aggressive towards the attending police officers. The accused kicked out deliberately at a police officer’s jaw, causing immediate pain and dazing him. The impact caused a cut to the inside of the police officer’s lip.

THURSDAY 29 JULY – MAYLANDS

Police attended a home to conduct a curfew check. When the offender was advised he was under arrest, he attempted to slam the door on the police officers and ran through the house. A second male attempted to interfere with the arrest and became highly aggressive. A probationary police officer located the male behind a shed, and he grabbed her by the throat. Urgent back-up was requested, and multiple vehicles attended the incident.

26 POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

04 05

AUGUST

SUNDAY 1 AUGUST – THORNLIE

Police were responding to reports of a family domestic incident. The suspect began throwing items at police officers, and a bottle was thrown at a sliding door, causing the glass panel to shatter. The bottle travelled through the glass panel and struck a police officer on the arm. Another police officer was showered with broken glass that caused several small lacerations to her head, face and nose.

FRIDAY 13 AUGUST – ALBANY

06

SUNDAY 15 AUGUST – CURRAMBINE

Police responded to reports of a naked male hiding in bushes, behaving erratically and causing a disturbance. The man was located, handcuffed and detained. While police officers and ambulance staff were waiting for the suspect to be assessed at the hospital, he lashed out and kicked an officer to the back of the head, causing pain and discomfort.

The suspect also made threats to kill the police officer’s family and specified how he would do it.

An off-duty member was driving home in his private vehicle when he was flagged down by children advising of their parents fighting, saying their father had strangled their mother. Our member approached the vehicle and declared himself to be a police officer. The offender became aggressive towards the police officer, stating, “Oh, you’re a copper!” and proceeded to grab him by his throat, punching him to the side of his face. The offender violently attacked the police officer, striking him several times before he was restrained and other officers attended.

TUESDAY 17 AUGUST – GERALDTON

SATURDAY 14 AUGUST – LAVERTON

SATURDAY 28 AUGUST – BROOME

Police were attending to a suspect, who had been caught damaging property, at Laverton Police Station. The suspect became aggressive towards police officers, yelling abuse and making extensive threats to harm them. The suspect used his clenched left fist to strike a police officer to his chin and upper mouth. The police officer was struck several times to his face, sustaining sore front teeth, minor bleeding in his mouth, a swollen upper lip, soreness to his left cheek and lower left eye and a headache.

04 & 05 An officer received a serious laceration when he was struck by a vehicle.

06 An officer injured while on duty.

Police responded to reports of a highly aggressive male behaving erratically. Police officers located the offender at his address and negotiated with him to exit the premises.

He became extremely aggressive and agitated, making numerous threats to the police officers throughout the incident, saying he was going to kill everyone and that he should go to jail. He approached a constable and threatened to hit him before striking him to his neck/throat region with an open-claw hand as if to strangle him.

Police officers were responding to reports of a disturbance at a residential address. On arrival, a large, aggressive crowd of juveniles was involved in a street brawl. A police officer exited her vehicle and apprehended the fighting parties.

At this point, the crowd mobbed attending other police officers in an effort to free the apprehended parties. The police officer was assaulted and punched to her face, causing a bleeding nose injury. She was taken to Broome Hospital’s Emergency Department for treatment of her broken nose.

■

27 POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

01

Officers S recognised for fiery rescue

BY JESSICA CUTHBERT

Two officers received recognition at this year’s WA Police Force Bravery Award Ceremony for their courageous conduct that saw them risk their lives to prevent a man from burning to death.

28 POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

enior Constable Daniel Murphy and Senior Constable Andrew Slee each collected a Cross for Bravery, the prestigious honour the WA Police Force awards to officers who perform an act of most conspicuous courage in which they place themselves at peril and risk of significant injury, for their heroic actions rescuing a man trapped inside a car engulfed by flames.

In July 2019, Sen Cst Murphy and Sen Cst Slee were working on an evening shift, patrolling an area in Margaret River that had been the subject of overnight burglar complaints.

“As we were driving, we sighted a tree engulfed by flames, and after a second we saw tyre marks leading to the tree and a car at the base of the tree completely on fire,” said Sen Cst Murphy.

Sen Cst Murphy told Police News the vehicle had spun, hitting the tree, which crumpled the driver-side door, leaving the driver trapped.

The driver, the only occupant of the car, was unconscious when the police officers arrived, though fortunately, they were able to wake him quickly.

“It highlighted things can change very quickly. We went from patrolling Margaret River’s beachside suburbs to rescuing someone from a burning car in the space of 30 seconds.”

“He woke but wasn’t able to free himself from the wreck, and I remember we weren’t able to free him either despite our attempts. We were trying to pull him from the vehicle through the back left passenger-side door, but he was trapped,” said Sen Cst Murphy.

As the police officers tried to free the driver, the flames licking the car got bigger and more intense, posing an additional threat to all three men.

“Senior Constable Slee and I took turns trying to pull out the driver, while the other was grabbing fire extinguishers, equipment and whatever else we could use out of our vehicle,” said Sen Cst Murphy.

“Communications in the area are poor, so trying to relay information to VKI was difficult.”

Sen Cst Murphy said the car’s dashboard and the driver’s legs had melted to the point the injured man was able to slide himself towards the back seat of the car, and the police officers were able to remove the casualty from the vehicle and place him in relative safety on the other side of the road.

“The driver had sustained significant injuries to the lower half of his body, with most of his lower legs disintegrated,” said Sen Cst Murphy.

“He also had severe burns to his upper body.”

Sen Cst Murphy said he and his colleague remained at the scene for another 20 minutes, waiting for St John Ambulance and Department and Fire Emergency Services personnel to arrive.

“There were no other units on duty in the area, so Senior Constable Slee managed the scene and traffic as best he could while I remained with the driver,” said Sen Cst Murphy.

Sen Cst Murphy said he had attended many serious and fatal crashes during his time as a police officer but few of them had involved burns to a person as severe as those the driver suffered on that July night two years ago. He added the incident reinforced the ever-present dangers of policing.

“It highlighted things can change very quickly. We went from patrolling Margaret River’s beachside suburbs to rescuing someone from a burning car in the space of 30 seconds,” said Sen Cst Murphy.

02

“I was very humbled and grateful when I heard I’d been nominated for an award.

It was nice to see an OIC take such an interest and continue pursuing the matter several months after it’d taken place.”

“It may’ve been a good thing we just came across it because it didn’t give us any time to think about the job.

We just reacted.”

Sen Cst Murphy said receiving the Cross for Bravery was a proud moment in his WA Police Force career and the honour enabled him to share his work achievements with his family.

“I was very humbled and grateful when I heard I’d been nominated for an award. Not long after the incident my officer in command at the time, Senior Sergeant Fowler, said Senior Constable Slee and I should receive formal recognition for our efforts,” said Sen Cst Murphy.

“It appears as though Senior Sergeant Fowler put in a fair amount of time and effort following the incident to progress the matter to Honours and Awards. It was nice to see an OIC take such an interest and continue pursuing the matter several months after it’d taken place.”

Sen Cst Murphy said when it comes to responding to jobs like this one, it was nice to know he was in the right place at the right time, and he and his partner were able to make a difference.

In total, 33 WA Police Force officers received WA Police Force Bravery Awards this year.

■

01 Senior Constable Daniel Murphy and Senior Constable Andrew Slee with their Cross for Bravery medals. 02 Senior Constable Daniel Murphy being presented his award by Commissioner of Police Chris Dawson. Photo credit; WA Police Force.

29 POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

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The ongoing legacy of William Enever THE JUICY DETAILS OF THE fight resulting in the arrest of the labourer William Enever in central Hobart on 4 June 1904 are somewhat lost to history.

Newspaper clippings record there was a pub fight that occurred "under observation" of a uniformed constable appointed to the recently centralised Tasmanian police force.

The constable arrested Mr Enever for assault and breach of the peace.

A police magistrate found it was a case of mistaken identity, and "the defendant really tried to stop a row, and in doing so came to blows.”

Having been acquitted of the charge, Mr Enever sued King Edward VII (although in name only; in reality, he sued the Tasmanian Government) for false imprisonment. He won, and a jury awarded him 25 pounds. The government appealed, and the case found its way to the High Court, which had only commenced its operations eight months earlier. The High Court allowed the Crown’s appeal and dismissed Mr Enever’s civil suit.

The case firmly established that, in Australian law, police officers are not employees of the state, but rather they are appointed to government office.

Why am I telling you this centuryold story now? Because the principle decided by Enever remains important to the work that police union lawyers do. The case firmly established that, in Australian law, police officers are not employees of the state, but rather they are appointed to government office.

That principle, although described by the High Court as "inconvenient" in a different case 100 years later, remains good law to this day.

Parliamentary legislation has altered many of the Enever case’s practical effects. For example, the civil liability protection section 137 of the Police Act 1892 (WA) affords to police officers came about because of Enever. Section 137 is designed to be a shield and a sword; a shield to police officers against personal civil liability, and a sword to allow plaintiffs to recover damages from the state when civilly wronged rather than having to pursue police officers personally. Whether section 137 adequately achieves that is a debate for another day (hint: it certainly does not), but anyway, that is why we have section 137.

Over time other pieces of legislation have been amended to treat police officers, for certain purposes, as if they were employees. For example, police officers were deemed into the Industrial Relations Act 1979 (WA) in 2000 and the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 (WA) in 2003. Police officers have been deemed into the Workers' Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981 (WA),

but only when they die from a workrelated injur y. In each of these examples, the bringing of police into the legislation is only as far as the legislation provides. The workers compensation legislation is a good example of that partial coverage: it covers you in the afterlife but not before you get there.

The bringing of police officers into parts of employment law does not make them employees in a more general sense.

The Enever case remains important in working out things like whether an order from a superior officer is lawful and assists in understanding why decisions such as the power of arrest and commencing prosecutions are vested in the individual police officer and not their supervisors or the state generally.

When Mr Enever decided to break up that pub fight in 1904, he would have had no idea of the legacy his split-second decision would create.

Mr Enever died aged 77 in Hobart in 1928, and he was survived by his wife, Emily, and their four children.

31 POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

DAVID WALSH

HEALTH

Retired Police Motorcyclist and Police Health member

Joining Police Health was the best thing I ever did TO SAY I AM STILL HERE because of Police Health is not a stretch. I have claimed well over $100,000 in the dozen years I have been a member. I cannot help feeling a bit guilty, but I know I have a great policy because everyone says so.

After wearing a gun belt for 37 years, I had developed a serious abnormality on my kidney, which ended up being a low-grade bladder tumour. It required treatment every Friday for six weeks with what, I was told, was a “very expensive drug.”

Luckily, Police Health covered it. The anaesthetist whispered in my ear, “don’t ever leave Police Health.”

Fast for ward 12 months, and I returned for the same treatment.

The doctor queried how much I got charged last time. Nothing, I said.

We joked the doctor must have forgotten to bill me.

Eve r y w h e r e I go, e ve r yo n e comments how good Police Health is.

My doctors, specialists, practitioners, dentist, secretaries and three of my kids, each of whom I have signed up.

Joining Police Health was the best thing I ever did. I do not know why I waited so long. To be honest, I did not think the private health system differed from the public one. Boy, was I wrong!

The doctor queried how much I got charged last time. Nothing, I said. We joked the doctor must have forgotten to bill me.

32 POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

Having private health cover is not just about maintaining good health.

It is a smart financial decision as well because your body starts to break down when you reach 60. I have received $141,000 in benefits from my Police Health policy since I signed up 12 years ago.

I suffered a torn meniscus, and by being with Police Health, I was booked in for a surgical procedure the week after my initial appointment.

I have also had arthrodesis surgery to relieve 60 years of extreme foot pain, a kidney removed, pneumonia treated and several dental appointments.

When you are young, you do not think you need coverage. I was a handsome, healthy, young motorcycle cop. I thought I was invincible. But it is easy to see how the benefits add up.

I vividly remember the first time I saw a police motorcyclist. I was working as a boilermaker, and the office girl’s husband raced past on his motorcycle. It was then I realised my future was on a bike.

There is not one thing I would change about my career, let alone my life. I have no regrets. I do not fear death. I often tell people I work on planet Earth, but my perception is different. Most 70-year-olds I know sit back and watch the world go by. I have nine children, who all call me every day. I do not see myself as an old man.

I have a whole lot of life left in me.

And I have Police Health to thank for that. I can work purely for the joy of it, not because I have to pay expensive medical bills.

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33 POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

NEW MEMBERS

WA POLICE FORCE’S BIGGEST SUPERGRAD IN 20 YEARS Last month, the WA Police Union welcomed 141 new members as new constables from Silver, Grey, Red, Green and White squads graduated from the WA Police Academy after 28 weeks of intensive training.

In the Super Graduation, the largest in 20 years, 94 men and 47 women were formally welcomed to the frontline by Police Commissioner Chris Dawson and Police Minister Paul Papalia.

Some of the new officers flew back to Perth from regional deployment after wild weather delayed their July graduation.

One of the squad’s graduation had been postponed twice, the first due to the recent COVID-19 lockdown in Perth and Peel.

We welcome the new officers and wish them the best in their police careers.

34 POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

35 POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

In loving memory

RETIRED SERGEANT DENIS HAYDEN

Born 7 January 1953; died 4 August 2021.

BY JESSICA CUTHBERT

The WA Police Union were saddened to hear of the passing of two of our life members, Retired Superintendent John Foley (2908) and Retired Sergeant Denis Hayden (5334).

These officers were dedicated to not only their police careers but also WAPU, each man serving as a branch official, director and executive office holder over many years.

Rtd Supt Foley was our first-ever Vice President, and Rtd Sgt Hayden was the first-ever Senior Vice President and Emergency Director seconded to us in a permanent position.

WAPU present the accolade of life membership to members whose exceptional, loyal and outstanding service has contributed to the provision of significant benefits to our union.

We spoke with the families of our late life members, both of whom leave honourable legacies.

36 POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

RETIRED SUPERINTENDENT JOHN FOLEY Born 5 May 1927; died 2 July 2021.

A devoted family man, a loving and warm husband and a passionate police officer.

Rtd Sgt Denis Hayden (5334), who passed away in August, was a fun-loving man with a wicked sense of humour.

Denis’s wife, Judy, told Police News her husband was a loyal and generous guy who would give you the shirt off his back.

“Anyone who knew Denis would agree he was a bit of a larrikin who loved to play practical jokes and have a good party,” she said.

“But there was also a serious side to Denis. He possessed a strong sense of justice and was always supportive of the underdog. As a police officer and a family man, he was passionate about the well-being of others, in particular his work colleagues.

Judy said her husband loved being a police officer and felt similarly about his bikes.

“Denis loved being a part of the police family and was passionate about policing and helping people,” she said.

“The fact that he was in the job for 43 years is proof of that.

After he retired, he would often say that he’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.”

July said an incident in her husband’s youth sparked his interest in becoming a police officer.

“Denis had assisted in the arrest of a criminal and the arresting officer said he’d make a good policeman. The rest is history,

When WAPU life member Rtd Supt John Foley (2908) passed away in July, it was a loss felt heavily across his community.

In his 94 years, John touched the lives of those people who knew him personally and those people whom he met on the job.

John’s son, Detective Inspector Peter Foley, told Police News his father described his life as a “journey of interest.”

“Dad lived a full, rewarding and eventful 94 years,” he said.

John’s parents instilled a strong and deep faith into their first-born son, a religious conviction that was the foundation on which he built his life, both personally and professionally.

In 1946, John joined the St Vincent de Paul Society WA’s North Perth/Highgate Conference. It was the genesis of his 75year commitment to making a positive contribution to society.

John’s charitable service to the St Vincent de Paul Society WA was a constant throughout his adult life, and it was through the church he met his wife, Eileen.

Det Insp Foley said his father loved not only his wife but also sport, particularly footy.

“Dad was a good athlete in his youth, and he loved following the sporting pursuits and football journey of his siblings, his sons and then his grandchildren,” he said.

“Rain, hail or shine, Dad’s booming voice would carry across the field, with a not-so-subtle nudge from Mum to quieten down.”

Det Insp Foley said his father was the greatest role model to him and his siblings.

“We’ll be forever grateful for everything Dad’s done for our family in providing us with a wonderful roadmap to follow,” he said.

the compliment always stayed with him and was his impetus for getting into law enforcement,” she said.

“He became a traffic inspector in 1974 for the Shire of Plantagenet and when the Road Traffic Authority came into being in 1975, he joined and became a police traffic officer. In 1976, he chose to enrol at the Police Academy to further his policing studies and so he could join other areas of the force.”

Denis held several positions in regional and metropolitan areas and worked across a range of portfolios in traffic during his decorated career.

He was also a qualified motorcycle pursuit rider and pursuit driver, something of which he was extremely proud.

Judy said her husband’s career highlights included the hardhitting presentations he delivered to school students in which he spoke about the impacts of losing a family member to a drug overdose. It was deeply personal for Denis, whose daughter died from a drug overdose in August 1997.

At the time of Denis’s retirement in 2018, he was the last remaining shire traffic inspector in the WA Police Force.

Judy said her husband was proud of his involvement with WAPU, having held several union positions across multiple branches before deciding to nominate for the Board of Directors.

“After being severely injured on duty, Denis received little

to no support from the WA Police Force. His experience had a major impact on his desire to ensure his fellow officers injured while working were looked after by the WA Police Union and the force,” she said.

In 1996, WAPU members elected Denis to our Board of Directors.

In 2009, Denis became the first Senior Vice President and Emergency Director seconded to us in a permanent position.

Judy said her husband was thrilled when he received life membership of WAPU. “That was an extremely proud and unexpected moment for Denis, especially as the honour had been given to so few people,” she said.

“Denis was always proud of the role he’d played in the union’s achievements while he was a board member and emergency director. The working conditions and the welfare of his colleagues and others was one of his biggest priorities.”

Judy said any officer who worked with her husband will tell you that he was dedicated, hard-working, caring, supportive and always put their well-being above his own.

She said her husband’s legacy was simple.

“Denis believed anyone could rise above adversity and be anything they wanted to be,” she said. “That’s what Denis did, and what he advocated other people to do.”

“If we can do it half as well as Dad did in his lifetime, we’ll have succeeded.”

In 1955, John enlisted in the WA Police Force.

Transfers early in John’s police career resulted in him working in several regional areas, with stints at the Narrogin, Kalgoorlie, Laverton, Norseman and Esperance stations as a young officer.

In 1961, John married Eileen, by which time he had returned from the Goldfields-Esperance region to base himself at North Perth Police Station.

John rose through the WA Police Force’s ranks, serving as an inspector, chief inspector and superintendent before retiring from Perth Regional Office in 1987.

Det Insp Foley said his father’s ingrained values of faith and compassion were prevalent through both his professional work as a police officer and his personal work as a volunteer.

“Dad was instrumental in starting the Police Community and Youth Centres (PCYC) in Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie, granting opportunities to disadvantaged people that other people took for granted,” he said.

“Dad also supported the Scarborough PCYC throughout his career and well into his retirement.”

John’s dedication to his family, his friends and his employers was only matched by his commitment to WAPU. As a WAPU member, John progressed from branch official to director, ultimately becoming our first Vice President when we created that office in 1984.

In 1985, WAPU awarded what was then only our second life membership to John.

“Dad’s membership of the union was based on enhancing the welfare of police officers while gaining well-earned benefits, some of which Steve, Julie and I still enjoy today as members of the force,” said Det Insp Foley.

“When Dad left the WA Police Force, he took with him lasting friendships, not only with officers who were his peers but also officers whom he’d supervised. These friendships extended to numerous people whom he’d met through his travels across the state.”

Det Insp Foley said his father’s dedication to community service did not stop when he hung up his police uniform after 32 years as one of the brave men and women in blue.

John was a loving husband to Eileen for 52 years, a proud father of five sons and a doting grandfather to 11 grandchildren.

“In his retirement, Dad watched his family grow with all of his boys getting married. Then followed many grandchildren, all of whom he loved and adored,” said Det Insp Foley.

“Dad took great interest and pride in their lives, careers and achievements, always giving guidance and advice to them along the way.”

John’s favourite saying was ‘never give up’ and it was one by which he lived.

Det Insp Foley said his father left with a simple legacy to follow.

“Family, your faith, friends and compassion for others comes first. Integrity, ethics and fairness were central to Dad’s life, which he promoted at every opportunity,” he said.

“He’ll remain a role model to all of us and he’ll be greatly missed.

“Rest peacefully now Dad, you deserved it.”

■

VALE

“As a police officer and a family man, he was passionate about the wellbeing of others, in particular his work colleagues.”

“When Dad left the WA Police Force, he took with him lasting friendships, not only with officers who were his peers but also officers whom he’d supervised.”

37 POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

RETIREMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

VALE

RETIRING MEMBERS 6004 Paul WOOLSEY 6006 Peter HASELDINE 6464 Robert KIRBY

6790 Andrew HENDERSON 6816 Stephanie BROWN 8851 Wade ADAMS

8876 RANDALL PHILLIP MOULDEN Sergeant Aged 49 29/06/2021

RESIGNING MEMBERS 8049 Kym RIMMER 8138 Andrew JOHNSON 9553 Fiona McQUISTEN 10043 Kelly TAYLOR 10270 Janita OWEN 10720 Alix STEED 11036 Nicholas DIMOND 11384 Michael ELLIOTT 11733 Emma LOTHIAN 12094 Steven JACQUES 12294 Samuel SYLVESTER 12383 Emma McNABOE 12811 Thomas DALY 13131 Jayden HOCKEY 13538 Jeromy JONES 13946 Lee BIRD 13970 Colleen GREY 14148 Mark LUIS 14155 Siobhan IRWIN 14220 Warren JACOBS 14261 Aaron BIGGS 14293 Benjamin PANICHI 14516 Ryan SMALL 14677 Byron Le NOURY 14808 Benjamin DUCAT 14864 Beaven JOHNSTON 14890 Jonathan CARLIN 14917 Jamie BUNN 14959 Jarrod SCOTT 15062 Darren STREET 15219 Sylvester AMBROSE 15438 Peter HENRY

38 POLICE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021

SERVING 14949 CAMERON ANTHONY FYFE 1/C Constable Aged 27 20/06/2021

15441 15490 15682 16081 16158 16264 16469 16740 16955 16986 17185 17236 17284 17316 17445 17472 17485 17529 17555 17572 17658 51717 51942 53085

Paul SHIELDS Arron KELEMAN Matthew McSEVNEY Michael NOCK Mikeal McLEOD Stuart MOFFATT Joshua YATES Daniel WATSON Madeline SKINNER Latisha RAULINAITIS Juan SORREQUIETA Michael GRIFFITHS Giordano DALLA BERNARDINA Joshua HAYES Bianca VALENCIA Marc CASSIDY Amanda PODMORE Scott ROMEO Amila PREMATHILAKE Muhammed KHAN Tibor SERESS Martin WILLIAMS Colin DALY Vincent ROTICH

RETIRED 4847 ALAN ERNEST DAVIS Det. Senior Sergeant Aged 82 25/08/2021 3079 KEITH ROLAND WAGSTAFF Chief Superintendent Aged 83 23/08/2021 2243 IVOR VALENTINE WELLS Superintendent Aged 94 14/08/2021 3175 ANTHONY ROYSTON PILKINGTON Commander Aged 82 12/08/2021 3160 BRENDAN MYLES FITZGERALD Superintendent Aged 86 9/08/2021

RETIRED cont.

3530 ARTHUR WILLIAM MOTT Assistant Commissioner Aged 79 9/08/2021 5334 DENIS JOHN HAYDEN Sergeant Aged 68 4/08/2021 3544 EDWARD JAMES DACEY Senior Sergeant Aged 83 27/07/2021 2961 LAURENCE EDWARD POTTS Superintendent Aged 87 17/07/2021 5239 MICHAEL MEARS Sergeant Aged 73 16/07/2021 5277 COLIN JOHNSON 1/C Sergeant Aged 69 16/07/2021 2746 CLIVE JOHN SMITH Chief Inspector Aged 88 8/07/2021 2908 JOHN FOLEY Superintendent Aged 94 2/07/2021

RETIRED cont.

3157 DOUGLAS JAMES SMITH 1/C Sergeant Aged 87 1/07/2021 4933 RUSSELL KEITH GARDINER Senior Sergeant Aged 67 30/06/2021 4947 ROBERT DAVID O'SULLIVAN Sergeant Aged 77 25/06/2021 2655 LAURENCE JAMES GIBSON Assistant Commissioner Aged 89 13/06/2021 4706 NEVILLE JAMES GIBBS 1/C Constable Aged 88 7/06/2021 6393 RAFAEL JOAQUIN PEREZ 1/C Constable Aged 60 26/05/2021 3107 WILLIAM JOHN MOSE 1/C Sergeant Aged 87 24/05/2021

FROM THE ARCHIVES

APRIL AND JUNE 2008 POLICE OFFICER ASSAULTS SENTENCING Much like this edition of Police News, the April 2008 edition had a heavy focus on assaults against police officers.

In the President's Report, Michael Dean said the escalating seriousness of assaults on police officers continued to be a major issue for the community.

An example of these crimes was the serious assault against Senior Constable Matthew Butcher who was carrying out his duty when he was assaulted in 2008. The severe injuries that he sustained left him facing major and lengthy rehabilitation.

In the report, Mr Dean said the rate of these offences against members were increasing and clearly the penalties generally applied by the courts were not deterring offenders.

In 2008, following the horrific assault on Matthew Butcher, West Australians made it clear they wanted mandatory jail time for assaults on police.

At the time, Police Commissioner Karl O’Callaghan said he supported imprisonment for offenders who commit serious assaults against police officers with “no ifs, buts or maybes”.

Mandatory sentencing laws for those who assault police came into effect in 2009.

14 YEARS ON, $1 MILLION REWARD FOR CONVICTION OF DETECTIVE SERGEANT GEOFFREY BOWEN’S KILLER The June edition of Police News in 2008 featured a report by President Michael Dean to address the reward for the conviction of Detective Sergeant Geoffrey Bowen’s killer.

“I dedicate this editorial in remembrance to Detective Sergeant Geoffrey Bowen and the resilience of his family – his wife Jane and his children Simon and Matthew – who have had to endure 14 years without a person brought to account for Geoffrey’s murder,” he wrote.

On 2 March 1994, Geoffrey was killed by a parcel bomb mailed to the National Crime Authority headquarters in Adelaide while he was on secondment from WA Police.

A few years later, the South Australian Government announced its reward of $1 million. It was then doubled to $2 million.

On 6 June 2008, Constable Simon Bowen, the son of Geoffrey and Jane, graduated from the WA Police Academy.

In what would be a 24-year long investigation, Domenic Perre was first charged over the NCA bombing in the weeks after the explosion, but the charges were dropped about six months later.

He was charged again in 2018 after a renewed investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies.

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