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THE VICTORIA POLICE MAGAZINE
New heights LOCAL POLICE ARE RISING TO THE CHALLENGE OF HELPING MISSING HIKERS IN TOUGH TERRAIN PLUS HARD YARDS PAY OFF FOR DETECTIVE > FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH CHIEF COMMISSIONER’S COLOURING COMPETITION AND MORE
AUTUMN 2019
AUTUMN 2019
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Horsing around Police Life checks in with Randwick, one of the Mounted Branch’s longest serving equine officers.
From cop to coach Matt Wade’s police work is of the utmost importance in Swan Hill, but most locals know him for his work in a different coloured uniform.
COVER: Stawell’s Sergeant Russell Brown and Halls Gap’s Leading Senior Constable Kellie Harris lead the way in the Grampians National Park. Photography: Brendan McCarthy Police Life is produced by the Media & Corporate Communications Department, Victoria Police, GPO Box 913, Melbourne, 3001, Fax: 9247 5982 Online police.vic.gov.au/policelife facebook.com/victoriapolice twitter.com/victoriapolice Email policelife-mgr@police.vic.gov.au
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Managing Editor Acting Superintendent Wayne McLean
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Trust in me The work of a dedicated detective has been rewarded with Victoria Police’s top investigative honour.
Exhibition reveals resilience The Victoria Police Museum is hosting a touching exhibition focusing on the 2009 Victorian bushfires.
Editor Roslyn Jaguar/Grant Condon Journalists Joel Peterson Jesse Wray-McCann Emily Wan Nadine Lyford Jonathan Green Graphic Design Fluid – fluid.com.au Subscriptions 9247 6894 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.
REGULARS
PLUS
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Snapped on Social Career in Focus Out & About By the Numbers
A new perspective The work of Victoria Police’s Ropes Program continues to have positive results and those involved say one officer is central to its success.
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER Early 2019 has already been busy for Victoria Police, and this is set to continue. In February, Victorians commemorated the 10th anniversary of the 2009 Victorian bushfires. Many police played a central role in responding during that terrible time and, for some, the impact continues to be felt. Commemorative events were held, and I was privileged to spend time with members who showed, and continue to show, incredible bravery, dedication and resilience in the face of this tragedy. I was reminded of how police in the affected areas continue to be so connected and valued by their communities, and I was proud to stand beside them as they marked the occasion. Modernising Victoria Police continues at increasing speed in 2019, with our largest number of projects to be delivered in the coming financial year. This will be a challenging time as we balance our efforts across project delivery, while also gearing up to realise the operational benefits 2
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of the modernisation we have created. This year we will also participate in three Royal Commissions. The Royal Commission into Mental Health is particularly important for us, as our frontline police regularly interact with people suffering from mental health issues. In the last four years, we have seen a 363 per cent increase in the number of police dispatched to events involving psychiatric crisis with no criminal offending. Having police respond in these situations has an enormous impact on our resourcing, people and community. It is also doing a disservice to the ill, who would benefit most from a clinical response, not a policing one. Notwithstanding these activities, we remain committed to serving the community. Our number one priority, indeed the basis of our existence, is always to keep Victorians safe. Follow CCP Ashton on Twitter at @GrahamAshtonCCP
MAKING NEWS For the latest police news visit vicpolicenews.com.au
RACING AHEAD In the hours after the chequered flag has waved and the temporary barriers that line the Albert Park street circuit are packed away, the planning for the following year’s Australian Grand Prix begins.
the debriefing begins as soon as the race is run and won.
And right from the start, Victoria Police is at the heart of the work.
“Over the following days, weeks and months, we debrief and work out what we did well but more importantly, we identify areas for improvement.”
Each year the grand prix transforms the picturesque inner Melbourne location into a high-octane playground for some of the world’s best drivers, with more than 300,000 people in attendance and 200 million people watching on screens across the globe. While the action is fast-paced on the track across the four days of racing, the planning to ensure each grand prix is safe and secure begins well before the starting green-light. Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill is heading into his third grand prix working with a dedicated team of police from Southern Metro Region Division 1 and said
“Basically, as soon as the race concludes, we start planning for next year’s event,” AC Hill said.
The challenges are many and varied, from concerns surrounding safety across the five hectare event site to traffic management, patrolling public transport and working with other emergency services. Meetings are held between police, the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, State Emergency Service, Ambulance Victoria, and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation and other organisations to ensure strategies are in place if something goes wrong. “We have PESC (Police and Emergency
Services Committee) meetings and facilitate joint emergency management exercises at our training facilities,” AC Hill said. “Conducting the scenario training ensures we are as well prepared as possible.” AC Hill said the majority of policing roles at the grand prix are performed by officers accessed through voluntary duties. “Our members perform a critical role keeping the community safe. At the same time, it is such an exciting atmosphere and a great event to be a part of,” he said. “Most of the officers that participate tend to come back each year to be involved again.” Image Start your engines Southern Metro Region Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill and Commander Libby Murphy at the Australian Grand Prix site in Albert Park. Editorial: Joel Peterson Photography: Grant Condon
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SMALL TALK VOXPOP
TOP PRIZES ON OFFER FOR COLOURING KIDS
What’s the best thing about working at Victoria Police? POLICE CUSTODY OFFICER ZOE MANNING Broadmeadows Police Station “The people you work with, and being able to make a difference. Even if it’s a small thing to help a colleague or even someone in custody, you do get that chance to give something back.” CONSTABLE CASEY WRIGHT Swan Hill Police Station
“The variety of the job is probably the best part for me. There’s something different each day.” ACTING SENIOR SERGEANT ASH RYAN Melton Police Station “I have found my career with Victoria Police has always offered a broad range of duties and experiences. There are very few jobs that provide as many opportunities and job satisfaction while also being able to have a positive impact on the community.”
BE PART OF THE STORY Join the Conversation Police Life loves hearing what you think about the magazine, your local police and Victoria Police in general. Police Life GPO Box 913 Melbourne, 3001 Email: policelife-mgr@police.vic.gov.au
Creative kids are invited to break out their textas, pencils, or even some glitter these school holidays for their chance to win a tour of the Mounted Branch and meet a Dog Squad police officer and their dog. It’s thanks to the popular Chief Commissioner’s Colouring Competition, which has returned for a fourth year. More than 500 children, some as young as two years old, submitted their colourful creations last year with their message about how police keep them safe. Some messages were as
POLICE LIFE | AUTUMN 2019
Victorian residents aged from two to 12 years are encouraged to enter, to foster a positive relationship with police, and provide some weekend or holiday fun! Kids have until Friday, 26 April to send their delightful design with safety message to Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton. More details, Page 15.
SECRET LIFE OF POLICE Geelong Protective Services Officer (PSO) First Class Robert Leith had an interest in flying even before he could talk. “My sister once told me my first word was ‘plane’,” PSO Leith said. Since those auspicious beginnings, he has flown many types of aircraft, including general aviation aircraft, ultralight aircraft and gyrocopters. “I decided to try hang gliding back in 1979. The wings then were just starting to get some modern technology like aircraft-grade alloys and carbon fibres,” he said. Not content with your run-of the-mill hang glider, after a short time PSO Leith decided he needed more power. “I began flying powered two-seat weight-shift hang gliders, or ‘trikes’ as they are commonly known,” he said. Family and work commitments eventually got in the way of PSO Leith’s high-flying ambitions. It was a chance meeting with PSO Leith’s former hang gliding mate, Rob Lithgow, in 2008, which saw him once again soaring across the sky. Rob ran a local flying school, and PSO Leith soon found himself at the local training slope to requalify in hang gliding. “The weather conditions were too light for hang gliding that day, but Rob had a few students training in paragliding, or ‘jellies’ as the pilots have nicknamed paragliders, because the original models used to wobble around the sky. “I thought ‘Oh well, what do I have to lose?’.” PSO Leith was hooked after that first flight and has since spent years honing his skills, flying across Australia and overseas in France, Spain, New Zealand and Indonesia. “I actually did an aerobatic course in Spain,” he said.
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creative as their designs: ‘Making sure the fish stay friendly! No sharks!’.
“My next trip will be to paraglide in Italy, Turkey and Switzerland.” Image Sky high Protective Services Officer First Class Robert Leith has a lifelong love of flying. Editorial: Emily Wan
Get the latest police news at vicpolicenews.com.au
SNAPPED ON SOCIAL
Police were among the action during the Boxing Day Test, making sure everyone enjoyed the cricket in a safe and fun atmosphere. Yet on day one of the match, Sergeant Mick Crawford and Senior Sergeant Jamie Hill had to respond to reports of three suspects seen committing crimes against fashion among the MCG crowd.
Responding to significant events requires special training for the Victoria Police Mounted Branch. Officers from the branch have put their horses through their paces in drills designed to prepare them for instances such as protests, rallies and sporting events. The training included smoke flares, mock protesters and obstacles.
Melbourne’s commuters aren’t the only ones who benefit from the presence of Protective Services Officers at our train stations, but wildlife, too. PSO Matthew Attard took two fragile and skinny birds under his wing after finding them at Jacana Train Station and kept them safe until wildlife rescuers arrived.
ODD SPOT CORNER Bump in the road for eager driver Police in Mooroopna got a surprise earlier this year while performing a standard intercept as part of a road policing operation. Uniform officers were driving along Echuca Road when they pulled a car over for a random breath test at about 7.30pm on a Saturday. After stopping, one of the officers approached the car, being driven by a male with a female passenger, and it didn’t take long to realise something was amiss. As usual, the officer asked for the driver’s licence, which wasn’t forthcoming. Immediately the officer asked the driver how old he was. “13” came the answer. Taken aback, the officer asked the boy for his name. He responded with a false name before providing the correct details. The officers then turned their attention to the mother of the boy, sitting in the passenger seat. When asked why she let her son, still three years away from being eligible to be a learner driver, get behind the wheel, her answer was equal parts succinct and unfathomable. “He wanted to, and I didn’t want to put up with the whingeing,” she said. Both were charged with traffic offences, with the boy set to wait a little way past his 16th birthday before he can get behind the wheel again.
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BEHIND THE BADGE
RANDWICK Rank: Troop horse Age: 21 Graduated: 2001 Work Unit: Mounted Branch
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Why did you join Victoria Police? I was born to it! My mother was a brood mare owned by the Victoria Police stud, back when we still had a horse breeding program. It ended in 2006, with horses now being either purchased or donated to Victoria Police. Only about 10 to 15 per cent of the horses bred actually made it to the frontline, with the others going on to careers as dressage or show horses or show jumpers. I have some younger half-brothers (Trooper and Xavier) and a half-sister (Unity) who are also troop horses, so I guess you could say I definitely come from a policing family. What sort of work do troop horses do and what do you enjoy most about your job? Our duties include taking part in search and rescue operations, performing crowd control at protests and rallies and doing general patrols, which includes attending events such as the cricket and soccer. (I really don’t like those flares and don’t even get me started on doof-doof music!) My favourite task is crowd control – I love meeting people and it’s a great way to get up close and personal with the community. At 21, you’re considered an elder statesmen of the Mounted Branch – what advice do you give to the younger troop horses? For police horses it’s all about being calm and professional. Leave the high jinks for when you’re in the paddock. When we’re out and about if I feel one of them getting a bit restless usually a stern look from me brings them back into line. If not, a quick nip can remind them who’s in charge. Tell us about the relationship between troop horses and police officers. Sergeant Amanda Crowley (pictured) and I have been working as a team for about three years, so we share a special bond.
I always look forward to seeing her and finding out what the day has in store for us. If Sgt Crowley is rostered off and I’m needed to attend a protest I’m always up for the challenge and very happy to work with any of the other police – I’m a bit of a favourite as I’m pretty easy going. We’re a team, so we all pitch in. What was your most memorable day on the job? In 2006, I was ridden by dual Gold Medal Olympian Gillian Rolton during the Queen’s Baton Relay through Melbourne in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games. I was chosen because I was grey, just like Peppermint Grove, the horse she rode in the Olympics. The organisers needed to know that the chosen horse would be reliable and cope with the big crowds – and, of course, I love a crowd. Have you had any embarrassing moments, or days you would rather forget? Well … it was actually during my training years, and my memory of it isn’t crystal clear. Let’s just say I got a bit of a fright, and flipped over and hurt my head. I now have a constant reminder because my forelock (that's what we horses call a fringe) has never grown back. In any case, I haven’t tried that manoeuvre again! What do you do in your spare time? I hang out with my buddy, Cooper, in our paddock. One of my favourite things is to have a really good roll – dust or mud, I love them both (although Sgt Crowley doesn’t seem to feel the same … I’m not sure why). Editorial: Nadine Lyford Photography: Yuri Kouzmin
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Editorial: Jesse Wray-McCann Photography: Nicki Connolly
There are very few police who have had such a powerful impact on the lives of young people in Victoria as Leading Senior Constable Mick O’Meara. The retiring Boronia officer has helped transform the lives of thousands of youths who have fallen foul of the law. Since he took it upon himself to establish the ground-breaking Ropes Program in 2001, almost 6000 young offenders have had the opportunity to correct their path in life. The program is an option for magistrates when dealing with first-time child offenders charged with a minor offence. It pairs the youth with the officer who charged them, and together they complete a ropes adventure course as part of a one-day program. Ldg Sen Const O’Meara uses the day to teach the importance of making the right choices, and successful participants avoid having a conviction recorded against their name. The concept is simple, the results are stunning. Of the first-time youth offenders the courts deal with using traditional sentencing options, about 40 per cent go on to commit another crime within 12 months.
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But the recidivism rate for those who complete the Ropes Program is a mere 6 per cent.
ticking of the box to help kids escape trouble with the courts.
Ldg Sen Const O’Meara explains the Ropes Program acts as a circuit breaker.
Participants find themselves at points through the course dangling precariously 18 meters above the ground, and even some police officers have found parts of the course too tough to complete.
“What I was seeing were kids making a bad choice, making a mistake and then not being able to reverse the impacts of that choice,” he said. “They would choose to commit the crime, but then all the other dominoes had to fall because the police officer had no choice but to charge them, the court had no choice but to convict them, the prospective employer had no option but to refuse their job application because of their criminal record and overseas countries had no option but to deny them a visa because of their conviction. “I am never going to be able to stop those dominoes falling up to their court appearance, but the Ropes Program is a circuit breaker I can use to help stop the other dominoes from falling.” Yet the program – run through seven different Children’s Court locations across the state – is no walk in the park, and nor is it a simple
But complete it, they must. Ldg Sen Const O’Meara lays down the law and makes it abundantly clear to participants they only have one chance at the program. “No one is born with an IOU. It’s the choices we make in life that affect our chances in life,” he tells participants. “If any of you crack it today and tell me you want to go home early, I’ll give you a phone to call someone to pick you up, but just know that you’ll be back in court in a few days’ time to be dealt with. “At this point, the Ropes Program is everything to you, so make the choice to make the most of this opportunity. “The courts and Victoria Police are supporting you and working hard for you.”
These aren’t just words, it is an attitude Ldg Sen Const O’Meara continually embodies.
he thought “only the bosses got, not a little old Leading Senior Constable”.
“I’ll be doing it for as long as I can.”
Victoria Police’s Specialist Children’s Court Prosecution Unit managing principal lawyer and former Legal Aid children’s defence lawyer Laura Chipp is one of Ldg Sen Const O’Meara’s biggest fans and has seen first-hand his devotion to helping troubled teens.
But for all the program’s statistical success and the accolades that have come his way, Ldg Sen Const O’Meara cherishes the personal stories of redemption and transformation most of all.
Images Helping hand Ldg Sen Const Mick O’Meara is passionate about helping young offenders turn their lives around.
“It is astonishing the way he has changed thousands of people’s lives, and I just want to scream it from the rafters,” Ms Chipp said. Ms Chipp recalls a time she was a defence lawyer at Ringwood for a boy charged with a serious case of arson. Still with her client at court, Ms Chipp left a message for Ldg Sen Const O’Meara at Boronia Police Station, hoping to get her client into the Ropes Program and a CFA fire awareness course. “Mick didn’t call me back, but instead came straight to Ringwood, hand-delivered material on the CFA course and convinced the informant to give the kid a chance at Ropes and the CFA course,” Ms Chipp said. “And that kid ended up being an absolute success story who never offended again.” Ldg Sen Const O’Meara has spent 34 years as a police officer and plans to retire this September. The Ropes Program and its impact is a remarkable legacy for the 62-year-old to leave. He has also been awarded the prestigious Australian Police Medal, an honour he says
He often is stopped at school fetes and shopping centres by previous participants or their parents wanting to thank him. Perhaps his most treasured story is of a boy who went through the Ropes Program in its early years for committing theft. Many years on and he is now a man serving in the army, working his way up the ranks. He keeps in regular contact with Ldg Sen Const O’Meara and even had him attend his march out parade. In honour of Ldg Sen Const O’Meara’s role in his life, he gave his son the middle name ‘Michael’. “I’m just overwhelmed, I’m so proud of him,” Ldg Sen Const O’Meara said. “I’m very proud of all of the kids, because they have gone on and made something of their lives, and it’s very humbling to know Ropes played an important part in that.” Even in retirement, Ldg Sen Const O’Meara plans to live out the very motto of the program, “Ropes Program - A commitment, not a task”. “I’ll continue to be involved with Ropes,” he said.
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ON the BALL
Editorial: Joel Peterson Photography: Brendan McCarthy, Pam Blackman/Swan Hill Guardian
As he walks into Swan Hill Police Station on a Monday morning, it’s not unusual for the weekend’s footy to be among the conversation topics for Acting Sergeant Matthew Wade. “I try to let everyone know well in advance when I have a bye or a Friday night game during the season so I can do my share of Saturdays.”
But instead of AFL clubs being up for discussion, it’s often A/Sgt Wade himself being referenced as part of an onfield triumph.
Swan Hill’s Senior Sergeant Brian Hansen said roles within the community like A/Sgt Wade’s required a lot of time management, but were beneficial for policing in the area.
After opting to move to Swan Hill in 2015, A/Sgt Wade has lapped up the lifestyle in the Murray River town.
“I guess we’re in a fortunate position here that we have a really good core group of people that are involved in the community, so there is the opportunity to lean on each other and share the load a little bit,” Sen Sgt Hansen said.
“It really felt like home pretty early on,” he said. “I was only going to be here 18 months initially, but I can’t really see myself leaving now. I really feel like part of the place." A premiership captain with Nar Nar Goon in the state’s east at age 21, A/Sgt Wade came into town with a glittering football resume and has only added to it since joining Swan Hill Football Club in the 2015 season. The following year, he won the first of his back-to-back Jack Betts Medals as the Central Murray Football League’s best and fairest player and in 2017 he took over as senior coach.
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“We all pull together to get positive results both here at work and in the community as well.” Images Play on
“It limits the amount I can work on Saturdays during the season, but everyone here is really supportive and there’s a lot of flexibility,” A/Sgt Wade said.
A/Sgt Matt Wade has become a mainstay at the Swan Hill Football Club, where he has won two league best and fairest awards.
IN BRIEF PROACTIVE POLICING STORIES
vicpolicenews.com.au
ANPR ARRIVES
LET THE GAMES BEGIN
Victoria Police has a new tool to assist in the effort of making the state’s roads a safer place.
Victoria Police officers will go head to head with their emergency service counterparts this month as the 2019 Victoria Police and Emergency Services Games kicks off.
Earlier this month, the first Victoria Police vehicle equipped with a new automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system was launched. The car will be stationed at Bendigo and is the first of many for Victoria, with 221 ANPR vehicles to be deployed across the state over the next two years. The technology detects drivers who are suspended, disqualified or unlicensed, unregistered and stolen vehicles and stolen number plates, allowing police to take these offenders off the road. The ANPR system scans number plates and matches them against a database of vehicles of interest.
Police, paramedics, firefighters and SES volunteers will be among 3,000 participants taking part in the games from 22 to 31 March. Whether it takes place on grass, a court, a running track or in water, there will be action in every direction with 43 sports being contested, ranging from AFL 9s and angling to tenpin bowling, beach volleyball and water skiing. Representatives from 22 agencies will contest the games, which will be held at a range of locations across the state stretching from Bendigo to Phillip Island. The games were launched by Victoria Police Games Federation President, Deputy Commissioner Rick Nugent (above), at the MCG with a display of emergency services abseiling techniques by police, CFA and the SES. For more information on the games and for results, head to emergencyservicesgames.org.au
Police officers, Protective Services Officers and Metro staff members have been conducting a series of visits to schools, level crossings and railway stations throughout term one to discuss rail safety issues with students with the aim of reducing the number of incidents. Ten railway stations where a higher number of safety incidents involving school-aged children have occurred were identified: Parkdale, Berwick, Beaconsfield, Officer, Yarraville, Thornbury, Hoppers Crossing, Mentone, Pascoe Vale, and Prahran.
OPERATION JET TAKES OFF Victoria Police is on the right track when it comes to making railway stations a safer place following the launch of a new initiative. A combined effort between Metro’s Community Education Unit and Victoria Police’s Transit Proactive Unit, the Joint Education Taskforce – codenamed Operation Jet – has seen officers engage with young people and school communities to enhance rail safety education across Melbourne.
The taskforce also called on students to take the pledge and promise to be safe around trains – with signed posters put up at local stations. “We have too many near misses at railway crossings involving either vehicles or pedestrians and 40 per cent of these are at fully protected crossing locations,” Inspector Kelly Walker said. “Many of these also involve school children and this is why they are the target of this education program. “Our advice is to stop before you cross, don’t behave in a reckless manner and to always be aware of your surroundings when at rail crossings and stations.”
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CAREER IN FOCUS
Constable Monica Ball
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Looking out her corporate office window at a group of Protective Services Officers (PSOs) one evening, Constable Monica Ball decided it was time for a career change. “I asked her if she was OK, and the first thing she said was ‘I don’t know how to get home'.”
CQP on 12 July, 2018, which was also her nine-year wedding anniversary.
Const Ball soon discovered the woman travelled to Melbourne for medical treatment for depression, and had missed the last train to her home in Seymour.
‘Same budgie, different cage’ was the analogy used by a former squad mentor to describe the difference between the PSO and police officer roles to Const Ball, which she agrees with.
One night after work, Const Ball approached PSOs on duty at a train station and was inspired by how passionately they spoke about their job and how they contribute to the community.
“With only $9 in her purse, she had no way of getting home,” Const Ball said.
“A lot of aspects are the same, you’re dealing with offenders at the train station just like offenders out on the street,” she said.
Const Ball knew after that conversation she wanted to be a PSO. But her family needed to be convinced that she was making the right decision.
After 12.30am, with the station closing and PSOs finishing their shifts, Const Ball was able to organise a Salvation Army shuttle to pick the woman up and take her home.
The daughter of Maltese migrants, the little exposure to law enforcement Const Ball’s parents had left them concerned for their daughter’s safety.
“That’s what being a PSO is about, helping the everyday person. If we weren’t there, she was going to wander around for eight hours until 6am when the next train came,” Const Ball said.
Const Ball’s husband, Jason, was supportive but dubious, not being able to fathom his wife swapping her designer attire for a PSO uniform.
Const Ball received a text message from the Salvation Army and an email from the woman the next day expressing their thanks for her generous actions.
With the daunting application process complete, Const Ball joined Victoria Police as a PSO in May 2015 and was deployed to the Moorabbin cluster.
After working as a PSO for about three years, Const Ball applied for Victoria Police’s Constable Qualifying Program (CQP), which trains PSOs to become police officers.
After a successful 18-month stint working at suburban stations, Const Ball returned to the Victoria Police Centre as a PSO Coach, providing on-the-job training to PSO recruits at city train stations.
“It would put me in a position where I could help more people and I’d be able to help in all sorts of situations, not just on the rail network,” she said.
Having worked in the banking and finance industry for 15 years, Const Ball’s career was going from strength to strength but she was feeling unfulfilled. “I felt like I could be doing something more worthwhile with my life and my time,” she said.
Providing community safety across the Victorian rail network was the job satisfaction Const Ball was searching for, especially as she was able to help some of the most vulnerable members of the public. “One time I saw a woman with a suitcase about 11.30pm at Southern Cross station looking very distressed,” Const Ball said.
Realising how vulnerable the woman would be if left alone, Const Ball was determined to find a way to get her safely home.
The most difficult part of the CQP application process for Const Ball was compiling a portfolio of work which showcased her skills and experience, but it was worthwhile as it highlighted recognition of prior learning. Const Ball was excited for her 19-week return to the Victoria Police Academy, and as a mature age police recruit, she was ready to start a new chapter in her career. She graduated from the
“The biggest difference I found was as a PSO you get to do the operational work. You get to do the arrest and the radio checks, and all the things that happen out in the field. “As a constable you are also responsible for the processing and preparing of court documents, so it’s taking it one step further. The arrest becomes a lot more holistic, you’re looking after a job from the beginning to the end.” When talking about her future within Victoria Police, Const Ball is open to all possibilities. “I’d like to do a bit of everything. I’m 47 going on 25,” she said. “I’m very proud to have been a PSO and I have a great fondness for the PSO program. I plan to return to our transit division as a senior constable or even sergeant, as I really believe in keeping the rail network safe.”
Editor’s note: The CQP format is currently under review. Details about the restructured CQP will be provided in due course.
Find out how you can join Victoria Police at policecareer.vic.gov.au
Editorial: Emily Wan Photography: Jen McNair
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HOLDING COURT When you’re a police officer in a city with the largest Greek population outside of Greece itself, it pays to be able to speak Greek.
With a strong Greek contingent gathered in the Garden Square outdoor area of Melbourne Park, the officers were given the option of sitting off to the side or getting among the fans.
Greek-speaking officers spending time with them made all the difference.
Dressed in her full uniform, Sen Sgt Moutis wasted no time in sitting down with a group of excited 17 and 18-year-olds and introducing herself in Greek.
“There were times when they’d jump up and sing a particular song with swearing in Greek, and as soon as I told them to tone it down, they sat down and apologised.”
When Tsitsipas beat Roger Federer in the fourth round, he caught the attention of not just tennis fans, but Melbourne’s strong Greek population.
“They were all wondering why we were watching it with them and why we were all Greek-speaking officers,” Sen Sgt Moutis said.
Insp Markakis, who co-ordinated the policing response, said it was an effective initiative.
Expecting an influx of energetic Greek fans for his quarter-final match against Roberto Bautista Agut, Tennis Australia and Victoria Police came up with a plan to make sure the supporters didn’t become overly enthusiastic.
“They couldn’t believe it. ‘Are you Greek?’ was the first question.
The plan saw Greek-speaking officers Inspector Andrew Markakis, Senior Sergeant Anthoula Moutis, Sen Sgt Eugene Kontos and Acting Sen Sgt Anesti Mavridis spend the match with the Greek fans.
“I asked them if they minded having a police officer sitting with them, and they said 'absolutely not', they loved the attention and were asking for selfies with us.”
The fluent Greek language skills of four Victoria Police officers came to the fore at the Australian Open in Melbourne in January when Greek youngster Stefanos Tsitsipas enjoyed a hot run of form that took him through to the semi-final.
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“Then we went on to have a Greek conversation, which went on to them singing in Greek and then the Greek chants came out.
Sen Sgt Moutis said some of the fans had the potential to become unruly, but the
“It’s another way of doing policing and it was a huge success,” she said.
“This was a fantastic example of Victoria Police using the strength of its culturallydiverse workforce to connect with the diverse community that we serve,” he said. Image Part of the crowd Sen Sgt Anthoula Moutis with a group of Greek-speaking tennis fans at the Australian Open. Editorial: Jesse Wray-McCann
My safety message...
Name: Age: School name (if applicable): Postal address: Parent/guardian name: Phone number: Email: Email your entry to KIDS-COLOUR-IN-MGR@police.vic.gov.au or send it to Chief’s Colour In Competition, PO Box 913, Melbourne, VIC 3001. Competition closes on 26 April, 2019. Full terms and conditions are available at police.vic.gov.au/kids
My safety message...
Name: Age: School name (if applicable): Postal address: Parent/guardian name: Phone number: Email: Email your entry to KIDS-COLOUR-IN-MGR@police.vic.gov.au or send it to Chief’s Colour In Competition, PO Box 913, Melbourne, VIC 3001. Competition closes on 26 April, 2019. Full terms and conditions are available at police.vic.gov.au/kids
My safety message...
Name: Age: School name (if applicable): Postal address: Parent/guardian name: Phone number: Email: Email your entry to KIDS-COLOUR-IN-MGR@police.vic.gov.au or send it to Chief’s Colour In Competition, PO Box 913, Melbourne, VIC 3001. Competition closes on 26 April, 2019. Full terms and conditions are available at police.vic.gov.au/kids
COURAGE UNDER FIRE In 1959, former Chief Inspector Daryl Payne came to the rescue of a man being shot at in Melbourne’s CBD, an incident that saw him honoured with a Victoria Police Valour Award for bravery. Now, almost 60 years to the day of his daring disarming of the gunman, Mr Payne has shared the details of that January morning with his family for the first time. Mr Payne, 84, was recently invited to Melton Police Station to tell his Valour Award story to current officers, along with his wife and daughters. He recalled he was a 24-year-old constable at the time, working as a detective and walking through the city to start a shift at the former Russell St police headquarters just before 7am. Near the intersection of Russell and Collins streets, Mr Payne heard the screech of car tyres from behind. “I turned around and I saw this car do a right hand turn across Russell St, mount the footpath and try to run down and pin a male pedestrian against the bluestone wall of a church, but it missed him,” Mr Payne said.
The pedestrian started running past Mr Payne when a passenger from the car got out and fired a revolver at the pedestrian. “The first bullet went over my head and then missed the pedestrian,” Mr Payne said. As the gunman fired twice more, Mr Payne ran out on to the road and then burst back toward the gunman on the footpath from an angle. “I didn’t have much time to think – the adrenaline kicks in and you just react,” he said. Mr Payne, who was unarmed, managed to snatch the revolver from the gunman and arrest him and his driver. The two offenders were eventually found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to jail, while Mr Payne was hailed for his heroism. Mr Payne originally limited his account of the incident to his family.
“I just told them I disarmed someone on my way to work,” he said. “The reason for that is that I did not want my wife and children to worry that their husband and father very nearly got bloody shot that morning.” Melton Senior Sergeant Simon Payne (no relation) said it was an honour for current officers to hear Mr Payne’s story. “We didn’t actually know he hadn’t told his family the full details of that day, so it was special to be there for that,” Sen Sgt Payne said. Image Lasting legacy Retired Chief Inspector Daryl Payne recently shared his Valour Award story with officers at Melton Police Station. Editorial and photography: Jesse Wray-McCann
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It was late December 2017, in the busy post-Christmas holiday period, when Halls Gap’s Sergeant Karen Bain was ordering a coffee at a local cafe.
The Grampians National Park covers more than 1,700 square kilometres, reaches more than 900 metres in altitude at its highest point and attracts about 2.2 million visitors every year.
She was standing in the line, off-duty and wearing plain clothes, when a man and a woman got her attention.
Vast valleys, dense and undulating bushland, huge areas of exposed rock, towering waterfalls and even snow in winter are among the many challenges the Grampians present to those performing rescue operations.
After explaining they weren’t locals, they asked Sgt Bain whether she knew the location depicted in a photo on their mobile phone. Sgt Bain said she immediately recognised it as Lake Bellfield, at the southern end of the town. “I thought nothing of it until they said their father had gone missing and they had come to look for him, and that was the last photo he had posted on Facebook,” she said. “I told them I was the local police officer and invited them to come to the station, and the search began from there.”
If the park was overlayed onto a map of Melbourne, the area would stretch from Werribee to Dandenong and down to Mornington, take in a good chunk of Port Phillip Bay and go as far north as Greensborough.
Making matters worse, since 2015 the number of missing and injured hikers and rescue operations requiring a police response in the park has risen by 55 per cent. The Northern Grampians PSA responded to 43 incidents between July 2017 and July 2018 alone.
“The package consists of existing training supplied by the Search and Rescue Squad and Driver Training Unit, and then locally-developed familiarisation and exercises with emergency services stakeholders,” he said.
Mr Ascui was born in the mountains of Chile and was a relatively experienced hiker, but had gone missing while trying to find a scenic location he had spotted from a distance.
Sgt Bain said the extra support has already proved invaluable for herself and her colleague, Leading Senior Constable Kellie Harris, at the two-officer Halls Gap station.
He spent five days seeking shelter, drinking water from a creek and chewing eucalyptus leaves as his family, Parks Victoria and local police officers – from Halls Gap and nearby Stawell – searched for him.
“We saw that we really didn’t have the capability to undertake those protracted searches,” Sgt Bain said.
Mr Ascui was found on the fifth day of the search and was reunited with his family. But the incident and length of the search raised a red flag for local police, including Northern Grampians Police Service Area’s Inspector Paul Bertoncello. “We identified that we had variable levels of knowledge and physical ability among our officers in finding their way around the bush during the prolonged search,” Insp Bertoncello said. “Something that came out of the debrief was that we could have covered more ground more efficiently if we had a core group of officers with better local knowledge who could more readily engage with the Victoria Police Search and Rescue Squad and external agency partners.” The incident provided the impetus for a Victoria Police first – the Stawell Frontline Search and Rescue training package. Insp Bertoncello said Stawell was the natural choice to assist in searches in the Grampians as it is the nearest 24-hour police station.
“The skills and knowledge that I walked away with have become an invaluable tool to aid in my response to these types of jobs and have improved my own confidence when planning a rescue.” The next time someone goes missing in the Grampians and police require assistance, they’ll know exactly where to look. Images Searching high and low Sgt Russell Brown and Ldg Sen Const Kellie Harris hone their skills in the Grampians National Park. Editorial: Joel Peterson Photography: Brendan McCarthy
Insp Bertoncello said given those stark figures, it didn’t take long for the training to gain traction.
The photo of Lake Bellfield was the last thing 50-year-old Julio Ascui had posted on Facebook before embarking on a hike in the rugged Grampians National Park.
The Victoria Police Search and Rescue Squad and Dog Squad soon joined the effort to form a more coordinated response.
during extraction and rescue events with the SES and ambulance,” Sen Const Barfus said.
“We just had people coming back very fatigued and they didn’t have the knowledge of the rugged terrain in this location or any bushcraft skills, which made it so much harder.” As part of the training, officers from Stawell are also seconded to work at Halls Gap to familiarise themselves with the local area. Not only does the training lighten the load on those officers at Halls Gap, but it has benefits for police at Stawell who aren’t called away for rescue operations. “For future ‘campaign’ searches, we will draw in officers to cover Stawell and Stawell police will be deployed to head into the bush,” Insp Bertoncello said. Those who took part in the training have heaped praise upon the program, whether or not they have had to put their skills to the test. Several officers have used the training, including several instances of hikers getting lost and the recovery of the body of a man who drowned at the notorious Mackenzie Falls on Boxing Day. Senior Constable Nathan Barfus has had the chance to use the knowledge and said it had a positive impact. “I have had opportunities while working within the Grampians to put my skills into practice POLICE LIFE | AUTUMN 2019
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If you feel at risk of being involved in a family violence incident or believe that someone you know is, please seek some help from police or a support service, such as Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre by calling 1800 015 188. In immediate danger, always call Triple Zero (000).
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BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS
Editorial: Joel Peterson Photography: Andrew Henshaw
Detective Senior Constable Renee Prestia just wanted to help. It was May 2016, while Det Sen Const Prestia was working at Broadmeadows Police Station, when a call came over the radio that immediately caught her attention. Upon looking into the matter she quickly realised it was anything but straightforward. The call became Operation Chetah, a significant family violence investigation that stretched over several months and required Det Sen Const Prestia to delve deeper into a case than she ever had before. The victim had immigrated to Australia in 2014, spoke little English, was significantly younger than her husband and had been subject to significant family violence over a period of two years. What remained unclear was where the victim and offender were at the time of the latest incident being called in over the radio.
“I thought we really needed to do as much as we could. He’s in custody, she feels safe, this is our time to do our job properly,” she said.
almost 18 months old, to live with his elderly parents, fearing the intervention of the Department of Health and Human Services.
After months’ worth of groundwork and factfinding, Det Sen Const Prestia and the victim had developed a level of trust that would prove critical to the next phase of the investigation.
Det Sen Const Prestia, with the assistance of agencies based in Australia and abroad as well as the Family Law Courts, succeeded in returning the child to Australia. Their son returned to Australia at the age of two-and-a-half.
Det Sen Const Prestia would drive the victim home after she visited the police station to make one of a countless number of statements, and would constantly reassure her through her sister and brother-in-law of how the legal process was unfolding. “It was hard because that was her normal. Going to the police, withdrawing her complaint, because while she was living with him she had no support from her family and that was all she knew,” Det Sen Const Prestia said.
“I called the police members on scene to speak about it and realised it sounded like a live kidnapping,” Det Sen Const Prestia said.
But her unerring dedication to the case made it possible, and eventually resulted in the victim revealing she had twice been raped by her husband.
“My colleague and I went to a street in Meadow Heights and at the end of it there was a park. We were looking through the park thinking, worst case scenario, we could find a body.”
Broadmeadows Crime Investigation Unit's Detective Sergeant Peter Griffiths said due to the relationship Det Sen Const Prestia had formed with the victim, she kept primacy of the investigation.
Their search took them to the Northern Hospital in Epping, where the victim was in the emergency department. She was in a neck brace, visibly frightened and reluctant to provide information.
“Usually in that situation the Sexual Offences Crime Investigation Unit would take over, but Renee was able to keep the case given the relationship she had built with the victim,” Det Sgt Griffiths said.
The offender’s car was also at the hospital. Within 15 minutes of detectives arriving, he was arrested.
“It’s very hard for some people to come forward, and certainly the victim built up enough trust in Renee over that period that she felt comfortable to disclose that.
Det Sen Const Prestia remained with the victim and was able to get details of the latest incident, before remanding the offender for being an unacceptable risk. The man has remained in custody ever since. Over the course of several months, Det Sen Const Prestia took numerous statements from the victim with the aid of an interpreter, identified 48 witnesses and 65 exhibits of evidence as part of a painstaking investigation.
“The victim was reluctant to report due to cultural issues and sensitivities making the investigation difficult, though through empathy and trust a relationship developed which broke down some of those barriers to reporting.” Further exemplifying Det Sen Const Prestia’s commitment was her role in returning the victim’s son home to Australia from Lebanon. The offender had sent their son, who was
“It was killing her. Our kids are only nine months apart in terms of age, and I’d be the same if it happened to me, let alone the situation she was in with her husband,” Det Sen Const Prestia said. “At times I had to pull myself back and remember I’m the investigator and I need to remain impartial, which can be difficult to do in a case like this. But I think it was good in a way because it just made me more passionate.” All the while, Det Sen Const Prestia was pregnant with a child of her own and attended various stages of the court process while on maternity leave. When the case went to trial, the offender was found guilty on all charges, including rape. At the time of Police Life going to print he was awaiting sentencing, and the victim had full custody of her son. “People talk about juggling the job and other things. Renee’s number one priority is her family,” Det Sgt Griffiths said. “For me, I just admire her work ethic and her professionalism. It doesn’t matter what the offence is, she puts in the same effort regardless.” For her work, Det Sen Const Prestia was awarded the prestigious Mick Miller Detective of the Year Award for 2018. “It was a real honour. It’s not why you do it but to have your work recognised and to get a good outcome from it means a lot,” she said. “You just want to help. It could be a wife, a husband, a child, anyone. You’re making someone else’s life better by doing your job, so you do all you can to help them.”
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Ten years have passed since the tragic 2009 Victorian bushfires, and survivors are still showing the remarkable resilience that helped them through the early dark days.
The personal journeys of some of the young survivors and police officers who responded to the fires are now on display in a powerful new exhibition at the Victoria Police Museum. The Things of Fire and Ash, Remembered exhibition is a revisiting of a 2013 exhibition, which saw 11 young people from Kinglake team with the museum, Wominjeka Kinglake youth group leader Lesley Bebbington and photographer Lilli Waters to share their personal reflections in the wake of the fires. Now in 2019, six of those young people featured in 2013 have returned to share their stories in the new exhibition, demonstrating their journeys and how their lives have changed and grown. The exhibition, which is open now and will run throughout 2019, features a photographic portrait and personal reflection from each of them, shining light on the resilience and courage needed, even 10 years on. It will also include the experiences of four police officers in responding to the fires,
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as well as supporting their communities to rebuild and recover. Ms Waters, an internationally-acclaimed photographer, said she was honoured to be involved in the exhibition again. “It has been an extraordinary experience for me to be invited back to photograph portraits of these kids five years later, now as young adults, seeing them grown and matured, and rebuilding their lives after such a loss,” she said. “I also photographed some of the police officers involved and found their stories of humble courage very moving. “I was mostly struck by the strong spirit of the community and their ability to lift themselves out of such a dark time.” Mrs Bebbington – who established and ran the Wominjeka Kinglake youth group in the first five years after Black Saturday – said the exhibition was another opportunity to remember and respect the journey the community had been through.
“It is of course impossible to not feel the cost of 7 February 2009, it was and remains immense,” Mrs Bebbington said. “I take pride when I look around and see the youth group kids, now adults – creative, inspired human beings with careers, good relationships, and hope in the future.” Museum curator Amber Evangelista said Things of Fire and Ash, Remembered was a remarkable exhibition. “We wanted the exhibition to reflect individuals’ stories and journeys, so we asked our participants to write about what the 10-year anniversary means to them,” she said. “We were blown away by what they produced. “Their reflections show extraordinary creativity, strength and compassion. “Things of Fire and Ash, Remembered is a demonstration of the incredible resilience, growth and courage of our state and the police that serve it.”
FLAG FLIES HOME The Australian flag that flew outside Marysville Police Station when it was destroyed in the 2009 Victorian bushfires has been returned home.
Images New Growth Portraits by photographer Lilli Waters of local young people and police officers, including Ayden (above) and Ldg Sen Const Ken Dwight (right), who experienced the devastating 2009 Victorian bushfires firsthand have been produced for a new exhibition (below) at the Victoria Police Museum.
Editorial: Jesse Wray-McCann Photography: Lilli Waters, John Pallot
The Victoria Police Museum is located at the World Trade Centre, Mezzanine Level, 637 Flinders St (entrance via Siddeley St), Docklands and is open 10am-4pm, Monday to Friday. Visit policemuseum.vic.gov.au
In a moving ceremony in February, the flag was formally returned to Marysville, where it will be displayed in the station foyer in a custom-made case. For the past 10 years, the flag has been carefully preserved at the Victoria Police Museum after it was found burned, but not destroyed, after the fires. Murrindindi cluster Senior Sergeant Mark Hesse said the return of the flag symbolised the rebuilding of the Marysville community. “It means a lot to us that it was recovered from the ashes, and that it is now back here where it belongs,” he said. Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton joined current and former Marysville police officers, other emergency services personnel and the local community at the ceremony.
The 2009 bushfires were a traumatic and distressing event, and anniversaries can be particularly difficult for people. Support services are always available: Lifeline – 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au beyondblue – 1300 224 636 Victoria Police Wellbeing Services, for Victoria Police employees and their immediate families, can be contacted on (03) 9247 3344.
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DRIVEN BY ROAD SAFETY
OUT & ABOUT
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Senior Constable Stevie-Lee Jorgensen was just seven years old when she set her sights on a career in policing. “You can ask my parents – they’ll tell you this has been a lifelong dream,” Sen Const Jorgensen said. It was at that young age she witnessed a car accident in her hometown of Bendigo, and quickly formed the view that working as a police officer meant playing an important role on Victoria’s roads. “My idea of policing was always road policing,” she said. “That’s probably true of a lot of people in the community – they don’t see the investigations, search warrants or the processing of offenders, but they do see our flashing lights out on the road.” It should come as no surprise, then, that less than five years after joining Victoria Police, Sen Const Jorgensen has “found my home” at Road Policing Command. In August last year, Sen Const Jorgensen farewelled her general duties role and became the newest of Victoria Police’s 31 alcohol and drug bus operators at the Road Policing Drug and Alcohol Section (RPDAS). These officers are tasked with driving Victoria Police’s alcohol and drug testing buses, overseeing operations at testing sites and liaising with local Highway Patrol units, who attend alcohol bus locations to assist with traffic management and driver compliance. Each of Sen Const Jorgensen’s shifts begins at RPDAS’s Brunswick base, where she learns who she is working alongside and where her bus is headed. “After that, everyone gets their equipment, we have a safety briefing with our sergeant and then we basically hit the road,” she said. “As soon as you get to the location, it’s down to business – setting up our safety cones and our testing area, then another safety briefing with the Highway Patrol unit.” When Police Life visited during a hot evening in December, Sen Const Jorgensen and her
Ten purpose-built alcohol and drug testing buses have given police even more deployment options when it comes to road policing.
five colleagues made their way to Keilor East, where they met up with police from Fawkner Highway Patrol and set up their testing site on a suburban road. RPDAS Acting Inspector Jacob Paulka said Victoria Police’s brand new fleet of 10 purposebuilt alcohol and drug testing buses, introduced progressively since March last year, had given police even more deployment options. “Victoria Police has long been recognised as a world leader in roadside alcohol and drug testing and we have now increased the size of our fleet by two buses, meaning we can cover more locations at any one time,” A/Insp Paulka said. “As part of the new fleet we also have six smaller buses, which allow us to get into tighter areas and smaller streets than ever before. “We’re confident this increased visibility on the roads will further deter drivers from getting behind the wheel when they shouldn’t and help reduce alcohol and drug-related road trauma.” Since 1989, Victoria Police’s alcohol and drug testing buses – colloquially known as ‘booze buses’ – have been staffed by newly-graduated constables from the Victoria Police Academy. Four of the five constables working with Sen Const Jorgensen when Police Life visited had never experienced taking a driver inside the bus for an evidentiary breath test following a failed roadside test. Educating and mentoring these inexperienced newcomers would likely seem a daunting responsibility to many, but Sen Const Jorgensen said the opportunity to guide her eager charges was part of the appeal of a role at RPDAS. “It feels like only yesterday that I spent my time working on the booze buses – in fact, I have a vivid memory of walking through the doors at RPDAS for the first time, getting on a bus and feeling like I had no idea what I was doing,” she said.
“So I make a point of helping the new constables as much as I can. “At the start of each shift, I talk through the process of what to do if they detect an offence when they’re conducting their breath tests, and I always tell them ‘there’s no stupid questions – I probably asked the same thing a few years ago’.” After an hour spent breath-testing drivers in the Keilor East side road, Sen Const Jorgensen instructs her colleagues to pack up the site. They’ve detected no drink or drug-affected drivers – a pleasing result – and the most action the Highway Patrol unit has seen is posing for some happy snaps with a 9-year-old local boy who loves police cars. Less than 30 minutes later, the new constables are breath-testing drivers once more, this time on busy Keilor Park Drive. With a high traffic volume, warm weather and plenty of Victorians enjoying a break from work between Christmas and the New Year, nabbing at least a couple of impaired drivers feels inevitable. But on this evening, there aren’t any. Regardless, Sen Const Jorgensen knows her mere presence on Victoria’s roads has an impact on driver behaviour. “Seeing our buses and our police out on the roads makes people think twice before they jump into their car,” she said. “And if we do catch them doing the wrong thing, I find it very satisfying to know I’ve taken the keys off them or taken their licence away, or whatever the case may be. “I’m having some sort of effect on lowering road trauma and that’s very rewarding.” Main image Living the dream Patrolling Victorian roads as a police officer is something Sen Const Stevie-Lee Jorgensen has always wanted to do. Editorial: Roslyn Jaguar Photography: Yuri Kouzmin
Sen Const Jorgensen conducts a safety briefing with Sen Const Alan McFarlane and Sen Const Uwe Stolzenberg from Fawkner Highway Patrol.
From busy highways to narrow back streets, drivers on Victorian roads can encounter alcohol and drug testing operations at any time. POLICE LIFE | AUTUMN 2019
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RIDING THE WAVE OF CHANGE
One of the first things many people do when faced with change is look for reasons why it won’t work, why it isn’t necessary, and why things should stay the same. It is a challenge that faces many organisations, from minor issues through to large cultural change projects. In December 2015, the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) released its Independent Review into sex discrimination and sexual harassment, including predatory behaviour, in Victoria Police. The report described “an entrenched culture of everyday sexism, coupled with a high tolerance for sexual harassment” and demanded change at all levels of the organisation in attitudes, behaviours, policies and procedures. As would be expected in any organisation, the reaction to such a confronting report varied massively across Victoria Police. Some welcomed the findings and the potential for change, while others dismissed the report as little more than fiction. In reality, the vast majority of the nearly 20,000 employees sat somewhere along the sliding scale of dismissive to welcoming, largely dependent on their own experiences. When the VEOHRC Report was delivered, Senior Sergeant David Jakobi (right) was working at Kyneton Police Station in the Macedon Ranges. His experience there as the Officer in Charge had increased his understanding of the problems, but he was still surprised when he saw the full details of the VEOHRC Report. “Kyneton is a 24-hour station with a number of female employees,” Sen Sgt Jakobi said. “I hadn’t previously managed a workplace with females so for the first time I saw the unique challenges and issues they faced. “Some of these issues were around prevailing attitudes, but what I really found interesting was the organisation’s failings, at that time, through policy and processes to properly support them. “It was across this time when I started to look more closely at the concept of gender equality in Victoria Police.” Sen Sgt Jakobi said information in the report about how staff were treating each other, particularly in respect to harassment and predatory behaviour, was shocking. “I was stunned by the case study notes and the examples of behaviour, resulting harm and how so many of our people had been affected,” he said. “At that stage I’d been in the job for 34 years and realised that this had been going on around me – in my organisation – and I didn’t recognise it. “That disappointed me.”
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Law enforcement is an incredibly busy occupation causing many of the staff to be time poor and consumed by their own work.
“It was also a way to step out of my comfort zone and hopefully leave a positive mark on Victoria Police.”
Potentially, things such as the VEOHRC Report don’t get the priority and attention they deserve.
Despite starting the position with a “reasonable understanding of the issues at hand”, Sen Sgt Jakobi said he still went through a steep learning curve to fully grasp the complexity of the work.
The benefit of the report for Sen Sgt Jakobi – and many others like him – was that it laid out all the information in one place and helped him gain an appreciation of the complexity of the issues and how they spread across the organisation.
Through this time, he spent many days on the road, speaking with frontline employees across Victoria, working through the objectives of the project and hearing the resistance to change.
“I found myself thinking about my own attitudes and how I’ve conducted myself over the years and how I may or may not have responded to situations,” he said.
“With this sort of work you really need to get into the issues – talk to people and listen, be willing to discuss and learn – and then let people reflect in their own way,” he said.
“It’s not always obvious when something isn’t as it should be – particularly when it’s become normalised in the workplace.
“Some will dig their heels in and find reasons to dismiss what you say, but others are seeking information to better understand why the change is required.”
“I’m not talking so much about harassment and discrimination because everyone knows that is wrong, but rather the systems and structures that act to disadvantage female employees and the impact that has.
Sen Sgt Jakobi describes his time working on the project as a “learning and development phase – both professionally and personally” and says that he is happy to take this acquired knowledge back to the frontline.
Now back working as the Officer in Charge at the busy suburban station of Craigieburn, Sen Sgt Jakobi is getting a chance to see how the organisation is responding to the change in a real, operational sense. While he recognises that awareness of the issues has increased, he knows that there is a lot that remains to be done and no one can afford to be complacent. “As an organisation, we have to recognise that we have the ability to change or add new policies and processes to address the issues at a functional level, but we’re also looking to change the thinking, values and attitudes of individuals,” he said. “Those values and attitudes are often unconscious, and they don’t just change in the blink of an eye. “As people get a greater understanding of the real issues, they will be better equipped and more responsive in dealing with this change. “Instead of perhaps dismissing it, they might stop and think and consider the merit of what is being put forward.” Editorial: Jonathan Green Photography: Grant Condon
At that stage I’d been in the job for 34 years and realised that this had been going on around me – in my organisation – and I didn’t recognise it. “When I saw that spelled out in the report, it certainly got me thinking.” Perhaps it was this natural instinct and inquisitive nature that drew Sen Sgt Jakobi to apply for a position at the VEOHRC Review Response Partnerships and Innovation (VRRPI) team – the Victoria Police project team created to oversee and coordinate the recommendations of the VEOHRC Report. “I saw it as an opportunity to be involved in something of real worth and something that I believed I could genuinely contribute to,” he said.
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Image Record-keeper Wendy Henger has volunteered with the Victoria Police Museum since 1995.
For decades Wendy Henger and Kay Gibson have been instrumental in ensuring the history of Victoria Police and those who have worn the uniform are never forgotten. The two Victoria Police Museum volunteers have devoted themselves to digitising police records dating as far back as the 1800s. Their painstaking work is done behind the scenes but has not gone unnoticed, with the pair having recently been awarded Victoria Police Citizen Commendations by Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton for their exemplary efforts. Mrs Gibson joined the museum team in 1989, answering the call for a volunteer to transcribe old watch-house charge books, the microfiche archive of which is named the ‘Gibson Index’ in honour of her hard work. Mrs Gibson also transcribed 19th century warrant books and provided invaluable research on numerous topics, including the history of the Kelly Gang and 19th century policing. Mrs Henger joined in 1995, photocopying the muster roll records before moving on to the mammoth task of digitising Victoria Police’s entire history of conduct and service records for veteran officers. 30
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She has, to date, digitised all records from the 1850s through to 1978, completing what would normally be the work of an entire team. While the work they have done over the years can be repetitive, both women recognise its importance. “Boy, it can be tedious at times,” Mrs Gibson said. “But we can learn a lot from history and the work we do helps people do research for important things. “Plus, I have a real hunger for knowledge, especially historical knowledge. That’s just the way I am, I can’t help myself.” Mrs Henger said the records they’ve sifted through over the years often reflect the changes within society at large. “The way attitudes towards women have changed over the years can be seen in these files,” Mrs Henger said.
“I’m no good with electronics,” Mrs Gibson said. “It takes me a while just to figure out a vacuum cleaner, so it’s great having Wendy there to do all the scanning work.” “Kay really is an incredible researcher and she’s wickedly entertaining,” Mrs Henger said. Public programs curator Amber Evangelista said the two women not only get along well with one another, but the rest of the museum team. “They are well-known and well-loved figures in the department and unit, and the longest serving members of our museum team,” Ms Evangelista said. She praised them for their many years of meticulous work. “Both Kay and Wendy are pillars of the unit and have been an integral part of the museum’s growth over the years.”
“There is just so much history in those files, and it’s our history, so it’s important we know about it.” The pair, who had known one another for decades before starting at Victoria Police’s Historical Services Unit, form a dynamic duo who complement the other’s strengths and weaknesses.
Editorial: Jesse Wray-McCann Photography: John Pallot
VICTORIA POLICE BY THE NUMBERS:
55% is the increase in the amount of missing and injured hikers being reported to police in the Grampians National Park since 2015. Read more about the search and rescue training package designed to address this on Page 20.
1,170
214
is the number of lives lost on Victorian roads in 2018, a record low. Despite a significant drop in the number of deaths on Victorian roads from the 258 recorded in 2017, police say there is much more work to be done.
is the number of Transit Protective Services Officers employed by Victoria Police that can now patrol on-board trains and trams. The recently-announced tram patrols are in addition to PSOs manning 216 metro and regional train stations from 6pm until the last service each day.
415
550
1
new alcohol and drug testing buses have been introduced to the state’s roads by Victoria Police since March last year. Turn to Page 26 to read about how the buses have boosted the capability of officers who work in them every day.
is the number of infringements issued by the Fawkner Highway Patrol Bicycle Unit for mobile phone use during Operation Roadwise, conducted over the Christmas holiday period.
entries were submitted to the Chief Commissioner’s Colouring Competition last year. The competition is back again for 2019. Find out more on Page 4.
6,000
youth offenders are estimated to have reaped the benefits of from the Victoria Police Ropes Program. Read about the impact the initiative has on young people on Page 8.
Keep up with the latest police news at vicpolicenews.com.au
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