SMALL TALK VOXPOP
POLICING CAREERS UNPACKED IN PODCAST
If you had the power, what bad habit would you make illegal and what would the punishment be? CONSTABLE TIM CURTIS Wallan Police Station
Victoria Police recently launched an all-new podcast delving into A Career in Policing. The 11-episode series addresses frequentlyasked questions about joining the force and educates prospective applicants about the recruitment process. The host of the podcast and Victoria Police Applicant Attraction project administrator Madeleine Rice said the podcast is part of the organisation's ongoing campaign to recruit, train and deploy more than 3,000 additional police officers by June 2021. “We're in the midst of the biggest recruitment drive in Victoria Police's history, and a big part
“I would make it illegal to leave shopping trolleys in the carpark instead of putting them back in the trolley bays. It’s very annoying. The punishment would be paying for the next person’s shopping.” SENIOR CONSTABLE BROOKE MALANE Seymour Police Station
“People talking or using their mobile phones when ordering coffee at a cafe. They’d have to pay a fine.”
SERGEANT FIONA ROBINSON Water Police
“I’d make it illegal for people to not pick up after their dogs go to the toilet. The punishment would be me personally collecting it and putting it on their front doorstep.”
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POLICE LIFE | AUTUMN 2020
of that is attracting high-quality candidates and ensuring they have all the information they need to feel confident to apply for our policing roles,” Ms Rice said. “When making this podcast, we wanted to create more transparency and answer some of those common questions people ask when applying for police roles and, ultimately, help people to realise they're more suited than they might think.”
To listen to the podcast, visit police.vic.gov. au/career-policing
SECRET LIFE OF POLICE ‘The King’ isn’t an official rank in the Victoria Police hierarchy, but if it was, it would probably belong to Leading Senior Constable Scott Woodford. That’s because for the past four years, the leading senior constable, based in the Prosecutions Unit at the Dandenong Police Station, has been taking on the persona of Elvis Presley, the undisputed king of rock ‘n’ roll. Despite being a lifelong fan of the Mississippi rocker, it took Led Sen Const Woodford a trip to the iconic Parkes Elvis Festival in New South Wales to kick-start his transformation. The annual festival celebrates all things Elvis and is attended by 25,000 people, including thousands of impersonators. “I went just as a fan. I was watching an amateur tribute performance competition and when the first bloke got up and started singing, I looked at my partner and we both said I could do better than that,” Led Sen Const Woodford said. Having decided it was now or never, Led Sen Const Woodford undertook five months of singing lessons, invested in a costume and returned to Parkes the following year to make his debut as The King in front of 2,000 people.
It’s not a stress-free hobby however, as Led Sen Const Woodford must choose which is his favourite song to perform. And it’s not Jailhouse Rock as his profession may suggest. “It’s a hard choice, considering Elvis recorded more than 700 songs,” he said. “I think Bridge Over Troubled Water is my favourite right now, or An American Trilogy is a great song to belt out.”
From that moment, Led Sen Const Woodford couldn’t help falling in love with impersonating and now finds himself performing at the events of family and friends, as well as the odd office Christmas party.
Led Sen Const Woodford must also decide between his five Elvis outfits – two diamantécovered jump suits, a full leather ensemble and two casual outfits featuring dress shirts and flared pants.
The lively performances are a major breakaway from the usually “reserved” personality of Led Sen Const Woodford, who has served in Victoria Police for 23 years, working most of his career in Highway Patrol units across the state.
“Then there’s the wig, the sunglasses and all of the jewellery, of course,” Led Sen Const Woodford said.
“Elvis commanded attention as soon as he took the stage. He knew all eyes were on him and he was absolutely captivating, so you’ve got to try and emulate that,” Led Sen Const Woodford said.
Image Elvis hasn’t left the building With the addition of a wig, some glitzy accessories and an iconic jumpsuit, Ldg Sen Const Scott Woodford quickly goes from prosecutor to Presley as an Elvis impersonator in his spare time. Editorial: Grant Condon
