Police Life SUMMER 2020-21

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THE VICTORIA POLICE MAGAZINE

SUMMER 2020-21

Speaking up A NEW WAY OF TRAINING POLICE NEGOTIATORS IS BRINGING EXPERT KNOWLEDGE TO THE FRONTLINE PLUS FROM LIVING ON THE STREETS TO POLICING THEM > FLASHING FORWARD TO POLICING IN THE YEAR 2050 > HELICOPTERS AND HOUNDS TACKLING CRIME TOGETHER AND MORE

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SUMMER 2020-21

Serving siblings Policing has become a family business for three sisters who are all forging careers with Victoria Police, despite taking different paths to the job.

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High and low The teamwork of Victoria Police’s Air Wing and Dog Squad is leaving offenders with few places to hide.

COVER: Senior constables Julian Mancini, Bianca Woods and Matilda Gledhill are part of Victoria Police’s new approach to negotiations at critical incidents.

Photography: John Pallot Police Life is produced by the Media & Corporate Communications Department, Victoria Police, GPO Box 913, Melbourne, 3001 Online police.vic.gov.au/policelife facebook.com/victoriapolice twitter.com/victoriapolice Email policelife-mgr@police.vic.gov.au Managing Editors Superintendent Jo Dolan Acting Superintendent Justin Goldsmith

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An important pitstop A chance meeting with a young man struggling with his mental health turned a police officer’s coffee break into a special call-out.

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Planning for equality and inclusion Victoria Police’s Gender Equality and Inclusion Command is like no other in the force and it has a new vision for its future.

Editor Grant Condon Journalists Danielle Ford Jesse Wray-McCann Roslyn Jaguar Emily Wan Graphic Design Fluid – fluid.com.au

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Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Victoria Police.

REGULARS

PLUS

5 6 18 30

24 Teenage crime

In Brief By the Numbers Out and About Behind the Badge

Youth street gangs met their match when Victoria Police launched Operation Wayward, with hundreds of arrests made.

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER the police effort to keep the community safe, firstly from bushfires and subsequently from coronavirus (COVID-19), often at significant personal risk.

However, our broader community safety efforts have also continued throughout this period. The crime statistics for the year ending 30 June 2020 show police arrested more offenders than ever before, remanded offenders where appropriate and have now served over 500 Firearm Prohibition Orders on high-harm, high-impact criminals.

We have also been developing the organisation to better reflect the community we serve and the services we deliver. The articles in this edition of Police Life showcase many of these efforts, including:

2020 has challenged all of us in our work and private lives. Overwhelmingly, Victorians have responded responsibly and considerately.

The demands of this unprecedented year have also impacted Victoria Police. Much of the community and media focus on Victoria Police has been on

• The trial of trained negotiators working closely with general duties police to respond to incidents involving people experiencing a mental health episode.

POLICE LIFE | SUMMER 2020-21

I wish you a safe and happy summer.

• The introduction of the Gender Equality and Inclusion Command and its new framework.

• A profile on Halls Gap, one of the first 16-hour stations to be staffed solely by female officers.

• Air Wing and Dog Squad combining for operations.

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There is also an article on what policing may look like in 2050. Thinking about and anticipating future community safety needs is critical. I have created a Service Delivery Transformation Command to examine the policing services the community requires and how best we deliver them. This Command will consult widely with the community, other agencies and our workforce. We have started this process by reviewing current police involvement in schools. Engaging with young people enables us to intervene early in offending and victimisation, and instil trust and positive attitudes towards police.

Schools are a key location for police involvement and the Department of Education a key partner. I plan to launch a contemporary program that makes a demonstrable difference to young lives in early 2021.

Follow Victoria Police on Twitter at @VictoriaPolice

MAKING NEWS For the latest police news visit police.vic.gov.au/news

NEW CENTRE FOR MAJOR INCIDENTS A facility crucial to Victoria Police’s coronavirus (COVID-19) response, the State Police Operations Centre (SPOC), has been one of the main beneficiaries of the move to the organisation’s new headquarters.

The move into the new Victoria Police Centre (VPC) at 311 Spencer Street, Docklands in the second half of 2020 marked the end of an era for the SPOC, first established 25 years ago at the previous VPC at the World Trade Centre on Flinders Street.

But State Emergencies and Support Command (SESC) Assistant Commissioner Michael Grainger said the relocation also meant the SPOC had entered a new era in its role as the nerve centre for coordinating Victoria Police’s management of major incidents, emergencies and events.

“We’ve moved into a fit-for-purpose facility that should serve us very well for the next few decades,” AC Grainger said.

“The SPOC has been continuously activated for the pandemic response 24 hours a day since March, by far the longest activation in its history.

More meeting rooms and break-out rooms in the new SPOC will allow whole teams such as the facility’s operations, logistics or investigations cells to relocate for important planning.

“It is easier for liaison officers from partner agencies like the Australian Federal Police and Australian Defence Force to work in the SPOC because they will have specific facilities with their appropriate information technology equipment,” AC Grainger said.

AC Grainger said the SPOC exists to support frontline officers to keep the community safe.

“The whole aim of this new SPOC is for it to be as seamless as possible and hopefully the only thing frontline officers and members of the public will pick up on is even more efficient and effective decision making and support,” he said.

“The move was a significant point in our history because the SPOC has played a central role in the major incidents and events that have formed Victoria Police’s history over the last 25 years.”

“The functionality and user-friendly areas of the new SPOC, with all the latest technology, means we are able to even better coordinate police in supporting and looking after Victorians through difficult times.”

The SPOC is a facility that can be activated by the SESC Assistant Commissioner, any Deputy Commissioner or the Chief Commissioner to exercise strategic command of Victoria Police resources across any major event, incident or emergency.

SPOC milestones 1995

Police Operations Centre established as part of the D24 police communications centre

2000

First tested to coordinate police resources deployed to the World Economic Forum

2006

Activated for the Commonwealth Games

2007

Activated for the Burnley Tunnel fire

2009

Activated for the Black Saturday Bushfires emergency

2010

Major renovation and enhancement in line with recommendations resulting from the 2009 Black Saturday Bushfires

2012

Activated for the Grocon industrial dispute

2017

Activated for the mass escape from the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre

2017 and Activated for the two 2018 Bourke Street attacks Image Incident nerve centre The State Police Operations Centre has been central in 2020 to Victoria Police’s response to both the summer bushfires and coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

2020

Activated for the Summer bushfires and coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

Editorial and photography: Jesse Wray-McCann POLICE LIFE | SUMMER 2020-21

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SMALL TALK VOXPOP

PODCAST TELLS TALES OF COURAGEOUS POLICE

What do you think might be different about policing in the year 2050?

LEADING SENIOR CONSTABLE BERNICE CANTY Ballan Police Station

“I think we might see some non-lethal weapons that are so effective that we will rarely have to use our firearms. We will probably have some sort of all-in-one delivery system that includes a lethal weapon, OC spray, a taser, a camera and any other new technology.”

CONSTABLE LEIGH BUTLER Sale Police Station

“I think every police officer hopes there’ll be a whole lot less paperwork to do. We will probably spend less time on all the extra reporting we have to do because we’ll have technology that automatically talks to all our internal and external systems and does the work for us."

SENIOR CONSTABLE SIDD PATIL Craigieburn Police

“I think there will be a wider variety of crimes, particularly technology and internet-based crimes due to advancements in technology.

The advancements in technology won’t just impact the types of crime but will also improve how we respond to crime. I think there will be more cohesion between police and other organisations and agencies where we will have a combined internal database we can access when making inquiries, which will save us doing lots of paperwork.”

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

Victoria Police has launched a new podcast series, Distinction, which will shine a light on extraordinary tales of courage from inside Victoria Police.

Distinction is a four-part series where each episode focuses on an individual story of courage, which resulted in the awarding of high-level service commendations.

Victoria Police Marketing and Engagement senior manager John Thompson said the series allows the force to share this rich catalogue of amazing stories.

“The devotion to duty that comes with the uniform has remained strong for over 150 years,” Mr Thompson said.

“Podcasts are incredibly popular at the moment and are an ideal platform for this type of storytelling.”

Distinction not only explores some of the most courageous acts of service, but also does not shy away from the consequences of those actions.

“I’m really proud of what we have been able to produce and would like to sincerely thank all those interviewed,” Mr Thompson said.

To listen to the podcast, visit police.vic.gov. au/distinction-podcast

SECRET LIFE OF POLICE 2020 has been a year like no other for Victoria Police, one that is difficult to summarise with words.

Fortunately, if the adage ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ rings true, Police Custody Officer (PCO) Brent Davidson has captured the emotions and events of the difficult past year in one striking artwork.

The Dandenong Police Station PCO is a budding artist away from work and spent two months creating an oil-paint portrait of an anonymous officer in uniform.

The finer details of the piece cover the two most significant events for the force in 2020, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the tragic deaths of four police officers in Kew in April, among others.

“The blue skin of my model displays that Victoria Police officers are blue through and through,” PCO Davidson said.

“The four badges show the registered numbers of the four officers who that tragically lost their lives, and the mask represents 2020 as a whole.

The organisational values are on the mask to show that Victoria Police upholds these values and they are always with us.

“The different colours represent the diversification across the organisation, including members of the LGBTIQ community.

“My inspiration for the painting was to do a reflection on the challenging year 2020 has been.”

The painting will now go on display in the wings of the Dandenong Police Station.

PCO Davidson has been painting for 20 years and holds a diploma in visual arts. You can check out more of his artwork on Instagram by searching @dingleyartist.

Image Painting PCO PCO Brent Davidson put his paintbrush to canvas to summarise what a challenging year 2020 has been for Victoria Police. The striking portrait will now go on display at the Dandenong Police Station.

Editorial: Grant Condon

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POLICE LIFE | SUMMER 2020-21

IN BRIEF police.vic.gov.au/news

PROACTIVE POLICING STORIES

FIRE FOCUS FOR POLICE THIS SUMMER

CELEBRATING NAIDOC WEEK

KEEPING SUMMER SAFE

Victoria Police will again set its sights on people who intentionally or recklessly light fires this summer following the launch of its annual Operation Safeguard.

It took place in a different month and all events were online, but Victoria Police’s 2020 NAIDOC Week celebrations were as significant and important as every other year.

Police will again be working hard over the warmer months to ensure everyone enjoys the spoils of summer safely.

Assistant Commissioner Michael Grainger said for areas that are at risk of fire, the community can expect a highly-visible police presence, particularly during fire danger periods.

NAIDOC Week, which is usually celebrated across Australia each July, ran from 8 November to 15 November, after being postponed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Our intelligence indicates that the risk of fire varies in different areas, which is why local police will use their local knowledge to prevent, detect and respond to fires,” AC Grainger said.

To honour this year’s NAIDOC Week theme, ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’, the Victoria Police Academy worked with a local Aboriginal business Kinya Lerrk to develop six acknowledgement of country plaques.

“Police will investigate and take action to catch those responsible when a fire is deemed suspicious, whether it was a deliberate or reckless action.”

Anyone found guilty of recklessly or intentionally causing a bushfire faces a penalty of up to 15 years imprisonment.

In the 2019-20 bushfire season, 26 charges were laid for fire-related offences due to reckless behaviour.

AC Grainger said that figure is concerningly high.

“It might seem like leaving a campfire unattended or operating machinery on a total fire ban day is not a huge issue,” AC Grainger said.

“But whether a fire is deliberately lit or not, the outcome is often the same.

Each plaque recognises and honours the importance of the land the Victoria Police Academy in Glen Waverley is built on to its traditional owners.

The plaques have been installed at the entrance of prominent buildings at the Academy.

Assistant Commissioner Russell Barrett said the acknowledgment of country plaques demonstrate to Aboriginal recruits, all employees and visitors that Victoria Police welcomes and respects Aboriginal culture.

“The acknowledgment of country plaques will educate everyone on the need for continual progress towards strengthening relationships and reconciliation,” AC Barrett said.

“This number of offences detected last year was disappointing because the situation could have been avoided if people made better choices.”

“The detailed artwork on the plaques also provides enjoyment for those working or visiting the Academy, and acts as an important conversation starter.

Operation Safeguard will run from midNovember 2020 until March 2021.

“Having positive partnerships with Victoria’s Aboriginal community is vital.

With Operation Summersafe, Victoria Police’s yearly summer policing response, now in full swing, there will be a highly-visible police presence at beaches and parklands across the Southern Metro and North West Metro regions.

Southern Metro Region Acting Commander Sharon McKinnon said the operation was about ensuring that people can enjoy their visit to the beaches over summer.

“After the difficult winter Victoria has experienced, we know many people will be particularly keen to get outside and enjoy the sunshine, but police ask that you do so safely,” A/Cmdr McKinnon said.

“Police will be out on the beaches and will not allow anyone to engage in criminal or disruptive behaviour, particularly those that have a negative impact on the rest of the community.”

Local police will be well supported by statebased resources such as the Mounted Branch, Public Order Response Team and Water Police to detect and deter any offending.

Members of the public should expect to see police proactively patrolling busy locations such as beaches, shopping and entertainment precincts and nearby public transport hubs.

Anyone planning on heading out and about must adhere to the latest Chief Health Officer (CHO) directions and police will continue to support the community with CHO compliance.

“Our Aboriginal Community Liaison Officers continue to take important steps in breaking down barriers between police and community.”

POLICE LIFE | SUMMER 2020-21

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VICTORIA POLICE

BY THE NUMBERS:

2,600,000 285 is the approximate number of vehicles that went through check points on the border between metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. The check points, managed and operated

by Victoria Police, were established on 8 July to ensure people from the metropolitan area weren’t breaching Chief Health Officer directions during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic by travelling to regional areas.

703,000 329 people like the Victoria Police Facebook page. The page is used to engage with members of the public and provide important safety and public interest information. Visit facebook.com/victoriapolice

$130,000

is the approximate value of a beloved pink Torana that was recently recovered by Victoria Police’s Vehicle Crime Squad after it was stolen almost three decades ago. Read more about the squad’s work to recover the vehicle on Page 28.

1912

was the year the heritage-listed Dryden House was built. The house has recently been transformed into a multi-use accommodation facility for Victoria Police employees. Read more about the historic building’s transformation on Page 12.

847

413

2,600

people were caught drink driving during Road Policing Command’s Operation Saturn, which ran from 22 October to 8 November.

The operation focused on reducing road trauma as coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions were eased across the state. As the festive season kicks off, it’s important to remember that if you plan to drink, plan not to drive.

names appear on the national long-term missing persons list.

A person is added to this list if they are missing for more than three months. Victoria Police has a specialist Missing Persons Squad that investigates all missing persons cases in Victoria.

police officers, Protective Services Officers, and Police Custody Officers graduated from the Victoria Police Academy across 21 COVIDsafe ceremonies from 26 March to 9 October. Read more about the unique way these recruits celebrated the end of their training on Page 13.

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police stations are located across Victoria.

arrests were made in the first 21 months of Operation Wayward.

The operation focuses on youth street gangs in North West Metro Region by targeting teenagers committing crimes such as home invasions, car jackings and street robberies.

Read more about the operation on Page 24.

POLICE LIFE | SUMMER 2020-21

Constable ‘Johnson' The story of Constable ‘Johnson’ is not one you would expect of a police officer.

Written in their own words, it’s a story of someone who lived through abuse, poverty, homelessness, assaults, drug use and the loss of loved ones.

It is at times tragic, but not a tragedy.

It’s a story of hope and triumph. It’s a story that shows almost anyone can turn their life around. It’s a story of a proud officer of Victoria Police who has now dedicated their life to helping and protecting the community.

This is Constable Johnson’s story.

I never wanted to become a police officer.

In fact, I never thought it was possible for me to become a police officer.

My father was an alcoholic and homeless when he was young. He left my family when I was a baby.

Several years later, my mother eventually found him – with another woman.

One of my earliest memories was crawling under the bed and covering my ears when I would hear my father physically abusing my mother.

Gradually, I began to run away from home to escape the violence. I found solace on the streets.

Although my mother tried to protect us at times, she often sided with my father when he became violent.

Police began to make visits to our house, after being called by the neighbours.

I ran away from home for the final time in my early teens after a fight where my father bashed my mother and I. The neighbours again called the police.

The last thing I remember was running away from home while I heard the sirens coming.

During this period, I had involvements in the court process, I saw how difficult it can be to go through the courts as a child.

The next several years, up until my adulthood, were spent living in numerous youth refuges and on the streets. My roommates in the refuge ranged from juvenile justice parolees to high-risk violent offenders and mentally ill outpatients.

The youth home dynamics were violent, unpredictable and dangerous at times.

I engaged in high-risk destructive behaviour with other street kids. I used hard drugs, fought often and consequently caught the attention of local police. I was regularly stopped, searched, or moved on. My lack of understanding and immaturity only fuelled my anger and animosity, not only towards police but any authority figure.

I did, however, learn and see certain things that stay with me; reading people’s eyes, feeling their energies. I learned when to stand my ground, walk away or run. This helped me navigate my world during that time.

A youth worker once told me there are two paths destined for a homeless kid: prison or death. For a while, I believed that.

He said, according to statistics, street kids were not likely to make it out of the system and the only way to do so was to try something at which many had failed.

The alternative was to give up.

The catalyst came when my sibling attempted suicide for the second time. That sibling later ended up in the red-light district and became addicted to hard drugs. Some of my former roommates in the youth homes ended up in prison. Some died on the street.

Finally, I began to seek help from counsellors and youth workers. I broke away from drug use, withdrew from certain associates and focused on my fitness. My fanatical desperation to escape the streets became my obsession, day and night.

Eventually I applied to join the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and was accepted.

The ADF gave me a home and the discipline I lacked in my life and replaced the turbulent behaviours of my adolescence.

Although I struggled at times with the structure, I finally found purpose and meaning in my life by wearing a uniform and working towards a common goal.

After my service, I had serious considerations of joining the police force. I knew there would be red flags in my past and that I had to be aware of certain challenges I would face as a police officer.

I realised that, as a police officer, I would confront my past experiences in the home and on the streets again, but on a different side this time.

I applied to join the force but was doubtful of my chances. I took a risk and put all my cards on the table. I would speak openly and honestly about my past.

The Recruiting Services Branch staff were supportive and helpful throughout the application process. They assess each case individually and to have made mistakes in the past is not as important as recognising the mistakes and being upfront and honest about it.

For my final panel interview I had two detectives from a particular field chosen specifically to interview me.

If you feel at risk of being involved in a family violence incident, or believe that someone you know is, please seek 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).

For 24/7 crisis support or suicide prevention services, please call Lifeline 13 11 14. If life is in danger call Triple Zero (000). Current and former Victoria Police employees and their families can also access wellbeing services via bluespacewellbeing.com.au.

Again, I had many doubts about my application.

However, the detectives did not agree with my doubts; they recommended me, and I was accepted to join Victoria Police.

I got in contact with one of the detectives a few months later and he offered to mentor me. I was nervous but, nonetheless, I accepted.

At the Academy, my squad became my family.

I cherish every single member of my squad deeply. They helped me not only get through the Academy but accepted me in their personal lives.

Eventually, I invited the detective to come and watch my graduation ceremony.

I feel he believes in me, something I am not used to. I know he sees something in me which I struggle to see in myself at times.

I believe that my story is neither significant nor one to be commended, that’s my reason for writing this anonymously.

The struggles I have experienced in my life pale in comparison to many other youths I have encountered on the street and in the youth homes.

I am thankful to be alive. I am thankful to have met those who have supported and believed in me, like the detective.

I am not proud of what I have done in the past.

I once contributed to this society with hate and destruction in my heart.

My wish is to return to the same society and try to right the wrongs that I have done and give hope and belief to those no one believed in.

Images A different life The Children's Court (background) and the suburban street that held a junkyard that Constable Johnson would sleep in after running away from home were some of the regular settings of the police officer's difficult childhood. *Constable Johnson is a pseudonym to protect the identity of the Victoria Police officer and their family members.

POLICE LIFE | SUMMER 2020-21

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Speaking up PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE HAVE BAD DAYS. IT’S A SIMPLISTIC STATEMENT, BUT IT’S ONE THAT EXPLAINS VICTORIA POLICE’S FOCUS ON ENSURING ITS MEMBERSHIP REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES. For police negotiators, the ability to connect with a person in crisis can often be the key to a peaceful resolution.

But as Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) Sergeant John Harley explains, that can sometimes prove tricky for Victoria Police’s 40 negotiators.

“But we don’t currently have any female negotiators at Victoria Police and very few of the men in our unit come from a culturally-diverse background.

Along with upskilling frontline police, the trial also meant negotiators were able to provide support for more incidents as they were not tied to CIRT tactical deployments.

“We always work to find a way around that issue – our negotiators are very skilled - but it does make things more difficult.”

Sgt Harley manages the CIRT Negotiator Unit, which houses Victoria Police’s entire negotiation capability.

Currently, police must first join CIRT as a tactical operator before they can apply to undertake the training required to become a qualified negotiator.

And the ability for negotiators to attend without a CIRT tactical team created a more intimate setting for often delicate conversations with people in crisis.

“When we’re going out to jobs with a smaller crew, without the guys in full tactical gear, it’s less overwhelming for the people we’re negotiating with,” Sgt Harley said.

“Deployments with CIRT and the Special Operations Group (SOG) will always remain the priority for negotiators, but changing the operating model allows us to provide support for other incidents as well.”

The trial, which focused on incidents within a 15km radius of the Melbourne CBD, is currently in the review and evaluation phase.

But Sgt Harley said the organisation was in the process of casting a critical eye over this recruitment model.

But one thing is clear – there is strong interest from officers across Victoria Police in joining a standalone negotiator unit, with Sgt Harley receiving enquiries “on a daily basis”.

As a first step towards a future that may see negotiators recruited from other parts of Victoria Police, CIRT recently held a trial to change the way negotiators were deployed to incidents.

“There are plenty of police who would make great negotiators, but what’s stopping them is that they have to become a CIRT tactical operator first,” Sgt Harley said.

The trial established a 15-man standalone negotiator unit, with members able to attend incidents involving mental health concerns without the requirement for a full CIRT tactical team.

POLICE LIFE | SUMMER 2020-21

“Instead, during the trial, members in the negotiator unit were able to attend certain incidents alongside frontline general duties police, to help them build their capabilities and become better communicators,” Sgt Harley said.

“Basically, we would let the frontline officers do the talking, giving them coaching and advice in a live operational setting, with CIRT negotiators only taking over as a last resort.”

“We’ve been to jobs where the person we’re trying to negotiate with is a woman, and they simply don’t want to engage with us as men.

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Before the trial, negotiators were sent to every incident that met the criteria for a CIRT tactical deployment, even if the negotiator capability wasn’t required.

“If the people we are negotiating with can identify in some way with our officers, there will be better outcomes,” Sgt Harley said.

“The truth is that it can be difficult to have credibility and build rapport with someone who has a very different background and story to you.

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Sgt Harley said with mental health-related incidents making up “the vast majority” of negotiator call-outs, the six-month trial had delivered many benefits.

“There’s a whole set of physical requirements that go along with that tactical role, and that doesn’t interest everyone.”

CIRT Senior Sergeant Darren McQueen, who developed the concept for the trial, said Victoria Police was unique in the way it recruited negotiators.

“It’s all about providing that calming, empathetic voice and helping them to get to the point where they come to their own realisation about what they need to do.”

“All other Australian police jurisdictions recruit from across their organisation, rather than from one specific unit,” Sen Sgt McQueen said.

“Generally speaking, this makes it easier to recruit people with different skill sets and from different backgrounds, which enhances the diversity of knowledge negotiators bring to an incident.”

While important evaluations of the trial take place, CIRT has already made moves to diversify its negotiator unit.

Two female CIRT tactical operators, senior constables Matilda Gledhill and Bianca Woods, have recently undertaken a four-week ridealong program with qualified negotiators, which exposed them to real-time critical incident negotiations.

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The pair will soon take part in further training before being assessed for their suitability to become qualified negotiators.

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Sen Const Gledhill said her interest in becoming a negotiator was sparked when she realised, at the beginning of her policing career, that communicating with people came naturally to her.

“But I wanted to find a role where I was able to do it in crisis moments,” she said.

“To be able to use language and communication, and really harness that to build a rapport with someone and hopefully help them out of a crisis situation, that really appeals to me.”

Sen Const Woods said training alongside the negotiators had made her a better listener.

“When we’re negotiating with someone, a lot of times they’re able to actually solve their own problem because we give them the space to get it off their chest without someone butting in, without someone telling them ‘well, why don’t you just do this?’.

“It’s all about providing that calming, empathetic voice and helping them to get to the point where they come to their own realisation about what they need to do.”

Sgt Harley said there was “a lot of mystique” around the role of negotiators.

“But it’s a very privileged role – we’re at the forefront of every type of incident, it’s exciting, and we get to work alongside the SOG and CIRT.

Images Trained experts 01 Sen Const Matilda Gledhill credits a new trial negotiator training program for improving skills that help in all aspects of policing, not only in negotiations.

02 Senior constables Julian Mancini, Bianca Woods and Matilda Gledhill were all involved in the new-look negotiator training program.

03 Sen Const Mancini is part of the team that has been training new negotiator recruits like Sen Const Woods.

“And it’s incredibly rewarding when we get a good result.”

Editorial: Roslyn Jaguar Photography: John Pallot

“It’s not a well-known capability, even within Victoria Police,” he said.

POLICE LIFE | SUMMER 2020-21

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CAREER IN FOCUS

Sister Act A career in policing runs in the family for the three Price sisters, but that doesn’t mean their journey to the job has been the same.

“I was lucky enough to get secondments to different investigative units early in my career and that set me on the detective path.”

Detective Senior Constable Georgia Price, Constable Alysha Sier (née Price) and Constable Belle Price have been around the policing world their whole lives, with their father a now-retired detective who served for 30 years.

The eldest and the youngest of the Price daughters, Alysha and Belle, might be eight years apart in age but they graduated from the Victoria Police Academy within 12 months of each other.

“Dad was always really open about his job and he would share as much as he could with us,” Georgia said.

“I think we were all really interested in the job but I know I took a real interest in it and always knew I wanted to do the same thing.”

Georgia was the first of the sisters to join Victoria Police in 2010 as an 18-year-old.

“I filled out my application when I was 17, that’s how sure I was that I wanted to be a police officer,” she said.

Ten years later, Georgia’s a detective working in the Hume Crime Investigation Unit.

“I thought about working in different areas like the Critical Incident Response Team and other specialist units but, in the end, the detective route seemed like the way to go for me.

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POLICE LIFE | SUMMER 2020-21

The two sisters both applied to join the force around the same time, with younger sister Belle commencing her time at the Academy just before Alysha.

“It’s the one time in my life I’ve been able to pull a bit of seniority over Alysha,” Belle joked.

Belle graduated in March 2020 and now works at Sunbury Police Station.

Her path to a policing career was similar to Georgia’s, joining the force soon after high school, just before she turned 19.

“Much like Georgia, I had always thought of policing as a career path I wanted to take,” Belle said.

“I probably wasn’t as certain of it as soon as she was, but by the time I finished high school, I knew it was what I wanted to do.

“I grew up hearing stories from the job about engaging with the community and working cases to help get a good outcome for victims of crime, it always appealed to me as something I’d be proud to do.”

The eldest of the sisters, Alysha, was the last to join and had a different journey to Victoria Police.

Her life in blue came after she completed a university degree and had a child.

Alysha graduated from the Academy in July 2020 and is stationed at Box Hill Police Station.

Being a police officer is something she always had in the back of her mind, but she wanted to pursue other things after leaving school.

“I didn’t have that set-in-stone idea that it was what I wanted to do like my sisters,” Alysha said.

“I went to university and studied sport and exercise science and, when I graduated, I ended up getting married and having a baby and my priorities in a career changed.

“Having a child, I realised that I wanted to do something that would help make the community a better place for my son to grow up in.”

Being in the early stages of their service, Alysha and Belle say they are not 100 per cent sure which career path they will go down within Victoria Police just yet.

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“I’m very early on in my career so I’m still figuring out exactly what I want to do. But I know that Georgia has a wealth of knowledge and experience I can draw upon if I have any questions,” Alysha said.

No matter which direction they choose, the three sisters agree the biggest positive of having siblings in the same uniform is the constant support and advice available at the family dinner table or through a quick phone call.

“I live with Georgia so I hear her and her partner, who is also a detective, at home talking about the jobs they’ve been working on and it gives me a good insight into a detective career,” Belle said.

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“Having gone through the Academy at a similar time to Alysha, we were able to be a big support for each other during that training time and that’s extended to now as we both start and progress our careers at the same time. It will continue even if we end up going down different paths within the job.”

Georgia added; “We all draw on advice from each other. Our phones are always buzzing with us calling each other saying ‘Hey I had this job, what do you think about this?’.

“Getting another person’s opinion, especially from someone as close as your own sister, is something you can’t take for granted.”

Image Family business Main (from left): Const Belle Price, Sen Const Georgia Price and Const Alysha Sier walked different paths to their careers with Victoria Police but all say it’s a job that is extremely rewarding.

Editorial: Danielle Ford Photography: Jesse Wray-McCann

POLICE LIFE | SUMMER 2020-21

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A place to call home 01

The main streets of Beechworth are lined with noteworthy historic buildings, but none are more important to police working in Victoria’s north-east than Dryden House.

Built in 1912, the heritage-listed home served as a police residence for more than a century before being transformed into a facility fit for a modern police force.

Dryden House is now a multi-use accommodation facility for Victoria Police employees who may be working in Eastern Region Division 4 (ED4) away from home or are in the process of relocating to the area.

Most importantly, the house can also be used by employees who need welfare assistance or respite from their normal roles.

The transformation of the house was the brainchild of Superintendent Kerin Moloney, who was working in ED4 in 2019 when the residence became available and the project began after the retirement of the long-serving officer in charge of the Beechworth Police Station.

“I looked at the challenges of working in the rural policing environment, like isolation and high workloads spread over large areas, and I wanted to find a solution for officers from both the local area and across the organisation,” Supt Moloney said.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working for a long time in the regions, it’s unique but also really satisfying, and I wanted to support that work.”

At its official opening in April this year, the facility was named Dryden House in honour of long-time injury management consultant Jeanette Dryden.

“Jeanette has worked in Eastern Region for 10 years, helping a huge number of employees return to work after physical and mental injuries,” Supt Moloney said.

“It was only appropriate to name a space dedicated to looking after our employees in honour of someone who is so dedicated to doing the same.

“Jeanette, and the house named in her honour, represents the great work done by all our injury management consultants who go above and beyond to look after our employees.”

Ms Dryden said she was honoured to see the house now carry her name and hoped Victoria Police would continue to be innovative when it came to workplace welfare.

“The house is quite an innovation and Kerin showed great leadership in establishing it,” Ms Dryden said.

“I’m fortunate enough to have it named in my honour, but I think it is an acknowledgement of the work injury management consultants do and a nice reminder of how we need to keep progressing work in the welfare space.”

Sergeant Liam McMahon has made good use of Dryden House since its opening.

As the highest-ranking officer at the five-person station in Corryong since 2016, Sgt McMahon has been a constant point of contact for the small town as it undertakes a taxing rebuild after being severely impacted by the bushfires of the 2019-20 summer.

“As one of the few police in town, it can be pretty hard when you’re in a remote place like Corryong.

You carry the load, particularly after an event like the bushfires,” Sgt McMahon said.

“I’ve used Dryden House to take short development opportunities working in different areas. That recharges my batteries and gives me new ideas to take back to Corryong.

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“The town is already benefitting while I’m away by having new officers coming in with new ways of thinking.

“And I can’t believe how good it (Dryden House) is. You can see the effort that’s gone into it.

It feels a bit more like home, it’s much better than a motel.”

As a country-based police officer for the entirety of his 16-year career with Victoria Police, Sgt McMahon said Dryden House can also help attract Melbourne-based police to the regional areas in the north-east.

Inspector Brad Sprague is one of those officers.

He’s been staying at Dryden House to adjust to life in the country after a recent promotion saw him relocate to Wangaratta, having spent most of his 25 years with the force working in metropolitan areas.

“I’ve got three kids going through schooling in Melbourne and, while my family looks at our next step that comes with my relocation, it’s been great to not have to worry about accommodation. I can focus on getting to know the job and the area,” Insp Sprague said.

how a facility like “thisThat’s helps increase the diversity

of police working in regional areas; I’m coming from a long career in the city so hopefully I can bring an injection of new ideas, which is good for police and the community.

”

Images Home away from home 01 Sergeant Liam McMahon and Inspector Brad Sprague are two police officers who have seen the benefits of Dryden House, a multi-use accommodation facility named in honour of injury management consultant Jeanette Dryden (centre).

02 Superintendent Kerin Moloney led the project to transform Dryden House from a police residence into the facility it is today. He surprised Jeanette Dryden on the day of its opening by revealing it would bear her name.

Editorial and photography: Grant Condon and supplied

GRADUATIONS When Constable Kimberley Mennen graduated from the Victoria Police Academy this year, her experience could not have been more different to the countless number of recruits who have marched out before her.

As part of the first squad to graduate under the Chief Health Officer’s Stage 4 restrictions aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), Const Mennen’s family and friends were not seated in the chapel pews, her squad mates’ children weren’t patiently waiting for mum or dad to appear in uniform, and the sounds of bagpipes weren’t ringing out through the Academy entrance doors.

The usual graduation fanfare was gone, only recruit instructors and key speakers were there for the special moment.

Recruits sat 1.5 metres apart from each other during the short ceremony, where they marched up to the stage when called to collect their ‘Freddie’ (police badge) from a trolley.

There would be no salutes and handshakes with senior police, with social distancing measures firmly in place. There would be no group celebration afterwards either.

Const Mennen was just one of the 847 newly minted police officers, Protective Services Officers (PSOs) and Police Custody Officers (PCOs) across 21 ceremonies who experienced a graduation like no other, as Victoria Police worked hard to ensure the recruitment and training of all new officers continued safely throughout the pandemic.

But Const Mennen, a third-generation police officer, said she wouldn’t change a thing about her unusual graduation.

“I was sad my grandad, retired Sergeant John Mennen, wasn’t able to be there, because he was really looking forward to seeing me graduate. He is very proud that I am following in his footsteps too,” Const Mennen said.

The altered graduation ceremony was a fitting end to what was a memorable Academy experience for Const Mennen.

People Development Command (PDC) Assistant Commissioner Kevin Casey said the pandemic caused a significant amount of disruption not only to recruit training but other critical education, including Operational Safety and Tactics training which all police, PSOs and PCOs undertake bi-annually, Driver Training Unit programs, and critical incident and emergency management courses.

“We first entered the Academy before the pandemic when the bushfires were burning, so the air was heavy with smoke,” she said.

“During the pandemic, we saw how important it is to have sufficient police resources to keep the community safe,” AC Casey said.

“From week eight of training things started to change, with the gym, pool, and dining hall all closed. Soon after, classes were being held across two rooms, so we were sitting further apart, or they were held online.

Physical training was also adjusted, with no physical contact allowed.”

“It is our responsibility at the Victoria Police Academy to ensure recruit training and all frontline officer training can continue.

In these critical times, it is imperative our frontline responders are fully trained and prepared for any situation.

As her squad came together for the last time, Const Mennen knew how important it was to capture her graduation, even though professional photographers weren’t allowed at the Academy.

“It was the hard work of PDC staff, who prepared dedicated safety plans, organised emergency management meetings, and assigned safety officers, that was instrumental in the continuation of Academy services during this unprecedented period.”

“The deaths of the four Victoria Police officers in Kew happened the day before we started our station training, so that really hit home,” Const Mennen said.

A ‘super graduation’ for all former recruits who graduated during the pandemic and their families is tentatively planned for 2021.

“I decided to take group shots of my squad and a photographer from Forensics took pictures in the chapel.”

Images Masked graduates Const Kimberley Mennen and her squad graduated in one of the 21 COVIDsafe ceremonies that took place during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Const Mennen said her squad was a “great bunch” and their Academy experience has created a special bond they will have forever.

Editorial: Emily Wan Photography: Supplied

POLICE LIFE | SUMMER 2020-21

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Revisited In 1989, a Victoria Police constable cast his mind forward to year 2020 and imagined what the force he worked for would look like.

The accuracy of his predictions was remarkable.

Smart watches, lightweight computers that would be carried by officers to complete paperwork in the field, and small cameras being used by all police when conducting their duties were among his predictions that came true.

Body-worn cameras and devices such as iPads and iPhones are now as common as the blue uniform across Victoria Police.

“I don’t think I had any profound ability to look into the future.”

Still, Ret Const Harvey, now a professional illustrator having first taken to the easel for Police Life, is quietly impressed with how current his article remains, particularly because he himself was slow to embrace technology.

“I didn’t get my own computer until 2004 and a smart phone until 2012. I’ve always been a little bit behind the times,” he said.

“I do remember when I was writing for Police Life in 1989, we had just purchased one computer for the team which you could type on, rather than typewriters. Everything was saved on floppy disks and that was big for us then.

“I think the technology that is now part of police work is amazing. It’s fantastic they have so much information available, like CCTV and mobile phone records, to investigate crimes.”

The predictions are even more impressive when you consider that when the article was penned for the September 1989 edition of Police Life, the World Wide Web had just been invented, Microsoft Office was leading the computing world following its first release, the first GPS satellite was being sent into orbit, mobile phones were the size of a house brick and weighed about the same, and two little TV shows called Seinfeld and The Simpsons hit the small screen for the first time.

In this edition of Police Life, the idea of looking 30 years into the future has been revitalised and we imagine what policing could be like in 2050.

Now long retired, Constable Roger Harvey was the man behind the predictions and illustration you see on the right.

“I think there will also be a squad to deal with pollution, rubbish and plastic. It will be a big business to manage and dispose of these things correctly and, with that, I think there will be some big related crimes.”

“I don’t remember too much about the article, seeing that I wrote it 30 years ago, but clearly as a young guy, I was influenced by the big movies of the day like Robocop,” Ret Const Harvey said.

When asked for his own predictions about where policing is headed, Ret Const Harvey offered this: “There is the Water Police now, but in the future I think there will be an Aquatic Squad to handle crimes to do with water because that will become a limited resource.

Read 2050 policing; an imagining on Pages 16 and 17.

Editorial: Grant Condon Illustration: Roger Harvey

Computer > accuracy: 10/10 A ‘light-weight computer’ that is ‘thin and easily carried’ perfectly describes the iPads and iPhones, known as IRIS devices at Victoria Police due to their operating program, that are carried by police across the organisation. Purpose-built apps allow police to access databases and enter information while in the field and work with body-worn cameras.

Gloves > accuracy: 9/10 Fully weatherproof (wind and waterproof) gloves are available as part of the Victoria Police uniform. Disposable rubber gloves are also used by police.

Ear Plug Speaker and Microphone > accuracy: 9/10 Ear plug and microphone attachments are available for police to use with their radios.

In November 2018, Victoria Police finalised its transition to encrypted communications on digital radios, offering greater security.

They are not compatible with the Sony Walkman and no rules have been made about eating crisps or whistling.

Tracking watch > accuracy: 6/10 Smart watches, which first emerged in 2014, are now commonplace across society and among Victoria Police but they aren’t issued by the organisation and are not linked to any police systems.

Handcuffs > Accuracy: 2/10 Handcuffs are still used by police officers every day, but the design of the equipment has changed little since 1989.

Camera > Accuracy: 10/10

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Patrol jacket > accuracy: 8/10

Helmet > accuracy: 7/10

The leather jackets that featured in the Victoria Police uniform are now gone, but uniforms being resistant to stains was a consideration when the transition from pale blue uniforms to the dark blue you see today was made in December 2012. And while they’re not in jacket style, 14,000 new look ballistic vests were delivered to all police officers and Protective Services Officers (PSOs) in early 2019. The upgraded ballistics vests are indeed ‘extremely tough’, are lighter in weight than their predecessors to help with mobility, and include thermal management to adapt to both warm and cold temperatures.

Helmets are not yet standard across general duties police however they are carried and worn by specialist work units such as the Public Order Response Team (PORT), Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) and Special Operations Group (SOG).

The PORT also has the capability of livestreaming their response to incidents to police command centres, however these video cameras are handheld and not mounted to helmets.

POLICE LIFE | SUMMER 2020-21

All frontline police at the rank of sergeant and below, Protective Services Officers (PSOs) and specialist units such as the Public Order Response Team, Dog Squad, Water Police, Mounted Branch and Highway Patrol have been equipped with body-worn cameras since December 2019.

The cameras are attached to a police officer’s uniform and are used to record video and audio evidence. The camera has a flashing red light when it is recording.

Since their introduction, the cameras have improved the justice processes for victims and witnesses of crimes, and the way police collect evidence.

Sunglasses > accuracy: 6/10 Victoria Police doesn’t issue officers with sunglasses, with the only exception being police who work in the snowfields or bicycle patrols.

Safety glasses are also commonly worn by frontline officers and police are permitted and encouraged to wear sunglasses when working outdoors.

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2 0 5 0 POLICING; AN IMAGINING Inspired by Roger Harvey's 1989 article 2020: Police Odyssey, Police Life has again made predictions as to what policing could like 30 years from now.

It’s 9.30pm, 6 October 2050 and a Victoria Police patrol car whirls quietly down a suburban street, the solar-powered streetlamps above flicker by.

As the vehicle passes a row of new houses, each almost built entirely out of a recycled material precisely produced by a 3D printer, eliminating the need for screws, nails and other binding materials, senior constables Sarah Haines and James Harvey are busy at work.

Sen Const Haines is scanning the vehicle’s inbuilt computer, where every ongoing emergency incident is displayed on a map on the screen, along with the location of responding units.

Meanwhile, Sen Const Harvey is keeping his eye on the streets – there are some things technology can’t replace, a trained police eye being one.

But he is wearing his police-issued smart goggles. They’re an ultra-strong, light-weight eyepiece and look like ordinary glasses. They can automatically brighten visibility in lowlight areas and have forward-looking infrared (FLIR) and night vision technology inbuilt for the darkest of locations.

Neither of the officers are driving. The totally automated electric vehicle is set on ‘patrol mode’ and is utilising artificial intelligence to interpret both historical and live crime data to determine the locations police are most needed or where and when a crime is most likely to occur.

If an incident is recorded on police systems, the officers in the vehicle can select the location on the inboard computer and the vehicle will automatically travel the most direct route to the scene.

When in ‘response mode’, other automated vehicles – about 85 per cent of all private vehicles on the roads – respond to sirens and computer transmissions, immediately moving out of the way of emergency services vehicles.

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Automated vehicles also immediately respond to a police vehicle’s ‘intercept mode’ when activated, as is the case when senior constables Haines and Harvey elect to pull over the vehicle travelling in front of them.

The person in command of the vehicle doesn’t match the photo of the list of registered owners that appears on the automatic vehicle recognition system.

“He looks a bit young,” Sen Const Haines says to her offsider.

A person in solo control of an automated vehicle needs to be 16 years of age or older.

As they exit the vehicle to speak to the driver, the officers’ body-worn cameras detect the pair have left the vehicle and vision is automatically livestreamed back to a control centre for supervision and recording in case an offence is detected.

At the same time, the two officers press a small button on the shoulder of their vest. The vest, a lightweight, bullet and stab proof garment, illuminates with light so the pair is clearly visible to passing traffic. The decision to illuminate the vest sits with the officers. If they need less visibility for tactical reasons, the non-reflective material remains at its neutral colour.

Their uniform underneath is a flexible, lightweight exoskeleton with heating and cooling technology built inside.

As they walk back to their patrol vehicle, the two senior constables get a message through their wireless earbud receivers, the signal comes via a small transistor embedded in their police vests.

The message informs police a large fight has broken out at a popular nightclub precinct.

Crimes like burglaries have dropped dramatically with the improvements of security systems, CCTV and facial recognition systems, but, as they always have, crimes against the person still demand a police response.

The officers respond on the encrypted police channel with a simple tap on their earbud receiver before speaking.

Once the officers have confirmed they are responding, the location of the incident is automatically loaded into their car’s navigation system.

Before they leave, the officers remove two drones from inside the vehicle. The drones have also received the location and immediately fly off in its direction.

One drone will do a preliminary scan of the incident scene, recording any activity and the location of possible evidence.

The other, equipped with FLIR and night vision capabilities, will search for any person or vehicles at the location. Officers can view the livestream vision of both drones from their vehicle or wrist computer and then select which person or vehicle they want the second drone to follow.

While in transit to the crime’s location, Sen Const Haines brings up the CCTV footage from the incident scene on a screen projecting from her wrist computer. Businesses can join a register that allows police access to the CCTV stream in the event of an emergency, inside or out of the building. When taking into account the huge number of public CCTV cameras, all with facial recognition, and patrolling CCTV drones managed by the government, police have blanket coverage of most areas when needed.

Facial recognition technology has detected the faces of those involved in the brawl, but there’s no match on the database that magistrates can order offenders on to if they are convicted for serious or violent offences.

The drone has detected blood and ripped clothing near the scene, which the offenders are now fleeing from, and that information is relayed to Sen Const Haines’ wrist computer.

The 17-year-old driver is in the clear, it’s his dad’s car.

When she arrives at the scene, she’ll use her portable forensic kit to take a sample of the evidence. It will be immediately analysed and recorded for future testing by a system located in the rear of the police vehicle.

While beside the vehicle, Sen Const Harvey taps the small bracelet-like band on his wrist.

For senior constable Haines and Harvey, it’s just another night of police work in 2050.

A screen beams from the device and Sen Const Harvey enters the details of the intercept by motioning his fingers across the projection. He taps his wrist again and the screen powers down.

And it’s only just begun.

Editorial: Grant Condon and Acting Superintendent Justin Goldsmith Illustration: Naomi Veldhuizen

POLICE LIFE | SUMMER 2020-21

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History made in

Halls Gap Policing in country areas has always been different to policing in the city, but at Halls Gap, surrounded by the Grampians National Park, it is unlike anywhere else in the state.

The mountains that begin at the back door of the Halls Gap Police Station are where its three officers – Sergeant Karen Bain, Leading Senior Constable Kellie Harris and Senior Constable Sarah Bartorelli – can spend a lot of their time.

Responding to calls for help to assist injured, lost or missing people in the 1700-squarekilometre rugged terrain of the Grampians forms a major part of the role.

Ldg Sen Const Harris has been policing in the area for 15 years – eight years at Halls Gap after seven years at nearby Stawell – and is still struck by the size of their patch.

“It’s going to make this place boom when it opens and there’ll be a lot more work for us,” Sgt Bain said.

“The three of us are now starting to walk parts of it, so we are familiar with the trail when we need to rescue people.”

Officers from nearby Stawell, who are called in for many of the search and rescues, will also tread the trail with the Halls Gap trio.

Sgt Bain moved to Halls Gap more than three years ago for a tree change with her partner and children.

“I was lucky enough to go up in the police helicopter a little while back and when we were above the Grampians, I just looked out at all of it and thought, ‘Far out, we really do cover such a massive area’,” Ldg Sen Const Harris said.

After spending her entire career in city policing, she said the change was “the best decision we ever made”.

During her time at Halls Gap, a town of 430 people, the number of search and rescues they have coordinated has dramatically increased.

But there was one local that wasn’t so friendly with Sgt Bain during one of her shifts early on in Halls Gap.

“When I first started, we were getting about 1.2 million visitors to the Grampians each year and now we’re receiving more than 2.4 million,” Ldg Sen Const Harris said.

“There was an injured kangaroo that Kellie and I had to respond to,” Sgt Bain said.

“Last year we averaged about a rescue per week, whereas when I first started, we were lucky to get about six per year.”

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Sgt Bain said they expect their trips into the mountains and bush to continue to rise, with construction almost completed on the Grampians Peaks Trail, which will offer a 160-kilometre, 13-day hike and attract visitors from around the world.

POLICE LIFE | SUMMER 2020-21

The family quickly slotted into the community.

“We had to bag it up to take it away and I went around the front of it thinking, ‘Oh, poor little skippy’.”

As Sgt Bain got close, the distressed kangaroo let off an angry growl.

Sgt Bain jumped back, and Ldg Sen Const Harris told her she was lucky to escape injury and that they should always bag injured animals from behind.

“I nearly learned the hard way in the beginning of my time here that I was a bit of a naïve city girl,” Sgt Bain said.

With the addition of Sen Const Bartorelli to the station just a few months ago, the three officers have been able to ramp up their other big area of focus – road safety.

Increasing visible patrols in the area and conducting more breath tests will allow them to address driving issues, particularly tourists fatigued after long drives from Melbourne.

Another unique factor of the Halls Gap Police Station is that it is one of the very few in the history of Victoria Police to be an all-women station.

Sgt Bain said there were also several singleofficer stations in the region staffed by female officers and more women in leadership positions.

“That wouldn’t have happened a decade or two ago but now it’s possible because there are a lot more women in the job,” she said.

When Sgt Bain started at Victoria Police in 1988, she never would have thought she would be leading an all-women police station.

But she said the Halls Gap team was simply proud to be serving its community.

“We had all been here together for a while and it wasn’t until someone else pointed out that we are an all-women station that I went, ‘Oh yeah, we are too’,” she said.

“The main thing for us is that we’re all capable and passionate officers who have a real love for this place.”

Sen Const Bartorelli, who has worked at country stations before, said she has really noticed how the local residents see policing as a team effort.

“They are so proactive in keeping their community safe,” Sen Const Bartorelli said.

“They really are like our eyes and ears with the amount of information they pass on.”

Ldg Sen Const Harris said the community had been particularly proactive when people living in Melbourne were banned from travelling to country areas during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“If someone was here that shouldn’t have been here, they were so quick to dob them in,” she said.

“They’ve made our job so much easier and have kept everyone healthy and safe.”

Images Policing trio Main (from left): Ldg Sen Const Kellie Harris, Sgt Karen Bain and Sen Const Sarah Bartorelli are the three police officers responsible for keeping the town of Halls Gap safe, which often includes finding people missing in the Grampians and a focus on road policing.

Editorial and photography: Jesse Wray-McCann POLICE LIFE | SUMMER 2020-21

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AIR DOGS IT’S 9.45PM ON A TUESDAY NIGHT AND A MEMBER OF VICTORIA POLICE’S DOG SQUAD IS TRACKING AN OFFENDER WHO FLED A HIGH-SPEED VEHICLE PURSUIT ON FOOT THROUGH PARKLANDS NORTH OF THE MELBOURNE CBD. With the police dog leading the way, nose to the ground, the officer gets communications from above.

A tactical flight officer onboard a Police Air Wing helicopter hovering above updates the handler and his canine colleague on the ground on the offender’s movements.

The chopper is equipped with a state-of-theart camera system, which is focused on the offender and tracking his every move.

Using this information from Air Wing, the police officer and his dog head left and after a short period they locate the offender, with the dog taking them down as the arrest is executed.

An arrest like this is not a one-off thing.

As a support service for a variety of units across Victoria Police, Air Wing is regularly called upon to assist on these types of jobs, with Dog Squad being one of the most regular users.

The two units are combining for an average of 25 arrests per week, with car theft being the most common offence.

Dog Squad Leading Senior Constable Lachy Natoli said when on jobs where an offender is fleeing on foot, having a set of eyes in the sky to assist is invaluable.

“Our dogs can track them, but Air Wing is able to see the whole area, in very high quality, which means we can apprehend the offender quicker,” Ldg Sen Const Natoli said.

“Rather than us having to guess which path the offender has taken, Air Wing can track them down from above and give us directions to intercept them, as they have view of our position along with the offender's.”

The recent expansion of Air Wing’s fleet, which consists of a Beechcraft Super King 350ER plane and three Leonardo AW139 helicopters, has meant the unit is able to assist Dog Squad and other teams in more ways than it could before.

A recent joint operation in Mildura saw the two teams combine over four days to conduct 18 arrests.

Members of Dog Squad travelled to the regional town by car while Air Wing’s new fixed wing plane flew to Mildura and was based at the local airfield.

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“The benefit of the plane in this type of operation is that when it’s in the air assisting Dog Squad in tracking offenders, it can stay up longer without needing to re-fuel,” Air Wing Senior Sergeant Alex Amici said.

“It’s also quieter and able to fly lower, which gives us even better visibility of the offender and the Dog Squad handler and dog.”

The expanded Air Wing fleet is also benefitting Dog Squad and other Victoria Police tactical units as the three new helicopters can transport more people at once.

“In addition to the three Air Wing crew required to operate the helicopters, we can now carry an additional five people on board,” Sen Sgt Amici said.

“We’ve had occasions lately where we’ve transported a Dog Squad officer, their dog and four members of the Critical Incident Response Team to jobs in regional Victoria.

“With the old helicopters, we couldn’t take all these people at once and they would have had to drive, which would take a lot longer.”

Ldg Sen Const Natoli said the partnership between Air Wing and Dog Squad was invaluable and on jobs they worked together, the chances of completing an arrest was far higher.

“When we combine with Air Wing to execute an arrest, we apprehend the offenders about 90 per cent of the time,” he said.

Images Soaring paws 01 Ldg Sen Const Lachy Natoli and his canine colleague Izac combine forces with Air Wing on a regular basis to track down offenders.

02 The duo use intelligence from the chopper in the sky to ensure offenders have less chance of evading arrest.

03 Air Wing’s new fleet of helicopters allows the unit to transport more people at once. The helicopters can carry five passengers in addition to the three crew members required to fly.

04 A/Sgt Simon Ward and his partner Toby work closely with Air Wing.

Editorial: Danielle Ford Photography: Scott McNaughton

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LEADING SENIOR CONSTABLE BROMLEY LLEWELLYN’S WIFE IS A BELIEVER THAT PEOPLE COME TOGETHER FOR A REASON. And the Latrobe Highway Patrol officer might just have to agree after a chance meeting with a young man experiencing mental health troubles saw him use the knowledge gained from his 25-year Victoria Police career and own battle with personal trauma to help make a difference.

In June this year, Ldg Sen Const Llewellyn and his shift partner were patrolling in Traralgon one evening when they pulled into a McDonald’s car park for a quick coffee.

Jack Reid, a 22-year-old from Paynesville was also in the car park for a break, pacing back and forth because negative thoughts had been weighing on him during a long drive home from Melbourne.

“I usually have a few methods to keep the impulsive thoughts at bay, but at this particular time they got away from me,” Mr Reid said.

“I was thinking, ‘Jack, you’re in over your head here. It would nice if someone could chuck you a lifeline’.”

When Mr Reid saw Ldg Sen Const Llewellyn park his highway patrol car, he remembered how his late father, a Country Fire Authority volunteer, often spoke of the mental health support and training that firefighters and police get.

“I saw Bromley, and he’s a big, intimidatinglooking man, but I thought I’d ask for help anyway,” Mr Reid said.

“It was one of the best decisions that I’ve ever made.”

CARE AT A CROSSROADS

Mr Reid explained to Ldg Sen Const Llewellyn that he wasn’t travelling well.

“I thought he meant physically, but then he explained he was on his way home from Melbourne and didn’t think he could get all the way home because he had some thoughts in his head,” Ldg Sen Const Llewellyn said.

“That’s when I thought, ‘Nah, this is something more serious’.

“I asked him if he smoked, he said yes and I said, ‘Light up a dart and we’ll have a chat’.

“It was just as simple as one bloke talking to another.”

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Mr Reid said Ldg Sen Const Llewellyn made him feel comfortable to share his mental health issues and troubling thoughts.

“I’ve had a lot of people over the years try to help me and talk to me when I’m in certain states of mind, and there have only been a couple who I have really, really been helped by,” Mr Reid said.

“Bromley was one of them.

“It was the way he genuinely listened, asked me questions and the fact that he wasn’t judging me. There was also the calm way he pulled me up on some of my irrational thoughts.

“It was like he was ‘Uncle Bromley’ to me in that moment and it made my thoughts seem a lot smaller and easier to maintain.”

Ldg Sen Const Llewellyn said his training at Victoria Police in helping people during mental illness episodes came to the fore.

“The most important thing for me was just to shut up and let him talk,” he said.

“I GUESS 25 YEARS AS A POLICE OFFICER ALSO TEACHES YOU A LOT, BECAUSE MORE THAN HALF OUR JOB IS PEOPLE SKILLS.”

“I remember going through the Academy and at some seminars over the years where mental health professionals would say, ‘Don’t buy into any of their irrational thoughts, but do listen’.

Ldg Sen Const Llewellyn arranged for a mental health practitioner from a nearby town to come out and see Mr Reid, and the police officer stayed with him until they arrived.

Ldg Sen Const Llewellyn also contacted Mr Reid’s mum Carmel Reid to put her mind at ease that night and has even kept in contact with her and Mr Reid since.

Of all the people and of all the police officers Mr Reid could have asked for help, Ldg Sen Const Llewellyn seemed the perfect man for the job as he has also walked the path of mental health struggles himself.

Two years ago, Ldg Sen Const Llewellyn was responding to a report of a woman hit in her own driveway by a car allegedly driven by her ex-partner, who had left the scene of the incident.

As he neared the scene, Ldg Sen Const Llewellyn realised it was the home of a mother of two who he had known for many years.

“I ran up the driveway and I’m confronted with the image of my good friend in a horrible way,” Ldg Sen Const Llewellyn said.

“When I became aware she had died, I just unglued, I totally came apart.”

Ldg Sen Const Llewellyn took time off work but the traumatic incident plagued him and he started drinking too much.

“I got back to work, but I could see I was spiralling out of control and on a path of self-destruction, so I went away and got some help,” he said.

Ldg Sen Const Llewellyn has not touched a drop of alcohol since and says he is a “completely different person” to the one following his friend’s death.

“Jack saw the good Bromley that night in the car park,” Ldg Sen Const Llewellyn said.

“I saw some similarities in the things Jack was dealing with, so later I sent him a book that helped me cope with what I was going through.

“We can’t solve all the problems of the world, but there are a lot of Jacks out there who we can have a helpful interaction with, however big or small.”

Mr Reid said he wanted everyone to know how thankful he was for Ldg Sen Const Llewellyn and for people like his mother who care for people experiencing mental illness.

“I don’t think there’s a word in the dictionary that can express how much gratitude, respect and thankfulness that I have for what Bromley did for me,” Mr Reid said.

“With all the stuff going on in the world, it’s easy to forget that there are these kinds of people out there.

“They are the people who give you hope for humanity.”

For 24/7 crisis support or suicide prevention services, please call Lifeline 13 11 14. If life is in danger call Triple Zero (000). Current and former Victoria Police employees and their families can also access wellbeing services via bluespacewellbeing.com.au.

Images Listening ear Jack Reid found the listening skills of Ldg Sen Const Bromley Llewellyn to be hugely helpful during a chance meeting they had one evening when Mr Reid was struggling with his mental health.

Editorial and photography: Jesse Wray-McCann

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N I G N I N I RE D R A WAYW S R E D N E F F O TRUE CRIME

WHEN OPERATION WAYWARD STARTED CRACKING DOWN ON YOUTH STREET GANGS IN TWO POLICE DIVISIONS IN THE WESTERN SUBURBS, IT WAS SO SUCCESSFUL IT WAS EXPANDED ACROSS THE ENTIRE NORTH WEST METRO REGION.

Insp Bentley said many of the street gangs were targeting vulnerable victims, such as students who were robbed while walking home alone from the train station.

Not only has the operation resulted in hundreds of arrests in just a few short years, but it has even set a precedent for how courts deal with young offenders.

“There was a certain element of fear across the community and we were all conscious of that fact and wanted to help put an end to it.”

Operation Wayward was established in March 2017 and involved police units in the Brimbank and Hobsons Bay areas targeting teenagers committing crimes such as home invasions, car jackings and street robberies.

In its first 21 months across these two divisions, Operation Wayward investigated 78 home invasions, five carjackings, 74 armed robberies and 84 robberies, and made 285 arrests.

The decision was then made in March 2019 to centralise the operation under the Regional Crime Squad (RCS) so this model of managing street gang crime could operate across all five divisions in North West Metro.

Inspector Darren Bentley and Senior Sergeant Marnie Sheehy oversaw the RCS and assigned three of its five crews to crack down on street gangs through Operation Wayward.

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“They would also terrorise families by breaking into their homes to steal higher-end cars and would then go on to commit further crimes with the stolen vehicles,” Insp Bentley said.

The three tenacious RCS crews, consisting of five officers each, started at and maintained a break-neck speed in tracking down, arresting and charging the youth offenders.

Every day, when any of the five divisions would respond to such crimes, they would hand them over to the RCS to investigate.

“There was never a moment where our investigators were sitting there with nothing to do,” Sen Sgt Sheehy said.

“Our officers were at court almost every day and we were executing multiple search warrants on a weekly basis at the very minimum.”

The handpicked crews were made up of detectives and officers who were already equipped with the all-important local knowledge of young offenders across the five divisions.

“When Operation Wayward was originally set up, it was difficult for the local investigative units to track the identity of offenders if they fled back into a division where the operation wasn’t running and where the officers didn’t know who was who in youth offending,” Insp Bentley said.

“But once it was centralised, the local knowledge of our officers who had worked in those divisions started to sift them out extremely quickly.”

The RCS’s two tactical intelligence officers established an effective intel model for the operation, which made particular use of monitoring social media, through which a lot of the street gangs networked.

During its seven months under the RCS, Operation Wayward investigated 167 incidents, resulting in 139 arrests and 124 search warrants being executed.

“Those kinds of results they achieved were remarkable,” Insp Bentley said.

“We look back and think, ‘How did they manage that?’ But they did and it was phenomenal.”

Operation Wayward’s impact wasn’t limited to the western and northern suburbs, the RCS held daily meetings with their Southern Metro Region counterparts when offenders would cross over the regional border.

As he lay there unconscious, the gang rummaged through his pockets and stole his belongings.

Insp Bentley and Sen Sgt Sheehy now look back at the RCS’s seven-month stint with Operation Wayward with pride.

They dragged him off the road and fled the scene, leaving him to die.

“Their job was not to simply disrupt these street gangs but dismantle them,” Insp Bentley said.

Mr Deng was taken to hospital in a critical state and required brain surgery to save his life.

He survived but will now live the rest of his life in a vegetative state.

“Ensuring the safety of the wider community is paramount and I feel they made significant inroads in providing community safety and reassurance.

Despite the sheer number of arrests made, one of the most telling impacts of Operation Wayward came through a single street assault and robbery case last year.

Sen Sgt Sheehy said they arrested and charged the main offender, aged 15, just two days later and then eventually arrested eight of his co-accused.

“With the amount of arrests made, they were extremely successful in dismantling multiple street gangs and now the divisions are continuing the great work of Operation Wayward.”

Fresh from assaulting a food delivery driver in Braybrook and failing in an attempt to steal his mobile phone on the night of 13 March, a group of up to nine youths went in search of a new victim.

“He was viciously attacked by this mob of thug high school students, all for a mobile phone,” Sen Sgt Sheehy said.

Moments later, they came across 45-yearold Wei Deng going for a walk with his headphones on.

But such was the seriousness of the attack, the RCS and prosecutors were successful in seeking the case be upgraded to the County Court, where serious crimes by adults are dealt with.

In investigating an affray between two different youth gangs at a Footscray café on 31 July 2019, the North West Metro RCS teamed with the southern RCS to carry out 16 simultaneous dawn raids across Melbourne’s outer southeast, resulting in 17 arrests.

After September 2019, Operation Wayward was returned to the individual divisions, but now all five divisions in North West Metro, rather than just two, have a crew dedicated to street gangs.

Mr Deng was visiting from China after saving money for years to spend two weeks with his son, who was living in Melbourne.

Without saying anything, the gang approached him and one of the youths landed a flying kick to Mr Deng’s chin.

Mr Deng’s head smashed on the road and he started convulsing and bleeding badly from his nose.

Editorial: Jesse Wray-McCann

Usually such offences by a minor would be handled by the Children’s Court.

“To have such a case uplifted to the County Court in these circumstances was absolutely ground-breaking and sets a precedent for the courts,” Insp Bentley said.

The main offender, who originally spent time on remand, was convicted and ordered to undertake a nine-month Youth Attendance Order.

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EQUAL, SAFE AND STRONG

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Creating a workplace that is equal, safe and strong is something Victoria Police’s Gender Equality and Inclusion Command (GEIC) views as vital to creating a police force that can best serve the community.

GEIC was established in January 2020 in response to findings from the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) independent review into sex discrimination and sexual harassment, including predatory behaviour, in Victoria Police.

GEIC Assistant Director Rena De Francesco said the VEOHRC review was first commissioned in 2014 by then Chief Commissioner Ken Lay after many brave women came forward to speak of how poorly they had been treated i n the workplace.

“A lot of these reports were treated as isolated incidents but Mr Lay became increasingly concerned that they revealed a more entrenched cultural problem in our organisation,” Ms De Francesco said.

“In addition to providing a safe working environment for employees, addressing workplace harm in our own organisation also improves our response to gendered violence in the community.

“If each of our employees understands how to create workplaces where women are safe and equal, we will have a workforce that is able to provide the best service to any victim of gendered crime that walks into any police station in the state.”

GEIC is designed to be a centre of excellence to help support Victoria Police's efforts to create a gender equal workforce.

Ms De Francesco said while gender equality refers to the equal treatment of all within society, regardless of their gender, the command has a focus on women because they are disproportionately represented in gender-based violence and discrimination.

“Often victims don’t feel comfortable reporting a crime for a variety of reasons, one of which is often fear of not being believed or being treated unfairly.

“By enabling a workforce of people who understand gendered crime issues in the community, we can build trust with victims so that they feel confident to make a report.”

To help achieve gender equality, the command has developed a 10-year strategy, Equal, Safe and Strong: Victoria Police Equality Strategy 2020-30, which outlines projects, programs and goals the organisation will implement and achieve during the next decade.

A key focus of this strategy and the command’s work is driving cultural change at all levels of the organisation.

GEIC Superintendent Phil Green said it’s important not to brush over the fact that there has been issues with the culture within Victoria Police.

“If we want to make real change within our organisation, which will in turn impact how we serve the community, we have to own our past mistakes so we can ensure we don’t continue to repeat them,” Supt Green said.

“A major part of our 10-year strategy is making sure we build organisational understanding of the benefits a gender equal workforce will bring for employees and the community.”

Assistant Commissioner Brett Curran leads the command but views his role as a champion for the voices of women within the organisation.

“I’m incredibly proud to lead this command and be part of changing the culture within the organisation,” AC Curran said.

“Gender equality includes and benefits people of all genders; men, women, and self-described.

“As a command, we are committed to listening to and understanding the experiences of our employees and empowering them through education and support to achieve tangible and lasting change in our workforce and ultimately within the community.

“Every employee has a gender, and therefore every employee benefits from a workplace free of discrimination based on sex or gender.”

To view the Equal, Safe and Strong: Victoria Police Equality Strategy 2020-30, visit police.vic.gov.au/gender-equality

“In order to create equality for everyone, we must address inequality for those who experience it,” she said.

A public sector leader in reforming organisational responses to violence against women and children, Ms De Francesco said the internal work GEIC is doing will benefit the community, particularly victims of violence against women and children.

“Research shows that women and children are often the victims of family violence,” she said.

The Victorian Government recently launched the Gender Equality Act 2020, which will be implemented under the oversight of Victoria’s first Public Sector Gender Equality Commissioner Dr Niki Vincent. The act requires the Victorian Public Sector, including Victoria Police to report on, plan for and progress gender equality within the organisation.

To promote gender equality, Victoria Police will apply a gender lens to our work when developing policies and programs and delivering services.

Image Team Equality Gender Equality and Inclusion Command is led by a diverse team of police and Victorian Public Service employees, including Rena De Francesco, A/Insp Holly Dalrymple, Supt Phil Green and Julie Carter.

Editorial: Danielle Ford Photography: Grant Condon

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01

BRINGING

LEXY

When Carol Richards’ beloved pink Torana, dubbed Sexy Lexy, was stolen almost three decades ago, her hopes of ever seeing it again eroded with each year that passed.

So when detectives from Victoria Police’s Vehicle Crime Squad recovered the 1973 Holden and reunited Ms Richards with it in October, the first thing she did when she saw it was plant a big kiss on Sexy Lexy.

“I know it’s stupid to kiss a car, but I was just so glad to see it,” Ms Richards said.

“I thought I didn’t have a hope of ever seeing it again.”

Ms Richards, now 74, bought the eye-catching car for $1,500 in 1973 with money her father left her.

“My father didn’t think it was fair for my husband to have a nice, expensive car and for me to have to walk to the shops every day,” she said.

“I don’t think he expected me to buy something like Lexy.”

Not only was the car itself impressive, so were Ms Richards’ driving skills.

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She regularly raced Lexy around tracks such as Winton, Sandown, Calder Park and Phillip Island.

Some of the men Ms Richards used to race against gave the car its nickname due to its original numberplates - LEX 900.

“They appreciated what the car could do and what I could do with it,” Ms Richards said.

But tragedy struck when the uninsured car was stolen from her Burwood driveway in 1992.

BACK As a result of Det Sen Const Florence’s hard work, a Parkville man in his 50s was charged in September 2016 in relation to the re-birthing ring.

The man was sentenced in September this year to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered to pay $560,000 in restitution to the victim who had unwittingly purchased the stolen vehicles from him.

Ms Richards, her family, friends and the police searched for Lexy over the years without luck.

The man who had bought Sexy Lexy in good faith was entitled to keep the car but was so touched by Ms Richard’s love for the Torana that he asked for it to be returned to her.

That was until the Vehicle Crime Squad’s Detective Senior Constable Brett Florence, a big car enthusiast himself, investigated a series of vehicles stolen for re-birthing in 2014.

Following the sentencing, Det Sen Const Florence was finally able to reunite Ms Richards with Lexy, now valued at more than $130,000.

His tenacious and thorough efforts over several years brought down the re-birthing syndicate, which modified and upgraded stolen vehicles into high-performance muscle cars and sold them off as genuine.

“This car was stolen from Carol nearly three decades ago and I don’t think a day has gone by that she hasn’t wished for a miracle that it would be found,” Det Sen Const Florence said.

One unsuspecting car buff bought a number of cars from the syndicate between 2008 and 2011, and some meticulous work from Victoria Police’s Vehicle Examination Unit revealed this included Sexy Lexy.

“Carol attended court every day dressed in pink to represent the love she has for her car.

“As a car enthusiast myself, I am very happy to see the smile on Carol’s face as we watch her drive off in her beloved Torana.

WAR MEDALS make their way

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HOME

Victoria Police Sergeant Vaughan Atherton has served as an Army Reservist, so when he came across a set of World War II medals stolen 51 years ago, he made it his mission to return them to their rightful owner.

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After the medals were recovered by police during the execution of a search warrant at a Lilydale property in 2017, police had not been able to identify who they belonged to.

Sgt Atherton first saw the medals in Lilydale Police Station’s property office this year and was able to discover a small name on the rim of the medals.

This led him on a long and exhaustive search of service history lists and several other databases, cross-checking the names of relatives of the man who the medals were awarded to – Private Douglas Downs.

Sgt Atherton tracked down Private Downs’ sister and only living relative, Rosemary Bowling, now aged 81.

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“It also makes the long hours put into complex investigations like this worth it to get such a result.”

Ms Richards was glowing in her praise of Det Sen Const Florence and his colleagues.

“It’s been a long road and I’m just so amazed everybody has put in so much time to find it,” she said.

Rosemary told Sgt Atherton the medals had been stolen during a burglary in 1969 from the western suburbs home of Private Downs, who has since died.

“He was most upset when the medals were stolen but I am beyond excited to have them returned after more than 50 years and Douglas would be absolutely thrilled,” Mrs Bowling said.

Sgt Atherton said he was glad to return the medals.

“Having family who have served in the forces, I know how important these medals are to the people who they are awarded to and it was important to me to see that they were returned to Douglas’s family,” he said.

“We are yet to identify the offenders who stole the medals back in 1969 but let’s just say, it’s never too late.”

“The police have been absolutely magnificent.”

Racetracks around Victoria will now have to ready themselves for the return of the dynamic duo of Sexy Lexy and Ms Richards.

“I will definitely be racing again,” she said.

Images Torana returned 01 Carol Richards’ Holden Torana had been missing for almost 30 years after it was stolen from her driveway.

02 Ms Richards and Sexy Lexy made a name for themselves tearing around Victorian racetracks decades ago.

03 Ms Richards plants a kiss on Lexy, delighted to be reunited with the 1973 Holden.

04 Back behind the wheel of Sexy Lexy again, Ms Richards is looking forward to hitting the racetrack.

Editorial: Jesse Wray-McCann Photography: Clare O’Donnell and supplied

Images Back in the family 01 Private Douglas Downs was awarded several medals for his service during World War II. 02 The medals were stolen from Private Downs’ home in Melbourne’s western suburbs in 1969.

Editorial: Jesse Wray-McCann

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BEHIND THE BADGE

EWAN CUMMINGS Rank: Senior Constable Age: 51 Graduated: 2014 Unit: Swan Hill Highway Patrol

Why did you join Victoria Police?

It’s something I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid and my parents were both police officers in Manchester in the UK. Growing up and watching them in the job, it was something that always interested me so when things lined up and the opportunity to join Victoria Police arose, I took it.

It’s an area of policing that has always interested me because I like dealing with vehicles. It’s interesting work and you get to deal with a range of different people every day.

Tell us about your career with Victoria Police.

In Swan Hill, we cover a large patch that has a lot of truck drivers, grey nomads and seasonal fruit pickers as well as the local community, so every day you are dealing with new faces.

After graduating from the Academy, I went to Lilydale and spent 19 weeks working in the uniform section there. I then moved to Ringwood uniform and spent a year-and-ahalf there before I was balloted to Swan Hill.

As part of the balloting system, you are required to work for at least two years in the town you are assigned to. Why have you decided to stay in Swan Hill after completing these two years?

‘Balloting’ is a system where certain squads are put into a ballot after two years of service.

If your name is drawn from a hat, you are directed to transfer to a station that could be anywhere in Victoria.

It’s a great town with a great community that I’m really happy to be raising my two children in. It’s also a great team at the station here and everyone is really enthusiastic about the job and wants to make a difference in the town.

That’s the kind of environment I want to work in and it’s ended up being the perfect fit for me and my family.

When I was balloted to Swan Hill, my wife and children moved up here with me. Once I got here, I did a few secondments with the Highway Patrol unit. When a position opened, I applied for it and officially became a member of the Swan Hill Highway Patrol in November 2019.

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Why did you pursue a career in the Highway Patrol?

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You’ve lived in a few countries during your life, tell us about this and why you decided to settle in Australia.

I was born in South Africa and lived in England for 14 years. After spending 14 years where it rained and rained, I wanted to move somewhere with better weather.

One of my mates from England had moved to Dunedin in New Zealand and I had planned to go there with my wife and children, but I asked him about the weather and he said it rains a lot so we changed plans and decided to move to Australia instead.

That’s another reason I enjoy Swan Hill, it doesn’t rain a lot here and the weather is fantastic so it’s exactly what we were looking for when we moved.

What’s your favourite part of being a police officer?

It sounds cliché but meeting different people and helping members of your community.

As a member of Highway Patrol, I get satisfaction out of helping get drink and drug drivers off the road.

Drug driving in particular is a big focus and target for me. It’s a huge issue in our area and they are such a danger on the road so I’m very dedicated to ensuring we keep them off the road to make it safer for other drivers.

Image Relocation, relocation Sen Const Ewan Cummings has now made Swan Hill his home after being balloted to the remote station four years ago.

Editorial: Danielle Ford Photography: Brendan McCarthy

SNAPPED ON SOCIAL

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The work of Victoria Police’s Transit Divisional Response Unit resulted in the return of a priceless family heirloom to a very thankful mother and son.

A throwback to the 1998 World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, which Victoria Police’s Pipe Band won.

Zoe, a St Kilda resident, had been struggling with mental health one evening when a Protective Services Officer helped comfort her and encouraged her to get back to school and into painting as a way of channelling her pain.

A saxophone was stolen from a bus earlier in the year and by using CCTV footage, Senior Constable Ryan Hopkins was able to identify and locate the offender and recover the instrument.

The instrument was given to Samantha by her mother and father more than 30 years ago, before she passed it on to her son.

Like Victoria Police on Facebook by visiting facebook. com/victoriapolice

The Pipe Band, which was established in 1936, is the only Australian pipe band to have attained the title of Grade One World Pipe Band Champion.

While the Pipe Band no longer competes at these championships, it plays a vital role in Victoria Police, performing at important community and police events.

Follow Victoria Police on Instagram at instagram.com/ victoriapolice

She took up the advice and was then further motivated to paint by a police officer at St Kilda who also assisted her recently.

In both instances, Zoe painted portraits inspired by the officers and gifted one of them (pictured) to St Kilda Police Station.

Follow Victoria Police on Twitter at twitter.com/ victoriapolice

ODD SPOT CORNER We all know police officers are real-world superheroes, but one alert Police Life reader managed to get photo evidence.

The reader was in the Melbourne CBD in October when police officers conducted an arrest of a man behaving erratically.

The moment was captured on camera when the reader realised the sign above had a more than appropriate message.

The spelling might be a little off, but we still think all those who serve Victoria Police are superheroes.

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PSO POSITIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE Apply at police.vic.gov.au/careers