6
AUTUMN 2021
Assessing threats When fixation turns into the threat of real violence, a team of police and mental health experts takes action.
8
World leader Detective Senior Sergeant Joy Murphy has been recognised as the longest-serving female police officer in the world.
COVER: As fire-hit towns continue to recover from the 2019-20 summer bushfires, police like Mallacoota’s Senior Constable Judy Taylor are playing an important role in the healing process. Photography: Jesse Wray-McCann 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
10
Email policelife-mgr@police.vic.gov.au Managing Editors Superintendent Jo Dolan
Stopping a swindle The diligent work of two investigators has helped police take down a travelling conman who fleeced hundreds of thousands of dollars from Melbourne families.
20
A lone ranger no more After a career spent working as the only officer in town, a country cop has joined one of Victoria Police’s newest teams.
Editor Grant Condon Journalists Danielle Ford Jesse Wray-McCann Roslyn Jaguar Graphic Design Fluid – fluid.com.au Subscriptions (03) 8335 8564
FSC POSITIONAL ONLY PRINTER TO STRIP IN. 100% From wellmanaged forests
C000000
ISSN 0032-2598L Crown Copyright in the state of Victoria. For permission to reprint any part of this magazine, contact the editor. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Victoria Police.
REGULARS
PLUS
5 22 24 26
27 A journey back in time
By the numbers Out and About Career in focus Behind the Badge
A reunion with a historic police car has driven back memories for a retired officer.
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria (CQV), to provide an enhanced security capability to Victoria's COVID-19 Quarantine and Health Hotel program. Further to this, we redeployed a significant number of police to manage border control, missing their holiday season with family and friends. While these commitments have led us to close some police station receptions overnight, Victoria Police takes pride in responding to the greatest public health risk in recent times and assures the Victorian community that our focus on preventing crime in our state has not diminished.
2
We have welcomed 2021 with further uncertainty and I could not be prouder of the resilience and flexibility displayed by Victoria Police employees during these trying times.
In February 2020, our Eastern Region commenced trialling CommConnect, a community policing model that focuses on reducing crime and increasing trust and confidence between the community and local police. I will conduct a trial evaluation of CommConnect in early 2021 to inform the model's future directions.
On 7 December 2020, we activated Operation Tidewatch in support of the lead agency,
In this edition of Police Life, you will learn how policing has changed in the growing suburb of Sunbury.
POLICE LIFE | AUTUMN 2021
This is an excellent example of where police have listened to and worked with the community and adapted practices to meet the demands of the local area. Importantly, this edition reflects on the 2019-20 bushfires through a range of stories that touch on the recovery of the land and the people impacted by the fires. I took the opportunity to travel with the Police Minister to Mallacoota in January 2021 to officially open our Mallacoota Police Station and launch Victoria Police's online bushfire exhibition, Victorian Bushfires Remembered. Visiting the town 12 months on from the devastation was a moving reminder of the courage and determination among the community that we serve. We continue to work closely with our partners to learn from, plan and prepare for future emergencies. Stay safe.
Follow Victoria Police on Twitter at @VictoriaPolice
