Setting the standard

Editorial: Jesse Wray-McCann

Photography: Supplied

Late officers' efforts live on

Despite their deaths in 2020, the dedication two officers had for improving their community continues to inspire their former Dandenong Police Station colleagues.

Being both a proud Maori man and a long-time police officer gave the late Leading Senior Constable Eddie MacDonald a unique opportunity to help change his community for the better.

Following his death in July last year, he has been remembered as a man who passionately made the most of that opportunity.

Ldg Sen Const MacDonald was the popular Crime Prevention Officer in Dandenong for 10 years, where he took a particular interest in going above and beyond to improve the lives of disadvantaged and at-risk Maori and Pasifika youth.

Ldg Sen Const MacDonald died due to an illness that was likely a result of a needlestick injury he suffered while working in a custody centre in 1995 and was honoured by Victoria Police in a memorial service at Dandenong’s Harmony Square in February.

Dandenong Police Station Acting Senior Sergeant Robbie Colcott said Ldg Sen Const MacDonald was a proud and spiritual Maori man, always extremely fit and athletic and was very well known and respected by his colleagues.

A/Sen Sgt Colcott said his late colleague is fondly remembered during his time at Dandenong for his leadership in developing the “Backyard Rugby” sporting project, which organised youth touch rugby games.

“Eddie was aware that, at that time, Pasifika youth were over-represented in the judicial system and he worked tirelessly to address this issue from within the community,” A/Sen Sgt Colcott said.

“The results were remarkable.

“There was an instant, direct impact on street robberies, which fell by up to 68 per cent overall, and it also led to a significant improvement in robbery clearance rates.”

Ldg Sen Const Eddie MacDonald made a positive impact wherever he worked, particularly during his time at Dandenong.

His colleague Ldg Sen Const James Waterson remembers Ldg Sen Const MacDonald as a trailblazer and an authentic character who always genuinely had the best interests of youth in the community at heart.

“He was a maverick and a fierce advocate for members of the community to support each other, regardless of their particular tribal heritage or identity,” Ldg Sen Const Waterson said.

“These ideals seemed to drive and punctuate Eddie’s career with Victoria Police. The legacy of his leadership and engagement with the Pasifika community continues today.”

Community members honour the life and career of Ldg Sen Const MacDonald with a haka at his memorial service.

Youth worker Jeremy Nikora worked with Ldg Sen Const MacDonald on various initiatives.

“He would be there to help people at the drop of a hat if his community needed him, no matter what time of the day or night it was,” Mr Nikora said.

“He could be firm with some of the kids he dealt with, but he was also a big advocate for understanding what they may have been going through.

Eddie’s big mission was to instil in the young kids their cultural identity and that they can have a role to play in society by being themselves.

“As a police officer, he represented the law and the system – which a lot of young people have a really one-sided opinion of – but by being strong in his cultural identity, that was a way he could reach out to them and be a real bridge between the police and the youth.

“His passing was a big blow for us in our community, but I know his incredible efforts will live on in the lives of all the kids he has helped over the years.”

Images Inspiring his community 01 Ldg Sen Const Eddie MacDonald made a positive impact wherever he worked, particularly during his time at Dandenong. 02 Community members honour the life and career of Ldg Sen Const MacDonald with a haka at his memorial service.

When Senior Constable Glenn Paton died in February last year, his colleagues reflected on the positive impact the much-loved officer had on their lives.

But several months after his sudden passing due to a brain aneurysm, it was revealed that a simple and routine task by Sen Const Paton while working the front counter at Dandenong Police Station had a profound and lasting impression on a woman experiencing family violence.

Sergeant Dave McAuliffe, who had worked with Sen Const Paton for some time, met with the woman in November last year to discuss a family violence investigation.

It was then the woman explained her story and how Sen Const Paton’s professionalism and genuine support helped restore her trust in Victoria Police.

The woman told Sgt McAuliffe she had made multiple calls to Triple Zero (000) and attended police stations to make family violence reports between 2017 and 2018.

Former colleagues of Sen Const Glenn Paton say they are not surprised to hear about the legacy the popular officer has left.

“She said she had a variety of responses from police, ranging from positive and supportive to dismissive and negative,” Sgt McAuliffe said.

“She was well aware that the reports she was making were not serious assaults and damages.

“Her reports were for intimidation, harassment and controlling behaviour and, more often than not, they did not require an immediate police response.”

When calling 000, she would be told there were no available units or that she would have to attend a police station to make a report.

But when making the reports, she would be told there was a lack of evidence or that it did not constitute a breach of the intervention order in place.

“Unfortunately, over time, this had created a mindset for her that police were dismissive and not supportive,” Sgt McAuliffe said.

But on 1 April 2019, the woman came into Dandenong Police Station to make another report.

As she and her children waited at reception, she wondered if it was even worth being there.

“The officer that day was Sen Const Glenn Paton and he immediately impressed her,” Sgt McAuliffe said.

She described him as being very professional, courteous and genuine.

“He spent time listening to her story and could see that there was a possible breach of the intervention order and that it deserved more attention and an investigation to determine if it was a breach.”

Sen Const Paton took a statement from her, offered referrals, support and spent time to help her save CCTV footage of a particular incident as evidence.

“She described Glenn as the best police officer that she has ever spoken to and said even her daughter remembers him fondly,” Sgt McAuliffe said.

Dandenong Inspector Jacki Kline said she was not at all surprised by the woman’s admiration and gratitude for Sen Const Paton.

“He was a man that would lead by example and he typified the Victoria Police values,” Insp Kline said.

She said Sen Const Paton had become the benchmark for police officers for this woman and her daughter.

“If there was ever any doubt as to the impact we police can have on people’s lives, this is the story that confirms it,” Insp Kline said.

“For the majority of our contact with people, we will never understand or know the extent of how our contact has influenced their lives.

“Although Glenn is no longer with us, his legacy will be remembered by an unknown amount of people.”

Sen Const Paton’s legacy will also be remembered by Victoria Police’s annual Sex Offences, Child Abuse and Family Violence Practitioner of the Year Award being named in his honour.

The award recognises the dedication, hard work and achievements of Victoria Police personnel who have made significant contributions to the organisation’s response to family violence, sexual offences and child abuse.