A commended civilian

There are many things Acting Sergeant Trevor Bergman and his father Don Bergman have in common, but a link to Victoria Police is one the pair often reflect on.

While Trevor, a member of the Moorabbin Highway Patrol, is the only member of his family to join the ranks of Victoria Police, it’s the older Bergman who was the first to work on a police investigation.

In the early 1980s, Don was working as a technician for Telecom, now Telstra, when he was approached by his bosses with a job opportunity that took him by surprise.

“Working as a phone technician, the last thing you think you’re going to be asked to work on is a huge police investigation into corruption and illegal gambling,” Don said.

The police operation was Zebra Task Force, launched in 1981 by the Chief Commissioner at the time, Mick Miller, to investigate illegal bookmakers and claims of corruption both within the gambling industry and the force’s Licensing, Gaming and Vice Squad.

The taskforce, one of the largest police investigations of its kind at the time, operated until late 1984 and resulted in fines totalling almost $1 million being imposed on 560 offenders.

The work of Taskforce Zebra also helped inform a later royal commission into the national network of starting price bookmakers and is credited for enhancing the operations of TAB and the racing industry generally.

Don was the sole Telecom employee tasked to provide technical telecommunications expertise to the taskforce.

“I was responsible for helping locate illicit telephone installations used by the gambling syndicates that were being investigated,” Don said.

“I was a small cog in a very large operation, but it was thrilling to know I was playing a part in this very high-level police operation.”

Don’s role in the taskforce saw him awarded a prestigious honour by then-Chief Commissioner Mick Miller.

When the taskforce wrapped up, Ret. CCP Miller awarded Chief Commissioner’s Certificates to several people involved in recognition of their efforts.

Among the names of many police officers was Don’s, the only person to be awarded a certificate that wasn’t part of the force.

“The state manager of Telecom contacted my bosses to tell me I’d been given this award and I couldn’t believe it,” he said.

“To think of the amazing police work that went into the operation and among that, the Chief Commissioner thought to give me this award, it was a huge honour.”

The citation on Don’s certificate states that he was “Awarded a Chief Commissioner's Certificate in recognition of services rendered in providing technical expertise for Victoria Police Task Force Zebra which resulted in the apprehension of a large number of persons for gaming and allied offences and the imposition of fines approximating $1,000,000”.

“I keep in touch with some of the cops I worked with during my time on the taskforce and they often comment to me that they can’t think of many other civilians who have been awarded a Chief Commissioner’s Certificate, so it’s something I hold very dearly,” Don said.

A chance run-in with current Chief Commissioner Shane Patton at an Anzac Day event earlier this year provided a chance for Don to again reflect on his short stint working with Victoria Police.

When hearing that his son wanted to join the ranks of Victoria Police, Don said he was surprised at first but extremely proud.

“My experience working on Zebra is among my best memories of my career and that’s largely due to the great police I got to work with, so I was thrilled when Trevor said he wanted to become a cop,” he said.

Editorial: Danielle Ford

Photography: Supplied