3 minute read
A message from the Chief Commissioner
Every day, in every pocket of Victoria, every Victoria Police employee is striving to ensure the community is safe – regardless of their role, whether a police officer, protective services officer, police custody officer or public servant.
This edition of Police Life shines a light on the incredible work of a police custody officer and a protective services officer, each with a unique ability to put names to faces and identify persons of interest.
Their stories serve as great examples of how all employees of Victoria Police work together to get results.
The variety of work performed by our Public Order Response Team (PORT) is also highlighted in Police Life
While PORT is perhaps best known by the Victorian community for its role in maintaining safety at demonstrations and rallies, its main duty is to provide support for general duties members and policing operations across the state.
Its task list is never the same, yet PORT officers take it all in their stride.
In 2024, Victoria Police is continuing its recruitment drive, as we look to add more fresh faces to the 553 police who graduated from our Academy last year.
As Chief Commissioner, I am the Reviewing Officer for most graduation ceremonies, where our newest constables are welcomed into Victoria Police.
And while parents presenting their children with their police badge at these ceremonies is relatively common, there was one family connection last year that really stood out.
The usual father-son roles were reversed when Senior Constable Tom Wilson presented his dad, Andrew, then 54 years old, with his ‘Freddie’.
Remarkably, Constable Andrew Wilson, now stationed at Pakenham, wasn’t our oldest police graduate — the age range in 2023 stretched from 19 to 56, demonstrating an important mix of youth and maturity.
I look forward to once again welcoming hundreds of new members to our ranks this year.
In this edition, we also reflect on the horrific road trauma experienced in Victoria in 2023. Despite the best efforts of police, 295 people lost their lives on our roads last year — the highest number in 15 years.
The ripple effect of fatal and serious injury collisions is enormous. The lives of family and friends left behind will never be the same, and the impact on witnesses, emergency services workers and hospital staff is also significant.
This year, we will continue our ‘anytime, anywhere’ enforcement approach to avoid a repeat of last year.
I ask everyone to focus on their safety and the safety of others when behind the wheel.
Please look after one another.
- Chief Commissioner Shane Patton APM
