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The Victoria Police Magazine
Autumn 2014
WOMEN IN UNIFORM CELEBRATING 90 YEARS
PLUS > BENDIGO POLICE > CATCHING MOKBEL > HIGH-RISK ARRESTS
AUTUMN 2014
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REGULARS 03 MAKING NEWS 05 BEHIND THE BADGE 07 NUMBER CRUNCHING 16
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COVER STORY COVER: 90 YEARS We celebrate 90 years of women in policing. POSTER: LOOKING BACK A look back at the different uniforms policewomen have worn. Police Life is produced by the Media & Corporate Communications Department, Victoria Police, GPO Box 913, Melbourne, 3001. Fax: 9247 5982.
08 WOMEN IN UNIFORM Police Life talks with four policewomen to highlight the diverse role women play in modern policing. FEATURES 10
HIGH-RISK SEARCH Critical Incident Response Team members are assisting regional police by performing high-risk search warrants.
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OUT AND ABOUT Police in Bendigo are working hard to put a stop to alcohol related violence.
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RECRUIT LIFE Police Life spent a day at the Victoria Police Academy with a new recruit.
Online www.facebook.com/victoriapolice www.police.vic.gov.au/policelife Email policelife-mgr@police.vic.gov.au Managing Editor Sandra Higgins Acting Editor Janae Houghton Journalists Anthony Loncaric Mandi Santic Katy Ferguson Graphic Design Vetro Design Pty Ltd Subscriptions 9247 6894 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.
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24 CATCHING TONY The Tony Mokbel case was a great example of a multi-agency approach to solving crime. ALSO IN POLICE LIFE 18
Police used the internet to save a little girl half a world away.
22 A program is helping migrants understand Victorian Laws. 26 Traffic Direction is still a core aspect of police work. 29 Victoria Police’s longest serving woman reflects on an amazing career.
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MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER
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his year marks 90 years of women in Victoria Police. In the early days, female police officers dealt with missing people, welfare issues and runaway teenagers. Today, women are represented across every area of Victoria Police. In recent years we have had our first female chief commissioner in Christine Nixon, and right now, our highest ranked policewoman is Deputy Commissioner Lucinda Nolan. On page 29 of this edition of Police Life, you will read about Victoria Police’s longest serving female police member, Detective Senior Sergeant Joy Murphy. Det Sen Sgt Murphy helped pave the way for future generations of female police members, through her determined efforts and leadership to introduce part-time work to the organisation.
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This has seen Victoria Police become a far more family-friendly organisation, where members are able to return to their jobs on a part-time basis. Without this benefit, we would lose many of our dedicated members, who wish to work and to be able to spend time with their families. It is a long way since the 1920s when female police were limited to specific duties considered appropriate for women. Now, females work across every area in the organisation, from general duties, investigation of serious crimes, protective services, the Critical Incident Response Team, and senior and executive leadership roles. For any women out there considering a career change, perhaps it is time to think about joining Victoria Police?
MAKING NEWS
FOR OR TH THE LATE THE ATEST AT EST T POLI LIIC LIC CE NEWS WS VISI IS SIIT WWW WW WW.V VICP POLICE LIC CENE NEWS WS. WS. S COM.A M AU M.AU
TWO YEARS OF KEEPING COMMUTERS SAFE VICTORIA POLICE CELEBRATES THE TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST ROLLOUT OF PROTECTIVE SERVICES OFFICERS AT VICTORIAN TRAIN STATIONS.
EDITORIAL ANTHONY LONCARIC PHOTOGRAPHY CLAY BURKE
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ince they were first deployed at train stations across Victoria in February 2012, Protective Services Officers (PSOs) have been instrumental in the reduction of crime and have increased people’s perceptions of safety. At the time of writing, 657 PSOs were deployed at 92 train stations across the state which they patrol from 6pm until the last train. They have issued more than 20,000 infringement notices for a range of offences, including
possessing an open container of alcohol, being drunk in a public place and antisocial behaviour. Transit Safety Division’s Senior Sergeant David Dunstan described the work of PSOs so far as nothing short of fantastic. “We have many examples of members on the platforms identifying offenders wanted on warrants or those that can’t be located as well as vulnerable members of the community who are classified as missing persons and gravitate to the public transport system,” Sen Sgt Dunstan said. “We have received so much positive feedback about the work of PSOs and an overwhelming majority of the community is supportive of them and appreciate their presence.” Victoria Police is well on track to reaching its target of 940 PSO recruits by the end of 2014 and the most recent deployments, on 24 February, were at Mooroolbark, Belgrave, Yarraman, Huntingdale, Armadale, Prahran and Carnegie railway stations. “Our goal was to have PSOs deployed to 212 metropolitan stations and four country locations
.01 Protective Services Officers like Vishal Mann have been instrumental in the reduction of crime at train stations in Victoria.
by the end of October and we are well on the way to achieving that,” Sen Sgt Dunstan said. When asked by Police Life to pick a highlight from the work of PSOs over the past two years, Sen Sgt Dunstan genuinely struggled to single out a specific incident because there were so many good stories. “There are examples of members interacting with commuters who had contemplated self-harm, arrested armed robbers, helped members of the community with disabilities and provided support to lost persons or located missing persons,” he said. “We get new occurrences each day that make us proud and give us the proof that we are making a difference.”
POLICELIFE AUTUMN 2014
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SMALL TALK EQUIPMENTPROFILE
VOXPOP
WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT POLICING IN A RURAL AREA? ACTING SERGEANT SHANNON JOYCE BENDIGO POLICE STATION “You have a better chance of getting to know the locals, which makes the job a whole lot easier. Also, you get to quickly know the area better because it’s a smaller region.”
If you think about what is needed to catch a crook a gun, handcuffs or a key piece of evidence might be the first things that come to mind.
CONSTABLE MOLLY PENNO BENDIGO POLICE STATION “The best thing is being able to have a good relationship with the community.”
A diary might not even make your list, but for police this unassuming tool can play a leading role in a criminal case. Crime Department and Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) members are required to maintain official diaries as a record of daily duties performed.
SENIOR CONSTABLE ANDREW HEAZLEWOOD BENDIGO POLICE STATION “People take a lot of pride in their town and are very willing to help you catch a crook.”
INBOX
POLICE LIFE LOVES HEARING WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE MAGAZINE, YOUR LOCAL POLICE AND VICTORIA POLICE IN GENERAL. WRITE, FAX OR EMAIL POLICE LIFE AT: POLICE LIFE, GPO BOX 913, MELBOURNE, 3001. FAX: 9247 5982 EMAIL: policelife-mgr@police.vic.gov.au JOIN VICTORIA POLICE ONLINE
Marie Economedes The way the police force supports and gets behind each and every one of its members especially in times of need is so inspiring! Truly inspirational! Jacqui Burns Fantastic effort Vic Pol! Thanks for fighting to get drugs off our streets and away from our children. Sarah Hernandez Well done to the officer that risked his own life to save another. Without his fast courageous thinking she wouldn't be alive today!
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OFFICIAL DIARY
The diary provides accurate information to supervisors as to the manner in which duties are carried out and it protects and assists members on all occasions of future reference to their conduct.
THANKS PSOs We caught a bus into the city to see the fireworks on New Years Eve but discovered that the buses finished at 9.30pm so we could not get home. We caught a train to Blackburn Station in the hope of getting a taxi from there. Unfortunately there were no taxis and we couldn't get through on the phone. The Protective Services Offices (PSO) that were on duty were so fantastic. It was just myself and my teenage children and we were scared standing in the street for nearly 40 minutes but the PSOs kept checking on us, even lending me their personal mobile to see if it was a problem with my phone. They offered to walk us up the street so we could try to flag one. I can only say how amazing and fantastic they were. We eventually got a taxi and I just wanted to say it was a job well done. From now on I will get the train, as I found it to be a safe experience. J. HORVATH DONCASTER EAST
Police have specific guidelines on using the diaries, including that only factual information can be used, it must be in chronological order and precise times, names and locations must be recorded. Supervisors regularly inspect the diaries to ensure proper completion of entries. Melbourne North CIU’s Detective Sergeant Dave Renney said the official diary can be used as evidence in criminal cases. “If the defence calls for the diary you are required to bring it to court because it has specific details about what was involved in an incident,” Det Sgt Renney said. “It’s also a handy tool for police to look back on cases they have worked on and refresh their memories on different observations.”
GREAT JOB CHIEF I watched Chief Commissioner Ken Lay’s press conference recently, regarding the tragic and shocking murder of Luke Batty and the death of his father. I want to commend you for the way you handled this awful event. At the beginning you clearly expressed great empathy with Rosie Batty. You picked up on what she had so bravely said on her hope that this would somehow help in the tackling of the scourge of family violence. It gave you the opportunity to emphasise that this was a complex issue with many parts that needs to be considered and somehow brought together. It was also good to hear you put so simply the position that your members at times have to face and your support of them. The people of Victoria and indeed Australia are fortunate to have people like you in a leadership position. I wish you well as you follow through on the enquiries and look forward to better ways being found to deal with family violence. D. NICHOLAS EAST PERTH
BEHINDTHEBADGE
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JAMES GOURLIE
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EDITORIAL MANDI SANTIC PHOTOGRAPHY ANDREW HENSHAW
AGE PROBATIONARY CONSTABLE AGE 39 GRADUATED 2013 STATION Road Policing Drug and Alcohol Section
UNIFORM CHANGE .01 Const Gourlie gives a speech at Police Memorial Day in Pendlteton, Oregon, 2012. .02 Const Gourlie is proud to be a member of Victoria Police.
YOU WERE A POLICE OFFICER IN THE USA FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS, WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO JOIN VICTORIA POLICE? I became a police officer in 2004 and I worked in Louisiana and Oregon. In 2011, I travelled to Victoria and attended several events with the Blue Ribbon Foundation where I had the opportunity to meet members from Victoria Police including Chief Commissioner Ken Lay.
I promised the girl that we would not leave until everyone was safely evacuated. This experience really hit home. Although it was frustrating to feel ineffective, our presence meant something to someone.
I was so impressed with the professionalism of the members and how much the Chief Commissioner was concerned about the welfare of his workers that when I shared my experiences with my wife, she was supportive of my desire to join Victoria Police. TELL POLICE LIFE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WORKING DURING THE DESTRUCTIVE HURRICANE KATRINA. At the time I was stationed in the New Orleans Sixth District and it just descended into chaos. We did not have the resources available to effectively police the city. Half the district was flooded and we were told to evacuate. I felt it was not right to leave and got permission from my captain to stay. There were only four of us who remained to police around 25,000 people at the Marc Morial Convention Centre.
WHAT IS ONE MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN POLICING IN VICTORIA COMPARED TO OREGON? Victoria Police addresses drink driving better with the use of booze buses and random breath tests. In Oregon you cannot randomly stop people because police officers need to develop probable cause. This can be frustrating as you are waiting for someone to make a mistake before you can initiate a traffic stop. Booze buses are a good visible presence and a great deterrence to drink driving. WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO DO IN THE FUTURE? I would love to return to the Victoria Police Academy and become an instructor focusing on police safety. I have seen colleagues injured and had a friend in New Orleans who was shot and killed while on the job. I believe member safety is something that needs to be taken very seriously.
I remember a young girl had come up to me and said “please don’t go – we heard you’re leaving. When we see you, we know we’re safe”.
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POLICELIFE AUTUMN 2014
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BRIEFING
VICTORIA POLICE
TOP 5 PROACTIVE POLICING STORIES www.vicpolicenews.com.au
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JACOB’S WISH COMES TRUE
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ictoria Police in conjunction with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) worked alongside the Make-A-Wish Foundation to make a young boy’s wish to meet Mark Webber and a policeman come true.
Detective Superintendent Gerard Ryan, Inspector Darren Cooper and AFP’s Stephen Reeves-Williams met with nine-year-old Jacob Traynor, who is receiving ongoing treatment for leukaemia, and his family at Melbourne Airport. They travelled from Canberra for four days of fun in Melbourne. The adventure began when Jacob and his family were picked up from the airport by a Highway Patrol police car and driven around Albert Park Lake. On the second day of Jacob’s visit, Det Supt Ryan and Insp Cooper took him out for lunch in Williamstown and then for a Water Police boat ride. Jacob said he had a wonderful time on the boat. He was then taken to the Victoria Police Centre where Deputy Commissioner Graham Ashton presented him with some gifts.
02 REVISITING THE PAST
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irst opened in 1891, Flemington Police Station is one of the oldest in Victoria. In fact, it used to be the home of 85-year-old, Pascoe Vale South local Frank Pattison. In 1936, Mr Pattison’s father, a former Victoria Police member, Inspector Andrew Chanel Pattison resided at the three-storey complex with his wife and eight children. Flemington police members invited Mr Pattison and his wife Joan for morning tea at the station. Constable Douglas Fincher chaperoned the couple and gave them a tour of the police complex. Reminiscing on the past, Mr Pattison said it had been interesting living at the station when he was a young boy. “I remember I used to hear the school bell ring at St Brendan’s Primary School, from my bedroom, that’s when I knew I had to run to school,” Mr Pattison said. Back when Insp Pattison was in charge, the watchhouse was attached to the detective section of the station, close to the cells where the prisoners were kept. The residential section at the station was located on the second and third floors and only a short walk to the watchhouse. “Even though we lived in close proximity, we had no fear whatsoever of the prisoners,” he said. Although family living was separate to the cells, Insp Pattison’s wife always prepared the meals for the prisoners, who ate exactly what the Pattison’s used to eat for dinner.
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Later that night, Jacob had the opportunity to meet one of his idols, Formula 1 racing car driver, Mark Webber. During Jacob’s visit, he also got to see the musical theatre show King Kong and had a tour of the Melbourne Airport Tower Facility. Insp Cooper said he was inspired by Jacob’s bravery and was eager to have a part in making his wish come true. “Supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation is all about giving joy and hope to the bravest children imaginable,” Insp Cooper said. “Everybody within Victoria Police and the AFP who was approached to help out immediately offered their services – this is truly a great reflection of what our organisation stands for.”
MEMBERS HONOUR 03 INJURED COLLEAGUES
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embers from South Melbourne and St Kilda police stations donated blood and plasma to the Red Cross in Southbank as a show of support to the three members injured in an explosion in Middle Park. Constable Emma Quick, Constable Varli Blake and Sergeant Tony Scully were all injured in the explosion, which occurred on 4 January. All three, along with two MFB firefighters, suffered burns as a result of the explosion. Plasma donations are primarily used in the treatment of burns victims. Detective Senior Constable Damien Vallas, who knew all three of the police injured in the incident, said the idea of blood donation came about because they wanted to do something positive to support their colleagues. “When something like this happens, it really does affect all of Victoria Police,” Det Sen Const Vallas said. “I know every police member has been to a job exactly the same as this and it could have been any of us in the same situation. “We wanted a way to do something in their honour while they recovered and donating blood and plasma seemed like a good way to go about it. “Police often work in critical situations where a blood donation could save someone’s life and now I think we have all been a little more personally touched by the significance of donation and what it can mean.”
Photo courtesy of Simon Love/3AW
www.vicpolicenews.com.au OVERSEAS NEWS: WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD OF POLICING? 1 FRANCE
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2 IRELAND
An alleged jewel thief has been caught after French police analysed DNA on his victim’s cheek, after he planted a kiss on her to “ease her trauma”. The 20-year-old and his accomplice tied the 56-year-old Paris jewellery store employee to a chair for four hours and poured petrol over her head to obtain codes for the shop alarm.
A 39-year-old man from Dublin was stabbed to death in what Irish detectives believe was caused over a late night game of chess. A 34-year-old man from Palermo, Italy was arrested at the scene. It is thought neither drugs or alcohol were involved in the incident.
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wo police members were praised for assisting a teenager after he fell heavily from his bike while riding home from work. Matthew Mu, 17, suffered a severe cut to his eyebrow and heavy bleeding when the two members, who were driving by on patrol, stopped to offer help. Springvale constables Alicia Di Camillo and Benjamin Webber put his bike in their police car and drove him home to Endeavour Hills and waited with him until his parents arrived. He was taken to a medical centre and had eight stiches in his eyebrow. Mr Mu met up with the members to thank them for their assistance. “I’m really grateful to them for helping me, otherwise I would have had to catch a bus home,” Mr Mu said to Dandenong Leader. His mother, Shannan, commended the members. “When I came home to see a police car at my house, I was extremely worried as I have five children,’ she said. Const Di Camillo appreciated the thank you and said it was refreshing to have a young person so appreciative of a small act. “It’s nice to be able to receive appreciation and reminds me that what might seem like a relatively small thing, can actually have a large impact on the person involved,” Const Di Camillo said.
$1 Million
Homicide detectives announced a $1 million reward for anyone with information about missing 13-year-old girl, Siriyakorn ‘Bung’ Siriboon. Bung left her home in Elsie Street, Boronia around 8.30am on Thursday, 2 June, 2011 and has not been seen or heard from since.
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Police arrested 18 members and associates of the Comanchero Outlaw Motorcycle Gang following a series of early morning warrants recently.
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COMMUNITY UNITE FOR BRIMBANK CUP
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his year’s Brimbank Cup brought together many different nationalities and cultures and Victoria Police members played an important role in making the massive soccer tournament a resounding success. More than 30 teams, from established and social clubs in Brimbank, played in the Cup at Cairnlea’s Kevin Flint Memorial Reserve with Keilor Park winning the men’s competition and Cairnlea taking out the women’s title. The Victoria Police Soccer Club men’s and women’s teams played entertaining exhibition matches at midday on the Saturday. Brimbank Embona Armed Robbery Taskforce’s Sergeant Matthew Illingworth, who was instrumental in forming the inaugural Brimbank Cup in 2012, said the tournament offers police a chance to build relationships with people from new and emerging communities. “There were between 3000 and 5000 people attending each day of the cup with a number of different communities represented, including the local Sudanese, Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Chin Burmese communities,” Sgt Illingworth said. “We had police members from Sunshine and Keilor Downs police station as well as from our Proactive Police Unit at the ground chatting to players and spectators throughout the event. We also had a Police Recruitment team and some historical police cars at the venue. It was great to see a number of young people from the different African communities show an interest in becoming police or Protective Services Officers. “The Brimbank Cup brings so many different people together in a festive environment and we hope it continues to grow each year.”
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The Water Police rescued a 43-year-old man and his dog after they became stranded in their boat in Portarlington. The Portarlington man, who was not wearing a life jacket and his dog, did not suffer any injuries.
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A policeman saved a 17-year-old girl who appeared to be in difficulty in waters off Frankston. He jumped into the water and swam to assist the girl, who was about 250 metres off shore. Police commenced CPR on the girl until paramedics arrived.
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WONDER WOMEN EDITORIAL MANDI SANTIC PHOTOGRAPHY CRAIG SILLITOE
THIS YEAR MARKS 90 YEARS OF WOMEN IN POLICING. TO CELEBRATE, POLICE LIFE TALKS WITH FOUR POLICEWOMEN WHO PERFORM VARIED JOBS, TO HIGHLIGHT THE DIVERSE ROLE WOMEN PLAY IN MODERN POLICING.
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DEPUTY COMMISSIONER LUCINDA NOLAN – COMMAND
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t was during a break from studying psychology that Victoria Police’s highest ranked female member, Deputy Commissioner Lucinda Nolan, decided to get into policing. “Since I’ve joined there hasn’t been a day where I haven’t loved it and I never went back to psychology,” DC Nolan said. “I love the work – I love the people and I love the organisation. To be able to work with people who are so motivated and altruistic – makes it a joy to come to work every day.”
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After graduating from the Victoria Police Academy in 1983, she worked at various police stations before joining the Russell Street Crime Investigation Unit and then the Sexual Offences Squad. For the first few years at the Crime Department, DC Nolan was the only woman working there. “Being a woman hasn’t been an issue for me, although back then there were so few of us that being female probably made me stand out,” DC Nolan said. After she married and had children, DC Nolan had to weigh up her career options. “At that time, there were no flexible work conditions and no such thing as part-time policing. I started looking for positions where I could have control over my roster and ended up in the corporate side of the organisation,” she said. In her role as deputy commissioner, she is in charge of various departments and successful projects such as the UpFront project to help reduce members’ paperwork and the roll-out of the new uniform. DC Nolan has always enjoyed being a policewoman. “In the past we’ve had to try harder to prove ourselves in a fairly male dominated organisation however, on the whole you have women who have fantastic interpersonal skills and ability,” DC Nolan said. Defining moments in her career include the impact of some incredibly violent incidents involving police, such as the murders of her Prahran colleagues, Steve Tynan and Damian Erye, at Walsh Street.
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LEADING SENIOR CONSTABLE CATHERINE BARRETT – AT THE STATION
SENIOR CONSTABLE HELENA MACKIE – SPECIALIST UNIT
SENIOR CONSTABLE IRENE GUEST – ONE-PERSON STATION
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ooking for a life change led Northcote Police Station’s Leading Senior Constable Catherine Barrett to join Victoria Police. Graduating in 2000, she has since worked at Sunshine, Coburg and Northcote police stations and the District Intelligence Unit in the North West Metro area, before returning to general duties at Northcote three years ago. Her current role involves mostly working the van and watchhouse. “I’m fortunate to have a role in mentoring junior members and to be given opportunities to proactively engage with the community,” Ldg Sen Const Barrett said. One of her most memorable moments in policing was her first Breavington Day – an event unique to Northcote which honours Rodney Edward Breavington, a First Constable at Northcote Police Station who was executed as a Prisoner of War in 1942. “It reminded me that we are part of something great – protecting the community, and also to celebrate men and women, past and present that have fought to make our country safe.” Ldg Sen Const Barrett said the hardest thing about her job is seeing the worst in people. “Sometimes I see people whose ability to cope with tragedy is inspirational, but its dealing with the ugly side of humanity that I find most challenging and keeping the best of yourself, when you are faced with the worst in others,” she said. She loves the challenge of her every day duties and is continually pushed out of her comfort zone. “There is no other job like it. There is an element of excitement that is addictive.”
aptivated with a love for adrenaline and action, living on the edge of her seat is just another day on the job for Senior Constable Helena Mackie. A member of the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT), she insists the male-dominated unit is not just a boy’s club. “People usually stereotype. I remember when I first wanted to join, I saw a female CIRT member who was just as little as me – I said to myself I can do it too,” Sen Const Mackie said. Previously stationed at the Transit Unit, and Werribee and Colac police stations, Sen Const Mackie decided to join CIRT because she craved more of a challenge in her day-to-day role. “It took me a year of training to become physically fit just to pass the profile of getting into CIRT,” she said. Sen Const Mackie attends high-risk incidents where there is a possibility of a violent confrontation with a person, or it is suspected that someone is armed with a weapon. She also negotiates the safe arrest of offenders, or where a person threatens to commit suicide. “As a negotiator turning a negative scenario into something positive can be quite the challenge,” Sen Const Mackie said. “One time, I attended a siege where a male lit his house on fire and was using his toddler as a shield. We resolved the incident by using minimal force and ended up getting them both out of the house, safe and well – who knows what could’ve happened.”
ut of 103 one-person police stations in Victoria, only three are run by women. Speed Police Station’s Senior Constable Irene Guest is one of them. After raising a family, Sen Const Guest joined Victoria Police at a later stage in life, after being encouraged by her sister who is also a member. “Getting into policing hasn’t been the easiest thing I’ve done, but I was determined to get there and I did,” Sen Const Guest said. Following her graduation in 2005, she worked at Stawell and Hopetoun police stations before starting her role in the tiny town of Speed. “I worked over six years at Hopetoun with only two members, myself and the sergeant, so I don’t find working in Speed too much of a difference. The main thing I’ve had to learn is how to run the station,” Sen Const Guest said. She has found it challenging running the station and knowing there is no back-up for at least 30 minutes. But, she would not have it any other way. “I love having the opportunity to help people and seeing kids grow up, that I have helped along the way – to know I’ve made a difference in their lives,” Sen Const Guest said.
MODERN POLICEWOMEN .01 Sen Const Mackie, DC Nolan and Ldg Sen Const Barrett represent Victoria Police. .02 DC Nolan is the highest ranked female member. .03 Sen Const Mackie and Ldg Sen Const Barrett love their jobs. .04 Sen Const Irene Guest is in charge of Speed Police Station.
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HIGH-RISK ARRESTS THE CRITICAL INCIDENT RESPONSE TEAM IS NOW HELPING LOCAL POLICE TO SEARCH THE PREMISES OF AND ARREST DANGEROUS OFFENDERS. EDITORIAL ANTHONY LONCARIC PHOTOGRAPHY PETER CLARKE
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ourteen members of the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) quietly approached the front door of a suspected drug trafficker’s double storey house at about 5am. They were there to execute a high-risk search warrant, known as a level two search warrant, and waited patiently, in tactical formation, for the signal to enter. There was no chance the people inside knew they were coming. Tactically, the blue and red lights of an unmarked police car parked near the property started flashing and the siren sounded. On cue, the crew, using a battering ram, barged through the door yelling, “police, don’t move”. They found two large wood cutting axes behind the front door but no furniture or people on the first floor. A man, the suspected trafficker of ice and other drugs, and his girlfriend were sitting on a couch upstairs. He was crying. The forced entry was over in two minutes and the investigators waiting outside were now safe to search the property, while the CIRT crew was free to head back to their headquarters.
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The primary role of the CIRT is to offer support to the regions by providing specialist tactics, equipment and trained negotiators that can assist in the peaceful resolution of critical incidents involving siege or hostage situations, suicide intervention, kidnappings, extortion and CT response. The CIRT is made up of about 180 members, 17 of which form part of the Tasked Operations team. This small team started taking on these high-risk search warrants and planned arrests, in June last year. All members within Tasked Operations have undertaken the Tactical Arrest Options Training (TAOT) at the Victoria Police Academy. The CIRT’s Acting Inspector Luke McLeod said the team has had 94 applications from regional police for search warrants and planned arrests, with most of them seeking arrests of offenders for drug associated offences. “When we started in June last year we had a three-month trial period and in that time we executed 19 search warrants and arrested 34 people,” A/Insp McLeod said. “This is an initiative we’ve implemented to provide support across the organisation to assist with property searches and arrests meeting our deployment criteria. It allows investigators to focus their attention on the investigation, while we can assist with the arrest and execution phase of the operation.”
Tasked Operations has also undertaken several close personal protection operations for visiting international dignitaries, including the Dalai Lama. A/Insp McLeod said CIRT’s members were qualified to conduct forced entries and received extensive training. “All members in Tasked Operations have undertaken a six week CIRT training course as well as TAOT at the Academy. These courses can be quite intense but they ensure our members have the appropriate skills to do the job,” he said. “Since the development of the capability our services have regularly been requested which is great. It provides our members the opportunity to frequently use those learned skills in the operational environment. Our members also benefit from having access to specialist equipment such as ballistic vests, helmets and less lethal options like tasers and flexible baton rounds.” Although executing a search warrant may only take a few minutes, the CIRT members often prepare for a job for up to five days in advance. “There is a significant level of risk associated with doing a forced entry on someone’s home, so we undertake extensive planning to mitigate those risks,” A/Insp McLeod said.
DANGEROUS OFFENDERS CIRT members who conduct level two searches have received extensive training to conduct forced entries and have access to specialist equipment.
On the day of a search, the team leader will conduct a briefing for the members to highlight a range of important details about the target property, including information on the people living in the house like photographs, prior offences and if they have warning flags for self-harm or violence. Safety is a key focus at the briefing and the members take comprehensive notes relating to their individual roles and responsibilities. Once the briefing is over, they perform a rehearsal on how they will enter the property. “If the warrant is drug related there is always a chance the offender may have weapons inside the house,” A/Insp McLeod said. “We declare police presence as soon as entry is gained to ensure the occupants know that it is the police making entry. “The work ethic and professionalism the team displayed throughout the trial was recently recognised with divisional commendations being given to the members. It has been a very rewarding experience for me to see the capability grow and embed itself within the organisation.” POLICELIFE AUTUMN 2014
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Timeline
9.00am
9.30am
10.30am
Sen Const Smeaton and Const Croft prepare for the day.
Sen Const Smeaton, Const Croft and Sgt Kekich make their way to Bendigo Railway Station.
Sgt Rainey briefs members of the Bendigo Tasking Unit.
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WITH ITS RICH GOLD MINING HISTORY, BENDIGO ATTRACTS THOUSANDS OF VISITORS EACH YEAR AND MEMBERS AT THE POLICE STATION WORK HARD TO ENSURE LOCALS AND TOURISTS ARE SAFE AND HAPPY. EDITORIAL MANDI SANTIC PHOTOGRAPHY SHANE BELL
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he easily identifiable modern police complex stands out in the Bendigo township most distinguished for its Victorian architecture and heritage from the 1880s goldrush days. On arrival at the seven-year-old station, Police Life was greeted by sergeants Tony Kekich and Stephen Rainey. On this particular day eight general duties members have been assigned to the Bendigo Tasking Unit (BTU) to focus on antisocial behaviour. Senior Constable Mark Smeaton was one of them. “We were briefed early this morning and asked to patrol local crime hotspots such as the Bendigo Railway Station and its surrounds to give a visual presence and to enforce some public transport laws,” Sen Const Smeaton said. “I strongly believe that our tasking unit has been effective. Statistics show that assaults, property damage, burglaries and thefts from motor cars in the areas we target have decreased.” Sgt Rainey, who is in charge of the BTU, said one of its main objectives was to harmonise the community.
“The BTU was formed in 2007 to focus on specific crime trends. Members are strongly encouraged to try and establish a good relationship with the public, especially youths,” Sgt Rainey said. During the patrol, Sen Const Smeaton and First Constable Donna Croft spoke to a group of youths who were illegally smoking at the train station. The youths peacefully moved on. They made their way to the busy shopping centre, a known crime hotspot, and met up with security guard Mark O’Rourke. Mr O’Rourke has been in the security business for 22 years and works closely with the police. “Along with centre management, I help keep an eye on what’s happening and relay any useful information which may benefit police. We both have a common interest to keep the area safe,” Mr O’Rourke said. Over the course of the shift four offenders were processed for trespassing, another person was arrested on a warrant and six penalty notices were issued for various offences. Back at the station, Sgt Tony Kekich, who has worked in Bendigo for ten years, said his staff’s main objective is to ensure the local community and those who travel to the regional city are safe and free of any trouble.
“One of the main policing priorities for members at Bendigo Police Station is to combat alcoholrelated violence and the antisocial behaviour associated with it. “A number of initiatives are run in order to tackle antisocial behaviour. Our members target crime hotspots everyday,” Sgt Kekich said. “Not only do we concentrate on offenders, but also on licensed premises. We are quite active in visiting late night venue owners and have meetings with them to ensure they’re complying with our standards.” Another focus is road policing which includes targeting drink driving and speeding. “We have a lot of people travelling on the five major highways running through the Bendigo Police Service Area. It’s imperative that we play an active role in keeping our roads safe,” Sgt Kekich said. The 200 members based at the station are sometimes called upon to assist police at other response zones such as Heathcote, Eaglehawk, Elmore and Goornong. The regional police complex houses the Criminal Investigation Unit, Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team, Central Victorian Intelligence Unit, the BTU, Proactive Police Unit, Central Victorian Response Unit, Family Violence Unit (FVU) and the Bendigo Highway Patrol. Sgt Kekich said although family violence assaults have increased, police are encouraged to know more people are reporting family violence. “Family violence is identified as a very important issue in our area. Members are proactive in their approach and the FVU work extra hard to help those in unfortunate situations,” he said.
Members ensure a good relationship is maintained with the local close-knit community by getting out there and meeting with people. “In general, the community is fantastic. We talk to the locals about any concerns they might have and make sure they have faith in the police working for them,” Sgt Kekich said. Members also get involved in community events such as the large annual music festival Groovin The Moo, which attracts approximately 17,000 people to the Bendigo township. “We work closely with the community and other rural towns, the council, local businesses and emergency services to make sure the event runs smoothly. Police also monitor the traffic and the licensing of the premises,” he said. Bendigo police also work alongside various psychological services to address mental health incidents as part of the recently launched Police, Ambulance and Clinical Early Response (PACER) program. “This enhances our partnership and cooperation between police and other service providers,” Sgt Kekich said. “In doing so, service to the community is improved and first response units are provided with expert, immediate assistance.”
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Sen Const Smeaton talks to youths about illegal smoking.
Sen Const Smeaton and Const Croft have a chat with local youths.
Sen Const Smeaton and Const Croft liaise with local security guard Mark O’Rourke.
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POLICE RECRUIT POLICE OLICE LIFE SPENT S TIME WITH CONSTABLE BLL BRAMWELL LANCASHIRE TO DISCOVER BRAMW SOME OF THE TRAINING RECRUITS GET SO AT THE VICTORIA POLICE ACADEMY. Y.
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EDITORIAL ANTHONY LONCARIC PHOTOGRAPHY CRAIG SILLITOE
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t’s not a typical day at the Victoria Police Academy. For the past 18 weeks Constable Bramwell Lancashire and his squad spent most of their time in the classroom studying legal theory or doing physical and tactics training. Today is about putting the theory and training into practice and the members will take part in a range of realistic policing scenarios involving members of the public. It is a practice run for the recruits, who in the next week will be tested on everything they have learnt so far. Six volunteer actors have been spread across the Academy grounds and tasked with playing a specific role related to an offence like being in possession of drugs or swearing in public. An Academy instructor is stationed at each scenario to provide an assessment to the recruits.
The squad is split into groups of four and Const Lancashire’s group walks over to a patch of grass where a man, who is holding a large branch and seems disgruntled,, is pacing around. er Const Lancashire and his partner for the day, Constable David Field, observe as the two other recruits approach the man. The members have been discussing the situation via police radio and have been informed the man may be in possession of drugs after having been seen making a transaction with someone in a car. He refuses to cooperate when the members ask to search him, so they take the stick off him and handcuff him before searching his satchel bag. Const Lancashire has been taking notes throughout the scenario to provide feedback on how his fellow recruits handled the situation. He tells them they could have kicked the stick further away from the offender to ensure he could not use the weapon to harm them. The Academy instructor offers his insights and they move on to the next scenario.
18/02/14 12.30PM The role playing scenarios were set up to test the recruits on what they had learned so far.
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nst Lan life, e cashire said special h ly putt e enjoys all ing cla aspects ssroom work in of academy to prac tice.
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Const Lancashire, 28, said a desire to give back to the community was a big reason for him wanting to join Victoria Police.
“It’s quite a challenge trying to remember all the safety and defensive tactics we’ve been taught as well as our legal powers,” Const Lancashire said. “These practice scenarios are important for us to build confidence and be assertive and do things properly. It’s great to get feedback from our instructors and each other.” Const Lancashire, 28, said a desire to give back to the community was a big reason for him wanting to join Victoria Police. Before being accepted into the Academy, he studied performing arts at university and worked as a prison officer. “I don’t want to go to work each day and do a job where it doesn’t matter if I’m there or not,” he said. “There are parts of being a prison officer that are similar to police work in terms of the types of people you deal with but on the whole policing is so much different. I wanted a challenge and in this job you just don’t know what you’ll get each day.” The next scenario offers a tougher test for the members and this time Const Lancashire and his partner take the lead. They are tasked with intervening in a dispute between an elderly man and woman at an apartment block. Over the course of his policing career, Const Lancashire is likely to face far worse confrontations with people, but this is a great opportunity to learn to defuse a difficult situation. The woman is yelling at the man, who has locked himself inside his apartment and the two members seek to find out what has caused the ruckus. A radio check on the apartment shows no prior incidents at the address. The woman wants to be let inside and refuses to answer the questions the recruits put to her.
“Go and do something bloody useful instead of standing around interrupting peoples’ lives,” she said. “Leave me alone and get your hands off me.” Acting Sergeant Martin Buzzell is overseeing this scenario and said it was good for the members to experience communicating with a hostile person. “A drug or alcohol affected person could be significantly more difficult to deal with, so it is about preparing them for the type of work they will be doing working the van,” Acting Sergeant Buzzell said. “We urge the recruits to get as much information out of people as possible.” The group runs through another scenario involving family violence before they break for lunch. They complete two more role play sessions after lunch before cooling off for some exercise in the Academy pool. Const Lancashire said the day has been exhausting but he got a lot out of it. “We have about 15 weeks to go before we leave the Academy and our instructors are really stepping it up now,” he said. “I found it daunting coming into this week as I haven’t encountered these types of scenarios before. It really tests your knowledge and communications skills.” In the coming weeks, Const Lancashire and his fellow recruits will head out to do work placement at a police station and he is looking forward to it. “I’m loving Academy life and one of the best things is being around your squad mates and experiencing new things together,” he said. “I can’t wait to get out and do some real policing and make a difference in the community. We have learnt so much already but there are things you won’t know until you get out there.” To watch a video that accompanies this story, go to http://youtu.be/15ytX5N06wk on the internet.
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90 YEARS
WOMEN IN POLICING
1946 /
1929 /
Jessie Clarey, one of the first policewomen
Constable Elva Carr
1972 /
Policewoman directing traffic
1970 /
Six of the second all female squad to graduate at the Victoria Police Academy constables Barbara Hastings, Clair Hunter, June Smith, Julia Trood, Denise Ford and Bev Conner.
1971 /
1961 /
Norma Cockram
Policewomen’s uniform
2001 / 1980s /
Sergeant Rebecca Olsen
2013 /
Corrie Frances
1990 /
Ballarat Police Station’s Constable Lynne Forster.
POSTER
Pith helmet
VIEWING DISTURBING PHOTOGRAPHS OF AN UNKNOWN LITTLE GIRL BEING SEXUALLY ABUSED DURING A CHILD PORNOGRAPHY INVESTIGATION LED SENIOR CONSTABLE SIMON FOGARTY TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER WEBSITES TO TRACK DOWN HER ABUSERS HALF A WORLD AWAY. EDITORIAL JANAE HOUGHTON
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he search for the abused little girl began with the investigation and conviction of Langwarrin couple Craig Stanley and Rebecca Michels in 2010. Frankston police were investigating the couple for uploading child pornography images online. They executed a search warrant on the home the couple shared, and their computers were seized.
Stanley and Michels took off after coming to the attention of police and were on the run for 21 days, but were located in Dimboola. They eventually pleaded guilty to charges including making, possessing and transmitting child porn. Stanley received a 20-month sentence, but was released after 10 and Michels was placed on an 18-month community corrections order. During the Michels and Stanley investigation, their computers were given to Victoria Police’s child exploitation team, Taskforce Astraea. Taskforce Astraea police conduct covert online investigations into people who use the internet to groom and procure children for sexual purposes. They also do proactive investigations into people using the internet to share child exploitation material.
Tactical Intelligence Officer Senior Constable Simon Fogarty was in charge of the review of the seized material, and with support from the E-Crime Squad, located many disturbing images. Some made his skin crawl. There was a picture of a nude couple holding up a sign advertising a nudist website. There were also many of, what appeared to be the same couple, sexually abusing a young girl. “I had no idea who this couple or this child was, but I recognised instantly it was a high-risk situation,” Sen Const Fogarty said. “I was extremely concerned for this child and instantly got the go ahead to try and find out who she was.” Sen Const Fogarty used the internet to find out as much as he could.
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“My first point was obviously to look up the nudist website and see what I could find from there,” he said. “I found a couple who had profiles on this site, called Laura and Pat. She lived in Pennsylvania and he lived in New Jersey in the USA. From here I found their surnames and their email addresses.” It was then a matter of some simple internet searches, using common sites such as Google and Facebook, where he came upon the profile of Laura Shauger. Looking through her friends’ list, he noticed a male named Patrick Mergen. He then went through Mergen’s page and discovered they were a couple. After going through both Facebook profiles, Sen Const Fogarty was sure he had the right people. Their Facebook profiles had photographs of them together, but also pictures of them both with a young girl. Sen Const Fogarty was confident it was the same child he had seen being abused. “In some of the photographs from their social network profiles, there had been a dog in the background, this same dog appeared in photographs that had been seized.” He completed more online checks and confirmed there were two Laura Shaugers in Pennsylvania and two Patrick Mergens in New Jersey, Sen Const Fogarty knew it was time to act.
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He contacted the USA’s Homeland Security and was impressed with their reaction. “I contacted them on the Friday afternoon and their response was immediate. They were so glad I had called them.” By the following Wednesday, police in the USA executed simultaneous search warrants. The couple were arrested, and a nine-year-old girl was taken into safe custody. After analysis of the couple’s computers more disturbing photographs were found and another child who had been abused was rescued. Shauger was sentenced to 25 years jail and Mergens was given 25 years for one lot of charges and another ten for other charges, with the sentences being served concurrently.
Sen Const Fogarty was relieved the little girl was safe. “It was a huge relief once I heard the police had rescued the girl and then for them to save another child a little while later, that was amazing. “It started with me viewing one photograph. My focus from the very beginning was on finding the victim and taking her out of harm’s way.” Sen Sgt Fogarty said the American police he dealt with were fantastic and he remains in contact with them. “The cross jurisdiction relationship worked really well in this case. “We continue to build on the relationship and to pass on information and advice, it is all about protecting children.”
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FOR 10 YEARS VICTORIA POLICE HAS SUCCESSFULLY USED PASSIVE ALERT DETECTION DOGS TO HELP MAKE A DENT IN PEOPLE USING AND HIDING DRUGS. EDITORIAL JANAE HOUGHTON
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Labs need to have two characteristics to be good PAD dogs. One, they need to have a good work drive and secondly they need to be keen on their food.
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n 2002, Dog Squad members went to New South Wales to learn how to train Labrador Passive Alert Detection (PAD) dogs, which were to be introduced in Victoria. Before this, Victoria Police had used German Shepherds as narcotics dogs. Dog Squad’s Sergeant Glenn Barrot, who is in charge of training specialist dogs, said the main difference between the German Shepherds and the PAD dogs was the reward system. “With the German Shepherds, if they found drugs, they would scratch where they were and were then rewarded with play, with the Labradors, they sit still in the spot where the drugs are and are rewarded with food,” Sgt Barrot said. At the time, the Dog Squad did attempt to teach some German Shepherds the PAD dog system, but it was unsuccessful.
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“Unfortunately the Shepherds weren’t as gentle as the Labs at taking food out of our hands, let’s just say some handlers ended up with very sore hands.” In 2004, two PAD dogs were brought over from NSW police and they began working in Victoria. Leading Senior Constable Andrew Adams was given PAD dog Trakka to work with and Glen Eira’s Crime Scene Services Leading Senior Constable Karen Kirton, who was working at the Dog Squad at the time, became handler to Abbey. Between them, Trakka and Abbey were responsible for more than 1000 arrests during their police careers. Sadly, they both died recently, within a week of each other. “Getting one of the first PAD dogs was amazing. It was like nothing we had ever done before,” Ldg Sen Const Adams said. “We had never done street screening before. The dogs were trained to identify the odour of narcotics and they respond by sitting. This would happen whether the odour was coming from a rubbish bin or in someone’s shoe. “Having the PAD dogs meant we could go to events, outside licensed venues or just walk down the street.
“At the time there was a big heroin problem in Russell Street. We took Abbey and Trakka down there over a two-month period and pretty much cleaned the place up. We moved a lot of people on and many were arrested and charged with drug related offences.” Ldg Sen Const Adams said PAD dogs had the ability to find drugs in places criminals believed they were safe and where police may not think to look. “Trakka had some really significant finds. He found heroin mixed in with coffee and under fake flooring,” Ldg Sen Const Adams said. “I remember walking into one job and the crook saying ‘you’ll never find anything here.’ Within minutes Trakka was sniffing around at a wall and sat right in front of a power point. I told the man I needed a screw driver, unfortunately for him, there was one we could see just laying around and there inside the wall cavity we found cocaine.” Ldg Sen Const Kirton worked with Abbey for six years, before she left the Dog Squad. “We certainly did get busier once the PAD dogs came along, it meant we could do a wider scope of jobs,” she said. Abbey worked with another handler for about a year, before retiring. “We then got her back and she became our family pet,” Ldg Sen Cont Kirton said. “You build such a strong bond with a dog when you work with it and she was so gentle and kind with our kids, we really miss her.” In 2013, Victoria Police’s nine PAD dogs were responsible for more than 960 arrests.
.01 Ldg Sen Const Adams works at an event screening patrons for drugs before they go in. .02 Ldg Sen Const Kirton with Abbey.
Sgt Barrot said it takes about 10 to 12 weeks to train a PAD dog. “They are trained simply by sniffing various drugs and each time they show positive interest in any of the smells, they are fed,” he said. “Labs need to have two characteristics to be good PAD dogs. One, they need to have a good work drive and secondly they need to be a keen on their food.” Sgt Barrot has been in the Dog Squad for 26 years and is currently handler to Neya. He said PAD dogs meant a massive improvement in drug detection. “We now go along to a lot of the big festivals, where we know there is potential for people trying to smuggle drugs in,” Sgt Barrot said. “We don’t go inside the venue, our aim is to stop the drugs getting inside. At any of the big festivals, the PAD dogs would usually detect between 50-100 people with drugs on them." Because the dogs’ noses are so sensitive, they can sniff out hidden items, with even just a tiny trace of drugs on them. “Sen Const Adams’ current dog, Frisco, recently located a hidden stash of $50,000. There were obviously traces of drugs on it,” Sgt Barrot said.
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INSIDE THE HUDDLE
BRIMBANK POLICE AND NORTH MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB ARE WORKING TOGETHER WITH LOCAL MIGRANTS TO GIVE THEM A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF VICTORIAN LAWS.
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EDITORIAL KATY FERGUSON PHOTOGRAPHY SHANE BELL
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eading Senior Constable Taner Yavuzcan was working at the Brimbank Proactive Policing Unit (PPU) when he realised some of the local migrant communities did not understand all Victorian laws. “I started asking them simple questions about seatbelts and other aspects of the law,” Ldg Sen Const Yavuzcan said. “Many looked quite confused as the law was significantly different in their country.” Ldg Sen Const Yavuzcan decided to start The Huddle Program. An avid North Melbourne Football Club (NMFC) supporter, Ldg Sen Const Yavuzcan approached the club knowing staff there already conducted an onsite study support
program designed to help migrant students better understand subjects like English and maths with help from volunteer tutors. There he met Study Support Coordinator Doctor Claire Henry. “We threw around some ideas of how to best structure Taner’s program,” Dr Henry said. “Taner wanted to include tutorials on basic English and maths using the same tutors from our study support program, but it was very important to him to include lessons on the law which was a great addition to what we already had running at the club. “Taner was amazing with the students, he is very passionate and engaging and has a great personality for them to learn from,” she said.
In October last year they started running an eight week program with 15 members of the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) community.
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ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE .01 Sgt Haschka with participants of The Huddle Program. .02 Juliet Nakhla's self confidence has improved since finishing the program. .03 Amy Vy now hopes to become a police member.
In October last year they started running an eight week program consisting of 15 members of the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) community. The sessions ran for two hours and concluded with a presentation by a Victoria Police member on topics ranging from road safety, family violence, electronic crime, firearm licensing and Protective Services Officers (PSO) recruiting. One of the successful participants of The Huddle Program, Amy Vy, who moved to Australia four years ago from Vietnam, said she never knew that police could be so easy to talk to. “In Vietnam people are scared of police because they never smile and have the power to control people and are aggressive,” Ms Vy said. “Since I took part in The Huddle Program I can now talk to police because they are very friendly and approachable. They make me feel safe and I know I can seek help whenever I need it. “I tell everyone in my community what I have learnt at The Huddle and it has really helped them too. I now want to be a police member because I want to protect people and I think the uniform looks cool,” Ms Vy said. Ldg Sen Const Yavuzcan said Ms Vy’s words made it all worth it. He hopes the program helps get a more diverse range of people into Victoria Police.
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Brimbank Inspector Simon Stevens saw the program grow from its beginnings. He said it gives participants and the community an insight into Victoria Police. “It lets people know the police are there to help the community,” Insp Stevens said. “Community engagement plays a major part in our culturally diverse area. The Huddle Program was a great way for us to strengthen ties with our CALD communities, but its also helped develop our members which is pleasing.” Participants of the program agree that it not only encouraged them to meet people in a similar situation to them and give them an enhanced understanding of English, but it also helped them walk away with a much better knowledge of the law. Melani Thomas, an Indonesian migrant who moved to Victoria six months ago, said The Huddle Program helped her feel confident to apply for a job. “When I first applied to become a volunteer at the Sunshine Hospital they were very impressed that I had completed the course,” Mrs Thomas said.
Due to its success with community engagement, The Huddle Program has become a platform to expand and develop community engagement initiatives in the Brimbank and Melton PSAs. “I now feel very confident to go back to university to do accounting which I did at home because of The Huddle Program,” she said. Program graduate Juliet Nakhla, from Egypt, said it made her more courageous. “Since finishing the program I have got my driver’s licence because it taught me many of the road laws and I think if I didn’t do the course I would have been too scared to do the test," she said. “I think Taner was so kind and helpful and really made sure we understood what we were doing. All of the tutors were great.” Due to its success with community engagement, The Huddle Program has become a platform to expand and develop community engagement initiatives in the Brimbank and Melton PSAs.
Caroline Spring’s PPU Sergeant Michael Haschka said it was great police could reach out to migrant communities through projects like The Huddle and he is working on implementing other similar programs. “We will soon be working with the Adult Multicultural Educational Services and Victoria University to run similar programs through their services and venues. “It will be a great way to capture more people through short courses covering a range of topics like settlement, Centrelink, traffic laws and their rights. “It’s all part of breaking down the barriers.”
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CHASING MOKBEL'S MILLIONS AFTER THE SUCCESS OF THE TONY MOKBEL CASE, VICTORIA POLICE AND THE AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK TOGETHER TO HIT CRIMINALS WHERE IT HURTS THE MOST, IN THEIR HIP POCKET. .02
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EDITORIAL JANAE HOUGHTON
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ost people know the story by now. Prominent drug trafficker Tony Mokbel was about to face a court trial on 20 March, 2006 for importing cocaine. However, Mokbel never showed up. For more than a year, and with an elaborate escape plan hatched, Mokbel was able to hide away, first in rural Bonnie Doon before boarding a yacht and making his way to a seaside town in Athens, Greece. Security and Organised Crime Intelligence Unit’s (SOCIU) Detective Sergeant Jim Coghlan was working at the Purana Taskforce at the time of Mokbel’s disappearance.
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Det Sgt Coghlan said SOCIU detectives aimed to investigate, identify and dismantle organised crime groups, using many of the experiences and successful tactics used during the Mokbel saga. “The Mokbel case is an excellent example of a multiagency approach to crime solving.” Det Sgt Coghlan said. “We managed to work so well with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) that not only did we charge Mokbel and his associates with serious criminal offences but we also assisted the ATO in issuing massive tax bills for their unexplained wealth.”
The Purana model is now being used in other Victoria Police units and taskforces, and interstate and overseas police have also shown interest in it. “At SOCIU, we continue the excellent relationship with the ATO and other agencies. Exchanging information is a great tool and often leads us to other sources we may not have had access too.” More recently, SOCIU worked with the ATO to serve $10 million worth of taxation assessments to a Melbourne crime family. Nine members of the family were issued garnishee notices on all of their identified bank accounts resulting in significant seizures. Det Sgt Coghlan explained how Purana helped track down and convict Mokbel. “At the time of his disappearance, Mokbel was on trial for Commonwealth related drug charges following that Victoria Police also had a case to put to the drug trafficker,” Det Sgt Coghlan said. “By this stage Purana had already solved many of the underworld murders and was moving into a new phase. “We decided not only to go after Mokbel for his drug crimes, but also his unexplained wealth.” Det Sgt Coghlan said while Mokbel was on the run, it was established he was still running his business from Greece. “Mokbel and his associates ran a very successful drug business nicknamed ‘The Company’. We knew they were still operating and we decided to find a way to strip them of their cash and assets,” he said. “Most underworld figures claimed in the tax returns they did submit that they were earning low incomes, yet owned multiple properties or drove around in fancy cars. “The reason many of them committed crimes was to have money to buy these toys.” After meeting with staff from the ATO, it was decided two ATO officers would be embedded into the Purana Taskforce. “From day one we involved the officers in all our meetings and briefings, we shared ideas and information and worked really well together.” While Purana detectives were able to restrain and seize assets such as houses, cars, race horses, jewellery and hidden cash, the ATO officers assessed the taxable income of targets with underworld connections and their vast unexplained wealth.
BEHIND BARS .01 Tony Mokbel. .02 Tony Mokbel's Greek mugshot, complete with wig. .03 Mokbel faces court. .04 The fake documents Mokbel had in the name of Stephen Papas.
While police worked hard to dismantle Mokbel’s company, the drug baron confidently rang friends and family from Greece. “He really did seem to believe he wouldn’t be caught,” Det Sgt Coghlan said. “He was living the high life over there, but meanwhile we had received plenty of information about his whereabouts and we even had the phone number he used to speak to close family and friends under surveillance. “While we were still unsure of his exact location, we were confident we could find him.” In May, 2007 Det Sgt Coghlan, along with an Australian Federal Police member, set off for Greece. Mokbel’s phones were still being listened to and on 5 June, police intercepted a call where he told a mate he would meet him at 11am at the Delfinia Café. By this stage, police had established Mokbel was using the alias of Stephen Papas. Det Sgt Coghlan had formed a relationship with the local Athens Police, and they were happy to assist. The police staged a fake immigration check and noticed a man up the back with longish hair and wearing a baseball cap. They asked the man to produce his identity papers. His passport had the name Stephen Papas on it. They knew they had their man. Mokbel was extradited back to Melbourne in 2008 and has been sentenced to 30 years in prison with a minimum of 22. He has exhausted all appeal processes. Throughout the investigation, Purana detectives seized more than $55 million in cash, properties, jewellery, cars and other goods. The ATO served tax bills of more than $20 million, including one for Mokbel of $9.8 million.
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THIS WAY .01 Leading Senior Constable Arthur Makridis said traffic direction was often required at large-scale events in Victoria.
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DIRECTING TRAFFIC IS NOT JUST A SET OF RANDOM ARM MOVEMENTS, BUT RATHER A CRUCIAL SERVICE TO ENSURE DRIVERS ARE SAFE WHEN TRAFFIC LIGHTS GO OUT OR IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY. EDITORIAL ANTHONY LONCARIC
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olice in Victoria have directed traffic at intersections across the state for more than a century and it remains a core aspect of police work. Recruits are required to attend and pass a traffic direction course as part of their training to become sworn members, as they can be called on to perform the role at any moment during a shift. Course instructor Melbourne East Police Station’s Leading Senior Constable Arthur Makridis said traffic direction is often required at large-scale events including demonstrations and marches in
Melbourne’s CBD, sports matches and in bushfire areas. It is also required when traffic lights are faulty. “We run a course on a fortnightly basis and it covers some theory about different types of scenarios, hand and whistle techniques and understanding road signs,” Ldg Sen Const Makridis said. “We throw our members into the deep-end by placing them at the busiest intersections in Melbourne. A big part of it is being confident and communicating effectively with each other.”
He said members needed to have a thick skin when performing the traffic direction duties. “Drivers can get frustrated when stuck in traffic and you will get the odd one yelling out some nasty words at you as they drive past,” he said. “It’s about the bigger picture and making sure all drivers can safely travel to their destination.” Ldg Sen Const Makridis said there have been changes to traffic direction duties since he graduated from the Victoria Police Academy in 1989. “When I graduated we wore white sleeve slips, which were attached to our tunic sleeves by way of a sewn on button,” he said. “We also wore white gloves to assist with visibility. The white gloves have now been replaced with high visibility vests. “Members from the then City Patrol Group, now known as Melbourne East, would direct traffic Monday to Friday for the morning and afternoon peak periods, along the main Swanston Street intersections, together with Flinders and Elizabeth streets and Flinders and Russell streets.” He said most members enjoy performing traffic direction. “For new recruits completing the course helps build their confidence and effectively puts their toe in the water, as far as operational policing is concerned,” he said. “For experienced members it is a chance to get back to traditional police work.”
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THEBODY EDITORIAL KATY FERGUSON
THE VICTORIA POLICE MUSEUM RUNS A FORENSIC SCIENCE PROGRAM TO HELP STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION. THE STAR OF THE SHOW IS A REALISTIC REPLICA OF A DEAD BODY.
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LIFE LIKE .01 The Body is a replica of a murder victim.
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ave you ever wanted to walk in the shoes of a crime scene investigator? For high school students, dreams can turn into reality with the Victoria Police Museum’s CSI: Forensic Science Workshop education program. As one of the Museum’s most popular initiatives, the forensic science program is the ultimate education experience outside of the classroom. The two hour program begins with a tutorial using Australian murder cases and techniques used by Victoria Police to solve crimes. Students then get the chance to showcase their new skills with a staged murder scene. It is here they get the opportunity to examine The Body. It is a life-like model of a young man who was found partially buried in bushland.
He has bullet wounds to his head and neck, bound hands, bruising, and marks around his neck and fingers. It is up to the students to observe and determine the cause of death of the young man and present their findings to the rest of the group with guidance from the Museum’s public programs curator Katherine Spinks or museum volunteers. “It is great to watch the students become so enthralled with the investigation process, they just love the interactive learning we offer,” Ms Spinks said. The creation of The Body was unique with one member of the production team posing for it before making a complete cast of his own body. Victoria Police specialists were then on hand to add evidence and wounds to create a 'mock' crime scene.
Historical Services Manager Jim McCann said The Body is an amazing learning tool. “It was a significant investment but has been fantastic because it has helped bring forensics to life,” he said. “The Body is very confronting but it’s meant to be, these things happen in life and it is a great teaching tool for students.” Unfortunately for the general public, The Body is not on public display and is specifically designed for the CSI: Forensic Science Workshop education program because of its graphic nature. The program connects with the school curriculum and is available to all students in years 7 to 10. Schools can take part in the workshop by booking at www.policemuseum.vic.gov.au via email.
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EDITORIAL ANTHONY LONCARIC PHOTOGRAPHY PETER CLARKE
% 69+&= 463+6%1 &)8;))2 430-') %2( %8 6-7/ YOUTHS IS BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS AND HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE LEARN DISCIPLINE AND RESPECT.
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o police member likes coming into contact with a young person for the wrong reason – just ask Dandenong Police Station’s Senior Constable Gordon Exner. Sen Const Exner knows it can be difficult to break the cycle of offending after a young person comes into contact with the criminal justice system. He was instrumental in setting up a rugby program in December 2012 to help at-risk youths turn their lives around. The Access Rugby program, a joint initiative between Victoria Police and Melbourne Rebels rugby union club, engages Indigenous and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities and is running in Mildura, Robinvale, Cardinia, Casey and Greater Dandenong Police Service Areas (PSA). More than 4000 young people have taken part in regular rugby sessions run by police and Rebels’ players and staff.
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“Police refer young people to the program via SupportLink,” Sen Const Exner said. “It is about more than just sport and it involves mentors who pick up the youths from home and take them to counselling sessions. Some have greater needs and we take them to drug or alcohol rehabilitation sessions.” The program has helped 300 young people access job training and 45 have found full-time work. “It’s about them taking small steps to change their lives and for some it can give them a career path,” Sen Const Exner said. “The rugby training teaches discipline and we tell them that once they’ve made a commitment to their team mates, they need to follow through with it. They are expected to turn up on time and wear the correct uniform.” Participant Cassidy Stonehouse, 16, said his mentor encouraged him to complete his high school studies.
WORKING TOGETHER .01 Sen Const Exner is working closely with mentors from the Melbourne Rebels like Jeremy Nikora to support at-risk youth with the Access Rugby Program. .02 Cassidy Stonehouse has benefited from the Access Rugby Program.
“Access Rugby helped me identify what I liked doing and I have now become a mentor for new participants in the program,” he said. Sen Const Exner said he plans to expand the program to other PSAs over the next 12 months. “It has been successful so far and we want to help more young people improve their futures,” he said.
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
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DETECTIVE SENIOR SERGEANT
JOY MURPHY EDITORIAL JANAE HOUGHTON PHOTOGRAPHY ANDREW HENSHAW
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hen Diamond Creek Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team’s (SOCIT) Detective Senior Sergeant Joy Murphy joined Victoria Police in 1973, she was one of just 200 women. “Things were much different back then,” Det Sen Sgt Murphy said. “Firstly, I was issued a handbag with my uniform. “At that time there was no Department of Human Services, so policewomen were responsible for child protection investigations, welfare of women and children, finding runaway children and taking reports of sexual assaults.” She began her career at the Russell Street Women’s Policing Division and over the years has worked in various squads and
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units such as the Identified Patrol Group, Crime Investigation Units (CIU), the Rape Squad, the Dealer’s Squad and Crime Prevention. One of her first jobs after qualifying as a detective was at the Ringwood CIU. On the first day her boss told her her role was to wash the tea towels. “Let me tell you from that day, I never once washed the tea towels,” Det Sen Sgt Murphy said. “Quite often throughout my career I have been the only woman working in certain areas. I learnt early on to work hard, stand up for myself and to even give a bit of cheek.” One of her career highlights came in 1987 when Det Sen Sgt Murphy met a five-year-old boy called Haydn Myers, who was suffering from progressive hereditary dystonia. Det Sen Sgt Murphy and her colleagues organised fundraising events to send him to America for an operation.
DETECTIVE SENIOR SERGEANT JOY MURPHY IS VICTORIA POLICE'S LONGEST SERVING WOMAN. FOR 41 YEARS SHE HAS ADVOCATED CHANGE WITHIN THE RANKS AND DEDICATED HER CAREER TO HELPING VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. “He made it to America, but unfortunately died a short while later. He was such a special little boy and it was a pleasure to be involved and help him.” Det Sen Sgt Murphy helped introduce part-time work to Victoria Police. “I was working at Greensborough and was about to lose two first-rate women because they were having babies and couldn’t come back full-time. I put up a proposal to create two of the first part-time operational positions within Victoria Police. It is now common for women to return part-time.” Det Sen Sgt Murphy now works as an investigator with the Diamond Creek SOCIT. “The beauty of sexual assault investigation is if we do it well it
TRAIL BLAZER .01 Det Sen Sgt Joy Murphy helped pave the way for modern policewomen. .02 Det Sen Sgt Murphy early in her police career.
makes the process a little easier and a little less stressful for the victims,” she said. Det Sen Sgt Murphy commented on how Victoria Police had evolved over the years. “The organisation has moved in leaps and bounds over the years in how it treats our diverse workforce and community, this includes women, people of different cultural backgrounds and the gay and lesbian community. It is great to see.”
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From the Archives Now and Then THE USE OF BICYCLES Bicycles have been used in policing for longer than cars and still play a role in crime solving today. EDITORIAL MANDI SANTIC
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icycles replaced some police horses before cars were introduced in the early 20th century. In 1918, the first police bicycle patrols were able to detect speeding motorists by checking their speed over a measured distance with the use of a stop watch. Until 1960, there were more bicycles used by members than motor vehicles. Bicycles were mainly used for night patrols in Melbourne’s CBD because it was considered easier to manoeuvre through narrow lanes and alleys on them. Bicycles were very heavy and the frames were so big it was difficult for members to sit comfortably and many struggled to place their feet on the ground. The use of bicycles in Victoria Police ceased in the 1970s and did not make a resurgence until the 1990s, when members carried out patrols on bicycles in Geelong, which saw daylight burglaries fall by 50 per cent. Now good quality, mountain and road bikes are used to cycle to various incidents in Melbourne’s streets, including long cycling events. They are also useful for undercover surveillance, crime prevention and detecting traffic offences. Sergeant Arty Lavos is the Statewide Bicycle Operations Coordinator within the Road Policing Command and focuses on road trauma affecting vulnerable road users.
“I manage work on patrols, and major cycling events throughout Victoria, and run the Victoria Police Bicycle Patrol Operatives Course which members must pass in order to work bike duties,” Sgt Lavos said. He represents Victoria Police for all cycling and emerging issues state and federally, and said the main function of a bicycle patrol member is to police on a bike. “The duties are the same as a divisional van. I use local bike patrol resources for my operations and work closely with the Melbourne Bike Patrol,“ he said. Bike patrols are now being used more across the state. .02
.01 Footscray police with their bicycle which was used for patrols. .02 The Bicycle Patrol in 1967. .03 Sgt Lavos with the Melbourne Bike Patrol Unit.
“I have found there are more bike units being established in areas that traditionally wouldn't have had bikes used before,” Sgt Lavos said. “I have also found that a lot of country areas use them more especially around holiday hotspots, as they are a great asset for patrol work and public relations.” Police bicycle patrol groups also visit schools to help teach bike education to children.
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Victoria Police Museum
Remembering The Skull Throughout Victoria Police’s 161 year history, few members have captured the public’s attention like Senior Constable Thomas James Wiseman.
EDITORIAL ANTHONY LONCARIC
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enior Constable Thomas James Wiseman, or Jim, as he preferred to be called, did not necessarily seek the spotlight but couldn’t help being in it, spending most of his 30-year policing career directing traffic on Melbourne’s busiest intersection – Collins and Swanston streets. He joined Victoria Police in 1946 and became known as The Skull for having a face that looked like it was carved out of stone. During his career Jim, who died in 1996, sent about 15,000 people to front traffic court for various offences. His son, Bairnsdale Police Station’s Leading Senior Constable Paul Wiseman, said Jim was respected, and sometimes reviled, for policing road traffic laws with an iron hand. “No one would dare walk through his intersection illegally and he would make taxis reverse and turn back if they had gone halfway through,” Ldg Sen Const Wiseman said. His father was a major influence on him joining Victoria Police and described him as a great role model. “He was a great dad and he would always encourage me to be an honest person,” Ldg Sen Const Wiseman said. “It was a hard life for everyone in those days and he did as much as he could to provide for us. He was as straight a copper as you could get and he always did his utmost to keep people safe.”
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Ldg Sen Const Wiseman often gets asked about his father by members of the public. “People see my surname and ask about Dad even though he retired all those years ago,” he said. “He was the subject of many television and newspaper reports in the 50s and 60s and was on the front cover of a Melbourne street directory in 1966. “When he retired the Herald Sun ran a front page photo of him and said what a big loss he was going to be.” Following his retirement, Jim continued performing traffic duty as a lollipop man in Mooroolbark and Camberwell. “He was an icon in Melbourne and people from all walks of life would recognise him and wish him well,” Ldg Sen Const Wiseman said.
THIS WAY PLEASE .01 Sen Const Wiseman policed traffic laws with an iron hand.
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ARE YOU READY TO STAND OUT? Each and every night, Protective Services Officers help keep our train stations safe for Victorian travellers. If you’re smart, fit and have excellent communication skills, Victoria Police wants to hear from you. To find out more, visit policecareer.vic.gov.au/pso or call 132 001. And get ready to stand out.
PROTECTIVE SERVICES OFFICERS. NOW RECRUITING. policecareer.vic.gov.au/pso F•S•A/VP0064
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