A long-serving detective reflects on the cases he’ll never forget.
28 CROSSING BORDERS
Looking back at 60 years of overseas deployments for Victoria Police members.
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MANAGING EDITOR
Beck Angel
EDITOR
Roslyn Jaguar
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Lane Mihaljevic
JOURNALISTS
Danielle Ford
Lane Mihaljevic
Cassandra Stanghi
Emily Wan Jesse Wray-McCann
behind the
investigator Detective Senior Sergeant Stephen Sheahan.
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 the opinions of Victoria Police.
COVER PHOTO
Sergeant Jo Geddes juggles policing duties with farm life in East Gippsland. Full story, PAGE 12
Cover photography: Jesse Wray-McCann
PATHWAYS TO POSITIVE CHANGE
Victoria Police is turning up the heat on the state’s most serious and high-risk offenders to reduce the risk they pose to community safety.
New teams of police officers were established in early July across Melbourne and Geelong to proactively engage high-risk offenders with an extensive history of committing crimes such as burglaries, robberies, assaults and car thefts.
The new Crime Reduction Teams (CRTs) have two main objectives — to deter further offending and to provide support pathways for offenders to encourage them to change their ways.
Deputy Commissioner Neil Paterson said police officers working in CRTs are assigned to individual offenders and have weekly interactions of note with the monitored person.
“This means the police officer can develop a consistent relationship with the offender, which increases the likelihood of meaningful behavioural change occurring,” DC Paterson said.
“Through some of our existing police processes, we’ve seen the benefits of dedicating resources to focus on repeat offenders, so these CRTs are a way of refining
and formalising some of the great work that’s already been done.”
DC Paterson said offenders who are causing the most harm within the community were prioritised by CRTs, acknowledging that many of them were child and youth offenders.
“The offenders managed by our CRTs are identified through a range of methods, including local police knowledge and intelligence that helps us identify who is at extreme risk of imminently re-offending,” he said.
When an offender is identified by the CRT for targeted engagement, a police officer from that team meets with the person to explain that they are now under proactive police management designed to reduce their offending.
The offender and their family members are encouraged to discuss their circumstances, so police can understand any factors contributing to their offending and identify relevant support services and programs.
Senior Sergeant Andrew Tsockallos, who leads the North West Metro
Region Division 3 CRT, said the offenders are put on notice that further offending will lead to swift police action, given they are subject to targeted engagement.
“We let them know that we’ll be monitoring their bail conditions and we’ll be patrolling locations where they’ve previously offended or are known to hang out,” Sen Sgt Tsockallos said.
“At the same time, we’ll be working with support agencies to try and get these individuals out of the cycle of offending and into other things like education, jobs or sport.
“It’s all about reducing the likelihood of them committing more crimes and, in turn, reducing the risk to community safety.”
Further CRTs will be rolled out across the remainder of the state in early 2025.
“Victoria Police will continue to prioritise offending, and offenders, who create fear and impact the day-to-day lives of Victorians, and these new CRTs form part of that response,” DC Paterson said. n
Editorial: Roslyn Jaguar
Photography: Jesse Wray-McCann
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A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER
Since becoming Chief Commissioner in 2020, I’ve made it a strong focus of mine to visit as many police stations as I can right across Victoria.
These visits give me the opportunity to chat with our members and get a first-hand account of issues that are important in their communities.
When I’m out and about, I’m always reminded of the importance of good local policing and understanding the community you serve.
This is particularly true of our network of Farm Crime Liaison Officers, many of whom have significant expertise in both the policing and farming fields.
These officers are our farm crime experts, keeping an ear to the ground in their rural communities to identify any crime trends affecting the agricultural industry.
Their work is featured in this edition of Police Life, along with that of another formidable country policing team — father-and-son duo Pete and Aari Mellington (pictured).
In an organisation that enjoys hundreds, if not thousands, of family connections, the Mellingtons are a rarity because they both serve the community at single-officer stations in the same police service area.
In this edition, you’ll also read about two former Homicide Squad detectives, Inspector Leigh Howse and Detective Senior Sergeant Stephen Sheahan, who
are now putting their impressive skills to use in other parts of Victoria Police.
It’s one of the many benefits of a career in policing — the ability to work in a wide variety of roles and environments, while remaining with the same organisation.
In line with all other jurisdictions across the country, Victoria Police will hold our National Police Remembrance Day services on Friday, 27 September this year.
It is a day of special significance for police across Australia, as we join with members of the community to pause and remember our brave colleagues who have died in the line of duty.
We know this year’s services will have extra significance for our colleagues at South Australia Police, following the loss of Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig in the line of duty in the rural community of Senior in November last year.
Our thoughts will be with our friends in South Australia, and with the family and friends of all police officers whose lives have been cut short while serving their communities.
Stay safe.
Chief Commissioner Shane Patton APM
ACTING INSPECTOR PETA
BILLING Regional Emergency Management Inspector
My best friend called me and told me she was joining, and that I was too. I laughed at the thought, but then considered it would be different every day and maybe I’d like it. We sat the exams together, then in a whirlwind, I found myself in the Academy.
DETECTIVE LEADING SENIOR CONSTABLE ALICIA REIVERS Missing Persons Squad
When I was younger, an offender broke into my home while my family and I were present. The responding police members and detectives were positive, reassuring and comforting. The influence of those members made me want to become a police officer so I could help others in similar situations.
ACTING SUPERINTENDENT ASH WIGG Recruitment and Deployment Division
When I was in Year 10 at school, I had the chance to do work experience at Russell Street HQ and I was in awe of the work being done by the members across a variety of fields in the early 1980s.
SERGEANT MATT CAMILLO
Somerville Highway Patrol
I thought about it in my early 20s but life, travelling and starting a family took priority. It wasn’t until my wife joined and I saw how happy she was two years in that I decided to make the move and I’ve not looked back since.
CONSTABLE TRACEY BURLEY
Broadmeadows Police Station
There were some issues in my neighbourhood when I was younger, and I had a few interactions with police because of them. I remember them always being so nice and, because of that, it was always a job I was interested in.
WHEN DID YOU FIRST KNOW YOU WANTED TO JOIN VICTORIA POLICE?
LEADING SENIOR CONSTABLE
LEIGH JOHNSON
Multicultural Liaison Officer, Shepparton Police Station
My best mate at the time applied to join and talked me into it. We’d both been avid Blue Light Disco rockers, so had gotten to know local police. We were both going to join for five years that was 30-odd years ago.
LEADING SENIOR CONSTABLE
DANIEL GREEN
Southern Metro Region Division 3 Drone Unit
I was working as a warehouse manager at a paint company and the position was a dead end. My father-in-law was a police officer and I always looked up to him. I also loved the thought of joining Highway Patrol so I knew I had to apply.
I’m from Victoria, but I was initially a police officer in Western Australia. After our first child was born, my wife and I decided to head home so she could grow up around extended family. I transitioned to Victoria Police in 2014 through an accelerated entry program.
COMMANDER KAREN
Eastern Region
I spent Year 10 work experience at the old St Kilda Road Complex. Back then, I couldn’t see myself joining because I only met male police officers, but a few years later I was at university studying economics and accounting, and I realised I wanted more. I applied to join and, 31 years later, I’m still here.
DETECTIVE SERGEANT
PAUL ZIEBELL Baw Baw Family Violence Investigation Unit
I realised I wanted to join from a young age, but when I first applied there were rules governing flat feet, so I joined the military instead. I re-applied in 1994 and was accepted.
SENIOR SERGEANT EDDIE MALPAS Horsham Police Station
NYHOLM
Content warning: This article contains information about sexual assault and rape. Reader discretion is advised.
UNCOVERING
Detective Senior Constable Laurie Shanahan is about to finish work for the day at Melbourne Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team (SOCIT) when the phone rings.
He doesn't know it at the time, but it's a phone call that will help expose one of the most heinous sexual offenders in Victoria's history.
On the other end of the phone is a young Chinese woman by the name of Chen Jin* who is studying in Melbourne and she is calling from St Vincent’s Hospital where she is recovering from a cardiac arrest that almost killed her.
She explains that four days earlier, on 23 July 2019, she had started her first day at a new job at an immigration agency in Melbourne’s CBD.
She had taken a carton of milk and a water bottle to the office but, after leaving them alone briefly with her new boss, Frank Hu, the milk later tasted bitter.
After leaving her to do some translating work, Hu came back in, picked up the carton and said to Ms Jin, “You didn’t finish it, there is still some more” but she said she didn’t want any more.
About 11.40am, Ms Jin began feeling tired so she drank more water to try to wake up and then messaged her boyfriend, saying, “I’m feeling dizzy and I don’t know why”.
The next thing she remembered was waking up in hospital, where she had been resuscitated after her heart had stopped.
She tells Det Sen Const Shanahan (pictured), who is now a detective acting sergeant, over the phone that she fears her boss of just one day had drugged and sexually assaulted her.
“When she told me her story and her boss’s name, Frank Hu, there was just something about it that really rang a bell to me,” Det A/ Sgt Shanahan said.
He told Ms Jin the detectives replacing him for the afternoon shift would soon visit her in the hospital.
“I remember walking back into the office the next morning and the night shift guys just said to me, ‘You’re never going to believe what we found’,” he said.
Ms Jin was one of four young Chinese women living in Melbourne as students who had made allegations to police in the previous eight months that Hu had drugged and possibly sexually assaulted them.
For three of them, it had happened on their first day working for Hu and they all recalled he had been insistent on them consuming drinks he had prepared.
Two of the women, at the time they reported the offending, were unwilling to make an official statement and progress their matters further.
In the case of one of the other victims, Hu was nominated as the offender but had been reported and recorded under a different name that he used.
Suddenly, Det A/Sgt Shanahan understood why Ms Jin’s story had seemed so familiar — one of the women who refused to take it further had reported the offending to him eight months earlier.
“With the benefit of hindsight, I regret I wasn’t more persistent back then with that victim for her to make an official statement,” he said.
“It’s easy for us cops to get gung-ho with these matters because we want to catch the bad guys and put them in jail.
“But in sex offences, that’s not always the best result.
“You’ve got someone telling you the most horrific experience of their life and, as an investigator, the way you manage that interaction is crucial because it can impact the rest of their life.
“So you need to treat that person with respect and validation because, as it was with this victim, most of the time, they just want to tell their story, they want to be believed.”
The four victims’ stories would have to be thoroughly investigated, but the night shift detectives had more news for Det A/Sgt Shanahan that seemed to confirm their fears that vile crimes had been committed.
They discovered Hu had been stopped by Australian Border Force (ABF) in June 2018 at Melbourne Airport after coming back into the country.
EVIL
ABF officers had discovered on Hu’s phone numerous videos and photos of women being raped and sexually assaulted while unconscious.
The ABF sent the material to Victoria Police at the time, but the investigation could not progress because none of the victims could be identified.
“They were really graphic photos and videos, and we began to realise, ‘Far out, I don’t think any of these women in the photos are our four victims’,” Det A/Sgt Shanahan said.
“It was abundantly clear that this job was going to be a big one, maybe one of the biggest Melbourne SOCIT would ever do, so it was one of those moments where everyone in the office dropped what they were doing and took it on as a priority.”
Det A/Sgt Shanahan and his colleagues knew it would take a lot of work to identify all the victims and build a case, but the most urgent priority was to get Hu into custody.
“It was all about the safety of the community, because there was nothing to suggest he was going to stop offending and one of his victims was very lucky to even be alive after what he did to her,” he said.
Detectives had identified an office suite and two apartments linked to Hu and, on 1 August 2019, four days after Ms Jin phoned from the hospital, Melbourne SOCIT police raided all three locations.
CONTINUED PAGE 8
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
They arrested Hu at his office suite and seized phones, computers, medication, employment records, women’s clothing, condoms, unopened syringes and medical tubing.
“My immediate impression of Hu was that he was a very strange and reserved guy, and he was denying everything,” Det A/Sgt Shanahan said.
At one of the apartments, a woman called Ju Zedong* let police in and they immediately recognised her from some of the material the ABF discovered on Hu’s phone.
It was revealed that Ms Zedong was someone Hu had a personal relationship with.
Analysis of all Hu’s devices uncovered 1949 photos and 232 videos of him drugging, raping and sexually assaulting 15 different women.
But Det A/Sgt Shanahan said that was just the tip of the iceberg, with thousands more photos and videos of victims they were unable to identify.
Hu had been uploading the content to a website where other people did the same, and he also instructed others on the website on the techniques and drugs to use to keep someone unconscious.
After contacting everyone in the employee records, detectives discovered the majority of his victims were employees who had been offended against on their first day in the job.
Det A/Sgt Shanahan said it was clear Hu was hiring these young international students for the sole purpose of sexually assaulting them.
There were also a number of other victims Hu had known personally for a long time, with one of his earliest known victims having been raped while unconscious in 2013.
But almost three quarters of the photos and videos were of Ms Zedong.
Between April 2015 and July 2019, there were 68 separate times when Hu had drugged, raped and sexually assaulted her.
The scale of offending shocked the investigators.
It was so far beyond what a local SOCIT usually deals with that they reached out to the specialists in the Sexual Crimes Squad, which investigates the state’s most serious rapists.
Senior Sergeant Mark Farrugia, a sergeant at the Sexual Crimes Squad at the time, said that Det A/Sgt Shanahan’s efforts were “phenomenal” and they didn’t want to take the job away from him.
“Laurie is one of those detectives that leaves no stone unturned and follows every rabbit down every hole,” Sen Sgt Farrugia said.
“And this job, and those victims, sincerely needed that attention because it’s one of the most horrific this state has ever seen.”
The unique decision was made to keep Det A/Sgt Shanahan as the lead investigator but base him within the Sexual Crimes Squad to take advantage of its resources.
Det A/Sgt Shanahan and his colleagues then relentlessly shored up evidence and developed relationships with the victims, managing to get seven of them to give evidence in court at a committal hearing.
“At one of the hearings, Frank’s barrister was angling for a sentencing indication from the judge if they were to take it to trial, and his barrister was pretty blunt.
All victims’ names have been changed to protect their identities.
He said, ‘If a jury sees these videos and images, they’ll convict him of war crimes’,” Det A/Sgt Shanahan said.
Hu decided to plead guilty to his depraved crimes and was sentenced to the longest prison term for a sex offender in Victoria’s history — 29 years, with a minimum of 22 years.
“I personally believe that SOCIT work is the most important work a police officer can do outside of the Homicide Squad,” Det A/Sgt Shanahan said.
“I think it has the greatest impact because you’re protecting some of the most vulnerable people in the community.
“The appreciation the victims show you for how you’ve treated them, how you’ve dealt with the situation and how you’ve taken them seriously, it goes from being a situation where you’re investigating it because you want to catch crooks, and it becomes, ‘No, I’m doing this for her’.” n
Editorial and photography: Jesse Wray-McCann
Xiaodong “Frank” Hu initially denied any offending in his interview with police.
Many of the victims worked at this office suite.
NEW SKIPPER MAKES WAVES
When Senior Constable Kate Middleton was just 12 years old, she regularly pulled people out of the water while driving her yacht club’s rescue boat.
Sen Const Middleton (pictured) even earned a special exemption to gain her commercial boat skipper’s tickets before she was old enough to drive a car.
So it’s probably no surprise that she continues to be a trailblazer now with Victoria Police, having become the Water Police’s first ever female ocean-going skipper.
Based at the Gippsland Water Police in Paynesville, Sen Const Middleton was earlier this year certified as the master of the unit’s 16-metre ocean vessel.
The role of skipper comes with plenty of responsibilities, not only when it comes to Victoria Police’s own procedures, but also with the laws and regulations of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
But for nearly two decades Sen Const Middleton had carved out a career as a commercial skipper on charter and heavy haulage boats, before joining Victoria Police in 2015.
After just a few short years of working in general duties roles, Sen Const Middleton achieved her dream of working at the Water Police in 2020.
The role is even better than she imagined.
“It’s the best job in Victoria Police,” she said.
“Here in Victoria, we have nearly 2200 nautical miles of coastline that we cover, and it’s a big ocean with a lot of incidents and offshore work that we do.
“When people come to work here, they tend not to leave, so the members who have been here for 20–30 years, their knowledge of the local areas and of marine search and rescue is just phenomenal to learn from.”
Those younger years spent driving the rescue boat at her local yacht club come in handy for the bulk of her Water Police work, which is marine search and rescue.
“Earlier this year we were called out in the middle of the night to help a 20-metre sailing vessel that was disabled in bad weather and one of the crew members had badly broken his leg,” she said.
“We managed to tow their vessel to sheltered waters and evacuate the injured man.
“The remaining people on their vessel tried to then make it to a safe harbour but ran into trouble again the next day, which is when we had to evacuate them all.
“It was a four-day job in really challenging conditions and circumstances, but we got them all safely back on shore.
“That’s what the job is all about being able to help fellow boaties when they need it the most.”
Water Police Inspector James Dalton praised Sen Const Middleton for her “dedication, skill, and pioneering spirit”.
“This milestone is a source of immense pride for all of us, and we eagerly anticipate her continued contributions and leadership on the high seas,” Insp Dalton said.
After spending much of her career in a male-dominated industry, Sen Const Middleton is happy to keep leading the way for women.
“I’ve always been proactive in supporting women in sailing and teaching women through boating safety courses and rescue courses, so coming here to the Water Police is another great way I can keep supporting that,” she said. n
Editorial and photography: Jesse Wray-McCann
ACCESS FOR ALL ABILITIES
When Senior Sergeant Jason Kok heard Victoria Police was looking for its first Disability Liaison Officers earlier this year, he didn’t have to think twice about putting his hand up for the job.
Having already started work to strengthen the relationship between police and the disability community in Melbourne’s northwest, he was appointed to the role within weeks, and is now the primary point of contact for City of Hume residents who need help accessing police services.
Like LGBTIQA+ Liaison Officers and Police Aboriginal Liaison Officers, the Disability Liaison Officer (DLO) role is taken on by police members in addition to their core duties.
But the additional responsibility doesn’t faze Sen Sgt Kok, because he applied for the DLO role with his son front of mind.
“For me, it’s personal, because my eldest son has autism,” Sen Sgt Kok said.
“He’s a very smart boy, big into music, and passionate about mixing and composing. But having an invisible disability means he does face some challenges.
“Challenges that other people with disability might find themselves facing too, which could prevent them from seeking police help when they need it.”
So, as soon as he started in a new role as acting senior sergeant in January 2022, he began thinking about what the Hume Police Service Area could do to assist.
With the knowledge that one in five Victorians identify as having disability, Sen Sgt Kok teamed up with the Sunbury Proactive
Policing Unit to establish the Hume Disability and Inclusion Awareness Group — an initiative that saw him receive a certificate of commendation from the Office of the Public Advocate for Outstanding Police Service to People with Disability.
Since then, the group has collaborated with local disability service providers to host a variety of events, all with the common goal of improving communication between police and the disability community.
“We’ve gone out to places like Brite Services in Broadmeadows and Distinctive Options in Sunbury to meet locals with disability and do presentations on things like safety, how to get in touch with us, and how we can help,” Sen Sgt Kok said.
“But we’ve also created opportunities for the disability community to ask questions and share what they need from us — which is just as, if not more, important.”
More recently, the group even invited students from a local specialist school to Sunbury Police Station for a behind-the-scenes look at police in action, which included doing some fingerprinting with local crime scene officers.
Because the DLO role requires demonstrated leadership skills, most DLOs are sergeants and senior sergeants — but irrespective of their rank, they all share the same passion.
The goal of every Victoria Police DLO is to strengthen the disability community’s confidence in police so they feel comfortable reporting crime and calling on local police when they need help.
Priority and Safer Communities Division’s Acting Commander Kelly Lawson, who oversaw the launch of Victoria Police’s DLO program, said she’s rapt that police members like Sen Sgt Kok have taken on the DLO role.
“DLOs are already building connections with their local disability community and are working hard to build the knowledge and skills of other Victoria Police members to ensure they provide consistent and accessible policing services,” A/Cmdr Lawson said.
“This is because they’re the best people for the job. They’re police members who are passionate about achieving positive justice outcomes for people with disability, have lived experience, or are members of the disability community themselves.”
Just five months since the first DLO was appointed, there are now 70 DLOs across the state, with one allocated to every police service area.
From the perspective of Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School principal Joanne Nolan, having a dedicated point of contact at Sunbury Police Station provides the school community with access to tailored support.
“Our Respectful Relationships curriculum is an integral part of the school curriculum that is enriched when we can provide opportunities for students to meet local police officers like Sen Sgt Kok and his team,” Ms Nolan said.
“Having a DLO based in Sunbury means that we can reach out to someone who understands the sometimes complex needs of our students, not just in situations where two-way communication and police presence may be
needed, but to enhance their learning and personal growth.
“Proactive policing like this is consistent with our approach to developing school-wide positive behaviours and helps build students’ confidence, trust and understanding of how police can help.”
For members of the disability community, like those who attend Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School, the additional support is invaluable.
And for Sen Sgt Kok, now in a permanent position at Sunbury Police Station, it’s a joy to provide.
“I feel lucky that there are things I can do to help out, as a police officer with lived experience in this space,” he said.
“It’s a privilege.” n
Editorial: Lane Mihaljevic
Photography: Jesse Wray-McCann
Image: Sen Sgt Jason Kok and other Sunbury police members with student leaders from Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School.
HARVESTING RELATIONSHIPS
With more than 11 million hectares of land in Victoria dedicated to agriculture about half the state’s total area there’s a lot of opportunity for farm-based criminal activity.
And it’s criminal activity with the potential to have far-reaching impacts — from loss of stock, machinery and income to illegal hunting and serious activism and biosecurity risks.
With such a big area of opportunity, it takes a connected, coordinated response from Victoria Police to stay on top of crime impacting the agricultural industry.
This response is led by the Farm Crime Coordination Unit (FCCU), a dedicated unit that targets farm crime by monitoring crime trends and patterns, collecting intelligence and working with local police and the community to proactively and reactively address issues.
Inspector Paul Hargreaves (pictured left) heads the unit in a role that combines his 30-plus years of regional policing experience with his farming background.
“My parents owned a farm when I was young and, even though they sold it and I spent years away, I always had an interest in farming,” Insp Hargreaves said.
“I purchased my own land in northeast Victoria where I run beef cattle and a few sheep — the sheep were purchased to train my kelpie.”
Insp Hargreaves works alongside farm crime analyst Sophie Kempf, who monitors and investigates farm-based crime themes that impact the farming community across the state.
Insp Hargreaves said many people thought of farm crime only as the theft of livestock, but the
RELATIONSHIPS
umbrella term also covers the theft of machinery, fuel and firearms, activism at farms, illegal hunting, and serious biosecurity offences committed by trespassers.
“Farming is a way of life, often running deep in family history, so the unlawful entry to farms, loss of livestock or machinery, has a significant impact on farmers,” he said.
“As police servicing a rural area, we must be connected and in tune with what matters in rural communities.
“It is important that we use our background knowledge and strong relationships to produce better outcomes for the agriculture sector, whether that be in the prevention of crime or the identification of offenders."
Working alongside the FCCU are Victoria Police’s Farm Crime Liaison Officers (FCLOs), who are based at stations or crime investigation units across the state.
Their role includes keeping an ear to the ground for farm crime trends in their area, assisting other police when farm crimes are reported, and liaising with the agricultural community to share crime prevention advice.
Like Insp Hargreaves, the majority of FCLOs have a background in the agricultural industry.
“Whether it’s being farmers themselves, having been stock agents, we’ve got some who have worked in abattoirs, worked with horses, sheep shearers and more,” he said.
“There’s a wide range of industry knowledge among our FCLOs. They are our local farm crime experts, and they understand their local
communities and the complexities regarding farm crime in their areas.”
Sergeant Jo Geddes (pictured above) is one such FCLO with a foothold in both policing and farming.
Sgt Geddes and her husband run a dairy farm near Orbost in East Gippsland.
“We run about 300 head of cattle and supply milk to Bega Cheese,” Sgt Geddes said.
“I’ve also been a police officer since 2005, stationed in Orbost since 2008, so out here I’m rather entrenched in both worlds.”
Sgt Geddes said this dual position in the community — Jo the farmer and Jo the police officer — gives her access to information that isn’t always reported to police.
“Our farmers in rural communities are often our ‘neighbourhood watch’,” she said.
“They notice things when they change, and they are the ones up getting cows in, harvesting grain, repairing equipment or dealing with a sick animal at all hours of the day.
“I go to a lot of industry events, whether as a farmer or a police officer, and just through general conversation you hear about things that just aren’t reported to us because it’s often seen as low importance in the scheme of the whole farm operation.”
Sgt Geddes recalls an investigation a few years ago, when Mallacoota Leading Senior Constable Gavin Murphy, then working as the only police officer at Omeo, heard about small numbers of cattle going missing from local farms.
“Gavin asked around his farming connections and found there were
several other farms in the Omeo patch that also noted a few of their cattle missing,” she said.
“Between a few FCLOs, local members and detectives, he was able to identify several farms from the East Gippsland area, each with no more than five cattle stolen.
“Gavin used this information to form an investigation and discovered that a criminal group was travelling around and taking a few cattle from different farms. They ended up stealing about a truckload that they then attempted to sell off.”
Sgt Geddes said without the strong farming connections FCLOs have in their areas, these thieves could have continued stealing cattle, causing greater financial loss for the region’s farmers.
“But it’s not just the crime prevention and investigation that’s important, it’s the personal connection and help we can provide to farmers,” she said.
After the devastating bushfires that decimated Victoria’s east in 2019-20, Sgt Geddes remembers the FCLO network pulling together to get feed to impacted farmers in the Orbost area.
“If we want farmers to be comfortable and confident to report crimes to us, it’s so important for us to build trust within the farming community,” Sgt Geddes said.
“The easiest way to do that is to show up and show them that we’re here, we’re a part of their community and give them confidence that we can help them when they need us.” n
Editorial: Danielle Ford
Photography: Jesse Wray-McCann and Bliss David
WEEDING OUT COUNTRY CRIME
Years chasing down dangerous criminals in the city gave Detective Leading Senior Constable Jason Hare plenty of opportunity to finely tune his investigative skills.
Those skills, honed during his time at the Melbourne Crime Investigation Unit (CIU), are now used to help farmers in the Campaspe area protect their livestock, equipment and biosecurity.
Det Ldg Sen Const Hare (pictured above) arrived at Campaspe CIU in 2008 when he left the city to return to his hometown of Cohuna to help his father run the family farm.
“I always knew I’d eventually come back and take it over — it has now been in the family for four generations,” he said.
Now, as the local Farm Crime Liaison Officer (FCLO), Det Ldg Sen Const Hare has built a reputation as the go-to person when something seems amiss in the agricultural industry.
“I always say to farmers and agents, even if it’s one cow, one sheep, one piece of machinery or a single tool that’s gone missing, report it to us, because if it was jewellery of similar value they would certainly report it,” he said.
“The more intelligence we have coming in, the higher the chances are of us picking up on crime trends, locating offenders and ultimately keeping properties and livelihoods safe.”
Det Ldg Sen Const Hare saw the damaging and ongoing impacts of farm crime firsthand when the theft and illegal sale of three heifers
in the Campaspe area in 2017 caused the area to be excluded from overseas export due to the discovery of the insect-borne bluetongue virus (BTV).
“Two men had stolen the heifers from somewhere up north and brought them into Victoria,” he said.
“They then cut the old (identification) tag off their ears and replaced them with their own tag and put them up for sale at the live export market.
“When the heifers were tested before export, they were found to have BTV. At the time, Victoria was classified as free of the disease.
“The men claimed they had bred the heifers on their farm down here, not wanting to be caught for the theft of them, and this caused a major biosecurity incident because this meant the area was no longer BTV free.”
Due to this incident, a significant exclusion zone was implemented in the area surrounding where the cattle were held.
This initially impacted the sale of cattle from the area, however, following surveillance and investigation by the relevant agency, the interim BTV status was removed.
“For them, it was about making a bit of extra money quickly, but their actions have had long-term impacts on the wider farming community here,” he said.
“That investigation took months and we worked very closely with Agriculture Victoria to ensure the two men were charged for their reckless actions.”
In addition to investigating crimes, Det Ldg Sen Const Hare is also focused on helping farmers to avoid becoming victims of crime.
“When I’m giving presentations to farmers, I like to give little tips like putting something like nail polish, paint or even an engraving on all your tools so if they ever go missing, there’s something about them that makes them identifiable,” he said.
“With how many other things farmers are focusing on, I know how important it is to make any crime prevention tips simple.
“I tell people all the time it’s the little things, like taking a few photos of your workshop or factory each month, so that if something does go missing, we can use those images to give us a timeframe of when they were stolen.” n
Editorial: Danielle Ford
Photography: Yuri Kouzmin
Det Ldg Sen Const Jason Hare regularly engages with local stock agents like Rohan Ibbs.
NATIONAL POLICE REMEMBRANCE DAY
SEPTEMBER 2024
In Victoria Police’s 171-year history, 175 police officers have died while serving their communities.
This year, Victorians are invited to recognise and pay respects to those officers on Friday, 27 September at the Melbourne service, or one of many to be held across the state.
On this day, police and members of the community across the country will pause to remember the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Visit police.vic.gov.au to find out more.
Victoria Police officers who have died in the line of duty
BRAKING
It’s probably no surprise that the members of Victoria Police’s State Highway Patrol Solo Unit are passionate about motorbikes.
After all, the 25-strong unit spends most of its working day on the back of a bike, traversing the state’s highways and local roads.
But if there’s one thing they’re more passionate about than the two-wheeled vehicles themselves, it’s the safety of people riding them.
In the first half of 2024, Victoria recorded a 75 per cent rise in the number of motorcyclists losing their lives compared to the same time last year.
And, according to VicRoads, about 950 motorcycle riders are killed or seriously injured in Victoria each year.
In response, the Solo Unit is committed to pulling out all stops to prevent any further trauma.
Motorcyclist safety is a longheld passion for Sergeant Brett Cunningham, who rode his first bike on his family's farm in the state's north-west at three years old.
“Growing up I spent a lot of time on bikes on the farm, and eventually on tracks and on the road as I got older,” Sgt Cunningham (pictured) said.
“My experiences riding personally, and seeing the impact of road trauma on the small town I grew up in, have led me to focus on motorcyclist safety in my day job.”
In a recent long weekend road policing operation across the state, Solo Unit members detected 50 offences by on-road and off-road motorcyclists, ranging from general traffic offences to unlicensed riders, and unregistered and unroadworthy bikes. The unit checked a further 130 motorcyclists for safety compliance, which gave members an opportunity to share some of their own safety advice.
“We travel all around the state on our bikes, probably a lot more than most people will, so we’re more than happy to share our experience and advice with other riders,” Sgt Cunningham said.
“When we come across a group, we first make sure everything is compliant and then we have a chat with them about good places to ride, good types of protective gear and things like that.
“It’s not unusual for us to give someone a ticket and then still have a good conversation with them about tracks in the area they might like to try.”
As the weather warms up, Sgt Cunningham and his colleagues are preparing for an increase in riders on the road and off-road tracks around the state.
“Around spring and summer, we know a lot of recreational riders will take their bikes out of the garage and get back on the road after a break during winter,” Sgt Cunningham said.
“But riding a motorbike is a perishable skill, so we know that
when people are hitting the road after not riding for a while, they’re at risk of getting in trouble.”
The warmer weather also presents a risk for riders who opt to skip protective gear in the heat.
“I can’t stress enough how important it is for riders to have all of their skin covered, including their hands and ankles,” Sgt Cunningham said.
“Serious injuries and skin abrasions are lifelong issues which can be avoided with some protection.”
Solo Unit Senior Sergeant John Papas said it was no secret that motorcyclists are more vulnerable than other road users.
“There’s not much between a rider and the road, so when things go wrong the consequences are often severe,” Sen Sgt Papas said.
“So while our members in the Solo Unit and right across Victoria Police will be working hard to keep riders safe, it’s important that riders also do their bit to enjoy their ride and make it home in one piece.” n
Editorial: Cassandra Stanghi
Photography: Jesse Wray-McCann
SGT CUNNINGHAM’S SOLO SAFETY
1 Wear a compliant helmet
“All motorcyclists are required to wear a helmet, but having one that’s compliant to the legal safety standard can be the difference between life and death or serious injury in a collision. I’ve seen riders lose their lives while wearing non-compliant helmets, so this is a non-negotiable.”
2 Invest in good quality protective gear
“In a perfect world, everyone would buy the best protective gear and spend whatever money they have leftover on a bike, but we know it’s usually people buying the most expensive motorbike then scraping whatever money they have leftover to buy some gear. A good jacket, pair of pants, boots and gloves are the only things protecting you from the road, so it’s worth the investment.”
THE CYCLE
TIPS
3 Build an emergency kit
“When we’re on patrol, we always have a first aid kit, an emergency blanket, something to light a fire, and having those emergency items has carried over into my own personal riding. It’s about preparing for the worst so you’re not caught short if you end up in an unexpected situation.”
Be aware of your visibility
“Many riders think cars can see them on the road or on a track when, in reality, we’re not that visible. It only takes a couple of near misses to realise that. My mentality is to ride defensively and assume other road users can’t see me so I can avoid being caught off guard.”
Make sure your bike is up to scratch
“We see a lot of recreational riders dust off their bikes after a few months when the weather is nicer without having it checked for issues. I’d suggest having your bike looked at by a mechanic if it’s been a while between rides and always make sure it’s in a safe and roadworthy condition.” 4 5
IT TAKES ALL KINDS
Police Life visited the busy Melbourne West Police Station to ask some of its members their reasons for joining the force, what keeps them coming to work, and their aspirations for the future.
1 CONSTABLE EBONY REINSMA
What was your job prior to joining Victoria Police?
I worked in an administration role at the Royal Children’s Hospital medical imaging department for two years. Before that, I spent eight years as a dental assistant. What area of policing do you most enjoy?
I’m really enjoying general duties for now. It’s fast-paced, and you never know what the day will bring.
2 SENIOR CONSTABLE ASHLEA ANDERSON
What was your job prior to joining Victoria Police?
I was a primary school teacher for three years. I taught Grade 2 and Grade 6 during that time — at least I was taller than the Grade 2 kids.
What’s your dream role at Victoria Police?
I don’t know if I have a dream role, as there’s so many different areas to choose from. But if I had to pick, I would go to the Dog Squad — who doesn’t like dogs?
3 SERGEANT GEORGE CHAHDA
What was your job prior to joining Victoria Police?
I spent 14 years as a specialist security operative in the private sector. I was also in the construction industry for a decade.
Why did you become a police officer?
I wanted to give back to the community and help people — particularly people from a multicultural background — to understand how our organisation operates.
4 CONSTABLE KATELYN CAMILLO
What was your job prior to joining Victoria Police?
I was a social worker.
What’s your dream role at Victoria Police?
I’ve loved every minute of general duties and can see myself staying in this area for a while longer. However, in the future, I aspire to become a detective and possibly join a Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team.
5 SENIOR SERGEANT PETER SAMBELL
What was your job prior to joining Victoria Police?
I had a few jobs. I worked as a storeman as well as in retail. I also worked as a gymnastics coach, which usually causes many people to break out in uncontrollable laughter.
Why did you become a police officer?
I’d always wanted a job where I could help people. I’d started doing some community volunteering and that really cemented my desire to select a vocation that was community focused.
8 SERGEANT IGLAY DANGASSAT
What did you do prior to joining Victoria Police?
I worked at the Department of Justice as a records officer.
What area of policing do you most enjoy?
I enjoy supervising junior members and guiding them to reach their full potential. I also enjoy serving the community, and I challenge myself to always leave a positive impact. Being part of the Victoria Police African Employee Network is also a highlight. I helped implement a mentoring program to assist new recruits of African heritage to achieve their goals.
9 FIRST CONSTABLE KODIE SPIEKMAN
What was your job prior to joining Victoria Police?
I worked as a Victorian Public Service employee for Victoria Police for a few years initially at the Forensic Services Centre in the DNA Management Unit, and as a property officer at Frankston Police Station.
What area of policing do you most enjoy?
I enjoy investigations and catching crooks. I love that I can receive a report, put in some hard work, figure out how and why someone has committed a crime and then ultimately bring them to account for their actions.
6
FIRST CONSTABLE ANTHEA NAUTA
What was your job prior to joining Victoria Police?
I was a creative director in branding and marketing.
Why did you become a police officer?
I’m very nosy — I’ve always been interested in what’s happening and why it’s happening. I also love the career progression opportunities — you can pretty much try your hand at anything.
7 FIRST CONSTABLE COREY HATTON
What was your job prior to joining Victoria Police?
I was in the Australian Defence Force, in the army as an infantry soldier. I am still currently employed as an army reservist.
What area of policing do you most enjoy?
I like the high stress and challenge of general duties policing, working in the small team environment where it’s you and your partner in the car making decisions to achieve a common goal.
10 FIRST CONSTABLE HAYLEY FAULWETTER
What was your job prior to joining Victoria Police?
I worked in administration in the petroleum industry. I wore many hats, from payroll and managing bank accounts and business expenses, to coordinating logistics for employees on nationwide business trips.
What’s your dream role at Victoria Police?
I would love to end up at the Missing Persons Squad or at a unit that investigates cold cases one day. This job is very diverse, so I intend to try out a few things and see what suits me best.
LIKE FATHER,
Sen Const Aari Mellington has followed his father Ldg Sen Const Pete Mellington into single-officer station policing.
LIKE SON
The number of Victoria Police officers who have followed their parents into the job is almost countless, but Pete and Aari Mellington are a rarity.
The father and son have the unique honour of both serving at single-member stations within the same police service area (PSA).
Earlier this year, Aari, a senior constable, became the sole police officer in the small town of Jeparit.
He follows in the footsteps of his father Pete, a leading senior constable, who has been at the single-member station in Natimuk for the past nine years.
As the crow flies, the two small towns are about 65km apart in the Horsham PSA in the state’s west.
It’s a region that has forged both of their careers.
“My first station straight out of the Academy was Horsham, so in those first few years, I was living at Natimuk with Mum and Dad, and I got to see through Dad what single-member policing is all about,” Aari said.
“Dad’s people skills are the crux of what he does at Natimuk.
“His knowledge of the town and his ability to remember things about the people in his community are why he is such a good fit there.”
Aari grew up seeing his father as a police officer, with Pete having started at the Victoria Police Academy when Aari was five years old, before going on to work at stations such as Bacchus Marsh, Ballarat, Horsham, Murtoa and Dimboola.
Pete never tried to pressure or influence Aari to join Victoria Police but had some valuable advice for him when he decided on a career in policing.
“I told him to go out and work other jobs and learn how to deal with all kinds of people because the best tool we have in this job is knowing how to talk to people,”
Pete said.
“I’ve been to some pretty nasty jobs that have ended up not so bad because we were able to talk to that person.”
Aari duly followed his father’s wise advice, working a number of different jobs around Australia, including in retail and at an oat mill.
“Fresh out of school, I had a 9-5 job at Retravision and that was dealing with people day-in, day-out. Some were happy to see you and some angry to see you because their TV isn’t working,”
Aari said.
“When I was crushing oats, I got promoted to supervisor very quickly and I was only 19 or so.
“I was working with blokes 30 or 40 years my senior who did not want to listen to a young little whippersnapper, so I had to work out how to manage that.”
It proved to be priceless experience when Aari and a colleague responded to a mental health incident in Dimboola where a teenager was threatening his family with a knife and an axe.
“We were talking with this kid for nearly an hour but he was very irate, very wound-up,” he said.
“But then he pointed at our police car and said, ‘You’re lucky it’s a Holden’, and that was our in.”
Aari and his colleague began talking to the teenager about their fellow appreciation of cars and eventually convinced him to put the weapons down and get the help he needed.
“That was a career highlight for me because without that ability to connect with him, it was a situation that could have ended badly with injuries or fatalities,” he said.
While Pete has been a constant sounding board for Aari throughout his career, it has not always been one-way traffic.
As Victoria Police continued to improve and update its response to family violence matters, Pete was able to seek help from Aari, who had learned a new digital reporting system fresh out of the Academy.
“I’m no good at technology, but I can just phone Aari and say, ‘Show me how to make this work’,” Pete said.
“It’s better than making myself look like a dill when I ask for help from someone I don’t know.”
The pair’s boss, Senior Sergeant Eddie Malpas is thrilled to have them both serving their small communities.
"When Aari started at Jeparit, I thought 'Do I need to do the coach's address? Do I need to say 'This is what I expect, this is what we want?'," Sen Sgt Malpas said.
“But I haven’t, and I won’t need to, because everything I know about Aari, and the fact that he is his father’s son, tells me that he well and truly understands the role and he’s going to do really well.
“On a professional and personal level, it’s really special having them out here both as single-members and I’m excited to see what they can get up to.” n
Editorial and photography: Jesse Wray-McCann
30kg
is the weight applicants must be able to grip with each hand to join Victoria Police as a frontline member.
Find out more about the fitness testing and recruitment process at police.vic.gov.au/police-recruitment-process
70 Disability Liaison Officers (DLOs) were appointed earlier this year to provide additional support to members of the community with disability.
950 motorcycle riders are killed or seriously injured in Victoria each year.
Read about the unit dedicated to bringing this number down on PAGE 16
2200 nautical miles of Victoria’s coastline is monitored by Water Police.
Read about the team’s newest skipper on PAGE 9
Find out more about Victoria Police’s DLOs on PAGE 10
13,089
Victorians participated in the 2024 Victoria Police Community Sentiment Survey. The results provide police with valuable insight into community concerns and allow police across the state to make community-led decisions about crime targeting.
95% of stolen cars are successfully recovered by Victoria Police.
To find out what you can do to prevent your car from being stolen in the first place, go to PAGE 26
1955
is the year Police Life magazine was published for the first time. The publication will celebrate its 70th anniversary next year.
27 SEPTEMBER
is the date Victoria Police is holding a service in Melbourne for police and members of the community to pay their respects to the brave men and women who have died in the line of duty.
Find out more on PAGE 15
STEPHEN SHEAHAN
RANK: DETECTIVE SENIOR SERGEANT
GRADUATED: 8 MARCH 1996
STATION: YARRA RANGES CRIME INVESTIGATION UNIT
WHY DID YOU JOIN VICTORIA POLICE?
I wanted to be a policeman ever since I left school. Former Belgrave Senior Sergeant Bill Sharp, who was my best mate’s father, gave me the best life advice I’ve ever had. He told me in 1978, “Stephen, get an apprenticeship, then consider joining the police force”. So, I went and got an apprenticeship, and I stayed in the building industry for 15 years. I had my own business until I joined the police force in 1995 at the age of 32.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER.
I worked in general duties at several Melbourne stations, then got my first detective position at Malvern Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) in 2002. From there, I worked in two organised crime taskforces and joined the Homicide Squad in 2005. I got promoted to sergeant at Yarram in Gippsland in 2010. I’ve got wonderful admiration for country policing and the people who do it. My first call-out was a fatal helicopter crash in a logging coupe. I also had a couple of bushfires and a flood. I moved to Sale as an acting senior sergeant, then back to Crime Command to the drug taskforce as a detective sergeant in 2012 before returning to the Homicide Squad in 2014. I got promoted to Professional Standards Command investigations in 2019 and spent two years there before landing my current role in 2021.
WHAT WORK DOES THE CIU DO?
CIU detectives are responsible for initial action and investigation for every type of offence involving serious crime against a person and property. This could range from the offences of murder, assaults, and theft of property. CIU detectives ensure the crime scene is secure, take charge, take notes, and speak to witnesses. We work through all avenues of inquiry and determine whether the job becomes a category one offence, where the relevant crime squad takes over the investigation, or a category two offence, which stays with the CIU to investigate. It’s a challenging space to work in where investigative techniques are changing all the time, inspiring detectives to think outside the square to keep ahead of criminals.
WHAT’S ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE JOBS YOU’VE WORKED ON?
In 2006, a real estate agent named Lorelle Makin was murdered by a stranger at a house inspection. We had no idea who was responsible, so it took a considerable amount of investigation to identify a suspect. Most homicides you find the people are known to one another. But this was a random killing of an innocent lady, a well-respected community member, the mother of two adult children. It stands out to me because she was a normal person, and her life was just taken away in a minute.
IS THERE A STAND-OUT EXPERIENCE OF YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
Working at the Homicide Squad was probably the pinnacle of my career. I had very good mentors and colleagues that I worked with and learned from. To investigate and solve someone’s murder takes a lot of time and passion. Also, working at Yarra Ranges CIU with a team of motivated people who I admire. It makes me proud and inspires me to see them working productively together to make a difference for the community.
WHAT’S YOUR ADVICE FOR PEOPLE CONSIDERING A POLICING CAREER?
The sky’s the limit. When I joined, I always wanted to be a detective and I always wanted to work at the Homicide Squad, and I was able to achieve that. If you set yourself goals and work hard, you stand a very good chance of being able to live out your dreams. n
Editorial: Emily Wan
Photography: Jesse Wray-McCann
CLOSING COMPLEX CASES
It was early in the morning of 25 February 2003 when two armed men broke into a travel agency on Burke Road in Kew.
After locking three female workers in a toilet, the men forced a fourth woman, at gunpoint, to unlock a safe that housed thousands of traveller’s cheques in mixed foreign currency.
Still holding the worker at gunpoint, one of the men stuffed almost 2000 cheques, totalling $250,000, into his backpack and forced the worker into the toilet with the other women before fleeing on foot.
At around the same time, Inspector Leigh Howse, then a constable just three years into his policing career, was working as a general duties
officer at Richmond Police Station with no idea that a decade later he would be part of the team that would bring these men to justice.
In 2008, Insp Howse (pictured) was a detective senior constable working in the Armed Crime Squad and was assigned the job as part of a cold case review.
“I was working through the file data and conducting checks to see if we could find any links between this offence and any persons of interest (POIs) in a few other cases around the same time,” Insp Howse said.
Cross-referencing these other cases, he was able to identify two POIs who could be placed in the Kew area around the same time the armed robbery took place.
Using other evidence, including phone records, travel documents, CCTV and multiple search warrants on banks, Insp Howse and his Armed Crime Squad colleagues were also able to place both POIs in Perth at the same time as some of the stolen cheques were cashed.
This kicked off a chain of events that would eventually result in a four-year jail sentence for each of the two men, just days before the 10th anniversary of the terrifying event.
CASES
“Thinking about all the cases I’ve investigated throughout my career, this is one that sticks out to me,” Insp Howse said.
“Not only was it a complex investigation that took years of meticulous interviewing, evidence gathering and puzzle piecing, but it was a case where I think the victims had lost hope of an answer.
“It was a really significant moment when we got the outcome in court and were able to provide a bit of comfort and closure for the four women.”
It’s a theme that comes through strongly when Insp Howse reflects on his career to date — no matter how horrific or complex the case, it’s the outcome and answers for victims that seem to mean the most.
In 2011, while still with the Armed Crime Squad, Insp Howse was assigned a case where two young teenagers had broken into a 63-year-old-man's house in Shepparton and stabbed him 17 times.
“He was close to dying and was ultimately flown down to the Alfred Hospital,” Insp Howse said.
“I remember turning up to the hospital and speaking to his partner and the very first thing she said to me was, ‘please find who is responsible’.
“You instantly build a close connection with the victim and their families and that makes you want to run a thorough, strong investigation so you can get those answers and find out who is responsible for them.”
In this case, Insp Howse recalls that while investigators were able to identify the offenders and build a solid case, a Supreme Court jury ultimately found one of the accused not guilty of the attempted murder charge despite significant forensic evidence and a statement from the co-accused.
“It’s a case that, while we didn’t get the whole outcome we wanted in court, it sticks with me because the victim and his partner were so thankful we found who had done it and got a conviction for something,” he said.
“I still receive phone calls from him every now and then, almost 15 years later.”
In a 24-year career, most spent investigating armed crimes, homicides, and outlaw motorcycle gangs, you’d expect there to be standout jobs and cases.
But as he’s risen through the ranks and moved into management positions, Insp Howse said some of the highlights in recent years have been playing his part in establishing innovative new teams and taskforces.
In 2020, as a detective senior sergeant, he was part of a two-person team that set up Victoria Police’s Illicit Firearms Squad, the first dedicated firearms investigation unit in Australia.
Two years later, he was part of a three-person team that established VIPER Taskforce, a tactical and investigative unit focused on preventing, detecting, deterring, disrupting and dismantling the criminal activities within crime gangs.
“Helping put these teams into place that support our frontline members to be able to better serve the community and respond to crime is something that really stands out as a highlight of my career,” Insp Howse said.
He said providing support for colleagues — for both work and personal issues — has also become a high priority since his progression into management roles.
“You’re trying to find answers for people in their worst times, putting in really long hours as an investigative team, hours spent away from your families, and it can generate a lot of pressure.
“While you remember the jobs over the years, you remember the people you worked with just as much — people who support you not only with the work, but also with personal things.
“So looking after our people has become a big focus for me.”
Having recently become an inspector in Victoria Police’s Legal Services Department, Insp Howse said his move away from crime investigation aligns with his view on “good policing”.
“Being a good police officer isn’t just about chasing and catching crooks,” he said.
“It’s about engaging with people, whether that’s the general community, victims, witnesses or even the offenders, and being able to build the connections to get all the information you need to complete your job.” n
Editorial: Danielle Ford
Photography: Jesse Wray-McCann
RAMPING UP SAFETY
On any given night, millions of people across Victoria are in their homes, having dinner, watching TV, folding the washing or sleeping soundly in their beds.
But in recent years, these routine evenings have been terrifyingly interrupted for thousands of Victorians as criminals, some as young as 12, break into their homes in search of keys to steal cars.
According to Victoria’s Crime Statistics Agency, 5887 residential aggravated burglaries — defined as a burglary that happens while people are present in the house being burgled — had been committed in the 12 months to the end of December 2023, an almost 30 per cent increase year-on-year.
Acting Superintendent Luke Kirton has seen the impacts of these crimes firsthand, having spent seven months working on Operation Trinity, a dedicated police response to this growing crime trend, and in his role as crime inspector for Eastern Region.
“While our intelligence shows that more than 95 per cent of aggravated burglaries don’t result in any confrontation, there aren’t many scarier thoughts for people
than having an intruder in their home,” A/Supt Kirton said.
A/Supt Kirton said Victoria Police had launched Operation Trinity across specific parts of Greater Melbourne — where most of the offending was occurring — in early 2023 to target recidivist offenders.
“The data tells us that the majority of offences are being committed by the same people, which is pretty confronting,” he said.
“During an operation we ran from March 2023 to June 2024, police made more than 1400 arrests relating to 1537 burglaries where cars were stolen.
“From this, 20 offenders were responsible for almost 20 per cent of these offences and the average age of this group of top offenders was just 15.”
A/Supt Kirton said police were recovering about 95 per cent of these cars.
“We are finding that the cars are being dumped, or intercepted, by police within hours of being stolen
and that these young offenders seem to be stealing them for the thrill and for likes on social media,” he said.
“When our members interview these offenders, they tell us they will just walk up and down a street trying to access multiple houses until they find one with a door or window unlocked.”
A/Supt Kirton said while police will continue to patrol known hotspots and apprehend offenders, community members can also play their part to help keep themselves and their homes safe.
“While these offences are random and never the fault of the residents, there are simple things everyone can do to decrease the risks of their homes being broken into and their cars being stolen,” he said.
“If your garage connects to your house through an internal door, it’s important to lock that connecting door — even if your garage is properly shut — as offenders have been using garage doors as an entry point to houses. Make sure you’re always locking any external doors and checking that all windows are secure.
“Everyone has the right to feel safe and comfortable in their own home but unfortunately there are people out there who don’t respect this right, so we need to do everything we can to protect ourselves.”
A/Supt Kirton also stressed the importance of remaining safe and contacting police should anyone find themselves the victim of an aggravated burglary or car theft.
“If you're in a situation where someone is in your house, our advice is to get everyone in the house to safety and to call Triple Zero (000) as quickly as possible,” he said.
“Property can be replaced but people can’t, so we don’t advise anyone to confront the offenders.
“If you don’t see the offence taking place but find your vehicle has been stolen after the fact, you should report this to police through the Police Assistance Line on 131 444.” n
Editorial: Danielle Ford
TIPS TO INCREASE YOUR SAFETY
% Make sure all external doors are locked.
% Check that all windows are properly secured.
% Lock internal doors connecting the garage to your house.
% Remove garage remote controls from vehicles when parked, even when parked in locked garages.
% Avoid confrontation with anyone breaking into the house.
% If an offence is taking place, call Triple Zero (000) as soon as safely possible.
% If an offence has occurred but is not currently taking place, report it through the Police Assistance Line on 131 444
LEAVING AN INTERNATIONAL IMPACT
Senior Constable Paul Henry is trying to track down two men who have escaped from prison.
The Victoria Police officer is confident he knows where they are hiding but he is hesitant to go because it’s a hostile, separatistheld region.
This rebel territory is not in Victoria. It’s not even in Australia.
It’s in Bougainville, an island north of Australia that lies between Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
Sen Const Henry, now an inspector, was there with three other Victoria Police officers from November 2004 to May 2005 as part of an Australian Federal Police-led mission to help develop the local police force after Bougainville had gone through many years of civil war.
It is one of many such international peacekeeping, training and liaison missions Victoria Police has
deployed officers to over several decades.
Victoria Police’s first ever involvement in an overseas deployment was 60 years ago as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, which started in 1964 to prevent further violence between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.
Ten officers were part of the first Victoria Police group sent to Cyprus, with Inspector Frank Holland serving as the officer in charge of the overall Australian contingent of 40 officers.
The Cyprus mission continued until 2017, with dozens of Victoria Police officers taking part over the decades.
Senior Sergeant Paul van Gemert is president of the Victorian branch of the Police Overseas Service Association.
“Victoria Police members have played an important part in
peacekeeping, peacemaking and peacebuilding missions around the world,” Sen Sgt van Gemert said.
“In the majority of those missions, our roles have mainly been around mentoring, developing and building the capacity of that country’s police force so they can take responsibility for the security within their country.”
Sen Sgt van Gemert’s own overseas deployment was to Timor-Leste from 2010 to 2011 as the Police Liaison Officer to United Nations Police and the developing Timor-Leste Police Force.
“These deployments were sometimes very challenging because you were dealing with big cultural differences, especially when it came to corruption and the levels of respect for people in positions of authority,” he said.
“We were placed into hostile political situations so it was also pretty confronting to see people killed in front of your eyes and starvation as well.
“And when there is a hand grenade thrown over the wall of your compound, as well as darts and rocks being launched at your vehicles, it makes you realise that not everyone wants you in their country.
“In contrast, most of the people were welcoming and happy you were helping to rebuild their nation.
“Being part of building the capacity of the local police force and seeing it through to the point where it takes over responsibility from the United Nations for internal security, it really was something special.”
Commander Therese Fitzgerald was a leading senior constable when she went on deployments to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands in the mid-2000s.
Cmdr Fitzgerald drew on her extensive prosecutions experience for both deployments, which included playing a lead role in bringing the Solomon Islands’ legal system up to speed ahead of several trials of militia leaders for crimes committed during years of civil unrest in the country.
“It was incredibly satisfying because we were doing something new over there by establishing their prosecutions support unit, where we did things like establish security at the courts and locate and coordinate witnesses,”
Cmdr Fitzgerald said.
“It was something I knew would make a real difference, particularly around integrity issues.
“The deployments also gave me a new perspective on Victoria Police and helped me really appreciate everything we have here.”
Insp Henry said the local police he worked with in Bougainville
were full of gratitude for the help and advice the Australian police offered them.
“They were like sponges and were very keen to put Bougainville on the path to modern policing, earning the trust of their community and making their country a better place,” Insp Henry said.
One of those was an officer called Chris Mate, who partnered Insp Henry in the mission to track down the two prison escapees who had gone into the separatist region held by the Me’ekamui community.
“Chris Mate had a real gift of the gab and managed to convince the armed guards at the entrance to this no-go zone to produce these two fugitives,” Insp Henry said.
“Myself and an Australian Federal Police officer Michael Turner thought they would bring them to us at the gate, which was fine by us because we were unarmed.
“There had been a wise decision not to arm the Australian police in Bougainville because it would help prevent any tensions becoming escalated.
“But then we were asked to join these guards and they would take us into the bush to get the prisoners.
“Chris was extremely confident that it would all be fine, but Michael and I were thinking, ‘What are we doing sitting in a troop carrier with armed members of the Me’ekamui and not knowing where we’re going, and no one knows where we are?’
“But true to their word, and credit to Chris’ people skills, they did produce the two men and we took them back safely.” n
Editorial: Jesse Wray-McCann
Photography: Supplied Victoria Police overseas deployments
Victoria Police sergeants Arthur Hamilton and Paul Butler with Steve Dale from Tasmanian Police in Cyprus, 1971.
Insp Paul Henry in Bougainville with local police officer Chris Mate, an armed guard and an alleged prison escapee.
Cmdr Therese Fitzgerald with the Boroko Prosecutions team in Papua New Guinea.
Top left (opposite): Sen Sgt Paul van Gemert with fellow Australians at an Anzac Day service in Dili, Timor-Leste.
TEAM EFFORT: Senior Sergeant Scott Hamilton responds to a bus rollover in Seymour alongside our emergency services partners.
SEEING DOUBLE: First Constable Mitch Lay celebrates his identical twin brother Constable Joel Lay’s graduation at the Victoria Police Academy.
PRECIOUS CARGO: Senior Constable Grace Buckley takes time out for a cuddle while checking child car seats in vehicles at Melbourne Zoo.
SEARCH AT SEA: Victoria Police’s Marine Search and Rescue Team carries out an operation in Portland.
ACADEMY LIFE: Police recruit Constable Danielle Taylor with her squad mates before class.
PRESSING PAWS: LGBTIQA+ Liaison Officer Constable Sue Garland finds a furry friend in Bendigo’s Pride in the Park event.
NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES: Members of the Melbourne Proactive Policing Unit with local superheroes in Melbourne’s CBD.
NEVER FORGOTTEN: The Victoria Police Academy glowing purple for the Safe Steps candlelight vigil in memory of those who have been killed by domestic and family violence.
TASKFORCE DOUSING CRIME SYNDICATES
More than 12 months after a spate of arsons, extortions and non-fatal shootings related to the illicit tobacco trade kicked off, Victoria Police is continuing to focus on dismantling the groups behind these offences through its dedicated taskforce.
Taskforce Lunar was launched in October 2023 to investigate organised crime syndicates believed to be heavily involved in the illicit tobacco trade and an ongoing dispute for profit.
Since then, the taskforce has executed more than 60 search warrants at properties linked to illicit tobacco and arrested more than 80 people.
Taskforce Lunar Officer in Charge Detective Inspector Graham Banks said to build on these results, the taskforce will continue to look at a variety of disruption strategies with a key focus on the facilitators, trusted insiders and those higher up in the syndicates — not just those cheaply tasked with carrying out the arsons.
“More than anything, we need information from the community. If people are aware of illicit activity linked to a tobacco store or other business near them, we need them to come forward with that information so police can act,” Det Insp Banks said.
“Essentially it is about preventing as much harm to the Victorian community as possible — whether that’s by stopping the arsons, disrupting these organised crime groups and the serious offending they are involved in, or holding as many offenders as possible to account.”
The taskforce works closely with VIPER Taskforce and regional police, as well as a range of external agencies such as Australian Border Force, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Australian Federal Police and Australian Taxation Office. n
CARRYING ON A POLICING LEGACY
When Sergeant Daniel Thorne handed his daughter, Constable Maddison Thorne, her Freddie at her graduation, he was handing over more than just a badge — he was passing on generations of policing experience.
Policing runs deep in the Thorne family. In addition to her dad being a police officer, Maddison’s greatgrandfather Mervyn Thorne was a member and retired as a sergeant and her grandfather Robert was a chief inspector.
Maddison is the fourth generation of her family to join the ranks at Victoria Police, something she has had her sights on since she was young.
“I don’t remember a time when I didn’t consider joining,” Maddison said.
“Growing up, Dad always spoke so highly of the job and always had great stories to tell.
“He was open with me about the challenges of it but always made it sound like a great career.”
Proud dad Daniel recalls Maddison wanting to dress up as a police officer as a child.
“She was always asking to put my uniform on, and we have many photos of her dressed up in it,” Daniel said.
“To see her follow through on her dreams and be in her own uniform now is just so amazing.” n
PSO LEADERS GO BACK TO CLASS
Protective services officer (PSO) recruits are set to benefit from the decades of real-world experience of their Victoria Police Academy instructors as part of a new training initiative.
With an increase in the number of PSO recruits set to complete their training in 2024 and 2025, one PSO senior sergeant and four PSO sergeants have been invited to the Academy to assist.
The supervising officers, normally based in Melbourne's CBD, Frankston, Caulfield and Eltham, started their nine-month stint at the Academy in May and have already proven to be a great addition to the Foundation Program team.
Tasked with the training and assessment of PSO recruits during their 12 weeks at the Academy, the five supervising PSOs play a key role in their learning experience.
Foundation Program Delivery
Acting Superintendent Susan Landy said their intimate knowledge of the PSO role and requirements was invaluable.
“This is the first time that supervising PSOs have been used to deliver training to PSOs at foundation level,” A/Supt Landy said.
“And so far, it’s been fantastic for the recruits, because they’ve been able to learn directly from the senior PSOs’ collective experience and time in the job.” n
Retired Chief Insp Robert Thorne, Const Maddison Thorne and Sgt Daniel Thorne at the Victoria Police Academy.
PSO Sen Sgt Christopher Jeffery, PSO Sgt Mohammed Alam, PSO Sgt Mark Bolger, PSO Sgt Franco Difuccio, and PSO Sgt John Huffman.
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