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 below).

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