WAPU Police News - February 2014

February 2014 Blue line fever

Police sports stars combine their passions

Facing the flames

Officer loses everything while fighting the Parkerville fires

WAPU farewells Directors Hear from the five departing Directors

THE MAGAZINE FOR THE

WA

POLICE UNION

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POLICE NEWS THE MAGAZINE FOR THE WA POLICE UNION

CONTENTS

10

Blue line fever A number of police officers have played professional sport while serving. Steven Glover explores just how they managed it.

16

06 W APU Directors and staff

33 Legal

08 President’s Report 22 Opinion

35 Motoring 36 Entertainment 38 Member Benefits

24 Q&A 26 Industrial Report

39 Retirements and Vale

28 Field Report

40 New Members

31 Health

42 Where are they now?

Facing the flames Jessica Porter talks to Constable Kean Ball-Hornblow who lost everything in the Parkerville fires however, still went and helped save other homes.

21

WAPU Directors moving on The Union farewells its five departing Directors.

4 Police News FEBRUARY 2014

WA

POLICE UNION

639 Murray Street West Perth WA 6005 P (08) 9321 2155 F (08) 9321 2177 E admin@wapu.org.au Office hours Monday-Friday 7am-4pm After Hours Emergency Director 0438 080 930 www.wapu.org.au Follow us on twitter @WAPoliceUnion

DISCLAIMER WAPU (“Publisher”) advises that the contents of this publication are the sole discretion of the WA Police Union and the magazine is offered for information purposes only.

The publication has been formulated in good faith and the Publisher believes its contents to be accurate, however, the contents do not amount to a recommendation (either expressly or by implication) and should not be relied upon in lieu of specific professional advice. The Publisher disclaims all responsibility for any loss or damage which may be incurred by any reader relying upon the information contained in the publication whether that loss or damage is caused by any fault or negligence on the part of the Publishers, its Directors or employees.

COPYRIGHT All materials in this publication are subject to copyright and written authorisation from WAPU is required prior to reproduction in any form.

ADVERTISING Advertisements in this journal are solicited from organisations and businesses on the understanding that no special considerations other than those normally accepted in respect of commercial dealings, will be given to the advertiser. All advertising is undertaken in good faith and WAPU takes no responsibility for information contained in advertisements.

PUBLISHED BY WA Police Union 639 Murray Street West Perth WA 6005 (08) 9321 2155 ADVERTISING WA Police Union (08) 9321 2155

Above Former State Cricketer Matt Garnaut is now working with the Major Crime Squad. cover Senior Constable Paul Mifka pictured in front of his old locker in the West Perth rooms at Arena Joondalup, which are named in his honour.

Pictures: Jody D’Arcy Photography

WA

POLICE UNION

24/7 EMERGENCY Director

Board of Directors

GEORGE TILBURY President 0409 105 898

BRANDON SHORTLAND Vice President 0419 802 650

JON GROVES Deputy Vice President 0438 080 868

WENDY ROUTHAN Executive Assistant

JESSICA PORTER Media Officer

MICK KELLY Treasurer & 24/7 Emergency 0438 080 930

Staff

PAUL HUNT Secretary

6 Police News FEBRUARY 2014

Chris Vitler Finance Manager

STEVEN GLOVER Media Officer

Board of Directors & Staff

EMERGENCY all-hours Director MICk KELLY

0438 080 930

HARRY ARNOTT Director 0407 989 008

PETER KELLY Senior Industrial Officer

LINDSAY GARRATT Director 0407 775 050

Andrea Wyllie Industrial Officer

MICk GILL Director 0427 097 000

JANE BAkER Research Officer

KEVIN McDONALD Director 0434 833 283

DAVE LAMPARD Field Officer (Safety)

PETER POTTHOFF Director 0407 476 679

DEAN GIACOMINI Field Officer (Branches and Training)

HARRY RUSSELL Director 0412 585 429

TARRYN SMITH Accounts Officer

JAIMEE McCAGH Administration Officer

PENNY BROWN Administration Officer 7

Police News FEBRUARY 2014

George Tilbury President

New look Police News February 2014 marks a new era for our beloved Police News.

After nine months of hard work, we finally have the first edition of our revamped Union magazine.

I encourage Members to voice their concerns and issues in this forum as well as comments about some of the articles which appear in the magazine.

I trust all Members will enjoy the new format, will read this edition and future ones to come, cover to cover.

The first edition for this year simply highlights the diversity which exists in our police family.

From police officers working full time and playing professional and semi-professional sport to Members who gave up their time to fight fires. It is a true illustration of the great people we have as WA Police Union Members.

As well as the accounts of our Members’ experiences, you will also be able to catch up on all our Industrial and Field issues, as well as educate yourself in a number of other areas.

Another welcome edition is our Entertainment Section with the opportunity for Members to win movie tickets, books, DVDs and CDs. For more information about how to win these fantastic prizes, turn to page 36 of this edition.

An important part of future editions will be the Letters to the Editor page.

I encourage Members to voice their concerns and issues in this forum as well as comments about some of the articles which appear in the magazine.

Please send your letters via email to admin@wapu.org.au and put “Letter to the Editor” in the subject. A selection will be published each edition starting in April.

I wish to take this opportunity to thank the Police Association of South Australia and in particular its Journal Editor, Brett Williams, for all his advice during the revamp.

I also extend a thank you to our new Graphic Designer Sam Kleidon, Photographer Jody D’Arcy and our Media Team for all their hard work to get this edition to print.

CCC It seems as though I discuss the Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) in nearly every President’s Report.

Following our evidence in December to the Joint Standing Committee on the CCC, we were invited to take our claims of poor treatment of police officers by CCC investigators to the Joint Standing Committee.

8

In January, I wrote a letter to Committee Chairman Nick Goiran and outlined our concerns which fell into the broad categories of: contact with police officers, requests for voluntary interviews, conduct of voluntary interviews and treatment during hearings.

My letter gave examples from Members of their treatment at the hands of the CCC which will assist the Committee to form the view that evidence does exist to support and substantiate our position that police officers are not being treated fairly and reasonably by the CCC. We have also made a complaint to Mr Goiran about the impartiality of Parliamentary Inspector Michael Murray, after he wrote a letter to the CCC following our advice to Members not to participate in voluntary interviews.

I voiced my concerns about his impartiality during our oral evidence to the Committee in December and was asked to explain how and why we had come to this view.

Our view is that police officers are likely to be discouraged from complaining to the Parliamentary Inspector given the adversarial and judgemental position he has adopted.

The Union believes he acted outside his powers in sending this letter. He should not have commented on this matter as it’s beyond the scope of his functions.

I await a response to both letters.

Workforce Reform Bill Members will be familiar with the Barnett Government’s attempts to pass the Workforce Reform Bill prior to the Christmas break.

After lobbying and discussion with State Politicians by WAPU Directors and staff, the Bill was referred to a Parliamentary Committee.

This is a massive win for the Union as it allowed us time to compile a submission to the Committee and give evidence to outline exactly why police officers should be excluded from the provisions of the Bill.

Our submission is complete and we now eagerly await the findings of the inquiry which are due to be tabled in State Parliament on February 25.

President's report

Political correctness has now gone too far and this latest trial by media is yet another example of the judiciary not having an appreciation and understanding of the difficulties police encounter whilst doing their job.

Members will be advised immediately of the outcome of the findings and the implications for police.

Departing Directors On behalf of the Board, staff and Members I would like to thank our five outgoing Directors for their valuable help and assistance during their time with us.

Due to retirements, transfers within WA Police and other opportunities, Directors Colin Johnston, Jill Willoughby, Mark Fyfe, Mike Sparkman and Merv Lockhart have resigned from the Board of Directors.

I would like to recognise these Directors and acknowledge the hard work they have undertaken over the years for you and our organisation. Their contribution, time and service are much appreciated and we wish them well in their future endeavours.

At the time of going to print, the Electoral Commission and the Union were in the process of finalising a call for nominations. Members will be advised accordingly of the nomination and election process once it has been completed.

Police officers consider appeal to taser conviction I was absolutely shocked and disappointed at the conviction and sentence handed down to Sergeant Aaron Grant Strahan and police auxiliary officer Troy Gregory Tomlin in the Perth Magistrates Court.

The Union believes each officer was wrongly convicted of three counts of assault by Magistrate Richard Bromfield and were given manifestly unjust sentences. Each were given suspended jail terms as well as fines in excess of $3000.

The Members have the Union’s full support and we will now assist them to consider their options in appealing their sentences and convictions.

The outcome will strike fear into the minds of every police officer who carries a taser.

Tasers were brought in to provide another less than lethal force option and prevent injury to police officers and others. This incident is a case in point, as no one was injured. However, officers are now faced with the prospect of criminal convictions clouding their decision if they use their taser.

Political correctness has now gone too far and this latest trial by media is yet another example of the judiciary not having an appreciation and understanding of the difficulties police encounter whilst doing their job. People in our custody have fallen foul of the law and are rarely law abiding citizens. While they deservedly have rights, if we give them anymore it will be akin to the lunatics running the asylum.

Whilst likely to be controversial, a sensible debate now needs to take place about whether tasers should be used for compliance, given that Department of Corrective Services officers are permitted to use them in these circumstances.

If such a move was to occur, this would provide certainty to all officers when using tasers and ensure that persons in custody who are lawfully required by police to do something, are fully aware that failure to comply will have consequences.

WA Police now needs to look at its policy and review taser use guidelines as a matter of priority. The final product needs to be structured in such a way that authorised usage is clearly defined and provides the highest level of support to police officers who are under siege on the frontline.

9

© THE WEST AUSTRALIAN

01 Marty Atkins.

02 Marty Atkins (right) during the 2001 WAFL Grand Final against East Perth.

03 Matt Moody.

04 Matt Moody playing for Perth during the 2013 WAFL season.

01 02

10 Police News FEBRUARY 2014

By Steven Glover

F

04

© THE WEST AUSTRALIAN

03

ormer South Fremantle captain Marty Atkins was arguably one of the most recognisable WAFL players of the 1990s and early 2000s.

The six-foot-three Englishman played a record 266 games for Souths and he was also a police officer for his entire WAFL career.

Atkins, as it turns out, was instrumental in the development of a young footballer called Matt Moody.

Moody was drafted by the Brisbane Lions in 2003 and embarked on a five-year AFL career which yielded 34 games and 14 goals in five seasons. However, by the end of 2008 he was delisted and returned to Perth.

From that point, Moody’s focus changed to policing.

He always wanted to be a police officer just like his boyhood idol.

“I found out that Marty was a copper and always saw him with his police uniform on and I decided that I wanted to be an officer if the AFL career didn’t work. Even when I was at Brisbane, I was always keen to get into the force,” Moody said.

On returning to Perth, Moody rejoined the Perth Football Club where he had played some Colts football and began to combine WAFL football with policing.

“It’s kind of good that WAFL is semi-professional so the coach understands that the police comes first,” he said.

“When I first came out of the academy, I had two great sergeants who understood that AFL was still an aspiration. They gave me some time off to come to training and move my shifts around and they had the full support of the senior sergeants and the bosses higher up. ▷ 11 Police News FEBRUARY 2014

05 06

“Now, I’ve got some sergeants who understand that I’m going to rock up at work sometimes a little bit knackered from playing on a Saturday but they will move my role around.

Instead of being on the push bike they might just get me in a vehicle.”

Moody’s idol, Atkins, is now the chief executive officer at Perth after retiring from football and resigning from WA Police in 2003.

“At the end of my career, South Fremantle Football Club asked me so stay on as its football manager and I wanted to take a year off without pay just so I could see what that was like. That was the only time where the police department wasn’t really supportive,” Atkins told Police News.

“I had to make a decision and I decided to give being a manager of football a go which obviously, at this stage, has proved to be the right choice.

“The one thing I can say is I loved every day in the job at the police department. I loved working with blokes and ladies in relation to helping people which is predominantly what the police department is about.”

Atkins won a premiership with the Bulldogs in 1997 and is still the games record holder. He was named among the best 25 WAFL players from 1987-2011, along with fellow police officer and West Perth defender Senior Constable Paul Mifka.

Mifka also played a solitary game for the West Coast Eagles in 1987. He ran out onto Subiaco Oval on August 30 against St Kilda. He collected 14 disposals and faced the unenviable task of helping stop St Kilda’s superstar full forward, Tony Lockett.

“I kept on cutting across Plugger Lockett and told me he was going to kill me,” Mifka said.

However, his career with the Eagles was cut short due to his efforts to combine policing and a professional football career.

12 Police News FEBRUARY 2014

“It was very difficult because I couldn’t fly over east because the police department wouldn’t let me leave early to go fly,” he said.

“I got given the ultimatum to either quit the police or I may be kicked out of the Eagles and I ended up being kicked out. When I joined, it was professional but people still had other jobs. It just came to the point where they put it on you to be either full-time footballer or full-time something else.

“I refused to give up (policing) because my police wage was a lot more than my football wage back then.”

Mifka said WA Police let him play on Saturdays but with the introduction of the AFL, and in particular the Eagles, it was new territory for the service.

“They did let me take off time without pay when I went to play with the Brisbane Bears (in 1991). I ended up doing my knee and coming back. But in the initial stage when I was working shift work, trying to fly over to Melbourne and things like that, it was very difficult.

“They did help me get day shift jobs, they were quite good that way. But a lot of the times during the season I worked in a day shift job and then as soon as football season finished they would put me anywhere, which worked quite well for me. “ Following his demise from the Eagles under Coach John Todd, Mifka continued to play WAFL football for West Perth including playing in the 1995 and 1999 premierships and kicking 10 goals in two and a half quarters of football on then Eagle Fraser Gehrig. While the personal achievement was nice, Mifka rates the 1995 premiership as his most memorable moment.

“I’d been playing league for 15 years, and it was the first time we’d got into a grand final.”

© THE WEST AUSTRALIAN

“I got given the ultimatum to either quit the police or I may be kicked out of the Eagles and I ended up being kicked out.”

05 Paul Mifka. 06 Paul Mifka during his West Coast Eagles days.

07 Matt Garnaut. 08 Matt Garnaut on his way to unbeaten 127 which helped secure the 1998-99 WACA A Grade Grand Final for Bayswater-Morley.

© THE WEST AUSTRALIAN

“That was pretty much the only way I could do it. Take annual leave whilst I played, which I did.”

07 08

Grand final success wasn’t just limited to football for WA Police.

Former State Cricketer and current Major Crime Squad Detective Sergeant Matt Garnaut was part of one of the most famous WACA A Grade Grand Finals in history.

Bayswater-Morley was taking on Midland-Guildford in the 1998-99 decider at the WACA Ground. The Bears were on the brink of defeat when number 11 Bret Mulder strode to the crease to join Garnaut in the last innings of the match. The two rescued their side with a 177-run 10th wicket partnership to snatch the pennant for Bayswater-Morley. Garnaut finished 127 not out.

“Probably the most special thing was my son was born the next day. So we had celebrations that morning and the boys dropped me off at the hospital and my son was born and I got there in time for the birth,” Garnaut said.

The right arm fast bowler played in a golden era for WA cricket. He played in the losing 1996-97 Sheffield Shield Final which preceded back-to-back titles in 1997-98 and 199899, WA’s last first class trophies.

“We had Hussey and Campbell opening the batting, Langer at three, Martyn at four, Moody at five, Katich at six, Gilchrist at seven, Julian at eight and then there was myself, Jo Angel and Bret Mulder at the bottom. It was a fair team so memorable moments would just be playing in that team because they all went on to play for Australia and a couple of them like Gilly, Huss and Justin are all time greats.”

Cricket is quite different to football in that matches are played over days not hours and that was something Garnaut had to juggle. He approached Superintendent Fred Zagami and said “Boss, it depends on you on how far I go with my cricket.”

Garnaut said the Superintendent was very accommodating and if it was not for him he would not have played.

Superintendent Zagami found Garnaut a role within the Mirrabooka District and allowed him to take annual leave when selected to play for WA. “That was pretty much the only way I could do it. Take annual leave whilst I played, which I did. My annual leave was taken up playing cricket so I had no annual leave for those couple of years with my family.” ▷ 13 Police News FEBRUARY 2014

09

© THE WEST AUSTRALIAN

While Garnaut used his annual leave to play for his State, former Perth Orioles netballer and Forensics Field Operations Senior Constable Helen Riolo had supportive superiors and colleagues to thank for her ability to combine netball and police work.

She had just moved to the hard to fill Gosnells Police Station when she was selected in the Orioles Squad. OIC Senior Sergeant Stephen Byrne said “Now listen, I know it’s far away from home but if you become permanent here for three years, I’ll do everything I can to make sure you don’t miss a netball game or training session.” Riolo could not wait to sign up.

Riolo (nee Aravidis) played 60 games for the Orioles between 2003 and 2007, was co-captain in 2006 and was selected as Wing Defence in the Magnificent Seven team by the coaches of the Orioles.

During that time, Riolo would train morning and night as well as work a variety of shifts.

“Sergeant Ian Kemp and Sen. Sgt. Byrne worked my roster around my training and around my games. I couldn’t have done it without them doing it. It just would not have been possible. If I wasn’t travelling from night shift in the morning at 7 o’clock to a training session at 8.30am, I was playing a game on Friday night and then doing a day shift on Saturday or getting home off the plane on a Saturday afternoon and doing an afternoon shift on the Saturday. That’s how I kind of worked it around. It was pretty crazy.”

When Riolo later moved to forensics mid-season, Sergeant George Diamond helped keep her netball dream alive.

“I’d have to have the weekends off but then in the off season I worked every weekend to try and make up for it.

I never got any animosity from the guys. They were all very supportive and thought it was great doing what I was doing.

Their flexibility and support made it absolutely workable and doable and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them.

14 Police News FEBRUARY 2014

“I never got any animosity from the guys. They were all very supportive and thought it was great doing what I was doing.”

Playing sport in between shifts seems to be common practice for officers wishing to combine a career in policing and playing high level sport.

Atkins and Mifka both told Police News they would often walk the streets of Fremantle and Northbridge respectively after finishing a game of footy.

“I’d finish football, start at 7 o’clock so the walking actually helped all my bruising and I’d use to walk around with corks and everything. I use to love working in Northbridge after football games,” Senior Constable Mifka said.

Atkins believed the shift straight after footy was beneficial to his recovery and he only missed a handful of games through injury during his 15-year career.

“I actually felt it was in my best interest because after playing a game of football then walking around for another seven or eight hours on the streets of Fremantle, I thought it was really good recovery and rehab for myself.”

Constable Moody agrees with his club CEO. “It’s tough but it’s probably better for my recovery to be honest. Riding around and getting all the kinks out and stuff like that. Recover wise, the next day I am pretty shattered and really want some sleep, so I usually sleep about 12 hours after a footy game which is great.”

However, most agree working before and after games is not ideal.

“Playing A Grade cricket, I had to work around shift work.

There was plenty of times where I did night shift on a Friday and then had to play Saturday and follow up with a night shift, Saturday night,” Garnaut said.

“The South Fremantle Football Club obviously knew my job and they were fully supportive. Sometimes I might turn up late if I had a reason I had to stay back and I didn’t get home til five or six o’clock but that wasn’t an excuse for me to pull out of playing footy,” Atkins said.

Riolo said her time as a netballer and police officer was tiring but she would not change it.

“I got to be a police officer and I got to play netball, I didn’t have to choose,” she said. “I always wanted to be a professional athlete.”

What if she was to try and combine netball with the West Coast Fever and policing in 2014?

“It’s basically a full time gig whilst their pay is not a reflection of that, they are still expected to put in more than what I put in 10 years ago.

“I would have to be a part-time police officer or something like that to really give it a good crack. The level of the netball has gone up, they are travelling now to New Zealand and you play a double header on the road trip so you would be away from work for a week. I think just with the commitment and the level that netball has got to that it would be pretty tough to do full-time police and full-time netball.”

Riolo believes had she not stopped playing netball in 2007 she would have to have made a difficult decision about whether to continue playing or focus on her career in policing.

For Garnaut his aspirations in the service and family commitments were important considerations when he ended

“You can fit it in but there’s got to be a little bit of give and take from both sides. I don’t think it’s a massive commitment … and if you want it bad enough you’ll do it.” be wanting a couple of nights off. Normally, my work colleagues would cover for me knowing that during the summer when they wanted the time off, I’d cover for them.”

While Mifka believes it is complicated and could become more difficult with the new reforms.

“If you can find a spot to complement both jobs so you can actually do your job in the police and actually have the time to train because if you can’t train you are just going to fall by the way side. If you are working night shift on a Friday night then you have to play football on a Saturday afternoon you are not going to be at the top of your game.”

Moody said honesty was the best policy when it came to combining police duties and sport.

“Be honest with your boss and tell them what you are doing and hopefully they are supportive and give you some time off. You can fit it in quite easily. But just enjoy it really. The time I don’t enjoy football is the time I am going to give it up. I’ve only got a couple more years because I’ll be getting too old to run around with these young fellas and I’m only 28, but I feel old.”

With no further aspirations to get redrafted to the AFL, how long can Moody keep combining his football and police work?

“I don’t want to say it but I think this could be my last year of playing for Perth,” he said.

“Eventually, I want to try and get into the Dog Squad. That is my main goal and the reason I joined the police so if I ever get the chance, footy will definitely take a back step and I’ll pursue my career that way.”

© THE WEST AUSTRALIAN

his cricketing career. He had been in the WA Squad for a few seasons after his last appearance in 1997-98 but could not break into the First XI. “I got close a couple of times but didn’t get a game and basically it just came down to having a young family, the amount of time I had to put into cricket from a district level and state level, I was basically training every night, playing all weekends. I had to make a decision so that’s when we went to Esperance and cut ties with cricket in 2000 and concentrated on my career as a police officer.

“My role now as a detective, I made that decision to do that and I felt that to put everything into my work one had to give and so I gave cricket away. It’s certainly hard doing both.”

Atkins however, believed combining sport and policing was actually beneficial to his police work.

“A lot of my work in Fremantle certainly came back to people knowing me as a footballer, so that helped me numerous times especially when I went on to dealing with street kids and at risk kids, a lot of kids recognised me or knew me from football and it certainly helped.”

But what advice would those who have been there and done it give to current officers considering pursuing their sporting dreams?

Garnaut tells police officers to “have a crack.” He suggests to work with your boss or OIC and try to make it happen. Riolo is much the same.

“I would definitely say chase it. Find people that are going to support you in it and give it a good crack and don’t think you can do it later because the police will always be there, your career aspiration will always be there, you just have to postpone it a little bit. I did it, anyone can do it really if it’s what you want,” Riolo said.

WA Police Union Field Officer (Safety) Dave Lampard said it was imperative that WA Police were flexible in its rostering.

“It isn’t just about officers being able to play sport or follow other passions. Officers need flexibility in their hours for a multitude of reasons such as family commitments and personal appointments,” Mr Lampard said.

“Also WA Police expect Members to retain a high level of fitness which being involved in a sporting team, whether professional or amateur, helps to provide.”

Atkins said police officers should not use their profession as an excuse to not follow their dreams.

“If you’ve got dreams to be a top line sportsperson, it doesn’t matter what it is, I wouldn’t see the police department knocking it back. As long as you explain what’s going on and what the requirements are, I can only think that the police department would assist you in achieving your goals while also being able to fulfil your duties as a police officer.

“You can fit it in but there’s got to be a little bit of give and take from both sides. I don’t think it’s a massive commitment, I think a lot of people do have a commitment to something, football is just another one of those commitments and if you want it bad enough you’ll do it.

“I worked a lot during the summer on the weekends because I knew during the weekends in the winter that I’d

10

09 Helen Riolo in action for the Perth Orioles in 2006.

10 Paul Mifka celebrates the 1995 WAFL Premiership with a legion of West Perth supporters. It broke the Club’s 20-year premiership drought.

15 Police News FEBRUARY 2014

Facing the flames 16

Police News FEBRUARY 2014

On a usually peaceful and quiet Sunday morning, Constable Kean Ball-Hornblow woke up to the sound of his Sawyers Valley Volunteer Fire Brigade pager.

The message told him that a potentially devastating fire had started in Parkerville and that it was heading straight for his home in Stoneville.

It was Sunday, January 12 and it was one of the hottest days of summer so far.

The mercury peaked at 40 degrees in Perth, but no doubt it was hotter in the bush.

With no time to spare, the 22-year-old Constable scavenged his home to find buckets to fill with water. He knew he had to get out quick.

That was the moment Kean grabbed the closest bag he could find – a WA Police CHOGM bag – and stuffed it with a pair of jeans, t-shirt, socks and anything else he could grab from nearby.

One treasured item he also managed to get was a Martin & Co acoustic guitar, a gift from his recently widowed grandad.

Just as Kean went to throw his bag of clothes into his ute, spot fires began to break out in the bush surrounding his uninsured home.

Quickly ensuring his rescue dog Marley was safe in the car, Kean gabbed the buckets of water and threw it over the burning flames. He knew putting out the spot fires would only give him an extra few minutes, at the most, to get out.

As the volunteer firefighter was putting out the small bushfires, he was faced with the intense roar of flames as it climbed over the hill towards his home.

The flames licked the top of 20 metre trees and was moving fast up the hill, straight towards Kean.

He tried to stay and battle the blaze, but the heat was too intense and the fire was moving too fast.

“I couldn’t get out using my driveway because it was completely engulfed in a wall of flame,” Kean remembers. “If I went out that way I would have died, so I jumped in my car and took off down a firebreak track.”

Battling against overgrown trees, ash and embers, Kean managed to push his way out through the firebreak to a clear road.

Initially, Kean returned to his street to see if he could do anything for his neighbours.

A couple of volunteer firefighters on his street, who brought in a private tanker, were trying to put out the fire and save homes on the street.

It was at that moment when Kean was getting water for the tanker, that he knew his house was gone. ▷

By Jessica Porter

17 Police News FEBRUARY 2014

… Kean entered the fire zone again. This time, not as a volunteer firefighter or police officer, but as a victim of the bushfires.

18 Police News FEBRUARY 2014

After checking on his grandad and with the knowledge he had lost everything, including a prized custom motorbike, Kean turned out to his brigade.

“We were still losing houses all night,” Kean said. “I was working towards Mt Helena which was where the head fire was leaning. It was just non-stop.”

It was also all hands on deck for the local Mundaring Police Station.

Acting Officer in Charge, Sergeant Dave White said cars initially responded to the call about 11.30am.

Not knowing the extent of the fire, cars were sent into the fire zone but were soon sent to the command post at Parkerville Oval, set up by the Hazard Management Agency; DFES. “DFES already had fire units everywhere. So from a police perspective, we set up a very quick command post and got as many cars as we could to set up road blocks.

“We needed as many resources as we could get through VKI and the Operations Manager in Midland, so Gingin came out, we had cars from Midland, Ellenbrook, Forrestfield, Traffic Enforcement Group and booze bus came up,” he said.

As the flames raged from Parkerville in a north-easterly direction towards Mt Helena, there were large numbers of people deciding whether to stay and protect their homes or leave them behind.

One man who left his home and then tried to get back in caused some concern for officers.

“We had a guy turn up to a control point in a bulldozer who threatened to go through, so we had to deal with him. We had 12 people versus the bulldozer. It got a bit hairy so we had to get another car there P2,” Dave said.

By 8 o’clock that night, the fire managed to raze through nearly 400 hectares and destroy 52 homes, including Kean’s.

A few days after the fire was doused and road blocks were being lifted, Kean entered the fire zone again. This time, not as a volunteer firefighter or police officer, but as a victim of the bushfires.

Walking up the driveway of his home, you can see the widespread, indiscriminate carnage of the fires.

Steel support beams of a nearby house, which only start to melt at 650 degrees, were bent like a spoon in a magic trick.

Glass windows and swimming pools dripped into the now blackened ground.

The front of Kean’s home was nothing more than a collapsed tin shell. And so too was his precious motorbike.

“My beautiful bike. I got that probably just over a year ago. I traded in my old bike which was a Yamaha FZS 1000 for the 2010 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 custom in candy red,” he said.

“I put a bit of money into it to get it where it was. I replaced all the pipes. It had stock pipes on it which didn’t sound very good so I got some Vance and Hines pipes sent over from America, and a fuel management system and lots of fiddly bits to make it a bit nicer.”

The rims of the bike were unrecognisable and now resembled molten lava.

Kean rummaged through the ash and saw what once was his record player. His accompanying collection of some 30 vinyl records was also gone. So was his trumpet, five more guitars and saxophone.

Scraping through the ash with a piece of tin, Kean tried to find a sentimental gift that was left behind, but there was no sign of the silver box.

01 02

Fighting fires and living with that constant threat is what living in the hills comes with, according to Kean.

“You can prepare yourself as best you can, have your firebreaks, have sprinklers on your roof, have a bag packed, have an exit plan knowing that it is the fire season, but at the end of the day, you can’t control it,” he said.

“I survived. I got my dog out. I get to see another sunrise. I will be able to find another place and keep going.

Despite that constant threat, Kean still wants to stay in the hills.

“I’ll stay up here because it is nice up here and I like being in the fire brigade, I like helping people. It’s my home.”

Since the fire, Kean said he has been given a lot of support.

“My station has been incredible and I’ve been getting calls non-stop from people in the police, Trevor Cruickshank from PFAC, the chaplain rang me and the Union President called me too,” he said.

While it may take Kean some time to again get on his feet, Dave said Kean’s resilience and selflessness was remarkable.

“Kean is an outstanding police officer whose selfless acts in that catastrophic situation went beyond what most other people would ever dream of undertaking after going through what he had,” he said.

But Kean says it is just second nature to want to help those in need.

“I don’t really look at it like that,” he said. “It’s just what I’ve always done. I’ve been with the fire brigade since I was 13 and I’m obviously a cop as well so it’s just in my nature I guess.”

“You can prepare yourself as best you can… but at the end of the day, you can’t control it.”

01 Kean’s prized candy red 2010 Kawasaki Vulcan 900.

02 The rims of the candy red Vulcan after the fire had ravaged through Kean’s house.

19 Police News FEBRUARY 2014

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WAPU farewells Directors

01 02

Recently, the WA Police Union received the resignations of five Directors due to retirements, transfers and other opportunities.

Directors Colin Johnston, Jill Willoughby, Mark Fyfe, Mike Sparkman and Merv Lockhart have served the Union with vigour and their contribution, time and service are much appreciated by all Members and staff.

Director Lockhart is a particular loss having been first elected in 1996. He was the current Board’s longest serving Member.

He joined the Union in 1972 and stepped up to become more involved with the Membership to improve conditions and pay for police officers.

During his time on the Board, Director Lockhart served in a number of capacities, including three years as Treasurer.

“Having oversight of Members’ funds and working to ensure that use and investment of WAPU’s finances has been made in an open and accountable manner is something that I am proud of and feel is very important to the Members,” he said.

“My involvement as a WAPU representative on the Transfer and Deployment Panel where my advocacy for Members resulted in parity and probity in relation to transfers/deployment is another part of my time I will look back on with pride.”

He also thanked all the Members who voted for him over the years, enabling him to continue his involvement.

“I would encourage all police officers to become more involved with their Union, especially female officers, who are underrepresented both as Branch Delegates and Directors,” he said.

“I have been privileged to have represented WAPU, both interstate and overseas. I have made many wonderful friendships which I hope will continue into my retirement. It has been a great journey and a major highlight of my 46 years with WA Police.”

Improving conditions and the way Members are dealt with by the Agency and external agencies was one of the reasons Director Sparkman decided to take on a leadership role with the Union in 2012.

He said he was proud of the implementation of the emergency driving legislation changes, as he was involved with it from both a WAPU and WA Police perspective.

“The world is changing constantly, there are some big challenges ahead for our Members with reform and the expiry of the Industrial Agreement,” Director Sparkman said.

“People need to keep their eyes on the ball and look at the big picture and be careful to consider the issues and take out the emotion. Policing is a dynamic job and everyone needs to remember why they joined the police, in my case it was to ‘lock up crooks and make the world a safer place’.”

Director Sparkman was also full of praise for the support of the “Police Family”.

“From a personal point of view, my family and I have had to face a significant challenge with my son being diagnosed with a life threatening illness,” he said.

“The support shown to us from the “Police Family” has been amazing. To everyone out there, enjoy your work, enjoy your family and make the most of the opportunities that this job offers you.

“Don’t stress on the little things that pop up, worry about the big things.”

After joining the WAPU in 1978, Director Willoughby joined the Women’s Branch 15 years ago as Vice President before becoming a Director in 2011.

“I have been privileged to speak to many police women in WA and assist with their issues and problems and being able to actually resolve their concerns and guide them for their future,” she said.

“Being a part of the WA Police Union in this time has certainly opened my eyes to the positives, the amount of hard work that goes on, the achievements and the camaraderie that allows us to continue to be the leaders.

“I hope in some small way my contribution has helped make a difference.”

Director Johnston said, in his resignation letter, it was with great disappointment and sadness that he had to resign pending a transfer within WA Police.

“I truly appreciate the opportunities I have been given and will miss the interaction with the fellow Directors and Union staff,” he said.

Director Fyfe had previously served the Union as a Councillor and Director. He was re-elected to the Board in 2012 and his contributions and perspectives will be sorely missed.

01 Jill Willoughby 02 Merv Lockhart

21 Police News FEBRUARY 2014

KEVIN McDONALD

Metropolitan Region Director

Walk a mile in my shoes CCTV footage is a wonderful thing isn’t it?

It just seems to me that the Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) rather gratuitously jump all over anything that has coppers allegedly doing the wrong thing and do their level best to put that footage out in the media – but for what purpose?

I hadn’t even finished reading the CCC’s report in relation to incidents at Broome Police Station on March 29 and April 19, 2013 when I became motivated to write this article.

The report was the culmination of an investigation into Broome Police after the CCC viewed CCTV footage of the April 19 incident. The review of the March 29 incident unmistakably demonstrates that the line from Joe South’s 1960s hit song ‘before you accuse, criticize and abuse, walk a mile in my shoes’ was never more fitting.

Much of the report's analysis centred on the alleged use of a ‘neck hold’ and that it constituted excessive force. None of the officers who were present at the time thought the force was excessive.

However, considerable weight was given to the opinion of one senior police officer who wasn’t even there at the time, after that officer watched the CCTV footage.

Unfortunately, years of operational experience, knowledge and environmental dynamics don’t show up on CCTV…

22 Police News FEBRUARY 2014

But when you’re the one getting down and dirty in the cesspit of ugly drunken abusive and aggressive behaviour and you manage to remove a drunken, abusive, threatening reprobate from the back of a van who is refusing to cooperate and then get him safely into a padded cell without injury or damage to any person or property – is a job well done.

Unfortunately, years of operational experience, knowledge and environmental dynamics don’t show up on CCTV nor are they referred to in departmental policies and procedures.

When interviewed about why the offender was placed in the padded cell, all of the officers present were in consensual agreement for that it was a justifiable course of action and in accordance with policy. The CCC didn’t agree however because the CCTV footage didn’t show any apparent struggling or non-compliant behaviour and deemed it to be unwarranted.

The CCC report hypothesises and criticises the lack of discussion between on duty personnel and a perceived lack of leadership from senior officers present. Unlike the CCC, real police officers doing real police work don’t have the luxury of time to discuss and strategise every aspect of how best to deal with volatile situations.

A big part of the problem that arises when bodies like the CCC investigate and interview operational coppers is their reliance upon whether particular policy or procedural breaches have occurred.

This might seem a fair enough gauge for measuring the conduct of the people they are investigating but it is applied in the absence of any other yardstick from which to form a view.

They certainly can’t reflect upon their own experiences because they don’t have any. Yes it’s true, some of the staff at the CCC are ex-coppers but they haven’t been coppers for a long time and are usually operationally diverted from investigations involving police anyway. Also, staff activities are controlled by people who have never served as police officers.

Even though I am pretty sure the CCC aren’t on our Police News distribution list, I offer them the following advice.

There are none so blind as those that will not see so look before you leap and never assume anything because it makes an arse out of you and me.

Despite the views I’ve expressed here, the CCC will continue to investigate the conduct of frontline police with fervour and self-righteous indignation, while I am left to ponder how much they claimed on travel allowances for the trip to Broome.

GRANT WYNNE

Opinion

Police Reporter

Circle of Trust As a young kid growing up, I always wanted to be a cop.

I think it was the idea of locking up baddies that appealed to me.

Police need the media’s help to alert the public to urgent situations and the media need cooperation with police to get the shots they need to tell the story.

Now many years later, while I may not actually be wearing the blue uniform, I do get to report on police putting crooks away, and I’ve got to say it’s almost as satisfying as the real thing.

When it comes to reporting, I reckon the police round has got to be up there as one of the best.

It’s got it all … greed, sex, violence, tragedy and adversity.

I could find myself covering a mystery homicide one day, and reporting on the politics of police budgets the next.

But being a police reporter in 2014 is certainly not without its challenges.

The dynamics of the relationships between police and the media has changed over the last decade.

No longer do you see the steady stream of crooks in handcuffs on the nightly news.

The introduction of the Criminal Investigations Act, a piece of legislation never debated in parliament has created significant challenges for the media trying to get those shots.

It affords an arrested person a ‘reasonable degree of privacy from the mass media’.

But the words ‘reasonable degree’ can in my mind occasionally be misinterpreted by some officers.

Offenders alleged to have committed some very serious crimes are routinely being snuck out of side entrances to avoid the waiting cameras.

This is unfortunate because 95 per cent of police reporting is about the successes of WA Police, and shots of crooks not only help tell that story, but it also helps to reassure the public about the safety and security of their community.

The requirement in the CIA could still be met by throwing a jacket over the alleged offender’s head, and the media also understand its obligations to pixilate the faces of juveniles and charged persons.

Several years ago, the police radio network became digitally encrypted to stop unwanted eaves dropping.

Not just by criminals, but also newsrooms who often rushed reporters to crime scenes sometimes, ahead of police themselves.

Now the media get information on police activities through a censored version of CAD. It gives news organisations limited information on the categories of jobs police are attending, usually with a 15 minute delay.

But even seasoned crime reporters agree, it’s got nothing on being able to listen to the police radio.

Like a well oiled Police Media Unit which employs public relations specialists to promote and protect WAPOL’s image, you get to see and hear only what they want.

That’s why part of me striving to be a good police reporter is so reliant on building contacts.

The relationship between the media and police has always been a two-way street.

Police need the media’s help to alert the public to urgent situations and the media need cooperation with police to get the shots they need to tell the story.

Indeed many breakthroughs in serious crimes have come as a direct result of leads generated by media exposure.

Cultivating that relationship is based largely in my mind on a level of trust and confidence on both sides.

I appreciate it can take several years for a journalist to earn the respect and trust of investigators, but I’m in it for the long haul.

The two most important points which guide me in achieving trust with police officers are: 1: protecting my sources and 2: maintaining my integrity.

Investigators who I deal with regularly can be confident they can trust me with snippets of information they know won’t be broadcast, but may be beneficial background information for me to work out how to tell a story.

In the classic comedy flick ‘Meet the Parents’ Robert DeNiro calls it “being brought into the circle of trust”.

And as one senior investigator said recently “burn that trust and you’re f…ked, you may as well go and report the weather.”

The last thing I would ever want is to compromise an investigation, or see an offender get away or walk free because of a consequence of something I did.

Maintaining independence is just as important and that may mean on occasions writing about management failures.

While that may seem like biting the hand that feeds you, I believe it simply proves I’m a fair journalist.

Crime or the perception of crime is a key issue in people’s lives, and so too is the community’s fascination about police work.

My aim is to simply tell it how it is, and I need your help to do that.

23 Police News FEBRUARY 2014

Q&A

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing police in 2014?

Constable David Castello Just to try and take alcohol and drug related crime down to a minimum if we can and try protect the youth as much as we can and keep them out of crime.

Constable Natalie Bogdan The amount of media that is being portrayed these days. Everyone has an iPhone and you are constantly being judged no matter where you are. So you always need to keep the best head on your shoulders and be yourself and don’t try and let the media takeover your job.

Constable Daniel Ginbey Personally, I think a lot of road traffic offences are becoming one of the biggest offences that we have to deal with because people don’t seem to take as much care in their ethic when they drive. It’s not too hard to drive safely. A lot of people seem to think they can get away with the smaller things and the more that people do that, the more accidents that will occur.

24 Police News FEBRUARY 2014

Constable Julian Jennings The biggest thing I think policing is going to be facing this year is going to be the public aspect. We are always in the media and just being able to ensure you are not crossing that line, you are staying neutral, staying within guidelines and not getting yourself in trouble.

Constable Erin Prince Probably drug psychosis, it’s got off to a pretty bad start. There’s an unmarked blue tablet that was doing the rounds and there was six people who were admitted to hospital within 24 hours.

Constable Stephen Anthony I think one of the challenges for police, especially me, is to gain the trust of the community in the coming year. There is a lot of people out there that don’t trust us, but there are those out there that do. But my goal is to have people trust me and have faith in what I do so I can protect them and lock away the bad guys.

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25 Police News FEBRUARY 2014

Andrea Wyllie Industrial Officer

What to expect when you’re expecting There have been a number of changes introduced in recent years relating to an officer accessing paid parental leave and also the return to work procedure.

An employee needs to be identified as assuming the role of primary caregiver in order to receive paid parental leave and supporting evidence is required to prove this status.

26 Police News FEBRUARY 2014

The Western Australian Police Industrial Agreement 2011 sets out an officers’ entitlements to access both paid and non-paid parental leave and these have not been altered. An employee, after completing 12 months continuous service within the WA Public Sector, is eligible for up to 14 weeks paid parental leave and up to 52 weeks unpaid parental leave.

Historically this leave entitlement has been generally been accessed by the mother of the child. But there are provisions set out for a partner to access the same entitlements, however the process for doing so is not as straight forward.

An employee needs to be identified as assuming the role of primary caregiver in order to receive paid parental leave and supporting evidence is required to prove this status.

The primary caregiver status is given to the individual “who assumes the principal role of providing care and attention to the child” (Industrial Agreement 2011, Clause 32).

The birth mother is able to access the full 14 weeks of paid parental leave by providing notification of the expected date of delivery, verified by a doctor, and the planned start and finish times of the leave.

In November 2013, WA Police uploaded a document labelled Western Australia Police Medical Certificate which is to be filled out by a medical practitioner to establish an individual's entitlement to paid parental/other parent leave. The form aims to establish the individual who is to assume the role of primary caregiver following the birth of a child and the medical reasons why this is not going to be the birth mother.

The most common reason a non-birth parent would request paid parental leave/other parent leave is due to a caesarean section. In this situation, the birth mother is generally physically unable to provide the necessary level of care required for a newborn baby. There are restrictions placed on lifting and movement and there is a general understanding that this will last for anywhere up to six weeks.

When a partner requests access to paid parental leave in this circumstance, the initial six weeks is generally approved provided the appropriate documentation has been filled out. The required documentation consists of a statutory declaration detailing dates and stating that your partner does not work in the WA Public Sector (and if they do, that they are not accessing paid parental leave), an application form, WA Police Medical Certificate and supporting evidence such as a medical practitioner confirming why the birth mother is unable to assume the role of primary caregiver and for how long.

This needs to be approved and signed by the employee’s OIC and is then sent off to Employee Relations for final approval.

If an extension of the initial six weeks is required, the same process and supporting documentation is required. However more detailed medical documentation and explanations are being requested to prove the primary caregiver status. In this situation, it would be advised that you request in writing exactly what additional information and documentation is required in order for approval to be granted.

Apart from this, if the birth mother is able to assume the role of primary caregiver, provisions also exist for partners to access an initial one week of unpaid parental leave. This leave can be substituted in part or completely with annual leave, long service leave or time off in lieu. A request for an extension of this time can be made.

In addition to an individual's entitlement under the Agreement, the Federal Government has introduced Dad and Partner Pay. This allows for up to two weeks of pay for partners of the primary caregiver at the minimum wage whilst they are taking unpaid leave after the birth or adoption of their child.

The eligibility requirements relate to an individual earning no more than $150,000 in the last financial year and being in continuous employment for the preceding 10 months. This is separate from anything contained within the Industrial Agreement and all Australian families are able to apply through the Department of Human Services for this payment.

Industrial reporT

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WA Police Union @WAPoliceUnion

A recovery fund has been setup to support 3 Victorian police officer badly injured in an explosion last week. For info tinyurl.com/pwkc7xk Returning from parental leave In March 2012, changes were made to the process for officers wanting to return from parental leave with the introduction of the Temporary Holdings Unit. In the first instance, an officer starting parental leave is placed into the holdings unit and their position is advertised as vacant. The uncertainty this creates when an individual initiates the return to work process is causing many Members a great deal of stress and concern.

The 2011 Industrial Agreement provides that an individual planning to initiate the return to work process is to notify their employer in writing of their intention at least four weeks prior and they are entitled to “the same position, or a position equivalent in pay, conditions and status and commensurate with the employee’s skill and abilities, as the substantive position held immediately prior to proceeding on parental leave”.

The introduction of the Temporary Holdings Unit significantly reduces the likelihood of returning to the same position after leave is taken. This creates a myriad of issues when other factors come into play such as an employee exercising their right to return to work on a part-time basis and the ability to access suitable child care. It is here that many individuals are finding it difficult to balance work and family commitments. The introduction of the Temporary Holding Unit was done without consultation with the Union and has not been implemented for other extended periods of leave such as long service leave taken at half pay and double the time and extended sick leave.

John Welch @JohnWelchWAPOU

The introduction of the Temporary Holding Unit was done without consultation with the Union and has not been implemented for other extended periods of leave…

George Tilbury writing in today's West is right Serco's contract should be terminated and the work returned to public service #wapol

Reece Whitby @ReeceWhitby

@ATimmermanis @papsMLA @WAPoliceUnion Our Police deserve to be supported for the tough job they do - not ridiculed

WA Police Union @WAPoliceUnion

Congrats to Green and Grey Squads for graduating today!

Awesome to be there to witness another 57 recruits step forward #StrengthinUnity

WA Police Union @WAPoliceUnion

Our industrial team has today registered the 1st ever industrial agreement for police auxiliary officers! #Milestone pic.twitter.com/ HUs4582vdP Police News FEBRUARY 2014

Steven glover Media Officer

Hours of duty As negotiations rapidly approach for the new enterprise bargaining agreement, consideration needs to be given to the hours of duty clause.

Not all Members possess uncomplicated family lifestyle arrangements and responsibilities and it is vital that this is taken into consideration during rostering and industrial agreement negotiations.

28 Police News FEBRUARY 2014

After negotiations with WA Police during the lead up to the 2011 Industrial Agreement, a number of areas of the clause were modernised to reflect modern police duties.

A sub-clause was introduced referred to as the Extended Settlement Period (ESP) Roster. It provided a further variety of options available to design increased flexibility for management and improved periods of predicted time away from work for Members.

WAPU Field Officer (Safety) Dave Lampard said the clause was crucial to both parties as it provided options to improve productivity.

“One large station has adopted the roster type without too many problems and the new Perth Police Centre moved from a flexible roster arrangement to an ESP in June last year,” Mr Lampard said.

He said the South East Metropolitan District has moved from six similar 24-hour, two panel standard rosters operating at Armadale, Gosnells, Canning Vale, Cannington, Belmont and Kensington, to three new policing teams working under one ESP arrangement.

“The overall success of this style of ESP roster on such a huge scale will be subject to review by WA Police and the Union,” he said.

“It has created some problems which have affected our Members’ health, due to fatigue caused by inability to take assigned meal periods as one example.”

Incident Response Team (IRT) supervisors in the South East Metropolitan District, have expressed their concerns to the Union about sequential PM shifts for IRT with added continuous duty overtime.

“This simply cannot be maintained if a fit and healthy workforce is to be sent out to perform the toughest of policing duties,” Mr Lampard said.

“Alarms bells for the management team should be set off when they analyse the sick leave statistics.”

Mr Lampard suggested to combat a 10-day pattern using three blocks of two forward rotating shifts, followed by four weekly leave days should be used.

The South East Metropolitan District is working with two IRTs to trial a different roster system which eliminates the occasional split single working day amongst other shifts as a priority.

“Ultimately, a more fatigue friendly pattern needs to be trialed,” he said.

Mr Lampard said the majority of Members appreciated certainty with rosters, however it would only work if rosters were posted for a set period longer than a week.

“The Union may argue that the roster should be posted for the duration of the cycle and only be subject to change where no other option is available,” he said.

“If a Member requires a specific weekly leave day outside of the set roster and he or she is able to ensure maintenance of shift strength, balanced seniority and necessary supervision, this should be granted.

“Not all Members possess uncomplicated family lifestyle arrangements and responsibilities and it is vital that this is taken into consideration during rostering and industrial agreement negotiations.

“Whenever management envisage introducing an ESP roster for a large workplace, information must be gleaned from Members who have essential family responsibilities that require consideration for either working part-time, broken shifts or voluntary self-selection of shifts.”

Mr Lampard also believes there is a clear lack of training regarding the hours of duty and this needs to be addressed.

“If the Academy is so time constrained that it cannot include details of employment conditions contained in the Police Act, Industrial Agreement, Police Regulations and the Police Manual in the curriculum then it is vital that all recruits take time to learn all of the industrial provisions prescribed in this legislative information,” he said.

“The Union is always available to assist with queries and I encourage Members to utilise this service.”

All acts, agreements and regulations are available via the WA Police outlook system and the current Industrial Agreement is available for the WAPU website, www.wapu.org.au.

Field Report

BRANCH VISITS After the Albany Board meeting last October, Director Merv Lockhart and Field Officer (Branches and Training) Dean Giacomini travelled to Esperance to attend the South East Eyre Branch Annual General Meeting (AGM).

On the way to Esperance, the pair also stopped in at Ravensthorpe and spoke with Ravensthorpe and Hopetoun Members.

At the AGM, three new officials were elected to represent members of the Branch.

Detective Sergeant Darryl Noye was elected Branch President with Probationary Constable Jasmin Lawford his Vice President. While Detective Senior Constable Michael Paterson has taken over as Secretary.

Mr Giacomini later returned to Esperance and conducted a Branch Delegate training day with the new officials.

“With a completely new Branch Executive, it was very important that we educate them in all aspects of their roles,” Mr Giacomini said.

“By implementing proper meeting procedures, the Branch can operate effectively and efficiently to ensure the issues and concerns of its Members are passed onto local management, WAPU HQ, the Board of Directors and Annual Conference.”

A recent merger of the Police Transport Unit Branch with ROG has seen the Maylands Complex Branch expand in size.

The Branch now covers Members from the defunct PTU Branch in addition to those at the Maylands Complex which includes TRG, Canine and Mounted Section.

President George Tilbury and Vice President Brandon Shortland attended the Maylands Branch Meeting in May.

01 02

03

01 WAPU President George Tilbury, Maylands Complex Branch Officials Nathan Hicks, Nathan Dawe, Jon Bailey and WAPU Vice President Brandon Shortland. 02 WAPU Director Merv Lockhart with Members from Hopetoun and Ravensthorpe, Sergeant Allan Spicer, Senior Constable Greg Pope and Sergeant Colin Townsend. 03 The new South East Eyre Branch Officials Probationary Constable Jasmin Lawford, Detective Sergeant Darryl Noye and Detective Senior Constable Michael Paterson with Merv Lockhart.

29 Police News FEBRUARY 2014

Professor Daniel Fatovich

Emergency Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital and University of WA

HEALTH

Strategies for sleeping and shift work Policing is a high stress job. The constantly rotating

shifts add to the pressures as these shifts work in opposition to the body’s normal circadian rhythm i.e. the body’s own internal clock. Everyone learns about this when they experience jet lag. The older you are, the worse it gets.

Studies have shown that those who are most successful at shift work don’t try to live in two different worlds.

And there are health problems associated with shift work, including increased peptic ulcer disease and higher mortality from heart disease.

It has been estimated that the risk of working rotating shifts approaches that of smoking one pack of cigarettes per day. Other issues include problems with sleeping and the social toll, with higher rates of substance abuse and depression. One study suggested that six or seven consecutive night shifts are associated with the most severe impact.

Society seems to work against the shift worker. Neighbours mow their lawns while the night worker is trying to sleep, people honk their car horns to say goodbye and even normal household noises can be a problem.

Everyone must understand that shift work is a lifestyle. Studies have shown that those who are most successful at shift work don’t try to live in two different worlds.

So how can you best cope with this?

Education of the worker and their family is essential – the main message is that uninterrupted daytime sleep is vitally important; as is having an understanding partner and family. An answering machine or voicemail is a must, as is turning off the phone(s) and silencing the doorbell.

You can start the process before you get home, by wearing dark glasses on the way home, as bright light is a stimulus for wakefulness.

Maintaining a quiet, cool and dark bedroom with a comfortable bed, increases total sleep time and the quality of the sleep. Blackout curtains make a difference and sleeping aids like blindfolds and ear plugs can help.

Go to bed with an empty bladder.

One suggested sleep schedule for days off that maintains accessibility to family and social activities, is to start non-workday sleep about five and a half hours earlier than workday sleep; all sleep episodes are then followed by brief exposure to bright light (ideally sunlight). For example, if after nights you were getting into bed at 8am, try going to bed at 2:30am on days off.

Meditation (using mindfulness techniques) improves sleep quality and is recommended. Medications are often considered, but I would counsel away from them. Sleeping pills should not be routinely used by night workers, even though they increase total sleep time. They can be addictive and they do not hasten resetting of body rhythms to night shifts or improve alertness during the night.

One medication that holds some promise is melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone secreted nightly by the brain’s pineal gland in response to darkness, and helps regulate the body clock.

Melatonin appears to hasten resetting of circadian rhythms. Studies of jet lag have shown significant improvement with melatonin. Studies on the use of melatonin for shift workers indicate it may be an effective treatment for some shift workers with difficulty falling asleep, but there are mixed results from studies.

Shift workers nearly always use caffeine. It can increase alertness but should not be used within four hours of a planned sleep period. (Caffeine promotes urine formation as well as alertness). Alcohol induces sleep but the sleep is markedly distorted with reduced good quality sleep, which is already decreased from sleeping in the daytime.

Regular aerobic exercise is a very useful strategy to adapt to shift work.

Not only does it improve general mood but also promotes alertness on night shift (if it’s not too strenuous). It has been shown to increase circadian adaptation to shift work. Aerobic exercise immediately after awakening, no matter which shift one is working, is very effective. And of course, there are so many general health benefits to exercise (and a healthy diet), that one should be doing this anyway.

If you would like Professor Fatovich to write about a particular health topic, please email your suggestions to jessica.porter@wapu.org.au.

31 Police News FEBRUARY 2014

Free legal service for current and retired WAPU Members and their families.

The WA Police Union is partnering with leading law firm Tindall Gask Bentley to provide Members with access to first class legal services.

Established in 1970, TGB has grown to become South Australia’s largest plaintiff law firm and has now expanded into Western Australia.

The firm offers a full range of legal services.

Receive 30 minutes free preliminary advice on all legal matters.

We also offer a 10% discount on any legal fees for: • Workers Compensation, • Motor Vehicle Accident Compensation, • Family and Divorce law, • Estates and Estate Planning, • Business and Property.

To book an appointment with a lawyer or for more information contact WAPU HQ on (08) 9321 2155.

RACHAEL SHAW

LEGAL

Senior Associate, Tindall Gask Bentley Lawyers

Disciplinary: can a police officer refuse to answer questions?

On August 30, 2013, the New South Wales Supreme Court handed down its decision of Baff v New South Wales Commissioner of Police [2013] NSWSC 1205.

…time will tell whether the Courts in Western Australia choose to follow Baff and allow an officer to refuse to answer questions…

In the case of Baff, whilst on duty, Constable Baff’s gun discharged and a woman was injured. Constable Baff was interviewed, given a criminal caution and refused to answer questions.

He was then directed to answer questions pursuant to the NSW Police Act. Constable Baff refused to answer questions and claimed the protection of the common law privilege against selfincrimination. The privilege against selfincrimination entitles a person to refuse to answer any questions, or produce any document, if the answer or the production would tend to incriminate that person.

Constable Baff sought a declaration from the Supreme Court of NSW that he was entitled to refuse to answer questions. The Commissioner of Police of NSW argued that Constable Baff was required to obey lawful orders as part of his employment.

The NSW Supreme Court held that Constable Baff was entitled to refuse to answer questions and that the common law privilege against selfincrimination was available to him.

Further, the NSW Supreme Court held that the Commissioner of Police could not charge Constable Baff with failing to obey a lawful order because the order would not be lawful.

Following the High Court case of Police Service Board v Morris (1985) 156 CLR 397, it has been the practice in Western Australia for many years for police officers to answer questions in a disciplinary process when given an order to do so – even when their answers might tend to incriminate them. In the case of Morris, two Victorian police officers refused to answer questions about certain entries in their running sheets. They were charged with disobeying a lawful order and before the Police Disciplinary Board the charge was found to be proved. The police officers appealed the decision all the way to the High Court. The High Court held that a police officer to whom an order is given to answer questions on a disciplinary matter could not refuse to answer on the ground that the answers might expose him or her to penalties for breach of duty.

In Baff, the NSW Supreme Court held that the police officers in Morris faced an entirely different situation to Constable Baff. In Morris, the police officers were never at risk of being criminally prosecuted for failing to complete their running sheets. Conversely, in Baff, the Constable was suspected of committing a criminal offence. The NSW Supreme Court held that the purpose for which the questions were asked did not matter, i.e. whether it was disciplinary

or criminal. What was relevant was that Constable Baff was being asked to answer questions that would tend to incriminate him. The NSW Supreme Court held that Constable Baff was only required to obey lawful orders and any order directing him to answer questions would be unlawful.

The case of Baff was decided by a single Judge of the Supreme Court of NSW so although it is persuasive in Western Australia it does not bind Western Australian Courts. It is arguable that police officers are entitled to exercise their right to silence if their answers might incriminate them in criminal proceedings. However, time will tell whether the Courts in Western Australia choose to follow Baff and allow an officer to refuse to answer questions or continue to rely on Morris and require questions be answered as part of an officer’s duty and employment. What is clear is that police officers should seek immediate legal advice if they are requested to answer questions.

33 Police News FEBRUARY 2014

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Salary packaging What is salary packaging?

Salary packaging is an Australian Tax Office approved means of allowing employees to effectively restructure their income.

It is an arrangement between an employer and an employee where an employee agrees to forgo part of their base salary in return for the employer providing them with benefits of a similar value. Effective salary packaging should result in a net benefit to the employee at no cost to the employer.

Fringe benefits tax (FBT) is payable on all salary packaged benefits and so the employee needs to reimburse the FBT paid by the employer and this is done by making after tax contributions to the running costs of your vehicle.

Your salary packing company, such as Fleet Network, will calculate the FBT payable on each benefit, and the amount to be contributed from your post-tax salary. This is known as the Employee Contribution Method and will eliminate any FBT payable in respect of the vehicle.

Where do I go for advice?

It is illegal for non-accredited individuals or businesses to offer you financial advice.

It is strongly recommended that you seek some professional financial advice prior to entering into a salary packaging arrangement, to ensure that your personal financial circumstances allow you to service any salary packaging arrangement.

Your salar y packing company, such as Fleet Network, can put you in

contact with an accredited Financial Advisors.

What is a Novated Lease?

A novated lease is a method of leasing a car of your choice using pretax dollars.

It is based on an agreement (Deed of Novation) between the employee, the employer and the financier whereby the employer agrees to make the appropriate deductions from the employee’s pre-tax salary to meet the obligations to the financier for the monthly repayment of the vehicle lease.

In addition to lease repayments, vehicle operating expenses including fuel, maintenance, registration and insurance can also be bundled into one consolidated monthly payment from your pre-tax salary.

The benefit of doing this is that you can reduce the income tax you currently pay and you don’t pay GST on the purchase price of the vehicle or the GST on the operating expenses for the vehicle.

What type of Vehicles can be leased?

• All new passenger vehicles and most light commercial vehicles.

• You can also package a used vehicle in restricted circumstances.

How long is the lease term?

A novated lease may be entered into for a term of 12 to 60 months.

At the end of the term the vehicle can be re-leased subject to certain conditions relating to packaging a used vehicle.

What happens if I leave my job in the middle of the lease term?

Your novated lease is fully portable, subject to the agreement of your new employer.

This would require a new Deed of Novation between you, your new employer and the financier.

Alternatively you can continue to make the lease repayments from your post-tax salary, or pay out the vehicle.

You can also elect to take Lease Protection Insurance which covers your finance repayments.

Need more information?

Contact Frank Agostino at Fleet Network on 1300 738 601 or 0402 274 754 Email franka@fleetnetwork.com.au or see our website fleetnetwork.com.au

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• Online customer access The Fleet Network customer portal allows you secure 24/7 access to the current status of your account. You can check vehicle expenses, submit up to date odometer readings, request changes and more.

35 Police News FEBRUARY 2014

READ

Runner

Patrick Lee RRP $29.99 Runner is the first instalment in a brand new thriller series from Patrick Lee, featuring former Special Forces operator Sam Dryden.

Far removed from his troubled military past and personal tragedy, Sam Dryden lives in a small town on the Californian coast. That is until during an evening run, he comes across a young girl in trouble.

As his protective instincts take hold, he learns that the girl, suffering drug-induced amnesia, is on the run from a secret prison and is at the centre of a conspiracy that reaches some of the government's most powerful organisations Pursued by an armed squad of men she only remembers the past two months of her life, that her name is Rachel and that she has a skill that makes her very dangerous and powerful to those chasing her down.

Watch

Superfoods Cookbook Michelle Bridges RRP $29.99

The Family

The Urn Returns

Superfoods Cookbook: The facts, the foods and the recipes – feel great, get fit and lose weight is the latest cookbook from bestselling author and Australia’s most influential health and fitness expert Michelle Bridges.

We have all heard the word ‘superfood’ before and in the Superfoods Cookbook Michelle explains why some foods can have a great impact on our health and wellbeing. She shares her very own top vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains and seeds, fish, beans, dairy and meat. These are the ingredients that Michelle has chosen as her superfoods to boost brain function, prevent illness and for their detoxing properties. Best of all, Michelle’s superfoods will not break the bank – everything is readily available.

You’ll feel great, lose weight and spend less in the process!

In the dark action comedy The Family, a Mafia boss and his family are relocated to a sleepy town in France under the Witness Protection Program after snitching on the mob.

Despite Agent Stansfield’s (Tommy Lee Jones) best efforts to keep them in line, Fred Blake (Robert De Niro), his wife Maggie (Michelle Pfeiffer) and their children, Belle (Dianna Agron) and Warren (John D’Leo), can’t help resorting to old habits by handling their problems the “family” way.

Chaos ensues as their former Mafia cronies try to track them down and scores are settled in the unlikeliest of settings, in this subversively funny film

by Luc Besson.

After four long years, the urn is back in Australia’s hands.

Gone is the frustration, disappointment and despair of losing the coveted Ashes for three straight series.

Australia’s pride has been restored following an emphatic victory over England, the team strongly favoured to hold onto cricket’s most prized trophy.

It took just 14 days of cricket for the Aussies to attain their unassailable three-nil Ashes lead – and they achieved it with spirit, determination and brute force.

The Urn Returns gives you the chance to replay every triumphant moment of Australia’s journey out of defeat and onto eventual glory in the historical 5-0 whitewash.

The DVD that no cricket fan should be without, The Urn Returns relives one of the most memorable moments in Australian sporting history.

1 Disc $39.95 SRP

3 Discs $29.95 SRP

win

win

We have one copy of Superfoods Cookbook and Runner to give away. To enter, email jessica.porter@wapu.org.au with your name, address, book title and contact phone number.

Winners will be drawn on March 3.

We have two copies of The Family and The Urn Returns to give away. To enter, email jessica.porter@wapu.org.au with your name, address, DVD title and contact phone number.

Winners will be drawn on March 3.

Police News FEBRUARY 2014

See

LISTEN

Glorious

Helios

Season Commences February 20

Foxes Released February 28

Lone Survivor tells the incredible tale of four Navy SEALs on a covert mission to neutralize a high-level al-Qaeda operative who are ambushed by the enemy in the mountains of Afghanistan.

Faced with an impossible moral decision, the small band is isolated from help and surrounded by a much larger force of Taliban ready for war.

As they confront unthinkable odds together, the four men find reserves of strength and resilience as they stay in the fight to the finish.

Mark Wahlberg stars as Marcus Luttrell, the author of the first-person memoir “Lone Survivor,” whose book has become a motivational resource for its lessons on how the power of the human spirit is tested when we are pushed beyond our mental and physical limits.

Glorious is the debut album from English beauty Foxes, also known as Louisa Rose Allen.

The 24-year-old met the album’s producer Ghostwriter while performing at London open mike nights. He was able to draw out of Louisa something she'd found almost impossible to communicate to other producers. Together they've created the majority of her debut album, which has been given some extra pop sheen by super producers Future Cut. One of the first songs Louisa and Ghostwriter worked on was Youth, which along with the delicate Home were duly placed on Soundcloud simply to test the waters. As we now know, those waters have well and truly been disturbed since, with Foxes quickly becoming the name on most self-respecting pop fans' lips.

Helios is the fourth studio album for Denver-based four piece The Fray and follows on from their 2012 release Scars and Stories.

Helios features Joe King on rhythm guitar, Isaac Slade on lead vocals, Dave Welsh on lead guitar and Ben Wysocki on drums and includes the single Love Don't Die. Tracks include Hold My Hand, Give It Away, Closer to Me, Hurricane, On Wanting, Our Last Days, Your Plans, Wherever This Goes, Shadow and a Dancer and Same as You. The Fray skyrocketed to fame after their 2005 mega hit, How to Save a Life.

RoboCop

Lone Survivor

In RoboCop, the year is 2028 and multinational conglomerate OmniCorp is at the centre of robot technology.

Overseas, their drones have been used by the military for years - and it's meant billions for OmniCorp's bottom line.

Now OmniCorp wants to bring their controversial technology to the home front, and they see a golden opportunity to do it.

When Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman) – a loving husband, father and good cop doing his best to stem the tide of crime and corruption in Detroit - is critically injured in the line of duty, OmniCorp sees their chance for a part-man, part-robot police officer.

OmniCorp envisions a RoboCop in every city and even more billions for their shareholders, but they never counted on one thing: there is still a man inside the machine pursuing justice.

Season commences February 6

Entertain me

win We have a double pass for Lone Survivor and Robocop to give away. To enter, email jessica.porter@wapu.org.au with your name, address, title of the movie and contact phone number. Winners will be drawn on March 3.

The Fray Released March 7

win We have five copies of Glorious and Helios to give away.

To enter, email jessica.porter@wapu.org.au with your name, address, album title and contact phone number.

Winners will be drawn on March 3.

37 Police News FEBRUARY 2014

Member benefits

Visit www.wapu.org.au for details and regular updates on these and other great member offers.

SAVE with WAPU Member benefits Spotters Sunglasses

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55% off recommended retail price on all sunglasses to WAPU Members.

Please call WAPU HQ on 9321 2155 for more information.

20% discount to all Members when ID is shown. Shop 10/1904 Beach Road Malaga, 9248 5994.

Book your stay and receive 15% off the best available rate of the day.

To book call 9267 4888.

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AirPro Airconditioning

Special Members’ prices • Sedans usually $330 – Members’ price $290.

Discount on all tinting

2.5kW cooling, 3.4kW heating reverse cycle standard inverter split systems fully installed – WAPU Members $1395.00*. 3.5kW cooling, 4.0kW heating reverse cycle standard inverter split systems fully installed – WAPU Members $1545.00*.

Contact Tony for more information on 9408 6666.

25% discount to all card carrying WAPU Members.

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50% off all standard rates.

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Resort Room for only $169.

Conditions Apply.

* Standard back to back installation – single storey home. Two metres of pipe and 12 metres of electrical included.

POLICE OPTICAL AND SUNGLASS BENEFIT PROGRAM

20% OFF plus *

at OPSM and Laubman & Pank

a FREE Digital Retinal Scan or come in with a family member & both receive a FREE “Ultra Wide” Digital Retinal Scan** ($120 Value)

Please present this voucher to any of the stores Australia Wide. To find your nearest store or book an eye test visit opsm.com.au or laubmanandpank.com.au Lux Stores: Discount Code: B2W. Company Name: POLICE. Offer valid at all OPSM and Laubman & Pank Stores across Australia. *20% off frames, lenses, sunglasses, contact lenses and accessories. **The type of scan conducted will be determined by availability of technology in the store chosen.

Offer excludes eye tests, gift vouchers, Chanel, Tiffany & Co., Bvlgari, Oliver Peoples, Paul Smith and Tag Heuer products. Offer only available for Police and their family members. Voucher must be presented at time of ordering.

Cannot be used in conjunction with special offer packages, sale items, health fund associated discounts or any other discount or benefit from any source other than a rebate from a health fund. Offer ends 30/06/14. Discount Code B2W.

Discount Buying Electrical Discounts MotorService Vehicles We are here to help with the products you wish to purchase! Simply contact us with the make, model number and your best price; let us do the rest!

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38

Police News FEBRUARY 2014

With over 30 years experience, ShopRite’s car consultants know where to look, who to ask and how to negotiate. Let us do all the running around for you!

Retail Partners Receive special deals from over 60 ShopRite retail partners! Offering real discounts to members, you are sure to find a bargain!

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Make sure you check out the fantastic “Deal of the Day” offers on our website!

Retirements & resignations

Vale

Retiring member letters can be sent to: Police News, WAPU, 639 Murray Street West Perth WA 6005 or submitted via email to admin@wapu.org.au

Retiring members 5361 Glenn Fletcher 5774 Hugh Tollan 5814 Gordon Hughes

Resigning members 9240 Mark Walsh 9444 Peter Lawlor 9847 Clayton Whitehead 9947 Ashley Colman 10086 Troy Andrich 10713 Kevin Francis 10825 Scott Hardstaff 11196 Robert Stewart 12128 Jacob Mallott 12582 Bradley Kelly 12888 Daniel O’Herlihy 13196 Carlo Esposito 13400 Cheryl Russell 13486 David Wyche 13723 Christopher Viles 13899 Adam Petko 14489 Stefan Webb 14567 Larissa Mitic 14950 Mari Turner 99470 Samuel Macey

The transfers list can now be accessed in the Members Section of our website: www.wapu.org.au

SENIOR CONSTABLE GAVIN BONSER

18 years’ service Died: February 15, 2013 aged 46 On Friday August 2, 2013 with close family and colleagues present, Gavin was laid to rest at Pinnaroo Cemetery.

Keith Carmody held a service and prayed for Gavin and his family reminding us all that we are only separated for a short time before re-joining one another.

Gavin oversees a beautiful lake, nestled amongst manicured lawns, natural bushland and wildlife, a reminder of his country boyhood days in Cunderdin.

There will be plenty of life every spring for Gavin to enjoy which is fitting for a person who enjoyed life as much as he did.

Gavin’s wife Shelley has asked everyone to visit Gavin in this idyllic, peaceful and reflective location.

Gavin is spread far and wide at some of his favourite spots across our magnificent State: • Off Whaler’s Bay in Dampier; • Off the end of Emu Point in Albany; • On the hill near the big coke can in Lancelin in the army live firing range; and • Just out from Indiana Tea Rooms off Cottesloe.

Shelley also took some of Gavin’s ashes to Paris where she was visiting close friends, a city Gavin always wanted to visit.

The remainder of Gavin’s ashes will be kept in a Jarrah box which was made by one of his very close friends at home.

RIP mate – a life taken too young. Your mum and dad, Shelley’s parents and the police family will look over Shelley, Matt and Sarah, don’t ever think you will be forgotten.

Serving 4940 Andris Alfred Garkaklis Superintendent Aged 59

Retired 4073 Henry Hooft Senior Sergeant Aged 64 5923 William Egidio Robb Sergeant Aged 64 3183 Edward John Ryder Chief Inspector Aged 81 2550 Ronald Wilfred Read Constable Aged 87 4595 Chris Owen Willcocks Senior Sergeant Aged 62

By Senior Sergeant Craig Wanstall

39 Police News FEBRUARY 2014

new members

WAPU welcomes it's newest members Recruit Squad 5/2013 Grey Squad Daniel Anstee Stephen Anthony Samuel Applebee Natalie Bogdan Neil Bruere Thomas Burke David Castello Amber Collier Benjamin Cunliffe Mark Dallas Dawson D’Souza Blair Fisher Nicola Forde Daniel Ginbey Joseph Hubbard Beaven Royale Jake Kramer Kieran Lines Sacha Mann Nico Martin Jack McDonald Stephen McHugh Daniel Millson Nicholas Orbourne Erin Prince Benjamin Reid Stephanie Shaw Michael Taylor Craig Williams

esberg

40 Police News FEBRUARY 2014

WA Police Recruit Squad Graduation Friday January 3, 2014 WA Police Academy, Joondalup

41 Police News FEBRUARY 2014

Where are they now?

What are you up to now?

Since retirement, I have become a grandfather to four little people and I have learned that family and friends are the most important things in life. I acquired my Investigators license and I have been fortunate to have travelled to Papua New Guinea on a number of occasions for inquiries, which allowed me to see a part of the world I would not have normally experienced.

I have replaced the daily social drink of beer with that of coffee and now enjoy catching up with many old friends at the coffee shop and chat about many things, including policing in today’s environment.

Paul Christopher Ferguson I joined WA Police on October 2, 1972 and was issued regimental number 4700. I retired from WA Police October 3, 2008.

What areas did you work in?

Following four years in uniform, I joined the CIB, where I remained for the next 27 years. During that period I worked at the Drug Squad, Fraud Squad, Fremantle, Bentley and Gosnells CIB offices and then returned to CIB Headquarters where I ran the CIB Covert Unit and the Homicide Squad.

What did you like most about policing?

Policing to me was a career and I was fortunate to work with good people who put me through an apprenticeship that taught me the skills I needed to provide services that victims expected from their police force. I enjoyed the challenges of reconstructing crimes and identifying the evidence needed to prove the guilt of the offender. These results were achieved by a team effort and it was the challenge of the hunt and the ‘takeout’ by the team that I enjoyed. In a nut shell, it was the culture of policing that I liked and I don’t regret a day of it.

What did you dislike about policing?

The only thing that I can say I disliked about policing was the Delta reform program of the 90s. I understand and accept the need for change but the culture when I commenced my career was that of a family and a strong desire to catch the bad guy. The Delta program removed the camaraderie and strong support for each other within the job and replaced it with a sense of individuality which changed it from a career to a job.

What was the highlight of your career?

42 Police News FEBRUARY 2014

The highlight was my appointment as the Officer-inCharge of the then Homicide Squad, now referred to as the Major Crime Squad. I was fortunate to have had a competent, professional and dedicated team who put the job first and committed themselves to solving all homicides.

In your opinion, what have been the biggest changes in policing over the years?

Policing has changed in many ways during in my short involvement with the profession. In 1972 we had Imperial typewriters, telex machines and carbon paper, our radio communications were basic and ‘forensic science’ was fingerprints and blood grouping. Today, a police officer has specific legislation relative to their profession which allows them to maximise their presence.

Is there anything you would do to make policing as a procession safer and more appealing?

I can’t think of any safeguards you could implement to make the job of a policing safer today because you deal with people who are desperate and/or unstable and therefore you can’t predict what a person will do when they are approached. As far as making the profession more appealing, I believe it is the profession itself that is its own worst enemy. People enter the profession; they are taught a multitude of skills which the private sector can only dream of. Hence, many people enter the police service but are ‘head hunted’ by the private sector.

What do you miss the most about the job?

I don’t miss anything about my former role as a police officer. I enjoyed the job while I worked there but I believe it was my time to leave. I said at my send off luncheon, I joined this job working for victims and I am now leaving the job working for politicians, that’s not what I joined the job to do. I had my time, I have no regrets and I wish all current and future police officers all the best and encourage them to enjoy their time while they have it.

Any special comments?

Being a police officer is a unique career and should be enjoyed. The position gives a person tremendous power and authority which has to be managed and used for the purpose for which it was provided; you owe that to yourself and the community. A police officer shouldn’t be frightened to make a decision and if you make the wrong decision acknowledge it but learn from it. The greatest gift you can give back to the job is your knowledge and support to others to assist them to develop and carry the profession into the future.

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Important information: This document contains general information and doesn’t take your personal circumstances into account. Please consider whether this information is right for you before making a decision and seek professional independent tax or financial advice. Conditions and fees apply, along with credit assessment criteria for lease and loan products. The availability of benefits is subject to your employer’s approval. Maxxia may receive commissions in connection with its services.

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