October 2014 Families tied together through tragedy
Irwin family presented handcuffs from a 2008 tragedy
Conference preview WAPU is gearing up for Annual Conference
Karratha to Broome for Legacy Police pedal hard to help raise funds
THE MAGAZINE FOR THE
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OCT 2014
POLICE NEWS THE MAGAZINE FOR THE WA POLICE UNION
CONTENTS
10
Families tied together through tragedy A 2008 police shooting brought to life on TV
14
Annual Conference preview WAPU brings keynote speaker to Conference for all Members
19
06 WAPU Directors and staff 08 President’s Report
Keep Watch campaigner recognised
17 WAPU Opinion
York OIC raises awareness of the need to supervise children around water
24 Industrial Report
21
26 Field Report
20 WAPU Opinion 22 Opinion
28 Q&A 29 Health
WA Police Basketball celebrates 25 years Gropers close to success in milestone year
31 Legal 33 Motoring 35 Property Investing 37 Member Benefits
16
38 Entertainment 40 New Members 42 Retirements, Resignations and Vale
Police complete Legacy bike ride
43 Where are they now?
22nd Karratha to Broome Bike Ride was a major success
WA
POLICE UNION
4 Police News OCTOBER 2014
639 Murray Street West Perth WA 6005 P (08) 9321 2155 F (08) 9321 2177 E admin@wapu.org.au
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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.
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Above A re-enactment of Shane Gray’s encounter with Shane Williams Watkins 20 kilometres out of Karratha. Picture: Jon Groves Photography. cover Picture: Jody D’Arcy Photography.
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24/7 EMERGENCY Director
Board of Directors
EMERGENCY 24/7 Director MICk KELLY
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GEORGE TILBURY President 0409 105 898
BRANDON SHORTLAND Senior Vice President 0419 802 650
JON GROVES Vice President 0438 080 868
MICK KELLY Treasurer & 24/7 Emergency 0438 080 930
Ward Adamson Director 0457 603 311
HARRY ARNOTT Director 0407 989 008
Staff
PAUL HUNT Secretary
6 Police News OCTOBER 2014
Chris Vitler Finance Manager
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PENNY BROWN Administration Officer 7
Police News OCTOBER 2014
George Tilbury President
CCTV upgrades a must CCTV equipment in this day and age that does not record and play in real time is totally unacceptable.
‌ we advise Members to continue exercising your rights by declining to participate in all voluntary interviews conducted by the CCC.
The State Government and WA Police urgently need to upgrade every single CCTV system at police facilities in the State in order to protect Members and the public. Last month, another one of our Members was convicted of assault on the basis of substandard CCTV vision taken from Halls Creek Police Station. The vision used to convict Constable Ben Gartner lacked clarity, was poorly formatted, had no audio and was only playable at half the normal speed. The spectre of the Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) has seen Members charged in sometimes questionable circumstances. Where Members are dealing with aggressive offenders and use force whilst acting in good faith, they should be supported by WA Police. To be fair to all parties, every single CCTV system in police facilities should be upgraded so that it records events in real time with sound. If the upgrades occur, this will allow our Members’ actions to be judged more fairly, given split second decisions will be reviewed in real time. An Executive Motion will be put forward at Annual Conference seeking the necessary upgrades immediately.
CCC report tabled in Parliament The Joint Standing Committee on the Corruption and Crime Commission tabled its report into protections available for police being interviewed by CCC investigators. As our legal advice suggested last year, any information given in a voluntary interview by officers can be used in subsequent criminal and civil prosecutions, should they arise. Our position has not changed and we advise Members to continue exercising your rights by declining to participate in all voluntary interviews conducted by the CCC. If approached, you should immediately contact WAPU HQ on 9321 2155 for further legal advice. However, one recommendation made by the Committee was that legislation be introduced to amend the Corruption and Crime Commission Act to afford officers legal protection during voluntary interviews. Until such time as the Act has been amended, our advice to you in regards to voluntary interviews with CCC investigators remains the same.
8
Kimberley field trip Recently, I visited the Kimberley and spent time with Members in Broome, Kununurra and Wyndham. I was able to ascertain from Members the issues they are facing on a day-to-day basis and we have since acted on a number of those presented to us. Broome Police Station is still struggling to develop a 24 x 7 roster that meets the various demands. However, a suitable roster has not been able to be implemented as staffing levels are not sufficient. Kununurra has similar roster problems, however they pale into insignificance compared to the urgent need for a significant upgrade to the entire police station. Although the station is only 18 years old, it needs to be placed into the vital upgrade category for renovations and modernisation. The lock-up is an absolute disgrace and WAPU has put forward a proposal to WA Police that could see our Members being relocated to the current secure court house building when that building is decommissioned and the new $53m Justice complex is opened. On a positive note, Wyndham Police Station has been transformed into an excellent facility and is a credit to the OIC and his staff. My trip also secured strong media coverage in the local press as we fought for more officers at Broome Police Station and for urgent upgrades to the dilapidated and dangerous Kununurra Police Station lock-up. I will continue to pressure WA Police on these two matters until they are resolved.
Annual Conference Next month marks the rising of our 78th Annual Conference and this year’s welfare-theme will allow more Members access to our major direction setting event. A major piece of Conference will be the release of our research project, Project Recompense, which intends to secure a fair outcome for all Members who have suffered trauma during the course of their employment with WA Police and have been, will be or could be medically retired.
President's report
Project Recompense aims to identify and build a case to advocate for a fair and sustainable process that can be put in place to compensate our Members. Our keynote speaker is Dr Kevin Gilmartin who will not only address Conference Delegates but will also hold a separate session for any WAPU Member who wishes to attend. Dr Gilmartin is a behavioural scientist who specialises in issues related to law enforcement. With 20 years of police experience under his belt, he currently provides service to the law enforcement community as a consultant. I have heard Dr Gilmartin speak before and thoroughly recommend Members attend one of his presentations if you are able to. On our recommendation, WA Police will also make the most of this rare opportunity and host a number of sessions after Annual Conference. If you are interested in attending Dr Gilmartin’s presentation please complete the form on page 15 of Police News and return it to WAPU HQ by November 7. Places are limited, so first in, first served. You can read more about Annual Conference by turning to page 14.
01 02
Terror caution In light of the stabbing of two police officers in Victoria recently, and the terror alert being increased to high, I ask you to consider your safety and that of your fellow Members. Both officers were attacked outside the Endeavour Hills Police Station by an 18-year-old man, who was a known terror suspect. The attack is a timely reminder that we need to work together and look out for each other. Police are on the frontline to protect the community however, we also need to protect ourselves. Regularity often leads to complacency so simple tasks such as escorting fellow Members to and from their personal vehicles and being armed at all times while on duty, should now be considered. At very least, this should extend to Members performing office duties at 24/7 police stations.
WA is not immune to terrorism and given this recent attack on police officers we need to be vigilant as police buildings, vehicles and related events could become a target for terrorists. The biggest risk is that these terrorists do not just act in groups but can also operate as individuals. Please assess the risks at all times and take nothing for granted. This incident should be the catalyst for WA Police to expedite its plan to introduce personal stab resistant ballistic vests. WAPU is working together with WA Police and our national counterparts, who are keeping us fully briefed about all matters.
01 George Tilbury with Federal Justice Minister Michael Keenan and Attorney General George Brandis at National Police Remembrance Day. 02 George Tilbury with Members from the Wyndham Police Station during his recent trip to the Kimberley.
9
Families tied together through tragedy By Jessica Porter
It was January 31, 2006 along the remote North West Coastal Highway, about 20 kilometres from Karratha. As Sergeant Shane Gray drove along the flat, winding road, a familiar song came on the radio; American Pie by Don McLean. But as the song finished with the familiar words ‘this will be the day that I die,’ Shane shook his head and said, ‘not today’. Little did he know, the day where his life hung in the balance came sooner than he anticipated. Just then over the horizon, Sgt Gray spotted a Holden Commodore wanted in connection to a fuel drive off from Fortescue Road House. But this wasn’t just any fuel drive off. What happened next changed policing and the lives of two families forever. On the other side of the country, two parents were living their worst nightmare as they were told their daughters, Colleen and Laura Irwin, were viciously raped and stabbed to death. Their daughters’ killer – Shane William Watkins – had fled Altona North in Victoria and drove for three days straight towards the Pilbara and crossed paths with Sgt Gray.
10 Police News OCTOBER 2014
The story of that fateful day recently screened on televisions across the country as Channel 7’s Today Tonight recreated the event for its Highway to Hell episode. Viewers learnt how Shane Watkins murdered the only daughters of Allan and Shirley Irwin while on parole for raping an 80-year-old woman, and was then on the run near Karratha. That day, Sgt Gray pulled over Watkins in relation to the fuel drive-off, asked for his driver’s license, which he offered up, and then went back to the police vehicle to check details with the station. There were no red flags that Watkins was wanted in Victoria for the double murder of the Irwin sisters or details of his criminal history. As Sgt Gray went back to Watkins’ vehicle to ask him to accompany him back to Karratha Police Station, Watkins lashed out and king hit Sgt Gray to the head. The blow immediately shocked him and knocked him to the ground. As Watkins continued to punch and kick him, Sgt Gray had just enough time to pull out his gun and shoot Watkins. He fired two shots which landed in Watkins’s stomach area. Struggling, Sgt Gray reached for the police radio and called ‘shots fired, police officer down’. ▷
11 Police News OCTOBER 2014
01 02
“If just one police officer sees or reads this story and treats the job with that little bit more caution then maybe that’s a positive.”
12 Police News OCTOBER 2014
The story of the Sgt Gray’s heroism and the need for information sharing between States and the end of single officer patrols was highlighted by the Today Tonight episode. It also brought up strong memories for the Irwins. “It was very difficult to watch,” Mrs Irwin told Police News. “Just how much Shane was bashed and near death, it really did bring it home. The girls just had no hope.” Reliving the terror of that day did not phase Sgt Gray, who said the he did not lose any sleep over shooting Watkins. “What he did to those beautiful girls made it easier to live with. He was a dog of an animal,” Sgt Gray said. But for WAPU Vice President Jon Groves, who assisted with the re-enactment, the scene reminded him of nearly losing one of his best mates. “I must admit, having helped lift and place the body of Watkins onto the morgue slab in Karratha back then, when I first saw the actor playing him in the recreation for Today Tonight, I looked out the window and just felt sick in the guts. He had the same frame, the same haircut. During my interaction with him that day, I sort of impolitely told him to keep his distance,” Mr Groves said. “There’s been a horrible tragedy as far as what’s happened to these beautiful girls, but there can be positives taken from it,” Mr Groves explains. “If just one police officer sees or reads this story and treats the job with that little bit more caution then maybe that’s a positive.” As Watkins was on parole while he committed the double homicide, Mr and Mrs Irwin have used the loss of their daughters to push for tougher parole conditions. “That bloke shouldn’t have even been out of jail,” Mr Irwin said. “It annoys the hell out of me that there’s people making decisions and to them, we’re just numbers. “They’re hardening up in Victoria, but it’s nowhere near enough. They still aren’t telling us when these creeps are out or where they’re situated,” he said. Mrs Irwin explains she wants Australia to adopt legislation similar to what is known as ‘Megan’s Law’ in the USA. ‘Megan’s Law’ requires sex offenders to be maintained on a database which is tracked by each state. Community members are also notified when a sex offender moves into their neighbourhood and the offender would be sentenced to life in prison without parole if they were convicted of a second sexual assault. Despite the terrible loss the Irwins have suffered, they now have two additional family members in Shane Gray and Jon Groves. “Anything we can do to help them and help Shirley through the day, we do,” Sgt Gray said.
01 Shane Gray’s actor in the Today Tonight Highway to Hell episode Credit: Channel 7 Today Tonight. 02 Allan and Shirley Irwin during their interview with Today Tonight. 03 Sgt Shane Gray. 04 Jon Groves and Shane Gray before they are about to present the handcuffs to the Irwins. 05 The handcuffs and a photo of Shane now have a special place at the Irwin’s home in Victoria.
03
“My kids are like her grandkids, so that’s really special for them, and my wife Mandy speaks to Shirl almost every day.” Recently, Mr Groves and Sgt Gray travelled to Victoria to surprise Mr and Mrs Irwin and present them with a symbolic gift. Approval was granted through Commander Regional WA Murray Smallpage to gift Sgt Gray’s handcuffs from that day to the Irwins. The handcuffs represent the strong ties between the WA Police family and the Irwins, one cuff for each of the sisters and also the fact that they never needed to be used on Watkins. “It was great to surprise Shirl with them,” Mr Groves said. “There was just heaps of hugs, she wouldn’t let us go.” While it has been more than eight years since the shooting, Sgt Gray said he has had only one instance where the shooting has negatively affected him. He cited an unsupportive senior officer which caused Sgt Gray to have a breakdown and take stress leave from the job. This matter is currently in the hands of a WAPU lawyer. However, he has used the shooting as an example of what to do in a similar instance when he speaks with cadets and students. Mr Groves also hopes officers will be reminded of the difficult and challenging nature of this ever-changing job. “Most people have totally forgotten that this incident happened just near Karratha,” he said. “Karratha has turned into a much bigger town with a lot more shady customers. But they still forget that travelling those roads are some dangerous people and I think it’s reawakened that you have to be careful. Because with Watkins, for all intents and purposes, started out as very friendly and very compliant… then he just snapped.”
The handcuffs represent the strong ties between the WA Police family and the Irwins, one cuff for each of the sisters …
04 05
SHACKLES OF LOVE By Tony Russell Dawsom It stands up proud those silver locks A gift to them of the hardest knocks A symbol of two families linked by affray One cuff Irwin …the other Gray
And where they’ve been it matters more On the side of his belt his body torn No matter what that coward did Would never break the shackles on his belt that hid
They’re displayed in their home now for respect An honour the Irwin’s never did expect A symbol of two families forever tied Beauty of love and dignity applied
They stand up proud those silver cuffs A gift to them, that have survived it tough A symbol of two families linked by affray One cuff Irwin …the other Gray.
13 Police News OCTOBER 2014
Dr Kevin Gilmartin, Ph.D
WAPU Annual Conference moves to November “I have heard Dr Gilmartin speak and I thoroughly recommend any Member who can attend his presentation to book your spot today. He is fantastic and what he says really hits home.” 14 Police News OCTOBER 2014
T
his year’s WA Police Union Annual Conference will be held in November for the first time. Changes made at last year’s Conference allowed the move from the traditional June date to November 24-25. A major issue for WAPU is how all Members are looked after, whether that be during or after their employment, so this year’s Conference is welfare-themed. The keynote speaker for Conference will be behavioural sciences and management consultant Dr Kevin Gilmartin, Ph.D. Dr Gilmartin specialises in the area of law enforcement and public safety, having previously spent 20 years policing in Arizona. He will present two seminars at Conference, the first to all Conference Delegates on Tuesday morning followed by another presentation in the afternoon open to all WAPU Members. Currently, he consults with law enforcement agencies in USA and Canada and holds adjunct faculty positions with the University of Massachusetts Police Leadership Institute and the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas at Sam Houston State University. He is also a guest instructor at the FBI Academy in Virginia and a faculty member of the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Institute. He is retained by several Federal law enforcement agency critical incident response teams and is a charter member of the IACP: Psychological Services Section and former vice-president of the Society of Police and Criminal Psychology. All Delegates and Members who attend Dr Gilmartin’s sessions, will receive a free copy of his book: Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement. WAPU President George Tilbury said he was excited to bring Dr Gilmartin to Conference. “I have heard Dr Gilmartin speak and I thoroughly recommend any Member who can attend his presentation to book your spot today. He is fantastic and what he says really hits home,” he said. “The opportunity to have someone of his calibre speak to our Members is a privilege and to be able to have more Members involved and attend our Conference is something I am looking forward to.”
Dr Kevin Gilmartin
Karen Davis
Behavioural sciences and management consultant specialising in law enforcement and public safety, having previously spent 20 years policing in Arizona.
Former NSW detective and now author, who has suffered post-traumatic stress disorder.
On Day One, Conference Delegates will also hear firsthand from a former police officer who has suffered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when former NSW detective, and now author, Karen Davis tells her story. Ms Davis was an undercover operative and took part in multiple operations and homicide investigations and she was discharged from the force in 2007 due to an injury sustained on duty. Whilst an officer, Ms Davis has been violently attacked and locked in a morgue; witnessed a woman being burnt alive and a government undertaker stuff a dead toddler into a suitcase; faced death threats and suffered PTSD, which eventually caused her to retire. Since then she was written novels, Sinister Intent and her latest work, Deadly Obsession which have an authentic edge given her experiences. In addition to the guest speakers, Police Minister Liza Harvey, Opposition Leader Mark McGowan and Commissioner of Police
Photo Steve McCawley
HIghLIgHTS
Karl O’Callaghan will also address Conference Delegates. The Commissioner will also hold his traditional Q&A session with delegates and in a first, on the day before Conference an Assistant Commissioners Panel Session will also be held. Mr Tilbury urged all Members to get involved in Conference. “Annual Conference is our major direction and policy setting forum for the year ahead,” he said. “It is vital all Members raise their concerns at their Branch Meetings to ensure their voice is heard. Motions to be debated will be forwarded to each Branch prior to Conference. Members need to read these motions and vote to determine their Branch’s position for Conference.” Members who wish to attend Dr Gilmartin’s session need to fill out the form below and return it to WAPU HQ by November 7. Full coverage of Conference will be published in the December Edition of Police News.
Karen Davis
*Dr Gilmartin Presentation – Attendance Form 1330-1730 Tuesday 25 November 2014 Swan Room, Parmelia Hilton Hotel, Mill Street Perth Name (Please Print):
Rank:
Regimental Number:
Work Location:
Address (Home): Post Code: Phone no. (Work):
(Mobile):
Email (Home): Please return form via email admin@wapu.org.au or fax 9321 2177 by COB Friday November 7, 2014 Note: There is no provision for WAPU to assist with coverage of travel costs or parking.
15 Police News OCTOBER 2014
Bike ride raises funds for legacy 01 02
03 04
Main Image Large trucks were one of the obstacles riders faced. 01 Riders preparing to set off. 02 Team Captain Peter Clements rehydrates. 03 Riders taking part in the Karratha to Broome Bike Ride. 04 The police officers who completed the ride.
16 Police News OCTOBER 2014
T
he wind gods may not have been on their side, but it certainly did not stop 29 riders pedal the 835 kilometres for the 21st Karratha to Broome Bike Ride for WA Police Legacy. Numbers were a little down this year following an emotioncharged 20th anniversary ride in 2013. However, all those involved – riders and supporters – got everything they bargained for and more. The continuous 32-hour ride from Karratha Police Station to the picturesque Cable Beach was completed as a relay of two teams. WA Police Union Senior Vice President Brandon Shortland, who took part in his third ride, said the supporters and crew excelled themselves and assisted the riders with meals, bike maintenance, first aid, drink stops and the occasional ride in the bus when a break was required. “This is an absolute unique experience,” he said. “There is nothing like riding along just before dawn with trucks zinging past and watching the sun rise up over the beautiful Kimberley landscape.” In the lead up to the event, a raffle was held for a magnificent camper trailer, donated by Down Under Campers, which helped the ride raise close to $30,000. Brandon said the ride could not have gone ahead without the support of major sponsors Karratha Building and Mermaid Marine. “It really was great to see so many people and organizations get behind the event and provide support to us,” he said. “The Lions Club and the Army helped us along the way. We wouldn’t be able to hold the ride if we didn’t have these people supporting us,” he said. Pilbara Boats & Bikes also supported the event by offering discounts, while the Walkabout Hotel in Port Hedland showed its support by providing dinner for participants during the trek. Individual awards were presented to riders who excelled during the mission from Karratha to Broome. Colin Townsend and Emily Richards took out the Best Male and Female Rider respectively. The ride will forge into a 22nd year, however, it will again need support from police officers and sponsors. For more information about the ride, please visit the Karratha To Broome Bike Ride Police Legacy facebook page where details of the event, contacts, photos and a fair bit of good-natured humour can be found.
WAPU Opinion
Brandon Shortland Senior Vice President
Do unto others Now that budgets are
tighter and things are relatively tougher than they were a couple of years ago, I find myself pondering a question more and more. I wonder if WA Police are actually interested in the people that work for them or whether it is just about recruiting and maintaining numbers?
WA Police once had a document entitled, WA Police Our People Strategy 2009-2013, and to go with that aspiring managers eying off the next rung would cheerfully spruik – that people were the most important asset WA Police has. While the strategy has clearly expired (a copy of the discarded Strategy can be found on the WAPU Forum), it appears the priority WA Police has for the best interests of its people has also expired given the language, posturing, public comment, opinion pieces and most impor tantly demonstrated actions of the Agency in recent times. I have heard comments from senior managers within WA Police recently justifying the move towards a harder line approach for treating our Members with only a modicum of fairness, respect and 'family-friendly employment conditions'. It was said that the current cycle is a “swinging back of the pendulum” after it was perceived that the pendulum had swung too far one way. These comments struck me as particularly odd, especially at a time when most business leaders, government agencies and the rest of the world are continuing to recognise the direct correlation between people being treated fairly to the performance and engagement of those people.
Blind Freddy knows that employees who are thought of as an important part of an organisation and this is demonstrated through not only words, but more importantly actions, are inclined to work harder, stay longer and contribute more. Consider the significant amount of taxpayers’ money it costs to advertise, attract, recruit, train, equip and deploy every police officer. There is a significant case to argue that WA Police should spend more of its attraction and recruiting budget on attracting and recruiting from within, by retaining staff and lowering the attrition rate. WA Police are very efficient and accountable to the highest degree in almost every area of expenditure – except retention. During the 2013-14 financial year, 444 officers separated from WA Police. That figure does include those who separated as part of the redundancy program. With an attrition rate of 37 per month, it is going to be mighty difficult for the State Government to deliver its election promise of 400 new police officers by March 2017.
These comments struck me as particularly odd, especially at a time when most business leaders, government agencies and the rest of the world are continuing to recognise the direct correlation between people being treated fairly to the performance and engagement of those people.
Potentially, in an effort to fulfil this promise, and reduce attrition it would have been interesting to know how many of those 444 who left in 2013-14 may have continued employment had the employment policies and conditions been more flexible. When the number of officers leaving WA Police is raised with the Agency, it is responded to at the speed of light that the figures are in line with other organisations of similar size. This response might satisfy and provide comfor t to the speaker, but I can only imagine the public outrage and political interest if any other government agency so readily disposed of such a high number of valuable assets on such a regular basis. Nevertheless, should it be the case that the level of attrition is in line with other organisations, what would be so terribly wrong about attempting to be an industry front-runner, showing some leadership and interest in reducing the number of experienced and knowledgeable people walking away from WA Police? WA Police should be doing everything in its capacity to ensure its police officers are afforded every opportunity to remain with the agency. Not every police officer is single, young, child-free, has no community or spor ting interests, no family commitments and is able to work within the very restrictive and narrow policy framework as mandated by the day shift working public servants within WA Police. Continued next page 17 Police News OCTOBER 2014
Continued from previous page
There are a number of managers with archaic and prehistoric views that WA Police have no responsibility to consider Members’ families and personal circumstances when considering a range of employment policies and arrangements within the workplace.
When advocating on behalf of Members regularly on transfer and tenure issues, a view from some managers is often tendered that WA Police employ the officer, not their partner or family. Apart from the totally callous and out-of-step sentiments when this tripe is thrown about, it is in stark contrast when placed alongside the comments of the Commissioner of Police at every Recruit Graduation Ceremony. At these ceremonies, the Commissioner, quite appropriately, thanks the partners and families of the recruits for allowing them to join WA Police and ser ve the community of WA. He also labours the point that the Members’ families and par tner s will make many sacrifices whilst supporting their loved ones throughout their careers.
There are a number of managers with archaic and prehistoric views that WA Police have no responsibility to consider Member s’ families and personal circumstances when considering a range of employment policies and arrangements within the workplace. The willingness and demonstrated actions of managers in the workplace to engage with our Members and support them in both their professional and private capacities, I believe will have significant positive benefits for WA Police and its officers. Part of valuing your staff is listening to them. In credible performance management regimes, not only is there guidance to staff from managers but also from staff to managers. We all know performance management within WA Police is not treated seriously and used more of a weapon for punishment and transfer. It is time WA Police took performance management seriously and showed their staff that their views matter and implement a mature 360 degree or two-way performance management system.
EMERGENCY 24/7 DIRECTOR
0438 080 930 18
639 Murray Street, West Perth WA 6005 PH: (08) 9321 2155 F: (08) 9321 2177
Police News OCTOBER 2014
Each business unit should have staf f representatives appointed by managers’ supervisors who are responsible for providing a balanced and informed perspective on the performance of their managers. Not only will rogue managers be held to account but the supervisors of managers will be robbed of being able to deny all knowledge when issues of manager performance are raised. Looking after people should not be dependent on the mighty dollar and there is always room for treating people like adults and adhering to the much lauded values of openness, fairness, respect, accountability and empathy. WA Police may not employ our Members’ families, but it is the families of our Members that allow us to do our jobs and without their support, the community of WA will be far worse off.
Mick Kelly Emergency Director
WAPU www.wapu.org.au admin@wapu.org.au
York OIC Sergeant Mark Gubanyi with York police officers Constable Jodie Howard, Constable Leigh Sutton, First Class Constable Alex Timms and Constable David Rostron after presenting their donation to the Royal Life Saving Society of WA.
Keep Watch campaigner recognised By Steven Glover
York Police Station OIC Sergeant Mark Gubanyi is one generous man. Recently, Mark was awarded the 2014 WA Child Safety Volunteer Award at the Constable Care Child Safety Awards and a $1,000 cash prize. Rather than pocket the money, he donated the prize to the Royal Life Saving Society of WA and went a step further and matched it with $1,000 of his own money. He won the award for his tireless work as ambassador for the Society’s Keep Watch campaign which aims to prevent drowning deaths of children under five years of age in all aquatic locations. Mark became the ambassador after he tragically lost his daughter, Kaitlin, in 1999 when she drowned in a backyard swimming pool at a friend’s house. Since then he has campaigned to raise awareness of the need to supervise children around water. “Following an inquest into Kaitlin’s death, Royal Life Saving took me on board and then I became the ambassador for the Keep Watch Campaign,” he told Police News. Mark’s role includes launching the campaign at the start of the swimming season and along the journey he has helped with a number of community events. He even went as far as swimming across Australia, from Geraldton to Sydney, in a purpose built pool securely mounted on a truck. While in transit, swimmers completed one hour rotations of swimming in the custom designed pool that was fitted with appropriate safety features including fencing and a lifeguard station.
“It’s just about getting out there amongst the community and letting them know that these avoidable tragedies can be stopped just through education and training,” he said. “Royal Life Saving has supported me greatly over the years and it’s an honour to be able to put that money back into the Keep Watch Foundation and it seemed the right thing to do and fitting to equal that with my own money as well.” Mark said he was also very proud to win the WA Child Safety Volunteer Award given the great number of good people around the State working hard to enhance the safety of children. To support their boss’ donation, the team from York Police Station also donated $50 each to take the total donation to $2,250. First Class Constable Alex Timms said the team was very proud to have Mark as their OIC. “He sets a really good example for us and the local community,” he said. “It is a very well deserved award because the boss puts so much into the local community and Royal Life Saving. It is very generous of him to give away all of his prize money and match it with a personal contribution. “He has been the Royal Life Saving ambassador for 14 years and it is good to see him get the recognition he deserves.” Mark was also touched by the gesture from his officers. “It’s an honour for the five of them to come on board like that and donate their hard earned money towards my cause and Royal Life Saving. It’s an absolute credit to them and I take my hat off to them for that,” Mark said. Mark thanked the Constable Care Awards for selecting him for the award as well as the Royal Life Saving Society of WA and his colleagues for their support. 19 Police News OCTOBER 2014
WAPU Opinion
KEVIN McDONALD
Metropolitan Director
Overhaul required to promotion model Promotion is one of
those subjects which can create a great deal of disharmony and bitterness among Members depending upon their experience and views throughout their careers. It is now 20 years since the old promotion system was turned on its head and it is high time debate on the subject was re-opened.
They will finish their unblemished, diligent careers without ever achieving their professional aspirations and the recognition they sought and deserved.
20 Police News OCTOBER 2014
The promotion system then was not without its faults and some people were promoted who probably shouldn’t have been. The system was open to abuse and cheating and so it became an Agency imperative to improve it. Typically, when management of this Agency decides to change something, anything, more often than not they throw the baby out with the bath water. T h e o ld p r o m ot i o n s y s te m was completely replaced with the introduction of the merit based promotion system which featured no reliance upon time at rank or length of service. It was these omissions that caused great consternation among experienced, long ser ving police officers and even junior officers who were familiar and comfortable with a previously defined and achievable career path ahead of them. Since then, objections to the new and constantly changing promotion systems have been long and loud but over time the protesting faded and inexperienced people were duly promoted ahead of long serving and at least equally capable aspirants. The structural backbone of the promotion system was removed and it evolved into the spineless, directionless, narrow and highly subjective culling system we see today. The mirror image of the promotion system is the current transfer system whereby Members competing against each other for placement in vacancies are chosen by untrained selection panels.
Recently, highly qualified human resource personnel within WA Police acknowledged the unqualif ied, biased and subjective elements of the transfer process, so much so they are going to get rid of it soon. I hope it will be replaced with something fairer. The familiar catch-cry from senior management has always been to ridicule and accuse anyone opposed to the promotion system changes (or any other change for that matter) that they are relics from the past, resistant to any kind of change generally and anyway, we know better. Naturally, the resisters were never given credence for a differing view and their argument of just wanting proof that changes were worthwhile and would result in better outcomes was never acknowledged by management. Consequently, and indisputably, just about every promotion round since the merit based system was introduced has seen the system adjusted or changed in some way – and the proof never came. Over the past decade or more, and knowingly or not, through its promotion system WA Police has cultivated, nurtured and spawned a sub-culture of ‘yes-men’ by rewarding those who opportunistically and strategically ingratiate themselves and who spend countless hours poring over selection criteria, analysing and dissecting a promotion process to facilitate their own passage through the ranks.
‘Yes-men’ ultimately arrive at a dizzy height of responsibility for which they have no real experience for, nor deserve to be, preach leadership and strategic direction to those who do. That’s not to say that some good quality, deserving people have not been promoted because they have. And it’s not to say that everyone who has been promoted is a ‘yes-man’ because they are not. But even many of the quality, non -yes men luck y enough to progress through the ranks agree and are bemoaning the fact that, not unlike the old days, they too are now working with people who struggle at senior levels and should never have been promoted. There is no perfectly fair promotion system. There will always be capable people who miss out. I suppose it’s a measure of a good system that ensures the capable people it selects are also the most deserving and I venture to say that the current chameleon-like system does not. The careers of many talented and dedicated people from the rank of senior constable and above have stalled for many years because they were guilty of independent thought and unafraid to voice their opinion. I like to call them ‘no-men’. They will finish their unblemished, diligent careers without ever achieving their professional aspirations and the recognition they sought and deserved. Continued page 22
The full Gropers squad at the 2014 Australasian Police Basketball Association Championships in Cairns.
Gropers celebrate 25 years
The WA Police Basketball Club, the Gropers, celebrated its 25-year anniversary during the Australasian Police Basketball Association (APBA) Championships held in Cairns. A team of 60 travelled to the championships which was a massive increase on the initial 11 men that represented the Gropers at its first championships back in 1990. Northern Region Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Taylor officially opened the championships at the “Fish Tank” and WA were given the honour of playing the opening Division One Men’s match against Queensland. The Men’s Division One team, coached by Darren Rowlinson, however fell short of coming away with a first round win against a team, which included retired NBL Cairns Taipan Aaron Grabau. Although the men defeated Victoria and South Australia, a loss to NSW in overtime hurt their chances of going through to the grand final and playing for back-to-back titles. The Women’s Division One team fared better than the men, narrowly missing out on the grand final after a four-point loss to NSW in the cross over final. The team coached by Gropers Life Member Pryce Scanlan had a great week winning four out of five games in their pool, only losing to Victoria. The Gropers fielded two sides in the Men’s Division Two with the Peter Hatch coached team winning three and losing three which wasn’t enough to make the crossover finals. The other team coached by Darren Taylor lost all five of their pool matches. Mark Daya took the reins of the Women’s Division Two side which finished with a 3-2 win-loss record. The team was ravaged by injuries which forced them to use some of the
touring partners to boost the team numbers. The girls finished third in their pool which automatically sent them through to the grand final playoff against NSW2 which they lost by only four points. Gropers touring referee Katie Roberts was selected to referee the Women’s Division One Grand Final. Given she was up against qualified NBL referees, this was no mean feat. The championships closed with the selection of the APBA All Star team. Alyce Roberts (Guard) and Suzie Narducci (Forward) were picked in the Women’s All Star Team while Benny Moltran was selected as a Guard in the Men’s All Star Team. Moltran also won the overall Men’s MVP of the tournament and overall Men’s Highest Point Scorer award. At the club’s awards night, Moltran capped off his week with the Men’s Division One MVP and Roberts won the Women’s MVP. James Hartley was the Men’s Team Two MVP, Jordan Parker the Men’s Team Three MVP and Kelsey Timms won the Women’s Division Two MVP. Division One Men’s captain and Women’s Division One assistant coach Robbie Plaucs was awarded the inaugural Clubman of the Year award. Next year, the Gropers are returning to where the club first represented WA Police when the championships are held in Darwin in October. If you are interested in joining the WAPBC Gropers please contact President Suzie Narducci, Vice President Darren Taylor, Treasurer Pete Branchi or Secretary Mark Daya. 21 Police News OCTOBER 2014
Opinion
Continued from page 20
In a profession where on the job experience is the primary catalyst for developing skills, wisdom, lea d e r s hip a n d e s t a b lis hing credibility, time at rank is the pillar from which other necessary selection criterion attaches and still appeals as an equaliser for a fairer system. It has the capacity to sort those who should from those who shouldn’t and recognises and rewards commitment, knowledge, experience and dedication. Time at rank shouldn’t be a guaranteed rite of passage, as it arguably was in the past, but it does give definition, direction, purpose, opportunity and energy to those who seek advancement. While many generic policing skills are transferable within our profession, expertise is not valued or exploited, in fact it’s the opposite and that old mantra of the right people, in the right place, doing the right job, is demonstrably empty rhetoric in our organisation today. As it currently is, police officers routinely move around from areas of relative expertise to other areas they have little or no experience in, through promotion or transfer. To achieve the design and implementation of a fairer and better promotion model would require a complete overhaul of how our police career path is structured (or better described as not structured at all!) within WA Police from the outset.
22 Police News OCTOBER 2014
The following is an open letter from NSW police officer Michael Keegan I am a police officer.
That means that the pains and joys of my personal life are often muted by my work. I resent these intrusions but it is my job to do the things others fear to do. The label ‘police officer’ creates a false image of who I really am. Sometimes I feel like I’m floating between two worlds.
Take a moment and remember what my job is and isn’t. Police officers are needed but what we do can leave lasting effects on my family and I.
My work is not just protecting and serving. It’s preserving that buffer that exists in the space between what you think the world is, and what the world really is. My job isn’t like television. The action is less frequent, much more graphic and it involves all my five senses. What I Smell, Taste, See, Touch and Hear at these horrific senses will stay with me long after I close the file. It is not exhilarating to point a gun at someone. Pooled blood has a disgusting metallic smell and steams a little when the temperature drops. CPR isn’t an instant miracle and it’s no fun listening to an elderly grandmother’s ribs break while I keep her heart beating. I am flattered by your curiosity about my work. What you need to know is I don’t keep a record of which incident was the most frightening, or the strangest, or the bloodiest, or even the funniest. I don’t want to share the images that haunt me with others. But I do have some confessions to make: Sometimes my stereo is too loud. Music sometimes makes it easier to forget the wasted body of the young man who died alone in a rented room because he was hooked on crack. A hug erases the sight of the nurses who sobbed as they scrubbed layers of dirt and slime from a neglected 2-yearold’s skin. The Angry that beat inside me assures me that it was ignorance that drove a young mother to not put her toddler in a car seat as she drove around today.
Sometimes I might seem rushed or impatient. I am having trouble shedding the adrenaline that kicked in when I discovered that the man I handcuffed during a drug raid was sitting on a loaded 9mm pistol. Sometimes I’m not as attentive as you would like. I was distracted when you complained about your noisy neighbour because I was remembering the apartment of the elderly women who lay dead and decaying for a week because no one came to check on her. Sometimes I’m not as sympathetic as you would like. I’m not overly concerned about your ability to pay your speeding ticket, it’s because I really wanted to tell you that I attended a call just yesterday where a speeding careless driver took the life of a child. I didn’t sleep last night because I could still hear her mother’s screams. Take a moment and remember what my job is and isn’t. Police officers are needed but what we do can leave lasting effects on my family and I. Take a moment and tell an officer that you appreciate their work. Smile and say ‘Hi’ when I am getting coffee. Bite your tongue when you start to tell a ‘bad cop’ story. Better yet, find the time to tell a ‘good cop’ story. The family at the next table may be a cop’s family. Talk to me as a person next time you see me. I am human.
WAPU Opinion
Peter McGee
Metropolitan Director
Sovereign Citizen Movement – A rising threat to law enforcement The Sovereign Citizen
Movement (SCM) first appeared in the USA with the emergence of an anti-government group in 1969 called Posse Comitatus (translated: Power of the Country). It bases its ideology on the 1878 US law banning the use of military forces for domestic policing actions and the statement of the American revolutionary Thomas Paine: “It is the duty of every patriot to protect his country from its government.” This movement saw any law enforcement as a direct threat to an individual’s sovereignty.
The SCM ideology can quickly lead to violence as they fervently believe they can use force to execute their intention just like the established “illegitimate” authorities.
The SCM operates as individuals without established leadership but they do come together in loosely associated groups to share skills and offer support. They all maintain the base ideology that the government is operating outside of its jurisdiction by enforcing laws and taxes on individuals that are sovereign in their own right. It is estimated that there are 100,000 fanatical SCM believers in the USA with three times that number claiming SCM ideology on tax protestor declarations. Recently, there were approximately 20 extremist SCM members recorded in New South Wales but more than 140 have been recorded in WA claiming SCM ideology during dealings with police.
History The SCM is a recognised domestic terrorist organisation by the FBI and the most deadly of its ilk to date, eclipsing the Ku Klux Klan and every other National Extremist/Religious Extremist (NERE) organisation. The SCM has been simmering in the background for decades and its believers have committed some of the most heinous acts of domestic terrorism in US history. The Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 was the most devastating loss of life from terrorism in US history, pre 9/11, with 168 people killed by the actions of Timothy McVeigh and his accomplice Terry Nichols, a known SCM adherent. Since then, approximately 40 law enforcement officers have been assassinated by SCM members.
In 2010, the actions of SCM extremists Jerry Kane and his 16-year-old son were captured on an in-car video recording. While the two Arkansas troopers were speaking to Kane Snr, discussing the home made license plate on his vehicle and reading the documents handed over, Kane Jnr mowed down the two troopers with an AK-47 with no warning. On June 6, 2014, a lone gunman conducted an assault on a US court house and it was only the heroic actions of a lone deputy at the front of the court that stop him before his explosives could be deployed. The rest of the world has not been immune from the scourge with the most infamous being Anders Breivik, who used explosives and firearms to kill 78 innocent people, mostly children, in Norway while wearing a stolen police uniform. To date no deaths have been directly attributed to SCM members in Australia but numerous instances of violence and serious threats have occurred.
Tactics The SCM have tactics regularly used in Australia and you may have already seen it without realising; Paper Terrorism. The administrative harassment includes the filing of fraudulent and frivolous legal actions by misusing legitimate legal documents. Although usually dismissed by the courts, they still cause disruption, impact credit ratings, financial securities and financial losses of justice systems and individuals.
They are a strong indicator for ideology and considered a common precursor to extreme violence by SCM members. These documents often have clear indicators such as the use of unusual characters or spelling in names. For example, “John Smith” as “John: Smith” or “JoHn:- SMITH”. They also show common use of archaic law, quote US constitutional references, English common law or religious text. Some may be written in unusual colours or completed utilising styles in a fatuous declaration of their own “true” authority. Some of the Paper Terrorism documents received by WA police officers include the signature of JPs and often contain civil liens on “offenders,” usually in ounces of silver. Some table schedules of offences, such as unauthorised detention or search, delays caused by questioning or theft from property being seized by police. The SCM ideology can quickly lead to violence as they fervently believe they can use force to execute their intention just like the established “illegitimate” authorities. Despite their individuality and pervasive paranoia, SCM members often utilise “telephone trees,” a similar tactic employed with outlaw motorcycle gang members and a simple road side stop can quickly attract numerous seemingly random agitators arriving to obstruct and harass officers, all from one phone call at the scene. 23 Police News OCTOBER 2014
Andrea Wyllie Industrial Officer
OIC Allowance One of the administrative amendments attached to the WA Police Industrial Agreement 2014 was an agreement by both WA Police and WAPU to complete a review of Officer in Charge (OIC) conditions and related allowances throughout the term of the agreement. On 26 August, a letter was delivered to WA Police requesting that the negotiations commence to ensure the process is conducted in a consultative, timely and thorough manner. A response was received from WA Police advising they are committed to the review and are in the process of delegating this to the most appropriate representatives from the agency. The OIC allowance is incorporated into the rates contained within the Industrial Agreement Clause 10 Salaries, and is reflective of the additional hours worked by an officer, not in recognition of the responsibilities involved with the management of staff at their particular location. The salary prescribed for Country Officers in Charge, Metropolitan Officers in Charge, and Country Detective Officers in Charge and Metropolitan Detective Officers in Charge is inclusive of the following penalties • Overtime • On call • Close Call and • Standby allowances. The salary paid to an Officer in Charge recognises all duties performed beyond 40 hours in a week, this means that on the five working days of the week an OIC is expected to manage their working hours to suit the needs of the station and the community.
The only way a thorough and effective review of all OIC conditions can occur is if individuals are alerting both WA Police and WAPU about their working arrangements.
24 Police News OCTOBER 2014
It is expected that an OIC put in control measures to combat any Occupation Health and Safety issues that may arise due to large volumes of overtime. Whilst an OIC must be available and contactable for the five rostered working days in a week, if fatigue is an issue then the OIC, after receiving an out of hours call, may re-direct and delegate any non-urgent jobs to another officer or station, if relevant. Members from Regional WA have highlighted that a pattern appears to be forming whereby OIC’s are regularly being tasked outside of their sub district on recall or continuous duty, with the end result being excessive amounts of unpaid overtime and extreme fatigue concerns being raised. WAPU has been advised that this can be attributed to a number of factors, with some of the main ones being poorly managed annual leave arrangements, planned events not being rostered for effectively and urgent response situations requiring additional numbers. It is imperative that any concerns about fatigue be addressed immediately with the District Office to ensure Members are not putting themselves and the community at risk. Members have the responsibility for being proactive when it comes to community safety and security, and accountability for their own actions. It is up to the individual Member to inform and advise their District Office about situations, where due to the reasons listed above, effective management of rostering or staff allocation has not occurred. The only way a thorough and effective review of all OIC conditions can occur is if individuals are alerting both WA Police and WAPU about their working arrangements. WAPU receives regular phone calls seeking guidance about how an OIC can better manager their work life balance and one question that has been raised relates to whether an OIC can choose to part take in an alcoholic beverage, on occasion. This question causes most concern for OICs
Industrial reporT
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Brandon Shortland @bcshorty7
… Members will be called upon for their input and feedback about how the current arrangements are being managed and what can be altered to ensure that OICs are being remunerated appropriately.
located in Regional WA, in stations that only have a handful of officers, the premise being that an OIC has no fixed hours of duty over the five rostered working days and can be called upon at any time over these days to return to duty. The Fit for Work Policy in the Police Manual and the Police Force Member Testing Regulations require police officers to be ‘fit for duty’ and not under the influence of alcohol or drugs when they are on duty. In simple terms this means that an OIC is to have less than 0.2g/100ml of alcohol in their system over the five rostered working days of the week as they may be called upon to attend an urgent job. Again the use of discretion comes down to the individual OIC, if they choose to unwind with a drink on a Friday night then a plan must be put in place that ensures another officer(s) is available to attend an urgent call out situation should it arise. This does not mean that the OIC cannot be contacted, as it is their responsibility to answer the phone on their five working days, merely it requires an assessment to be made based on local community knowledge and a sensible risk assessment being made. On an OIC’s two rostered weekly leave days they are not compelled to remain within their sub-district unless instructed by their District Office. If this direction is made, an OIC is to be paid the applicable availability allowance either on-call, close call or stand by. If they are recalled to duty on their weekly leave days then all overtime allowances are to be paid as would normally apply to another officer. The review of the OIC allowance will take place over the next two years prior to negotiations of the 2017 Industrial Agreement and Members will be called upon for their input and feedback about how the current arrangements are being managed and what can be altered to ensure that OICs are being remunerated appropriately.
Check out @WAPoliceUnion President George Tilbury getting wet in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge for MND research http://vimeo.com/ 105528204 #Vimeo
WA Police Union @WAPoliceUnion
Would you like to be working with this in your office? Our Members in the Pilbara have been! http://www. wapu.org.au/wapu-media/mediareleases/237-serious-healthconcerns-for-pilbara-police.html
Calla Wahlquist @callapilla
Police officers at Karratha and South Hedland are being made sick by mould and bacteria in the station, @WAPoliceUnion claims. #perthnews
WA Police Union @WAPoliceUnion
Thanks to our supporters for watching blood testing legislation pass thru lower house today #johnday #wapu
David Gribble @constcareceo
Really pleased 2 attend @rlsswa2014 function recognising Mark Gubanyi's win @ConstableCare #childsafetyawards 2014 25 Police News OCTOBER 2014
Dean Giacomini & Dave Lampard Field Officer
Field Officer
Meal Breaks still a problem in SEMD The August edition of Police News featured an article on ‘Diet and the night shift worker’.
So in reality, WA Police are creating its own unhealthy dietary environment by not providing Members with sufficient time off from the frontline to enjoy a healthy, hearty meal break.
26 Police News OCTOBER 2014
The WA Police Fit for Life team provide dietary advice for police stations to display on notice boards in amenity rooms, although there remains an issue with Members being able to take their entitled meal break. At a recent branch meeting at Armadale, Members again raised the lack of meal break situation as one of the main issues facing police officers. The difficulty staff experience in achieving a proper sit down meal break of any description is wide spread through the two Response Teams in the South East Metropolitan District. This leaves Members with fast food as the only option whilst on the road. So in reality, WA Police are creating its own unhealthy dietary environment by not providing Members with sufficient time off from the frontline to enjoy a healthy, hearty meal break.
Queensland Explosion triggers memory from the past The massive explosion of an overturned wagon carting fertiliser in outback central Queensland brought back memories of a similar situation which occurred in the Goldfields in the mid-1980s. Ammonia Nitrate (Nitropil) is a very powerful ingredient used in the mining and quarrying industries. The other essential ingredient is diesel. The emulsified concoction is pumped into drill holes and when ignited successfully cracks and separates the hardest of rocks. A lone police officer stationed at Charleville attended a crash site in Queensland together with fire and emergency workers. The police officer was approximately one kilometre from the scene when the explosion occurred. All were injured in the blast and were lucky to escape with their lives. Queensland Police Union Safety Officer Rosemary Featherstone told Police News that the truck had rolled over in a gully thus containing a proportion of the blast force. Field Officer Dave Lampard wishes he could have warned them of what might happen when a wagon of flammable material crashes and ruptures its diesel fuel tank.
“Most diesel tanks are made from aluminium, they are light and in most cartage situations safe and efficient. However, where the cartage of dangerous goods is involved perhaps these tanks need to be constructed of a sturdier steel construction that would not easily rupture,” Mr Lampard said. “I submitted a detailed repor t making such a recommendation whilst serving as OIC at Southern Cross.” Mr Lampard believed the scenario in Queensland was a recipe for disaster. “Several tons of fertiliser, hundreds of litres of diesel spilling onto the fertiliser, numerous sources of ignition, perhaps including the radio signals from emergency vehicles, which would make estimating a safe exclusion zone extremely difficult. Apparently, the blast broke windows 10 kms away,” he said. He said police officers need to have an immediate knowledge of the type of vehicle, consignment of the wagon and probable hazards. “If the crash had occurred in a built up area, an entire town could have been destroyed,” he said. “I attended a similar situation on Great Eastern Highway in the Borrabbin National Park between Southern Cross and Coolgardie in the mid-1980s. “In that situation a wagon had caught fire with material dripping on and melting a hole in the aluminium diesel fuel tanks. The wagon was carrying a consignment of dangerous goods and chemicals. “The cocktail of these mixed substances was not readily available and the effects of any noxious fumes was unknown. “A decision was made to not fight the fire and allow the wagon to burn out with attending staff kept back at a predicted safe distance. “Naturally, we were criticised by the Transport Company and driver for not allowing the fire to be fought, however going into the unknown was far too risky when weighed up against the financial cost.”
Field Report
01 02
Hidden dangers of forced entries Members are advised to consider the hidden dangers of forced entries after a horrific accident in Karratha has left a WAPU Member with a serious arm injury. The Member was involved in executing a warrant for forced entry however, due to the situation it could not be determined the exact type of door to be forced. He used one of the stations' forced door entry rams to gain entry through a timber door with a glass inlay. Whilst forcing the door open, the glass from the door fell onto his forearm, severing it to the bone causing serious injuries to the skin, muscle and tendons. As far as protective equipment, all the Member was wearing were his police issue gloves and standard uniform of the day. It has now been determined that the use of gauntlets or longer protective gloves could have reduced the seriousness of the injury or even prevented it. WA Police are working on new guidelines for forced entries following this incident.
03
04
01 Russell Gardner, David Dellar and Andre Pretorius from the Midland Workshops Branch. 02 Perth Police Centre Branch Officials Aaron Hickey, Sharon Croft and Fiona McPherson. 03 West Kimberley Branch Officials Stuart Lapsley, Rob Duffer and Shayne Knox recently completed WAPU’s Branch Officials Training Course. 04 North West Metropolitan Branch Officials John Cream, Darren Gill and Kym Buller with WAPU Metropolitan Region Director Lindsay Garratt. 05
05 An injury a Member received while trying to force a timber door with a glass inlay. 06 The Member’s forearm after surgery to repair damage to his skin, muscles and tendons.
06
27 Police News OCTOBER 2014
Q&A
Q: How do you think reform will affect you?
Sergeant Neil Blaver Span of control will affect me. The ratio of sergeants to constables will change from 1:3 to 1:6 so I’m worried about my position.
A/Sergeant Lorraine Welch I don’t think it will affect me a great deal because I’m at the beginning of my tenure.
Sergeant Ian Cornthwaite It’s going to affect me and the Forensics Unit quite dramatically. About 50 per cent of the workforce could be civilianised.
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Constable Gemma Hanley I only started at Forensics two months ago so I worry about my role being civilianised and where I would go. If my job goes, I would probably quit.
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28 Police News OCTOBER 2014
Phone 1300 911 007
Professor Daniel Fatovich
HEALTH
Emergency Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital and University of WA
ALCOHOL: Is my drinking putting me at risk? Alcohol is the most
commonly used drug in Australia. On the First Fleet’s journey, 65,000 litres of rum were purchased in Rio de Janeiro for the first three years of the colony. It was poor quality and alcohol has been part of our society since.
If you would like Professor Fatovich to write about a particular health topic, please email your suggestions to jessica.porter@wapu.org.au
People choose to drink alcohol for many reasons, including celebrations, to be sociable, for enjoyment and to relax. Some people drink alcohol when they are feeling sad, anxious or are having problems with their lives. Australia has a serious problem with alcohol, something that is obvious to police and emergency workers. This leads to violence, assaults, injury and distress – all in a day’s work. Our society suffers as a result along with the growing burden of chronic health issues. Research shows that the more alcohol you drink, the greater the risk of harm to your health. Regular consumption can result in tolerance and dependence, which leads to more problems. But you don’t have to be dependent on alcohol to experience problems. Nevertheless, emergency workers can often feel that they are somehow immune to the problems of alcohol. If the television is anything to go by, police consumption of alcohol is a given. How much is too much? The Na t i o n a l H ea l t h a n d M e d i c a l Research Council (NHMRC) makes the following recommendations on alcohol consumption: 1. For healthy men and women, drinking no more than two standard drinks (a standard drink contains 10 grams of alcohol e.g. 100 mL of wine that is 10 per cent alcohol is one standard drink) on any day reduces the lifetime risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury.
2. For healthy men and women, drinking no more than four standard drinks on a single occasion reduces the risk of alcohol-related injury arising from that occasion. 3. For women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, not drinking is the safest option. 4. For children and young people under 18 years of age, not drinking alcohol is the safest option. There used to be a notion that drinking some alcohol had health benefits. The NHMRC says that any potential benefits have been overestimated. Their guidelines do not encourage people to take up drinking just to get benefits. So I thought it would be useful to provide a simple screening test for harmful alcohol consumption: is my drinking putting me at risk? Complete the questions below by circling the most correct answer for you.
(A drink means a standard drink). Add all your scores together to calculate the total score. • Score 0-3: you are a low risk drinker. • Score 4 or more: your drinking may be causing you problems and may lead to harms in the future. • Score 8 or more: your drinking is very likely to cause you risks, harms and problems. If you have concerns, these can be addressed by discussion with your GP. There are free government and private services available for support. A free confidential state-wide telephone counseling and information s e r v ice c an p r ov id e s e lf h e lp workbooks or link you with community specialist ser vices for professional support including medical as ses sment and detoxif ication: 08 9442 5000 or 1 800 198 024 (The Alcohol and Drug Information Service; http://www.dao.health.wa.gov.au).
0
1
1. How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?
Never
Monthly or less
2. How many drinks containing alcohol do you have on a typical day when you are drinking?
1 or 2
3 or 4
5 or 6
7 to 9
10 or more
3. How often do you have six or more standard drinks on one occasion?
Never
Less than monthly
Monthly
Weekly
Daily or almost daily
Questions
2
3
2-4 times 2-3 times a month a week
4
Score
4 or more times a week
TOTAL
29 Police News OCTOBER 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.
*If you have not made a claim, disregard this publication.
Bought to you by
LEGAL
HearingLife
What happens when the sirens don’t blare anymore? The working day of a
police officer is rarely the same from one day to the next. The constant change is one of the things that appeals to those entering the profession and also what keeps those with years of experience engaged and interested.
However, for many in the force there’s one thing about the role that does remain consistent and that ’s exposure to potentially damaging noise. N ois e - in du ce d h ear ing lo s s (NIHL) is a risk faced by many workers in a varied range of industries and professions. In some of these the risks are obvious, exposure to jet engines for ground crews at airports, for instance. In other jobs, such as policing, the risks might not always be immediately apparent. Of course, firearm training poses an obvious danger but today hearing protection is taken ver y seriously and proper equipment must be worn in these situations. However, there is a risk for police officers that’s far less dramatic than gunfire but far more dangerous in the long term. The level of noise as sociated with heav y traf f ic , approximately 85 decibels, is often used as a reference for the level of loudness considered excessive.
The level of noise associated with heavy traffic, approximately 85 decibels, is often used as a reference for the level of loudness considered excessive.
For many officers heavy traffic noise is something they accept as an everyday part of the job, so much so they barely even notice it. So, what should you do when the siren starts to sound muffled rather than blaring and when the road noise doesn’t quite go away when you’re taking a break in a quieter place? Whether you’re a working or retired police officer you should seek the help of a hearing professional as soon as possible. Hearing loss can be successfully treated and modern digital technology is so sophisticated, hearing aids are virtually invisible should you require them. You can make an appointment with a fully qualified Clinician at HearingLife and receive a hearing test and a no obligation consultation without charge. You can find out where your nearest HearingLife clinic is located and their contact details by calling 1800 094 962. If you, or the fully qualified Clinician, think your hearing loss may have arisen due to your employment you can then obtain further advice from TGB Lawyers. If you think you may be able to make a claim related to your hearing loss you can obtain further advice from TGB Lawyers.
TGB Lawyers are available to WAPU Members, retired Members and their families. Call WAPU HQ on (08) 9321 2155 to arrange an appointment.
31 Police News OCTOBER 2014
Use your salary wisely Your own dedicated Salary Packaging specialist
Save with exclusive National Fleet Discounts
Pay NO GST* on your new car purchase or its running costs
Pick the car you want...It’s your choice
Flexible Trade-in options
Bonus! Mention this advert prior to completing your contract and get a bonus $500 Gift Card to Bunnings Warehouse or Toys’r’us when your new vehicle is delivered!
Let the team at Fleet Network show you how to save thousands when buying your next new car. It’s all about using your pre-tax salary, and taking advantage of all the additional benefits only Fleet Network can offer. It’s worth a call – it’s your salary, after all.
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WAPoliceNews0914-5
1300 738 601 www.fleetnetwork.com.au
Lease Package Save
Fleet Network Pty Ltd. To qualify for this offer you must mention this advertisement to Fleet Network prior to the completion of your initial contract. Vehicle must be new and supplied by Fleet Network. Not valid in conjunction with any other current Fleet Network offers. Employees should consult their employer’s salary packaging policy before entering into a contract. *Subject to Employer policy.
Bought to you by
MOTORING
Fleet Network
Prado luxury without the tax The Toyota Prado is
now an option for WA police officers given this year’s increase in the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold. As of July 1, 2014, the Australian Taxation Office increased the LCT threshold from $60,316 to $61,884.
Toyota, who have been f irm supporters of abolishing the out-dated tax, generously passed on the full cost savings to consumers and reduced the recommended retail price of their SUV range. Currently, a 2014 GXL Auto turbo diesel seven-seat Prado is retailing for under $61,000, which falls below the LCT limit for WA police officers. The Toyota LandCruiser Prado is one of the most popular SUV options in Australia and is the second-largest SUV in the Toyota range after the timehonoured LandCruiser 200. Being suitable for both off-road driving and inner-city; the Prado appeals to the adventurous 4WD enthusiast and the growing family market. While possibly not excelling in either market, the most attractive thing about the Prado is that it is genuinely hard to fault, and that is what keeps buyers coming back for more.
We have just purchased the Prado GXL and I am beyond happy with the car. We lead an active lifestyle while living in the city, and the Prado ticks all the boxes. Through Fleet Network, we got the best deal available and quick turnaround. Very impressed. Frank, Perth
The updated 2014 model is available in a 4.0 litre petrol V6, 200kW/380Nm and a 3.0 litre turbo diesel, 127kW/410Nm. With a 150-litre fuel tank, it offers excellent fuel economy at 11.5 Litres per 100km and 8.5L/100 km respectively. It is obvious the 2014 Prado has undergone a makeover. The muscular front grille makes a bold statement, rounding off to a deeper bumper bar and LED headlamps on the VX and Kakadu models. Inside, Toyota have refreshed the dash layout and included an improved touchscreen interface which is far more intuitive than previous models. Larger buttons make manoeuvring through options easier and the six-speaker audio system allows for iPod, USB and Bluetooth connectivity. Standard across the range are alloy wheels, power windows, cruise control, reversing camera and multizone climate control, with temperature controls for the second row and air vents for the third. For the seven-seater models, the forward folding angle of the second row seats has been increased by 12 percent enabling easier entry
and exit for third row passengers. While the third row is still a little cramped, it is definitely an appealing option for those with young families. Of f road, the Prado of fers a generous 220mm clearance and handles differing terrain well. It has improved independent front and live axle rear suspension, and steering is unrestrained allowing for an impressive turning circle. The GX and GXL models come standard with a six-speed manual transmission and offer an optional five-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission. The VX and Kakadu are automatic as standard. Most interestingly are the new safety features of the Prado which have been rolled out across the range. These include the trailer sway control, seven airbags, stability and traction control, and the European-inspired emergency brake signals. These considered additions truly put the Prado ahead of the game. Fleet Network has been sourcing a better deal for WA police officers for two decades. A novated lease maximises your take home income by including car repayments, GST, fuel, stamp duty and running costs into your pre-tax salary. Your dedicated Fleet Network consultant will provide detailed salary packaging information to your departments authorised bureau provider, ensuring no hassles for you.
If you’re in the market for a new car, make the smart choice. Call Fleet Network on 1300 738 601 or visit www.fleetnetwork.com.au 33 Police News OCTOBER 2014
You could own 10 investment properties in 10 years 20 years ago, my husband Reuben Lomas, then a WA Police Officer, started working on improving his retirement income. We now own more than 40 properties valued at in excess of $10 million, and we started Destiny to share our experience and knowledge with others. Margaret Lomas. Bestselling author, host of Your Money Your Call and Property Success on Skynews Business Channel 602.
Come and experience the Destiny difference:
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Property investment courses One-to-one coaching and support Property Action Teams Specialist finance set up and structuring Investment property analysis Risk profiling Proprietary portfolio tracking and analysis software tools
You’re investing in a career with WA Police, but that doesn’t mean you can’t also consider property investing. Let Destiny help you too. We don’t sell property, we educate and support you so that you can become as skilled at investing as you are at policing! As Reuben still feels a strong connection with the Police family, Destiny is offering WA Police employees and their families a 15% discount on ALL Destiny services. Come in for a complimentary consultation and we’ll give you a free copy of my book How to Achieve Property Success (valued at $39.95).
Call Destiny’s Perth branch on 08 6102 3255 now to book your complimentary consultation with one of our Qualified Property Investment Advisers (QPIA). Sydney | Melbourne | Perth | Adelaide | Brisbane | Gold Coast | Virtual
www.destiny.com.au 1300 MY DESTINY Ph 1300 693 378 CORPORATE MEMBER
Police News OCTOBER 2014
Australian Credit Licenses Destiny Financial Solutions Pty Limited (ABN 25 073 558 488) is licensed (License No 385880) as an Australian Credit Licensee pursuant to the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009
Empowering Property Investors
Property Investing
Bought to you by
DESTINY
From policing to property investing Some of you may remember
Reuben Lomas, who in the late 1980s and early ’90s was a police officer in Perth. From General Duties, through to the Tactical Response Group and then BCI, he enjoyed his job and was excited about getting up for work each day.
Property investing has given him and his family the financial freedom he used to dream about when working those late shifts and driving around in his police vehicle.
It was during one of these days that he met Margaret, and his life course changed dramatically. Together, they had big goals and as they achieved well when working together, they knew they wanted to start a business of their own which would make the most of each of their individual strengths. It was at this time that they also started taking an interest in property as a sound way to improve their own financial situation. With five young children, financial securit y was paramount to them and they wanted to work on ensuring their future was taken care of through a stable wealth creation plan. But, at the time, so little was written or known about property investing, and so together they came up with a plan that would provide them with a passive income from property investing, and the financial security they were seeking. Over the years, Reuben and Margaret Lomas have purchased around 40 properties and their portfolio is valued at more than $10m. Wanting to share this newfound expertise, Reuben and Margaret also started a company, Destiny, which educates and supports people to invest in property. Destiny has offices around Australia and has helped thousands of investors over its 21year history. Margaret Lomas is a well-known property expert, bestselling author and TV presenter and
producer, with two property shows on SkyNews Business Channel 602. She is also widely quoted in the property media. Reuben has fond memories of his life in the police service, and although he wouldn’t change a thing, deep down he still sees himself as part of the Police family. Property investing has given him and his family the financial freedom he used to dream about when working those late shifts and driving around in his police vehicle. Bernie Iriks was once Reuben’s supervisor in WA Police. He served two periods with WA Police and has over 32 years’ experience as a police officer and eight years as an investigator in the private sector, with four tours of duty at the Major Fraud Squad, investigating fraud and other white collar crime matters. Bernie kept in touch with Reuben and had followed Reuben and Margaret’s progress with Destiny over the years. He’d read Margaret’s books and star ted investing in property himself, following Destiny’s methodology to the letter. This year, Bernie made the switch completely from investigating to proper t y. He under took intensive training to complete the accreditation to become a Qualified Property Investment Adviser (QPIA), and accepted the position of branch manager with Destiny’s Perth office.
Reuben Lomas
Bernie Iriks
“I had no hesitation in joining Reuben and Margaret and the Destiny team. They are principled business people who educate people about investing in property and building a portfolio that will give the investor financial freedom”, Bernie says. “They don’t sell property or take kick-backs and their system works – I’ve followed it myself and now have a great portfolio of my own.” Bernie and his wife own a number of investment properties and he is passionate about helping other people learn how to invest in property. He has taken to his new career like a duck to water and is enthusiastic to see his former colleagues benefit from all that he, Destiny and Margaret and Reuben have learned over 21 years.
35 Police News OCTOBER 2014
* WAPU SCHOOL HOLIDAY BALLOT APPLICATION Applications will only be accepted on this form, It can be faxed, emailed or posted to WAPU HQ. Complete and return by Friday 14 November 2014 to: WA Police Union 639 Murray Street, West Perth WA 6005 Fax: 9321 2177 Email: admin@wapu.org.au
Only mark the holiday periods and locations you are prepared to accept in numerical order of preference. Note: Bookings are available from Saturday (2pm) to Saturday (10am) only.
July 2015 WEEK 1 04.07.15 to 11.07.15
Results to be advised by Friday 21 November 2014 ALBANY
Name (Please Print): PD No:
BUSSELTON VILLA 4
Address (Home):
BUSSELTON VILLA 11 BUSSELTON VILLA 15 Post Code:
Work (Unit/Section):
ESPERANCE EXMOUTH KALBARRI UNIT 27
Email (Home):
PORT DENISON
Phone no. (Work): (Mobile):
Police News OCTOBER 2014
YALLINGUP
WEEK 2 11.07.15 to 18.07.15
EITHER WEEK
SAVE with WAPU Member benefits Check out more Member benefits online at the WAPU website
MORE DISCOUNTS? If you know a business or a venue that might be interested in providing a special deal or rates for WAPU Members, the Union would like to hear about it. Please contact Director Peter Potthoff on 0407 476 679 or admin@wapu.org.au to pass on the details.
Montego Sands Resort – Gold Coast
EXCLUSIVE DEAL NEGOTIATED FOR WAPU MEMBERS:
Thinking about a Gold Coast holiday but unsure where to stay? Montego Sands Resort is ideally located, with an exclusive offer for WAPU Members.
1 Bedroom fully self-contained apartment – $80 per night
A 4 ½ star boutique holiday complex, with fully self-contained apartments, private balconies, reverse cycle air-conditioning, pool, spa and BBQ area, all in a subtropical setting – 150 metres from the beach. The management of this top-class accommodation are also all West Australians who have previously worked for WA Police.
Member benefits
www.wapu.org.au
WAPU Trades & Services Forum
2 Bedroom deluxe fully self-contained apartment – $160 per night The only conditions applicable to this exclusive offer are the above rates apply for a minimum seven-night stay, with the months of December and January excluded due to being a high demand period. Bookings can be made by emailing admin@montegosandsresort.com.au or by calling (07) 5575 5822.
Do you know a good, reliable tradie? Or are you a tradie when you aren't on the frontline? The WAPU website Tradie's Forum gives Members the chance to advertise their own business, or even their partner's business, to other WAPU Members. Members can also provide feedback on the trades and services listed. If you have a business to promote, visit the Tradie's Forum and post your trade or service now.
Discount Buying Service Electrical Discounts 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!
Motor Vehicles 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!
Make sure you check out the fantastic “Deal of the Day” offers on our website!
1300 650 214 www.shoprite.com.au Police News OCTOBER 2014
READ
The Silver Moon
All August edition winners are listed on our website: www.wapu.org.au
Pushing the Limits
Watch
Bryce Courtenay RRP $24.99
Kurt Fearnley RRP $39.99
Edge of Tomorrow
Snowpiercer
Each of us has a place to return to in our minds, a place of clarity and peace, a place to think, to create, to dream. For Bryce Courtenay this place was a waterhole in Africa where he used to escape to as a boy, in search of solitude. One evening, while lingering there, he witnessed the tallest of the great beasts drinking from the waterhole in the moonlight, and was spellbound. Ever since, he drew inspiration from this moment. The Silver Moon gathers together some of the most personal and sustaining life-lessons from Australia's favourite storyteller. In short stories and insights, many written in his final months, Bryce reflects on living and dying, and how through determination, respect for others and taking pleasure in small moments of joy, he lived life to the fullest.
When Kurt Fearnley was a kid, he would leave his wheelechair at the front gate and go exploring with his brothers and sisters. 'You're going to have to be stronger than we are,' they told him, 'and we know you will be.' The kid from Carcoar was raised to believe he could do anything. At fifteen, he won his first medal. Then he conquered the world, winning three Paralympic gold medals, seven world championships and more than 35 marathons. A worldbeater in and out of his wheelchair, Kurt is a true Australian champion. Inspiring, exhilarating and highly entertaining, Pushing the Limits takes us inside the mind of a kid with a disability growing up in a tiny town, a teenager finding his place in the world, and an elite sportsman who refuses to give up, no matter how extreme the challenge.
The epic action of Edge of Tomorrow unfolds in a near future in which an alien race has hit the Earth in an unrelenting assault, unbeatable by any military unit in the world. Major William Cage (Tom Cruise) is an officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is unceremoniously demoted and then dropped – untrained and illequipped – into what amounts to little more than a suicide mission Killed within minutes, Cage finds himself thrown into a time loop, forcing him to repeatedly live out the same brutal combat, fighting and dying again and again. But with each battle, Cage begins to engage the adversaries with increasing skill, alongside Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt). As Cage and Rita take the fight to the aliens, each repeated encounter gets them one step closer to annihilating the invaders and saving the Earth.
Set in a future where a failed climate-change experiment kills all life on the planet except for a lucky few who boarded the Snowpiercer, a train that travels around the globe, where a class system emerges. Directed by Joon-ho Bong with a cast including Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, Tilda Swinton and Joon-ho Bong.
1 Disc $44.95 SRP
1 Disc $29.95 SRP
win
win
We have one copy of The Silver Moon and Pushing the Limits to give away courtesy of Penguin Books Australia. To enter, email jessica.porter@wapu.org.au with your name, address and title of the book. Winners will be drawn on November 1.
We have five copies of Edge of Tomorrow and Snowpiercer to give away courtesy of Roadshow Entertainment. To enter, email jessica.porter@wapu.org.au with your name, address and title of the movie. Winners will be drawn on November 1.
Police News October 2014
See
LISTEN
FURY
Let’s be cops
April, 1945. As the Allies make their final push in the European Theatre, a battle-hardened army sergeant named Wardaddy (Brad Pitt) commands a Sherman tank and her five-man crew on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. Outnumbered and outgunned, and with a rookie soldier thrust into their platoon, Wardaddy and his men face overwhelming odds in their heroic attempts to strike at the heart of Nazi Germany. Fury, from writer/director David Ayer and starring Brad Pitt, Shia LeBeouf, Scott Eastwood, Logan Lerman, Xavier Samuel and Michael Peña.
It's the ultimate buddy cop movie except for one thing: they're not cops. When two struggling pals dress as police officers for a costume party, they become neighbourhood sensations. But when these newlyminted “heroes” get tangled in a real life web of mobsters and dirty detectives, they must put their fake badges on the line. Starring Damon Wayans Jr., Jake Johnson, Rob Riggle, Nina Dobrev, James D’Arcy and Andy Garcia.
SEASON COMMENCES November 27
SEASON COMMENCES November 13
win We have two passes to give away to Fury and Let’s be cops. To enter, email jessica.porter@wapu.org.au with your name, address and title of the movie. Winners will be drawn on November 1.
Entertain me
No Sound Without Silence
Bulletproof Picasso
The Script’s fourth album, No Sound Without Silence, is the sound of a band firing on all cylinders and channelling the momentum of their last, rocket-powered campaign. The trio of songwriters had so many ideas while touring last year, they were bursting out of the specially built mobile recording studio they’d taken with them on the tour bus. They finished tour #3 at the end of last year, took a scant couple of weeks off, then quickly re-entered their studios in London and Dublin to begin work on this highly anticipated next album. The Script have scored a huge amount of success globally – they have sold over 20 million records, and all three albums have been multi-platinum throughout the world. ‘Hall Of Fame’, the lead single from last album was a worldwide number one. Their #3 world tour spanned 11 months, and saw them play sold out arena shows in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.
Bulletproof Picasso Train's much anticipated seventh studio album was produced by previous Train collaborator Butch Walker, and reflects frontman-singer/ songwriter Pat Monahan's penchant for distinctive musical stylings. The new album includes the combustible title track, ‘Bulletproof Picasso’, as well as ‘Cadillac, Cadillac’, ‘Just A Memory’, ‘Give It All’, and ‘The Bridge’, among others. Train has sold more than 10 million albums and 30 million tracks worldwide, with numerous platinum/gold citations on their mantle, three Grammy Awards, two Billboard Music Awards and dozens of other honors and nominations. Their gift for delivering memorable songs that capture the listener's imagination has seen them achieve unprecedented radio and social media traction, with the eight-time Grammy nominees heralded as a standard bearer of riveting, roots-based pop around the world.
The Script RELEASED September 19
Train RELEASED September 12
win We have five copies of No Sound Without Silence and Bulletproof Picasso to give away courtesy of Sony Music Australia. To enter, email jessica.porter@wapu.org.au with your name, address and title of the CD. Winners will be drawn on November 1. 39 Police News October 2014
WA Police Recruit Squad Graduation Friday August 22, 2014 WA POLICE ACADEMY, JOONDALUP
40 Police News OCTOBER 2014
Events
41 Police News OCTOBER 2014
new members
Retirements & resignations
Vale
Retired 6155 Derek John Lawford Detective Sergeant Aged 63
WAPU welcomes it's newest members
Retiring members
Recruit Course 1/2014 Gold Squad Dean Andrzejaczek Sarah Behan Nikita Bergant Thomas Blackshaw Tori Bown Russell Churchley Thomas Clarke James Dean Timothy Fairhead Marc Foley Mathew French Robert Gaynor Nicholas Hudson Perry Larson-Pearse Matthew Leece Erica Morris Joshua Moylan Amarinder Narang David Ngari Alisha Nuske Claire Oakley Aimee Pagels Reuben Picker Matthew Pledge Andrew Rowland Laura Sawyer Brent Silver Zhen Sun Jonathon Thompson Rory Winterburn
5256 Gary Fraser 5695 Robert Hemelaar 5750 Kimberley Kelly 6977 Stephen Ryan 7246 George Brouwer 8301 Philip Oldacres-dear 9201 Lisa Bargain 9491 Bradley Markham 9731 Graeme Johnston 10465 Matthew Steed 10523 Todd Rowe 10798 Neil Duthie
42 Police News OCTOBER 2014
Recruit Course 2/2014 Blue Squad Jarred Anderson Jade Bell Daniel Buckley Julienne Carter Aiden Cullen Lachlan Dennis Robert Dodson Michael Draper James Gibson Joshua Jones Damien Kent Benjamin Leaf Charlotte Lee Thomas Lingwood Russell Martin Jessica Morley Regan O’Brien Rebekah Pemberton Joshuah Prime Luke Ratana Shaun Ryan Jodie Smith Ricky Toomey Michelle Van Asselt Clayton Willis Aaron Wilson Tyler Wilson
Resigning members 7438 Matthew Wenman 7812 James Kenny 8122 Derek Hutchison 8632 William Elliot 10848 Robert Jamieson 11647 Simon O'Donnell 13095 Donna Ward 13331 Jason Van Den Esschert 13460 Edward Malpas 14328 Matthew Adams 14446 Tarin Robertson 14646 Elise Brown 14924 Matthew White 15128 Andrew Jule 15191 Katie Patton 15258 Matthew Wheatley 15319 Timothy Fairhead
3718 Neil George Byleveld Inspector Aged 70 3228 Norman Charles Ruthven Sergeant Aged 77 5524 Phillip James Mann Senior Constable Aged 62 3516 John Edwin Grove Det. Senior Sergeant Aged 82 2830 Lawrence Peter Rinaldi 1/C Sergeant Aged 89 4749 Michael Patrick Conchie Det. Senior Sergeant Aged 66 2981 Charles William O'Neill Senior Sergeant Aged 82 5160 Rudolf Stanley Smith Sergeant Aged 64 5315 Geoffrey Herbert Oliver 1/C Constable Aged 86
Where are they now?
01 02
01 Lindsay Sassella with Commissioner Karl O’Callaghan during the presentation of Police Service Medals in 2005. 02 Lindsay enjoying a holiday in Broad Beach on the Gold Coast this month.
Retired Inspector Lindsay Sassella Regimental number: 4908
What are you up to now? I am retired living in City Beach with my wife Lee (we have been married for 40 years.) I work one day a week for a friend, delivering frozen seafood across the metropolitan area. Apart from that I spend considerable time gardening and general maintenance at home and caring for my ageing mother. I also spend some travelling with family and trying, but mostly failing, to get my boat in the water.
What areas did you work in? I worked in General Duties, CIB, TRG, IIU and District policing.
What did you like most about policing? I enjoyed work in the CIB and the TRG.
What did you dislike about policing? I disliked the fiscal restraints placed on District Offices which caused a significant waste of money and limited their ability to govern effectively. Also disliked short change overs, rumours and internal politics.
In your opinion what have been the biggest changes in policing over the years? The biggest changes in the job have no doubt come from advances in technology and the increased use of computers.
Is there anything you would do to make policing as a profession safer and more appealing? I believe the job would be safer and more appealing if operational officers were freed up to spend more time on the road, by employing more unsworn officers to input data and complete associated paperwork.
What do you miss the most about the job? What I miss most about the job is the camaraderie and the many good people you get to work with over the years. I appreciated all the opportunities the police force provided me with over the 35-plus years of my career.
What was the highlight of your career? The highlights of my career were being involved in apprehending, charging and subsequently attending court relating to a number of serious criminal offenders.
43 Police News OCTOBER 2014