The Victoria Police Magazine
October 2007
Victoria
unlocked
PRINT POST APPROVED 349018/00079
How the Victoria Police
Museum is preserving
the state’s history
plus > Mounted Branch > True Crime > Police negotiators
INSIDE
OCTOBER 07
10 |
Confident policing
Negotiating an outcome
Regulars…
20 |
Odd Spots…05
Intelligent policing
Putting away predators
True crime…22
Out & About…18
from the chief
commissioner
public can be submitted for
publication and preference
will be given to letters of
less than 150 words. Names,
addresses and telephone
numbers must be included.
Letters may be edited by
Police Life. Only the name and
suburb will be published,
unless the writer requests
otherwise. Submit letters to:
[email protected]
or Inbox, Police Life, PO Box 415,
V
CHRISTINE NIXON, APM
0
OCTOBER 2007 POLICELIFE
26 |
From the archives…30
Partnership policing
Police in transit
Display case…31
inbox
Letters from members of the
ictoria Police is steeped
in history.
The organisation has been part
of the Victorian community since
1853 and has played a role in major
events dating back to the gold rush
days, through the brutal Kelly Gang
era and World War I.
Since then, we have grown to
become one of the largest police
services in the Western world.
Artefacts from the defining
moments in our history form part
of the collection on display in
the newly-opened Victoria Police
Museum.
The collection contains some
of Victoria’s most historically
significant items, showcasing early
policing methods and pioneering
police members.
It is with enormous pride that we
can reflect on our great history and
acknowledge the fine work of our
police members and support staff
over the decades.
24| |
Community policing
Fruitful work up north
Melbourne, victoria, 3005.
Invaluable advice
I would like to express my great
appreciation and thanks to the
members of Knox police, for all
their assistance and time when
completing my work experience.
The members offered countless
advice and experiences that will
become invaluable to me.
The members were extremely
professional and displayed a
very high level of knowledge and
performance about all aspects
of policing.
These members are valuable
assets to Victoria Police, and I am
proud to have them looking after
my local area.
BEN GORDON, BAYSWATER
Evacuation appreciation
Thank you to Detective Senior
Constable Russell Baird and
colleagues for assistance to me
and all the staff at UniSuper during
the evacuation of our building in
Bourke Street, Melbourne.
This is the second time I have
been through this experience and
on each occasion the response of
police and other services has been
magnificent, all that any citizen
could require.
Police Life is produced by the Strategic Communications Unit, Media & Corporate
Communications Department, Victoria Police, PO Box 415, Melbourne, 3005.
Fax: 9247 5982
Editor Chelsea Arnold [email protected] Journalists Maria Carnovale
[email protected], Sarah Campbell [email protected]
Graphic Design Vetro Design Pty Ltd Subscriptions Jillian Forrester 9247 5419
ISSN 0032-2598L Crown Copyright in the state of Victoria. For permission to reprint
any part of this magazine, contact the editor. Opinions expressed are not necessarily
those of Victoria Police.
I have been most conscious and
appreciative of the personal risk
they face when dealing with these
situations. Even when they come to
nothing as in this case, the risk is
still real until it is dismissed.
SUSAN WALPOLE, UNISUPER
Train tragedy
On 5 June my father, Harold Long,
was a passenger in the train
involved in a collision with a truck.
My dad sustained head and leg
injuries and as a result of these
he had a heart attack and passed
away. He was aged 84.
I would like to express my
sincere thank-you to all the
police members who did and will
continue to do all the best to find
the answers to why the incident
happened.
My dad was a policeman himself
for 30 years. He was a good cop
stationed at Richmond then the
Victoria Police Academy.
He will be missed by us all.
My heart goes out to all the
police members who have been
affected by this incident and wish
them well.
DENNIS LONG, DANDENONG
COVER IMAGE:
The Victoria Police
Museum unlocked.
See story, page 6.
poster:
The Mounted Branch
Flares are used during
Mounted Branch training.
Photograph: Shane Bell
making news
FOR the latest police news
VISIT WWW.police.vic.gov.au
Big
guns
of the Crime Department
Formed a year ago under explosive circumstances,
the Armed Crime Taskforce boasts an impressive success
rate for the investigation of high-risk crime and big money.
editorial Chelsea Arnold
Armed robbery is a
particularly serious
crime because of the
attendant danger of
death or personal
violence to the victims
involved
www.police.vic.gov.au
T
here is only one commonality
between the year-old Armed
Crime Taskforce, the disbanded
Armed Offenders Squad and the
Armed Robbery Squad before them
– they have all worked on the 11th
floor of the Crime Department.
It is 12 months since the former
Armed Offenders Squad was
disbanded and, while he is quick
not to make comparisons, officer
in charge of the Armed Crime
Taskforce Detective Inspector
Gerry Ryan said the ethos of the
taskforce and the investigation
processes were vastly different.
The taskforce comprises six
teams of investigators, who do just
that – investigate armed robbery
and attempted armed robbery,
incidents where shots are fired,
incidents involving armoured cash
carriers, firearm assisted violence,
the organised trafficking of illegal
firearms, aggravated burglaries
involving serious injury or shots
fired – calling on the expertise of
the Special Operations Group (SOG)
and other specialist resources to
make the arrests.
This partnership approach is just
one of the strengths of the Armed
Crime Taskforce’s approach.
“That was one of the changes
in culture we made. We have
renewed and built strong working
relationships with external
agencies, like the security
industry and hotel and gaming
venue management and with our
colleagues in other departments
and regions. Because of the high
risk we work with the SOG, we are
the investigators, they carry out the
arrests. We also work closely with
the six Embona Taskforces across
the state.”
The approach has returned
results, the taskforce boasts a
73.2 per cent clean-up rate.
“We have been exceptionally
successful in what we do,” Det Insp
Ryan said.
“Credit for our success goes to
the original members including
Detective Senior Sergeant Steve
White who assisted me forming
the Armed Crime Taskforce.
Victoria Police should be proud in
what these members have achieved
in being successful in not only
solving crimes but also changing
the culture.”
While it remains “dynamic
and high-risk”, Detective Senior
Sergeant Allan Price said armed
crime is changing. Historically,
offenders held-up banks making
off with bags of cash, but today’s
armed offender is holding up pizza
shops, ambushing cashiers or cash
carriers at gaming venues and ramraiding ATMs.
“Armed robbery is a particularly
serious crime because of the
attendant danger of death or
personal violence to the victims
involved. It is a sensational crime
in that the theft of property at
gunpoint tends to capture public
imagination, creates alarm in the
community and provides good
newspaper copy,” Det Sen Sgt
Price said.
While only time will tell if armed
crime continues to be investigated
from the 11th floor, one thing for
certain is that for as long as cash is
the world’s currency, there will be
people trying to steal it.
Major investigation
High stakes and high-risk summed up the Armed Crime Taskforce’s
first job, Operation Praams, the investigation into three violent armed
robberies committed on two gaming venues in the eastern suburbs
within days of being formed.
Detective Senior Sergeant Allan Price said a substantial amount of
cash was taken by two masked offenders brandishing handguns at
the Burvale Hotel.
Two previous armed hold-ups at Century City Tavern in Glen Waverley
a year earlier were related.
A major investigation began involving various support services and
surveillance, culminating in the arrest of seven people for three
counts of armed robbery and two counts of conspiracy to commit
armed robbery.
Timely intelligence allowed the SOG to intercept two suspects within a
block of the Burvale Hotel, where they were heading to commit another
armed robbery.
POLICELIFE OCTOBER 2007
0
small talk
voxpoP
bookreview
What is the biggest safety
misconception?
Senior Constable Joanne Stocks
Melbourne Divisional Intelligence Unit
Some people think it is safe to place their handbag
or mobile phone out of their sight at cafés and bars
and that no one will steal it.
Inspector John Wills
Professional Development
Manager, Region 1
People think there is a high level of violence in the
community. But, when taken into perspective the
incidence of violence is low per capita in comparison
to other states and some other countries.
Detective Senior Constable
Michelle Elliott
Sexual Crimes Squad
I think people underestimate the importance of
travelling in groups. Even in familiar surroundings,
such as your neighbourhood, or local shopping
centre, always walk with a friend or relative.
equipmentshowcase
The Victoria
Police badge
very police member has one,
and they are carried with
their owner every where they go.
It is ‘Freddy’, the Victoria Police
badge.
The origin of the term ‘Freddy’
is still subject to conjecture,
with origin stories in connection
with a medallion granting
access to racing tracks, to the
more mundane with ‘Freddy’ an
amalgam of the phrase ‘for ID’.
Designed in 1946, Freddy has
six key elements – the crown,
0
OCTOBER 2007 POLICELIFE
Edward M Robinson has
documented his years of
crime scene photography
expertise.
T
he art of photography is often forgotten in policing, but there are
countless photographs taken by police daily for cases.
Crime Scene Photography is a comprehensive guide to getting the
best possible photos in varied and sometimes complex situations.
Using a flash, the composition of images, the use of digital images
and focus are discussed, as well as photography in special situations
such as surveillance, aerial and underwater.
Budding photographers will benefit from a section dedicated to the
tips and tricks which can be used to enhance photos.
Crime Scene Photography is available from Elsevier Australia on
telephone 1800 263 951.
policefact
DID YOU
KNOW
?
During 2005-06,
Victoria Police
responded to more
than 900,000 separate
calls for assistance
across the state.
It takes 20 weeks to
earn one, and each
Victoria Police
member has one.
E
Crime Scene
Photography
to indicate Victoria Police is
under the control of The Queen,
the laurel wreath symbolising
courage and valour, a five pointed
star representing the multidirectional nature of policing, a
circular title band, and the centre
piece representing the Southern
Cross constellation.
The motto, originally ‘Tenez Le
Droit’, later translated to ‘Uphold
the Right’, reminds members of
their duty to serve and protect
the community.
quickstats
hoons
Of the 2100 motorists who
breached hoon legislation in the
year to July 2007, the top five age
groups represented were:
01 18 – 21 42.6%
0222 – 25 26.2%
0326 – 30 16.5%
0431 – 39 9.8%
05 40 – 49 3%
readerinquiry
Q.
A.
Why do police wear
blue uniforms?
The navy blue police uniform
represents Victoria Police’s connection with the old London
Metropolitan Police, who wore navy coloured uniforms to distinguish
themselves from the military. Victoria Police Museum manager Alan
Gee said that in the early days of policing, it was important for citizens
to recognise the police as opposed to the army, because police were
there to serve and protect the community, as well as offer assistance to
them where possible.
behindthebadge
Paul Kervin
RANK Senior Constable GRADUATED 2000
AGE 32
STATION Echuca police station
duties … Like city police, we are called to domestics, accidents, and of
course we have paperwork. I am also involved in general patrols similar
to most other general duties members. Having worked at Preston for 18
months, I can say that there are similarities between working the van
at the two locations, but in Echuca there is more anti-social behaviour
because it is a popular tourist location, and on weekends the population
swells, particularly in summer months.
When faced with a problem I … try to remain calm. I find this is
the best way to be, and if I’m not sure what to do, I don’t mind asking
someone with more experience or policing knowledge. If there’s no one
around to ask, then I try to use commonsense.
People say I’m good at … keeping a good day-book, which has details
of who I worked with, what we did, and why. I have kept all my day-books
ever since my first shift in the van because I find it interesting looking
back through them, and seeing who I worked with and what we did. I also
like doing the Traffic Incident System (TIS) accident sketches.
He says … I enjoy living and working in Echuca. I like that I can ride my
bike to work, and drive around the township without fighting traffic. I also
like that the majority of people in Echuca are pretty laid back. I believe in
a good work/life balance, and I can achieve that in Echuca.
Next, I’d like to … join the Mounted Branch. In April last year, while on
leave without pay, I worked as a Jackaroo in the Kimberley area, about 60
kilometres south of Derby, Western Australia. A large percentage of my
Jackaroo job was mustering Brahman cattle on horse-back. Although I
originally took the position for the experience with the cattle, after a few
tumbles I ended up enjoying the horsemanship more. I have returned to
policing hoping that one day I can work with horses every day by being a
member of the Mounted Branch.
ODD
SPOT
Police get in a fluffy situation
Bite worse than its bark
Victim or offender?
Cranbourne police found out just how
diverse police work could be in a recent
dispute over pet ownership.
Three would-be burglars had a fright
that would turn anyone away from a life
of crime, when they attempted to break
into a car yard in Craigieburn in July.
Tatura police were left speechless
when they attended a caravan park
and spoke to an assault victim.
Police received a call from a man
stating that his pet cat, Fluffy, had
been stolen.
When police spoke to the alleged thief,
she stated the cat, Angel, was hers, who
had gone missing weeks earlier.
Fluffy, a male cat, and Angel, a female,
had the same appearance, but after
some deliberation, police took it upon
themselves to determine the sex of
the cat.
The cat appeared to be male, and Fluffy
was returned to his rightful owner, while
the police member was commended for
his diligent work to resolve the dispute.
?
?
The three men entered the premises
and soon realised they were not alone,
when confronted by guard dogs. The
dogs chased the intruders, forcing them
to hide inside and on top of cars.
After realising there was no escape, one
of the men contacted his brother, who
in-turn alerted police who rescued the
men by taking them to the local police
station for questioning.
Time is the best teacher
After being arrested for a minor crime,
police told a man that he should think
about his crime.
While the arresting member compiled
paperwork for the man’s release, he sat
patiently in a room awaiting her return.
About four hours later, knocking was
heard from the interview room. The
member had been caught up with other
work. The very remorseful man was
released with apologies for the delay.
www.police.vic.gov.au
The victim said he had been assaulted
by his friend who owed him money for
marijuana the victim had sold him.
When asked if he was admitting to
selling drugs, the victim said ‘I didn’t
think about that’.
Police investigated the assault claim
and questioned the man about his
drug dealing.
Where am I?
Many people can relate to waking up
in strange places after a night on the
town, but for some in police custody,
they woke to a shocking discovery.
Many years ago, a tradition among
some police, when they had a person
under the influence of alcohol in
custody, was to dress in a New South
Wales police uniform.
Those who had fallen asleep in Victoria,
were shocked to see they had somehow
ended up in another state.
POLICELIFE OCTOBER 2007
0
Partnership POLICING
Early
Victorian
treasure unlocked
Previously unseen artefacts of
historical significance have been
unlocked from the vaults and are on
display in the Victoria Police Museum.
editorial Maria Carnovale
Photography Shane Bell
H
olding the key to some of the
most extraordinary tales in
Victoria’s past, glass negatives have
unlocked life and crime as it was in
the early 1900s.
Part of the extensive collection of
the Victoria Police Museum, which
reopened this month, the glass
negatives, previously unseen by the
public, depict early crime scenes
and Victorian streetscapes.
The Victoria Police Museum’s
Sergeant Terry Claven said most
“Investigation of a crime is
based on methodology and
the fundamental principals of
investigation have stayed the
same, even though technology
has changed.”
“A gun or knife at a crime scene
was photographed, and the images
from the glass negatives were
presented in court as they are
today.”
Before the introduction of
fax machines, email and other
"The use of glass negatives began in the 1850s,
forming one of the earliest evidence-gathering
tools used by police."
Australia’s Jack the Ripper
In 1892, Melbourne was subjected to its
own Jack the Ripper – Frederick Deeming.
Deeming married a woman and later killed
and buried her in their home before moving
out of the house. He was later tracked down
and arrested by Western Australia Police and
found responsible for at least six murders.
A ‘death mask’ of Deeming’s face was taken after his hanging, and is
on display at the museum. Death masks were commonly taken after
hangings between 1860 and the 1900s as it was thought that
a criminal’s personality could be told from the bumps and creases
on their head.
The death mask is on loan to the museum from the National Trust
of Australia.
0
OCTOBER 2007 POLICELIFE
of the glass negative photographs
were taken by police photographers
in the 1930s and 1940s. Unearthed
at the State Library of Victoria in
2005, the negatives will be used
to research Victorian cultural
heritage and help document early
investigation techniques.
“They were identified as very
significant to our policing history,
and in partnership with the Public
Records Office of Victoria they
were preserved and scanned,”
Sgt Claven said.
The use of glass negatives
began with the introduction of
the camera, forming one of the
earliest evidence-gathering tools
used by police.
distribution methods used by
modern-day police, the glass
negatives were also used to
identify unknown persons.
An image of an unidentified
person was sometimes taken from
glass negatives and distributed in
the form of postcards, known as
Carte de Visites. The distribution
of these cards to other policing
jurisdictions assisted in the
identification of the person.
In the baffling case of the
‘Pyjama Girl’ where a body was
found in a ditch in Albury, New
South Wales in 1934, glass
negatives in the museum collection
show her burnt and battered body
and assisted in the investigation of
her murder.
History revealed
Glass negatives depict early Victorian
streetscapes and criminals.
www.police.vic.gov.au
POLICELIFE OCTOBER 2007
0
.01
A Chief Commissioner’s scandal
Former Chief Commissioner Thomas Blamey
was known for his scandalous antics, but
only weeks after his appointment as top cop
in 1925, he caused outrage.
Licensing Branch police raided a brothel in
Fitzroy and came across one of the ‘clients’ who claimed to be a plain
clothes police member. The man produced badge number 80, known
as Mr Blamey’s badge.
As word got to the media, Mr Blamey was forced to speak out, and
unconvincingly claimed that someone had borrowed his badge.
Even though he is remembered for the scandal, Mr Blamey also
introduced some innovative reforms including the establishment of a
Bicycle Patrol and a motorcycle Traffic Control Group.
.02
.03
.06
.07
The woman was identified
as Linda Agostini, but after
examination of dental records she
was eliminated as the Pyjama Girl.
A re-examination of dental records
10 years later found that she was in
fact the victim.
From handbags and horse-drawn
vehicles to high-tech equipment
and specialised squads, the growth
of policing in Victoria has been
great. The Victoria Police Museum
ensures policing, Victorian and
Australian history is preserved
and shared.
Museum manager, Alan Gee said
the museum was a state-of-the-art
exhibition space at the World Trade
Centre.
“It’s larger with a lot more
material on display, and significant
The Victoria Police Museum ensures policing, Victorian and Australian history
is preserved and shared.
exhibits being seen by the public
for the first time,” he said. “People
can see police history, forensics,
landmark investigations and the
evolution of policing to community
policing.”
0
OCTOBER 2007 POLICELIFE
Among the never-beforeseen items is a ‘Wanted’ notice
distributed by police in February
1879, for the capture of Ned Kelly
and his gang after the murders of
three policemen in Stringybark
Creek.
The infamous armour worn by
Dan Kelly and Steve Hart at the
Glenrowan siege a year later are on
display in the museum, as well as
a manuscript of the events of that
day, written by Constable Thomas
McIntyre, the only police member
to survive the attack.
Mr Gee said the museum
provided insight into Victoria’s
culture at different times in history
and policing was constantly
evolving to reflect the needs of the
community.
“Policing in the 1950s was
different to policing today, and what
was expected from police then was
different to expectations today.
“We have a vampire slaying kit in
the collection that shows just how
much beliefs and fears in society
have changed,” he said. The vampire
slaying kit will be on display in the
museum next year.
The growth of Victoria Police
to the community-focused
organisation it is today where the
.04
.05
Partnership POLICING
.08
execution of criminals is no longer
tolerated is also examined.
“Many of the events in Australia’s
history had a member of Victoria
Police involved,” Mr Gee said, so
it was important to document the
information and make it available
to the public from a policing
perspective.
“At incidents like the Eureka
Stockade, West Gate Bridge
collapse, Ash Wednesday and
other international events like
the conflict in East Timor, the 2004
Boxing Day tsunami and the Bali
bombings in 2002, police were
there supporting and helping with
investigations.”
Violent crimes also had a
dramatic impact on Victoria
Police, such as the Hoddle Street
massacre, Walsh Street police
slayings and Russell Street
bombing in 1986, of which the
vehicle used in the blast is on
display at the museum.
Exhibits also honour those who
died in the line of duty and some of
the members who left their mark on
the organisation such as Detective
John Christie, who gained a title as
Victoria’s Sherlock Holmes because
of his ability to capture dangerous
criminals using various disguises.
www.police.vic.gov.au
In addition to the admirable
duties of members, some of the
most abhorrent criminals in
Victoria are profiled, as well as the
way they were caught by police.
Crime scene techniques used
by police are on display, including
fingerprinting technology and the
innovative strategies used
in Victoria to reduce crime and
road tolls.
Mr Gee said the museum had
interactive displays such as a
fingerprinting exhibit and gave
visitors the opportunity to talk to
former police and museum staff.
The Victoria Police Shop at the
museum, has policing memorabilia,
T-shirts, caps, and other
merchandise including a collection
of Kelly Gang products available
for purchase. The Online Shop is
at www.police.vic.gov.au/shop on
the Internet
The Victoria Police Museum is
open 10am to 4pm, Monday to
Friday, at the World Trade Centre,
corner Spencer and Flinders
streets, Melbourne. Entry to
the museum is free. For details
and group bookings, telephone
9247 5214.
Records of conduct
and service
From the day Victoria Police
was established in 1853,
records of all police serving
with the organisation have been
preserved at the museum.
Police showcase
.01Fingerprinting techniques were
captured on glass negatives.
.02The glass negatives provide a rare
insight into early policing.
.03An unusual item in the museum’s
collection is a vampire slaying kit.
.04One of the oldest items in the
collection is the ‘wanted’ poster
for the Kelly Gang arrest.
.05Glass negatives were boxed and
kept in storage.
.06The armours worn by Kelly Gang
members are a key element of the
collection.
.07Glass negatives depict police in
early Victorian streetscapes.
.08Glass negatives were an early
form of capturing photographic
evidence.
The records display the date the
member joined Victoria Police,
their physical characteristics,
promotions in rank, details of
transfers and where they were
stationed. Comments relating to
a member’s character and work
performance, commendations
and awards are also noted.
To obtain a member’s record of
service, telephone 9247 5214
for more information.
POLICELIFE OCTOBER 2007
0
confident POLICING
The
Negotiator
.01
10
OCTOBER 2007 POLICELIFE
Police negotiators have a way with words and
keep a cool head when an incident heats up.
editorial Sarah Campbell
photography Shane Bell
I
t is 2 o’clock on a cold Melbourne
morning. The phone rings at the
home of police negotiator Sergeant
Justin Watson. Someone has
been taken hostage inside their
suburban home, and it is up to Sgt
Watson to get his team there to
convince the subject to surrender.
Over the phone, the officer in
charge of the Critical Incident
Response Team (CIRT) gives Sgt
In most cases, negotiators speak
with the subject via telephone.
If the subject does not answer,
they try a portable phone that is
attached to a long cord, and can
be thrown into the house by police
from outside.
Tonight, the negotiators are
briefed by the SOG, and informed
that the subject is armed and
deprived of his medication. Sgt
"Whether it is a suicide attempt on the West Gate Bridge, or a siege on an
inner-city petrol station, the negotiators are trained to deal with people in
all situations."
Big talker
.01 Sergeant Justin Watson
said negotiators begin their
communication with subjects
informally, just as many people
do with normal telephone
conversations. The team then
proceeds through a series
of questions to gain more
information.
www.police.vic.gov.au
Watson as much detail about the
scene as he can. A woman is being
held inside her house by her irate
husband, and he is refusing to let
her go.
It is unknown whether the
subject is armed or not, all Sgt
Watson knows is that he is in a
frantic, angry state. The cool
heads of the negotiating team
are required.
Sgt Watson heads outside to
where his negotiators’ vehicle,
carrying all the equipment he
and his team need to do their
job, is waiting.
He has contacted his primary
negotiator and informed them of
the task at hand.
There are two negotiators
available 24 hours a day, seven days
a week. Mostly, they are called out
to jobs late at night, or in the early
morning.
The negotiators must get to
the scene as quickly as possible
to support the Special Operations
Group (SOG), which has secured
the stronghold, and is waiting for
the negotiators arrival.
Weaving through traffic, the
negotiators remain in contact
with the SOG, offering advice and
receiving updates over the phone.
Soon, Sgt Watson and his
support crew arrive on the scene
and set up their communications
equipment.
Watson said negotiators always
expect the unexpected.
“We have to be patient, and
respond to the scene as we see fit,”
Sgt Watson said.
There is no job too big, or too
small for the negotiators.
Whether it is a suicide attempt
on the West Gate Bridge, or a siege
on an inner-city petrol station, the
negotiators are trained to deal with
people in all situations.
Working tonight is Sgt Watson as
team leader, and Senior Constable
Nicole Williams, the primary
negotiator.
“On large jobs, such as sieges,
there are usually four of us
working from the negotiators
truck. The team leader, who filters
information to the rest of the team,
controls negotiation strategies,
and manages the welfare of
other negotiators, the primary
negotiator, who talks with the
subject, the secondary negotiator
who assists, and listens to the
discussion while taking notes,
and one other member who keeps
track of everything communicated,
including any information that
could be helpful in the negotiation,”
Sgt Watson said.
During early stages of the
negotiation the offender is
demanding, and feels as though
he is in control.
“Sometimes all they want is
someone to ask them ‘what is
wrong?’,” Sen Const Williams said.
In this case, the subject responds
well to the negotiators, and it
appears a resolution is within reach
in the first hour of negotiation.
While most negotiations are
complete within a few hours, some
situations can last longer, and the
negotiators must remain alert and
focussed on their task.
“We cannot just get up and leave
the phone when we want, because
once we’ve established the level
of trust with the subject, we don’t
want to compromise that,” Sgt
Watson said.
“Showing the subject that we
are not trying to harm them and
that we are telling the truth, usually
allows us to maintain a good level
of understanding.”
In addition to being good
communicators, Sgt Watson
said negotiators must be active
listeners.
“It is important we think
before we speak, and even more
importantly, we need to listen to the
subject and respond accordingly.”
Negotiators go through extensive
testing before they can work with
Sgt Watson and his team, and in
this case, the work of Sen Const
Williams has paid off.
As the subject surrenders, and
the hostage is brought to safety, the
negotiators pack up, and start filing
information on the subject for their
database.
It has been another long night
for Sgt Watson and Sen Const
Williams, but this is why they love
the job.
“Saving lives is the best part of
this job, and I enjoy the satisfaction
of knowing we have done good
work,” Sgt Watson said.
POLICELIFE OCTOBER 2007
11
in brief
In car video
switched on
Police stations
open doors
Victoria Police vehicles are
equipped with another set of
eyes and ears with the addition
of In Car Video (ICV).
nine regional police
stations were opened by
Victoria Police recently.
ICV has been installed in 30 rural
Traffic Management Unit (TMU)
cars, and will be installed in all
country TMU vehicles over the
next three years.
Video and audio evidence
and added safety are among the benefits of the evidence
gathering technology, which provides an unbiased and accurate
representation of events.
ICV project manager, Inspector Ross Oberin, said ICV systems
comprise one or two digital cameras, a dash mounted display
for playing back recordings of offences, and a removable video
storage device.
Two wireless microphones have been installed, along with a GPS
plotting and recording system, and triggering devices that initiate
recordings not started manually by police.
Insp Oberin said the triggering devices, which include activation
of flashing blue and red lights, the siren, and a g-force sensor that
will detect if the vehicle has been involved in a collision, were a key
element of ICV recording.
ICV also records other details such as the time and date, and when
brakes, headlights and indicators are activated. They also record the
speed of a police vehicle, and the system will record the speed of
offending vehicles. Insp Oberin said the most important feature of
ICV was its ability to pre-record up to one minute of activity in front
of the camera, before the recording was actually activated.
“This feature will show the actual offence being committed,” he said.
Rural theft rise prompts warning
Heavy machinery and agricultural equipment valued at
more than $5 million was reported stolen in Victoria in
the year to 30 June.
In total, 23 items of agricultural equipment such as farm tractors
were reported stolen, 27 skid steer such as bobcats, and 51 other
types of machinery including heavy earth moving equipment and
back hoes.
Senior Constable Brett Florence of the Organised Motor Vehicle
Theft Squad urged owners to take the same precautions with the
equipment as they would with their car by storing it securely and
recording identification numbers.
Only 17 per cent of the owners could tell police what the Vehicle
Identification Number (VIN) was, while just five per cent knew the
engine number when reporting the theft.
“It is essential that the owners keep thorough and up-to-date
records of all equipment they own,” Sen Const Florence said.
“They also need to ensure the equipment is stored securely when
not in use so that opportunistic thieves don’t see it as an invitation
to steal. Most units are stolen on-site or near the owner’s premises.
“Preventing the theft in the first instance is equally as important
as having the right information if you do become a victim of theft.”
Anyone with information about the theft of agricultural equipment
or heavy machinery should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
12
OCTOBER 2007 POLICELIFE
The stations in Nhill, Olinda,
Robinvale, Warrandyte, Hurstbridge, Koroit, Mirboo North, Apollo Bay
and Murchison offer a modern workplace that will enable Victoria
Police to continue to provide the most efficient service to residents.
Hoons off the road
More than 2100 vehicles have been impounded from
dangerous drivers by Victoria Police since hoon
legislation was introduced on 1 July last year.
Drivers who chose to exceed the speed by more than 45km/h, engage
in dangerous driving practices or street race against other motorists
were among those who had to watch their vehicle being towed away
for an initial 48 hours.
Assistant Commissioner (Traffic) Noel Ashby said the legislation
had been a clear success in Victoria.
“For the first time, police have the power to immediately remove
dangerous drivers from our roads by impounding their vehicles,” Mr
Ashby said.
“By doing this, we ultimately make our roads safer and reduce the
incidence of road trauma and the road toll.
“We’ve also had extremely positive feedback from the public about
this legislation and the way that it has been implemented throughout
Victoria.”
A total of 2115 vehicles have been impounded across Victoria at a
rate of just over 40 per week.
During the first year there were 49 two-time recidivists and
five three-time recidivists, with one permanent vehicle forfeiture
recorded.
Analysis of the drivers of impounded vehicles also showed
interesting trends, Mr Ashby said.
“Almost half of our hoon drivers are probationary license holders
and 98 per cent are male. The legislation really targets those young
male drivers, who are over-represented in our road trauma and
fatality statistics,” he said.
“However, we have a range of people outside of this group who have
lost their vehicle, including a 63-year-old man and two women in their
30s caught drag racing.”
picture this
photography Shepparton News
Reservist Frank Eyre,
Shepparton police
"A
lmost two years ago, a team of my colleagues from Shepparton police
attended Tom Dooley’s family farm to investigate a case of vandalism.
While at the farm, the members put one of their hats on Tom’s head, and
let him sit in the police car, which really excited him. Aged three at the time,
Tom was very impressed with the police, so much so that he told his mum
that one day he wanted to be a policeman too.
Following this, Catherine Dooley, Tom’s mum, managed to make a small
police uniform for Tom, including a shirt with badges, a name tag, navy
blue pants, and equipment belt with a small toy pistol and walkie-talkie.
Tom loved his uniform so much; he basically wore it everywhere, except
to kindergarten. He even often asks his grandmother to walk down the
paddock, and Tom communicates with her via his two-way radio, and every
time the family comes into Shepparton for shopping, he asks to visit the
police station.
When Tom came into the station I introduced myself, and gave him a
tour. I introduced him to other police as Constable Dooley, which I think
www.police.vic.gov.au
Tom quite enjoyed. He left the station that day with several magazines and
pictures of police and their equipment – he is genuinely excited about all
things police-related.
A little while later, for Tom’s fifth birthday party, Senior Sergeant John
Trebilcock, also of Shepparton police, and I went to the family farm in a
marked police car and demonstrated the lights and siren to the kids. I
think Tom was the most excited five-year-old in the world that day. All day
he was telling his friends at the party that they couldn’t leave because he
had a very special friend coming – referring to myself.
Even his birthday cake was in the shape of a police car, and his friends
were most impressed that the police came to his party.
Since then I have presented Tom with a sergeant’s badge and a police
hat, which he loves.
Recently, Tom was asked why he liked police, to which he replied,
‘because they were good,’ and when he was asked why he liked me, he said
‘because he is kind and friendly’.”
POLICELIFE OCTOBER 2007
13
.01 A Mounted Branch rider takes an
afternoon gallop at the Academy.
.02 Gearing up in the stables.
CONFIDENT POLICING
Training
.01
provides more horsepower
Police Life spends a day of training with
the Mounted Branch.
I
t is before dawn, and while the
city sleeps, police at the Mounted
Branch are in motion - grooming
their horses ready for the day
ahead.
Thick dew covers surrounding
grass, and as the horses breathe a
cloud of warm air disappears into
the cold surrounds.
The contracted farrier is hard at
work at the back of the stables, and
all that is heard is gentle tapping as
he works on damaged horse shoes,
and the sound of sweeping as
stable hands clean and gather
their equipment.
Purpose built for police in 1912
for £14,000, the stables have stood
the test of time. Although just
two kilometres from the heart of
Melbourne, the horses, and the
branch’s two adopted cats, are
well hidden from the busy city.
As the morning wears on,
mounted troopers continue
shovelling hay and greeting their
horses. There is a special bond
between horse and rider, a shared
affection and trust knowing each
relies on the other for support in
what can sometimes be harrowing
situations.
Today Unity, Trooper, Harry
and their fellow police horses
are heading to the Victoria Police
Academy for riot training.
While many associate the
Mounted Branch with horse-back
walks through the city, and their
role in ticket tape parades, what
is not as well known is that their
work is physical and demanding. It
is dangerous, back-breaking work.
Last year, Leading Senior Constable
Kevin Knowles, who has been with
the branch for almost 32 years, fell
from his horse and fractured his
editorial Sarah Campbell photography Shane Bell
Sergeant Mick Cooke of the
Mounted Branch said this is the
reality of working protests and
demonstrations. Unfortunately,
police horses must learn to endure
such threats, because at some
protests, they are not treated
with the respect they deserve.
“When George Bush Senior
came to Australia in 1991, I was
part of the riot response, and my
“Riders usually carry a pair of
secateurs during crowd control
events because, unfortunately,
protestors have been known to try
and tie ropes around the horses’
reins, Sgt Cook said.
Although today the riot scenario
is not real, riders treat the day as if
it were.
Despite the arduous conditions,
the horses stand tall in their
Leading Senior Constable Kevin Knowles, who has been with the branch for
almost 32 years, fell from his horse and fractured his back, broke his scapula,
punctured a lung, and fractured five ribs.
back, broke his scapula, punctured
a lung, and fractured five ribs.
While these horses are well
trained and, for the majority of
the time, they keep their rider safe,
working with animals always has
an element of unpredictability.
That is why today the branch
has loaded its horses on the floats
and is heading to the Victoria Police
Academy, where horses will run
through training programs, and be
tested with distractions including
flares, smoke, and mock protestors
waving umbrellas, throwing plastics
and shouting loudly.
horse was slashed with a knife by a
protestor,” he said.
“We try and expose them to as
many of these distractions during
training to prepare them for the
main event.”
Training is an important element
of work, ensuring that in the heat
of the moment, rider and horse can
handle the pressure.
All of the horses’ protest bridles
are handcrafted by members of the
branch, and the reins are reinforced
with steel cables in case protestors
attempt to cut them.
defence, and through smoke and
haze, they protect their rider always
and hold their ground.
The team responds to difficult
situations with grace and poise,
upholding their duty to protect and
serve the community, regardless of
the scene.
As the day grows old, horses and
riders travel back to the stables.
It has been a tiring but eventful
day for the Mounted Branch, but
tomorrow morning they will be back
and ready to do it all again.
Timeline
5.45am
Troopers report to the Mounted
Branch headquarters in South
Melbourne.
14
6am
Sergeant Mick Cook conducts
the branch’s briefing, informing
members of where they are
going, what horses they are
taking, and what needs to be
done prior to leaving the stables.
OCTOBER 2007 POLICELIFE
6.20am
Staff leave the messroom for
the stables to begin cleaning,
grooming and washing down
horses, and retrieving feed.
7am
Troopers gather saddles from
the tack room, and prepare the
horses for their walk onto the
horse float. There are about 70
police horses, with some living
in the Mounted Branch stables,
and the remainder at the farm
at Attwood.
7.45am
Horses and troopers depart for
the Victoria Police Academy.
8.45am
The floats arrive at the Academy
in Glen Waverley, and members
unload horses, gear and prepare
for the day’s training.
.02
9.30am
Riders mount their horses and
ride around a grassed area
for warm up. It is important
to warm up the horses before
they commence riot training to
prevent injury to rider and horse.
Flares are let off randomly, to
prepare the horses for what
they will be subjected to later
in the day.
www.police.vic.gov.au
10am
Horses enter the scenario
village, and start training
involving vehicle escort, and
confrontation with mock
protestors. The team runs
through each program several
times to ensure horses stand
in line correctly. Each rider
has an earpiece and radio,
ensuring the leading trooper
can communicate with them.
11.30am
The Victoria Police Pipe Band
arrives to provide added
distraction and noise for the
training.
12.30pm
Training concludes, horses are
ridden back to their floats where
they are unsaddled, and loaded
back onto the floats.
1.15pm
The convoy departs the
Academy, and heads back to the
stables for unloading of horses,
and cleaning of equipment.
2pm
The shift ends, and riders
change and head home, ready
for another day tomorrow.
POLICELIFE OCTOBER 2007
15
POSTER
Werribee police station
editorial Maria Carnovale
photography Andrew Henshaw
O
ne of the fastest growing areas
in Victoria, the city of Wyndham,
was once a large farming area, but
Officer in charge of the uniform
section, Acting Senior Sergeant
Frank Fabbian said the area was
With the establishment of housing estates, Wyndham's population is expected
to rise rapidly including various cultures and demographics.
Watching Werribee
.01Local farmer, Angelo DeGrandis
shows Constables Melissa
Scannell and Jamie Kahle the
rural aspects of Werribee.
.02Parks Victoria employee Val
Thompson explains the Werribee
Park Mansion’s significance to
Sgt Frank Fabbian.
.03Constable Chris Black checks the
location of his next crime scene
at the newly formed Wyndham
Crime Desk.
.04The small city on the fringe
of Melbourne welcomes the
presence of police on its streets.
.05Senior Constables Michael
Hayward and Robert Debono of
the Werribee Traffic Management
Unit use motorcycles donated
by the local council to patrol offroad areas.
18
OCTOBER 2007 POLICELIFE
is now a thriving city where police
are frequently put to the test
and pass.
Well-known for its attractions
such as the Werribee Park Mansion,
Open Range Zoo, and the annual
Werribee Cup race, there is much
more to Werribee than first meets
the eye.
Werribee police station is one
of Victoria’s busiest, covering an
area of more than 542 square
kilometres, taking in the township
of Little River and the suburbs
Werribee, Hoppers Crossing,
Wyndham Vale, Laverton North
and Point Cook.
diverse and required police to keep
up-to-date with the community’s
needs.
“We’re always trying to provide
a better service to the community,
by increasing patrol hours and
targeting specific issues,” he said.
In an innovative step, the
station implemented a trial where
members attending property
offences, such as criminal damage
and theft from motor cars, could
telephone the crime report through
to the Central Data Entry Bureau,
where it would be entered onto
the Law Enforcement Assistance
Program.
“The trial will reduce the time
it takes for members to compile a
report, allowing more patrol time on
the road, instead of returning to the
station to complete reports,” A/Sen
Sgt Fabbian said.
The saved time would allow
police to focus on issues in the
Wyndham area, and work to reduce
rising trends.
In July, the station targeted
driving offences, conducting an
operation which saw 195 driving
offences detected in only 10 days,
and A/Sen Sgt Fabbian said the
suburb was also high on the list
of vehicles seized under hoon
legislation.
“Since the start of this year, the
Werribee Traffic Management Unit
has impounded 47 vehicles, and we
are working to reduce dangerous
driving on the roads through a
Hoon hotline, where members of
the public can report bad driving
behaviour,” he said.
With the establishment of
housing estates, Wyndham’s
population is expected to rise
rapidly including various cultures
and demographics.
Community POLICING
.02
.01
.03
.04
A/Sen Sgt Fabbian said that
more than 22 per cent of the
population was born overseas, and
with multicultural liaison officer,
Senior Constable Richard Dove,
police were ensuring that new
arrivals could approach police
without concern.
“In June, about 500 people
joined us when we closed off
Watton Street in Werribee for a
Refugee Day,” Sen Const Dove said.
Visitors were entertained by
the Victoria Police Bands and
cultural performers, and were also
treated to a tour of the Victoria
Police Academy giving them the
opportunity to interact with police.
Among other initiatives, Werribee
police station has established a
Family Violence Unit, targeting
domestic violence incidents and
aiming to reduce recidivism.
A Crime Desk was also
established with several Crime
Scene Officers who focus on
volume crime and target repeat
offenders by gathering forensic
evidence.
www.police.vic.gov.au
.05
POLICELIFE OCTOBER 2007
19
The
innocence
thieves
Sixteen years ago, rapist, kidnapper
and murderer ‘Mr Cruel’ stole
Karmein Chan from her family home,
taking with him the innocence and
freedom of Melbourne children.
Police Life reveals how the Sex
Crimes Squad is working to protect
Victorians from this type of evil.
20
OCTOBER 2007 POLICELIFE
.01
Intelligent POLICING
editorial Sarah Campbell
photography Shane Bell
T
he effects of sex crimes ripple
through the community like
waves of terror. As with most
sex offenders, Mr Cruel’s work
horrified everyone as he preyed on
vulnerable girls who were unaware
that, in an instant, they could lose
their innocence or worse, their life.
Had she not been taken, Karmein
Chan would be 29 this year, and still
society suffers the threat of a new
breed of sex offenders.
In July, MySpace, a website
linking people via online
communication, detected and
deleted 29,000 profiles belonging
to convicted sex offenders.
“Our concern with the Internet,
and other modern technological
development, is that it has the
Two women who recently spoke
out abut their encounter with a
rapist said “he didn’t look like a
rapist. He didn’t look like what a
rapist could look like”.
This sentiment, Det Sen Sgt
O’Connor said, is common.
“Sex offenders mask their
feelings very well. They can have a
Jekyll and Hyde type of personality,
whereby they may appear normal
at home, but in their mind they are
developing the idea of a sex attack,”
he said.
“That makes it hard to paint a
picture of what one rapist might
look like, compared to another.”
The Sex Crimes Squad accepts
that the media plays an important
role in helping them locate victims
It remains unknown what motivated Mr Cruel to kidnap Karmein Chan and
the cases of his four other victims are difficult to comprehend.
power to develop a new generation
of sex offenders,” Detective Senior
Sergeant Chris O’Connor of the Sex
Crimes Squad said.
Victoria Police was the first
Australian police jurisdiction to
develop a squad dedicated to
investigating sex crimes, and every
year, the team of detectives works
with thousands of victims, and their
families, to stop sex offenders.
“Investigating sex crimes is
difficult, because there are so
many elements to each case and
it is difficult, in most cases, for
victims to identify their attacker,”
Det Sen Sgt O’Connor said.
and offenders, particularly if
outlets can release information
on what the offender might look
like, or where they might work,
live or socialise.
However, Detective Senior
Constable Damien Morris, who
has been investigating sex
offenders for 18 months, admitted
there are times when too much
public exposure can tarnish a case.
“Some things we need to keep
to ourselves, for fear of attentionseekers falsely confessing to highprofile crimes,” he said.
Avoiding assault
Studies show that women in Australia fear the
possibility of rape more than any other crime.
Detective Sergeant Peter Dodemaide, a specialist
in drug facilitated sexual assault at the Sex Crimes
Squad, said that despite the community’s best
intentions to socialise in safe spaces, and make good
decisions, there were elements that could affect this.
Alcohol is the most common element in drug
facilitated sexual assault. Det Sgt Dodemaide said
the thought of what could happen to people under the
influence of alcohol was scary.
“Once under the influence of alcohol, most people
tend to make decisions that, had they not been
drinking, would most likely have not made,” he said.
www.police.vic.gov.au
The behaviour of convicted
rapists, child molesters and other
sexual offenders is shocking in
every way, and the after-effects of
such acts are long-lasting. While
it can be difficult for members of
the Sex Crimes Squad to separate
their personal opinions from their
professional obligations, every Sex
Crimes Squad member Police Life
spoke to, said it was something
they had to do to work effectively.
Detective Leading Senior
Constable John Ragluss has been
with the squad for 11 years, and
with children of his own, said while
their innocence motivates him to
work in a team that is eliminating
sex offenders from society,
he accepts the importance of
separating work and home life.
“I think any crime against a
child is horrendous. But for us,
it is important we look at every
case on its merits. We have to try
and work out what has motivated
the offender to be involved with
children,” he said.
It remains unknown what
motivated Mr Cruel to kidnap
Karmein Chan and the cases of his
four other victims are difficult to
comprehend.
One of his victims, an 11-year-old
girl, was attacked as her sevenyear-old brother was forced to
watch, tied to a bed.
“Sex crime is a crime of fantasy,”
Det Sen Sgt O’Connor said.
“Once we know what motivates
sex offenders to commit these
acts, we’ll be well on the way to
eliminating their crimes from our
community altogether,” he said.
safety online
Det Sgt Dodemaide suggested the following personal
safety tips:
Always plan your night before you go out. Plan how
you will get there, and how you will get home, and
never accept lifts from strangers.
Go out in a group.
Go to the toilet with a friend.
If you are at a bar, take your drink with you
everywhere, and beware of who is buying your
drink, and what is in it.
Trust your gut feeling. If you are sceptical about
someone’s behaviour, do not trust them to look
after you.
In August, the Federal
Government launched the
$189 million Internet Safety
initiative, NetAlert – Protecting
Australian Families Online.
NetAlert offers online safety
advice and filters for families.
Visit www.netalert.gov.au on
the Internet.
Dark side
.01Det Sen Sgt Chris O’Connor said
investigating sex crimes is made
more difficult by the ‘masks’
sex offenders wear to hide their
secrets from everyday life.
POLICELIFE OCTOBER 2007
21
A girl, a sword
and a severed hand
Police prosecute 43 offenders after
a seven-month investigation into a
gruesome gang attack.
editorial Maria Carnovale photography Tony Gough
Park peril
.01Detective Senior Constables
Anthony Zagari and Richard
Burton revisit the scene where
the two gangs clashed.
.02Weapons were found scattered
all over the Fitzroy Gardens as
gang members disposed of the
evidence as they fled the scene.
.03Nguyen’s severed hand was
reattached by surgeons after
police found it at the Fitzroy
Gardens after the fight.
22
OCTOBER 2007 POLICELIFE
W
hile a father holding his
newborn baby looked out a
hospital room window and a family
enjoyed a picnic, two gangs of
youths descended on Melbourne’s
Fitzroy Gardens carrying swords,
machetes and other weapons.
The pre-arranged fight involved
between 50 to100 people, mainly
15 to 20-year-olds, from two rival
Asian gangs, and resulted in a man’s
hand being severed at the wrist.
The police investigation into
the attack, named Operation
Khaki, spanned more than seven
months, and involved more than
150 witnesses and 100 exhibits of
evidence.
One of the case’s lead
investigators, Detective Senior
Constable Anthony Zagari of the
then Asian Squad, said that in the
week preceding the fight there were
confrontations between the gangs,
SNK (St Albans and Kings Park) and
the Fitzroy group.
As a result, a fight was arranged
for 6pm on Saturday, 28 February,
2004, using Internet chat rooms
and text messages to recruit people
to join the fight.
“It was over a girl. A member
of the SNK gang was jealous of a
Fitzroy group member going out
with a girl he liked,” Det Sen Const
Zagari said.
.02
Nguyen was transported to the
nearby St Vincent’s Hospital by
friends, who later returned to the
gardens to search for his hand.
Remaining gang members fled
from the gardens into waiting
vehicles and on public transport
where some were involved in
further confrontations.
When police arrived on the scene
they blocked off the entire Fitzroy
Gardens and began to gather
information from witnesses and
interview males in the vicinity.
.03
including Mai admitting to cutting
off Nguyen’s hand,” he said.
Amid threats of retribution and
the law closing in on him, Mai was
in hiding at his girlfriend’s mother’s
house when police tracked him
down.
On Friday, 12 March, 2004,
detective senior constables Zagari
and Burton went to the house, but
while knocking at the front door,
Mai ran from the back of the house
and over a fence. A search of the
area failed to locate him.
"It was over a girl. A member of the SNK gang was
jealous of a Fitzroy group member going out with
a girl he liked," Det Sen Const Zagari said.
.01
Leader of the Fitzroy group, 20year-old Tuan Mai, and 22-year-old
Hieu Nguyen, leader of SNK, who
were not involved in the initial
argument, were nominated to fight
on behalf of their groups in a oneon-one fight.
Det Sen Const Zagari said the
SNK gang was the first to arrive
at Fitzroy Gardens with bags of
weapons which they distributed
among each other. Some time later,
the Fitzroy group arrived, also
armed with various weapons.
“Mai turned up with a onemetre-long samurai sword, and
Nguyen had a half-metre sword,”
he said.
www.police.vic.gov.au
Led by Nguyen, the SNK gang
charged at the Fitzroy group and
both leaders swung their swords at
each other several times. Nguyen
raised his hand to protect his head
when Mai’s sword hit, severing it at
the wrist.
“Considering the number of
people involved and the tension
between the two rival gangs, he
should consider himself lucky
that he was not fatally injured.
The swing of the sword was aimed
at his head,” Det Sen Const Zagari
said.
“With these groups, they bring
the weapons to use, not as a threat.
In the end, the longer sword won.”
Detective Senior Constable
Richard Burton, also a lead
investigator on the case, said the
extent of the crime scene and the
number of people involved posed
a challenge.
“It was definitely the biggest and
longest case I’ve been involved in
with the most offenders, witnesses
and large crime scene,” he said.
State Emergency Services
members were enlisted to assist in
the search for evidence including
blood, metal bars, swords and other
weapons that had been discarded
as the males fled.
Nguyen’s hand was also located
by police and transported to
hospital, where it was surgically
reattached.
Months of investigation followed
the incident, involving the analysis
of telephone records, surveillance
cameras, witness statements and
the Internet. Det Sen Const Zagari
said the most valuable information
was found on Internet chat rooms
which identified the people involved
in the fight.
“We checked out some Internet
chat sites and there were a lot
of people talking about the fight,
Mai turned himself in to police
only days later.
Mai was charged with
intentionally cause serious injury,
affray, assault with a weapon
and more, resulting in a 2½-year
sentence.
Nguyen was sentenced to
two years’ jail on weapons
charges, common law assault
and attempting to cause serious
assault.
Operation Khaki resulted in
43 offenders charged with various
offences including affray and
unlawful assembly. Thirteen
were children.
“We had a good rapport with
the young Asian community. After
obtaining witness statements,
versions of events and records of
interview we were able to piece
together the circumstances
surrounding the events of that
night,” Det Sen Const Zagari said.
Earlier this year, detective senior
constables Zagari and Burton were
presented with Highly Commended
certificates for the conspicuous
service, professionalism,
perseverance and dedication
during the investigation.
POLICELIFE OCTOBER 2007
23
Community POLICING
.01
24
OCTOBER 2007 POLICELIFE
.02
A
country
practice
.03
Just ripe
.01Sen Const Slee and Sgt Darren
Wallis
.02Mooroopna’s Sen Const Slee
and Sgt Darren Wallis work with
Rumbalara staff when dealing
with aboriginal youth issues.
.03Locals in Tatura are friendly
towards Sgt Darryl Phillips and
his staff, and appreciate the work
they do in the community.
Police Life travelled through the heart of Australia’s food
bowl and discovered there is a lot more to country policing
than vanilla slice and canned fruit.
editorial Sarah campbell photography andrew henshaw
F
lanked by irrigation channels,
picturesque red gum forests
and orchards that run as far as
the eye can see, the township of
Mooroopna sounds idyllic.
And Sergeant Darren Wallis,
officer in charge of Mooroopna
police, said it pretty much is.
Living and working in the fruit
salad city, as the town is known
thanks to the SPC Ardmona
cannery in the main street, is
challenging and enjoyable he said.
“This isn’t just a job, it’s a
lifestyle.”
Just 15 kilometres up the road
is the tiny town of Tatura where
Sergeant Darryl Phillips heads
up a five-member station. Sgt
Phillips has lived and worked in the
Goulburn Valley for about 10 years,
and said despite the fact it may
appear to outsiders that Tatura is
a sleepy hollow, he told Police Life
otherwise.
Recently, Sgt Phillips and his
team were faced with an unusual
case.
The remains of two cows that
had been gutted, had their heads
cut off and carcasses stolen were
discovered in a paddock, and Tatura
police are still investigating. Stock
theft is common in these parts of
the state, and with the pressures of
a harrowing drought mounting, the
behaviour of some locals has kept
police busy.
www.police.vic.gov.au
“The drought has provided us
with some unique challenges,”
Sgt Phillips said.
Tatura has suffered, and farmers
in the area are still struggling with
the after effects, despite recent
rain providing some hope.
“People in the city tend to think
that policing up here is a pretty
easy gig, but since I joined the team
here, I have learnt there are so
many issues to deal with, it’s just
different to policing in Melbourne,”
Sgt Wallis said.
On the outskirts of Mooroopna
runs the Goulburn River, a popular
spot for bushwalking and water
sports. The area keeps police busy,
and recently they completed a
major crack down on unregistered
dirt bikes.
"The locals have a shared appreciation for us. We greet them with a
friendly smile and 'hello', and in return, hopefully they'll continue to respect
us," Sgt Wallis said.
“It has meant we’ve been
called out to sieges on farms,
and generally we have watched
as people in the community
have battled financially, perhaps
resulting in them behaving in a way
they wouldn’t normally,” he said.
In Mooroopna, Sgt Wallis has
also forged strong relationships
with locals, and his team enforce
and encourage traditional
community values in their day-today policing.
“The locals have a shared
appreciation for us. We greet them
with a friendly smile and ‘hello’, and
in return, hopefully they’ll continue
to respect us,” Sgt Wallis said.
While it sounds peachy, working
the area presents some challenges
for the four members at the 16hour Mooroopna station.
With a population of more
than 7000 for most of the year,
that figure almost doubles
during summer when an influx
of fruit pickers descend on the
area for three months of work in
surrounding orchards.
Mooroopna also has a strong
Indigenous population, and is
home to Rumbalara Aboriginal
Co-op. The co-op was set up in the
mid 1950s, and Sgt Wallis and his
team work with staff when faced
with problems such as under-aged
drinking.
“There is an established
Aboriginal Community Justice
Panel who work with us to help
resolve local aboriginal issues,”
Sgt Wallis said.
“It’s such a beautiful spot down
by the river, and we want to keep it
that way,” Sgt Wallis said.
In response to community
concerns, and with the help of the
Department of Sustainability, Parks
Victoria, and the council, the team
issued fines to unlicensed and
unregistered riders.
While both townships present
policing challenges, Sgt Wallis
and Sgt Phillips agree there is a
lot to like about working in small
townships. Blue Light youth clubs,
golf and football clubs, and
the local people all benefit from
the work of police, and it seems
the town also gives something
back to them, providing police
with a valuable sense of
community spirit.
POLICELIFE OCTOBER 2007
25
Partnership POLICING
Taking
crime
off the rails
Public transport is actually safer than most commuters
think as police work to derail crime.
S
editorial Maria Carnovale
photography Tony Gough
.02
On track
.01Transit Safety Division Constables
Pheobe Garside and Daniel Pabst
keep a watchful eye over the busy
Southern Cross Station.
.02Transit police ride a tram in
the CBD.
26
OCTOBER 2007 POLICELIFE
queezing onto a tram or train
every morning can be frustrating,
but Transit Safety Division staff do
it all day, every day to ensure the
trip is problem-free for commuters.
Victoria’s public transport system
runs 24 hours a day and is used by
hundreds of thousands of people in
their daily trek to work, school and
leisure activities.
Even though most commuters
do not realise, while they read a
book or listen to music, police are
patrolling trains, train stations,
trams, car parks and other public
transport areas.
About 200 Transit Safety
Division staff are responsible
for all of Victoria’s rail systems,
including metropolitan and rural
train lines. The division provides
a visible presence on and around
transport through patrols,
investigates all crime committed
on public transport, conducts
covert operations and implements
proactive policing methods.
Uniform operations manager
.01
Inspector Brad Shallies said all
crime that occurs in the community
can also occur on the transit
system.
“We respond to all offence
types, from property offences
and offences against the person,
through to sex crimes and very
rarely, a murder on the system,”
he said.
“One of the predominant themes
at the moment is graffiti, which
falls under the umbrella of antisocial behaviour,” he said.
Recently, police worked with
Yarra Trams in a bid to reduce antisocial behaviour on Melbourne’s
trams. A tram was wrapped in
photographs of uniformed and
plain clothed police to remind
passengers that police patrol
all trams. The tram will run until
January.
In 2005-06, only 2.3 per cent of
crime in Victoria occurred on public
transport, but even though the
percentage is low, commuters are
still concerned about their safety.
A community survey conducted
between April last year and March,
found that 82 per cent of people felt
safe travelling on public transport
during the day. When asked about
their safety at night, only 40 per
cent felt safe, and even though this
was an increase from 30.6 per cent
transport is higher at off-peak
times, and travellers should take
more precautions and be aware
of their surroundings during
these times.
“People loitering at railway
stations or large groups of people
tend to cause concern. They may be
Insp Shallies said there were
also other measures in place to
protect public transport users such
as closed circuit television (CCTV)
systems, often used to identify
suspects.
Travelling at night has improved
with all stations having designated
A community survey ... found that 82 per cent of people felt safe travelling on
public transport during the day.
the previous year, police aim to
increase perceptions of safety.
“Perceptions of safety are not
as high at night as they are during
the day, which mirrors perceptions
that people generally don’t feel as
safe anywhere after dark as they do
during the day,” Insp Shallies said.
Sergeant Andrew Hartley of
the Transit Safety Divisional
Intelligence Unit said statistics
show the risk of crime on public
www.police.vic.gov.au
there for lawful purposes but the
public still worry about it,” he said.
To alleviate some concern, the
Transit Safety Division works
closely with Connex and Yarra
Trams to make transport safer.
Security at train stations has been
boosted, and posters encouraging
the public to contact Crime
Stoppers if they see any criminal
activity displayed, which has
received positive results so far.
safety zones where users are a
safe distance from trains and
emergency buttons are located.
Insp Shallies said crime on public
transport is often linked to crime
within the local area and police had
to work together to understand and
manage the connection between
crime on the public transport
system and the wider community.
“A trial is under way in Region 3
where members from local police
stations will work with Transit
members on integrated patrols,
building overall capacity and
capability,” he said.
Terror attacks in London in
2005, and Madrid in 2004, where
public transport was targeted
is also an issue for police and
transport users.
Insp Shallies said police were
well-prepared to manage an
incident and had measures in
place to deter these incidents
from occurring in Victoria.
“We are often involved in
counter-terrorism exercises
and maintain a sophisticated
surveillance system feeding from
the public transport network that
would obviously assist in managing
any emergency incident.
“Although we do not have
emergency management
responsibility as such, we do
maintain a high degree of readiness
and would play a key role,” Insp
Shallies said.
POLICELIFE OCTOBER 2007
27
Community POLICING
Minimising
safety risks
October marks Community Safety Month. Police across the
state are spreading the safety message.
editorial Sarah Campbell
V
ictoria’s crime rate is at its lowest
in more than a decade, and with
the commitment of police around
the state during Community Safety
Month this month, it looks like it
will stay that way.
While raising awareness of safety
issues, Community Safety Month,
targeting number plates.
“There is a high incidence of theft
of number plates around the area,
so this year we have come up with a
way to stop thieves in their tracks,”
she said.
With the help of a team of
volunteers, Sen Const Walker is
"The idea behind the smile campaign is to foster goodwill in the
neighbourhood and shopping strips," she said.
in its 11th year, also promotes
partnerships and mobilises people
to organise safety activities.
This year, Victoria Police will
be smiling, safe-plating, and
educating the community to
achieve enhanced safety on the
street, at school, at home and on
the road.
In Ballarat, Neighbourhood
Watch Coordinator, Senior
Constable Jenine Walker is
28
OCTOBER 2007 POLICELIFE
running Operation Safe Plate.
“As the petrol prices have gone
up, the theft of number plates from
vehicles within our community has
increased,” she said.
Stolen plates are not only being
used by criminals to evade road
safety or speed cameras.
“They are also used by criminals
in the theft of petrol and other
crime-related activities. In some
areas vehicles displaying false or
stolen plates commit over 50 per
cent of petrol thefts,” Sen Const
Walker said.
During Operation Safe Plate, Sen
Const Walker and her team will
secure number plates to vehicles
using one-way security screws to
deter thieves from stealing plates.
Epping Crime Prevention Officer,
Senior Constable Sophie Leete is
also presenting safe plate days, as
well as heading up a very friendly
operation on perception of safety.
Sen Const Leete is working
with Darebin City Council and
Neighbourhood Watch on the
Smile campaign.
“The idea behind the smile
campaign is to foster goodwill in
the neighbourhood and shopping
strips,” she said.
By posting smiling street signs,
Sen Const Leete said the campaign
encouraged locals to smile and be
friendly in the hope it will increase
the community’s general feeling of
safety and security in the street.
“We want people to look out for
their neighbours.”
Recognising that education plays
a big role in promoting community
Breaking the cycle of theft
Glen Eira police provided bike engraving and security
advice to school children who chose to ditch their
car-rides, in favour of pedal power for Ride to School Day
earlier this year.
Glen Eira Youth Resource Officer, Senior Constable Maritta Lewins said
even when a bike was recovered it was often impossible to identify the
owner.
“Having your parents’ driver’s licence number engraved on the bike
helps us identify it quickly, and it can also be a deterrent for thieves,”
Sen Const Lewins said.
In 2005-06, bike thefts in Glen Eira rose by more than 25 per cent, but
Sen Const Lewins said by taking a few easy precautions children could
prevent their bikes from being stolen.
“As well as engraving your bike, you should choose a well-lit area to
store it, lock the frame to something solid and that can’t be removed,
get a good D-lock, ensure your home insurance includes bikes, and note
down the brand, serial number and other details.”
.01
Community campaign
.01Being aware of surroundings and
possible threats is important
for travelling to and from work.
Even in familiar areas, police
encourage people to look out for
possible threats to their safety.
Secure riding
.02Ldg Sen Const Jason Fox
and Sen Const Maritta Lewins
engrave the bikes of Emily, 6
and Zach, 6.
safety, Senior Constable Trevor
Taylor, Neighbourhood Watch
coordinator at Prahran police is
coordinating Family Safety Day at
Yarra primary school.
Sen Const Taylor, with the help
of other police will be on-hand to
provide families with safety tips,
and hopes to set up facilities for
kids’ bikes to be engraved with
serial numbers to prevent theft.
Cyclist behaviour is on the
agenda with Acting Sergeant
Arty Lavos of the State Bicycle
Coordination Unit and his team
on the roads rewarding bicyclists
demonstrating safe cycling
behaviour.
“Safe cyclists will be identified
and entered in a draw to win cycling
accessories. These items will be
given away as part of the annual
road safety campaign, now in its
24th year,” A/Sgt Lavos said.
Inspector Tess Walsh of the
Crime Prevention Office said there
were many simple things people
at home could do to ensure
maximum safety.
“Ask yourself three questions.
Do the locks on doors and windows
operate correctly? Do I have timers
for lights, TV and the radio? Do my
security alarms and locks meet
Australian standards?”
Insp Walsh said while these
questions might seem basic, they
underpin what everyone should
consider to make their homes as
safe as, well, houses.
“As the end of year approaches,
and people start going away on
holidays, it is important to think
about ways to ensure that when
they return, their houses will be as
they left them,” she said.
“Before you leave, put a radio on,
and tune it to a talkback station,
use a lamp that runs on a timer,
cancel newspaper deliveries, and
arrange someone you trust in your
neighbourhood to check on your
house every day.”
Insp Walsh said Community
Safety Month was the perfect time
for everyone to assess their safety
risks and promote neighbourhood
safety.
www.police.vic.gov.au
.02
Personal safety
Safe living starts with a positive attitude, Insp Walsh said.
“Avoid danger by being alert and confident, and always walk with a
purpose,” she said.
The following points provide safety advice for walking the streets:
When walking to school, or work, be aware of surrounds and take a
note of key street names.
Try to avoid wearing headphones in both ears so you can be aware
of danger if it is nearby.
Walk a route to work or school where there is limited traffic, and
safe crossings.
Always tell friends and/or family where you are going once you leave
the house.
Avoid leaving a venue alone, walk out with friends, or ask a group if
you can accompany them.
If travelling by taxi, try to book one first, rather than stand on the
streets and hail.
If you think you are being followed, go to the nearest populated
place, such as a police station, service station, or shop.
If you are feeling threatened, and worried about your situation,
contact ‘000’ and speak to police.
For more safety tips, visit the Victoria Police Community Safety
website at www.police.vic.gov.au/communitysafety on the Internet.
POLICELIFE OCTOBER 2007
29
from the archives
10
years ago
25
years ago
50
years ago
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:
THE ROLE OF THE POLICE
I
n an overview of police roles at family
violence situations, the need was found for
a comprehensive package of policies and
provisions to deal with family violence.
The extent and seriousness of family
violence was identified as an issue for police
in 1982, when a New South Wales report
found that in 1980 “the 33 women’s refuges
in New South Wales assisted about 11,000
women and children, and turned away over
3000 more for lack of space”.
It was also found that family violence was
under-reported as many of the victims were
unwilling to make a complaint to authorities.
Police life, October 1982
HAPPY 21ST BLUE LIGHT
O
ne of Australia’s largest police and youth
projects, the Blue Light organisation
celebrated its 21st birthday with 50 children
from Altona Primary School.
More than six million youths were involved
in Blue Light activities since it began in
1976, raising more than $8 million for youthrelated charities.
Deputy Commissioner Graham Sinclair,
who officiated at the party, said with all the
negative influences on young people, it was
commendable that there was still a strong
organisation providing a positive alternative.
“I am certain that there are children
attending Blue Light disco today whose
parents enjoyed them many years ago,”
he said.
Blue Light continues to build strong
relationships between young people, police
and the community and has expanded to
include many other activities.
Police Life, September/October 1997
TRAFFIC IS A BIG PROBLEM
I
n appreciation of the work of traffic police,
an article was published in the Junior Age
and then re-published in Police Life.
The article praises police for effectively
managing traffic congestion as more
vehicles were introduced to the roads
in Victoria.
Traffic branches were commended for
assisting with traffic accidents, special
events and during peak times. In particular,
on Saturday, 21 September 1982, police
managed city traffic while more than
250,000 people swarmed into Melbourne to
attend the Royal Show, races and Victorian
Football League grand final.
Police Life, October 1957
30
OCTOBER 2007 POLICELIFE
display case
Bomb
disposal
robot
editorial Maria carnovale
PhotographY Shane Bell
W
hen purchased in 1989, the first
bomb disposal robot used by
Victoria Police, Echidna Mk1, was
the most technologically advanced
of its time.
Superseded by fast-moving
technology, the robot has gone out
with a bang and is on display at the
Victoria Police Museum.
Named Eric by members of the
Special Operations Group, the
Australian-made robot spent 18
years in operation, assisting police
to contain potential hazards.
Eric was controlled by a Bomb
Response Unit member using a
remote control and monitoring its
movements from a safe distance
using closed circuit television
images captured by a camera on
the robot.
Equipped with an X-ray machine
and robotic arm with weapons
including a shotgun and various
tools, Eric could dismantle any
suspicious objects and enter
potentially unsafe areas.
The robot could also be directed
to pick up and move suspicious
objects, climb stairs and travel
through mud and water.
In addition to checking and
securing suspicious objects, Eric
was also deployed in dangerous
situations where weapons were
involved. On one occasion, Eric’s
formidable demeanour resulted
in a suspected armed robber
surrendering to the robot when it
entered the offender’s house.
Contrary to popular belief,
dismantling an explosive device
is not as simple as cutting a wire
and Eric proved valuable in
clearing suspicious objects and
ensuring the safety of police and
the general public.
Eric is on display at the Victoria
Police Museum, corner Flinders
and Spencer streets, Melbourne.
Entry via Siddeley Street.
The robot could also be directed to pick up and move suspicious objects,
climb stairs and travel through mud and water.
www.police.vic.gov.au
POLICELIFE OCTOBER 2007
31
Just for kids
The ‘kids only’ section of the Victoria Police website is
now online to take children on an adventure into the
top-secret world of policing.
Guided by Constable Chris and Constable Kitty, children can
explore the day-to-day work of a police member from the
Victoria Police Academy to policing on the street.
To meet Constable Chris and Constable Kitty visit
www.police.vic.gov.au/kids on the Internet.