FROM TYPEWRITERS TO
CYBERCRIME
THE CAREER OF DET SUPT COL DYSON
On the eve of his
D
retirement Fraud &
Cybercrime Squad
Commander, Det
Supt Col Dyson still
champions the need
to embrace change.
STORY AMANDA BEADMAN
POLICE MONTHLY
22 PoliceMonthly AUGUST 2013
et Supt Dyson, who started
typing up his assignments on a
traditional typewriter as a cadet in
1970, now heads one of the most
technologically complex areas of
criminal investigation.
“One of the main things my career
has taught me is to be adaptable –
things will always change,” Det Supt
Dyson said.
“That may sound like a
contradiction coming from someone
who has been in the same role for 34
years, but even though I have been in
the same place physically, it has been
like working in 100 different places
because fraud is changing constantly.
“It is important to accept change
and go with it.”
Over the duration of his time
with the NSWPF, Det Supt Dyson
has certainly remained true to that
advice. He has embraced the rapidly
changing fraud environment as it
morphed into a number of new
specialist areas – including the
behemoth now known as cybercrime.
“The work was basically the
same for the first 20 years and it
was largely paper-based. Now it’s
online. We’re dealing with electronic
transfers, online businesses and
electronically stored data,” he said.
“Changes that would previously
have occurred about once every five
years are now happening weekly. And
things are global now, so the scope
is much wider. In cybercrime, we’re
working with a crime that has no
geographic borders.”
Det Supt Dyson started his career
as a probationary constable at
Bankstown. He went on to work at
a variety of LACs, including Campsie
and Hurstville before arriving at the
Fraud Squad in September 1979,
where he discovered his professional
niche.
“I always had an affinity for fraud. I
found it to be very cerebral,” he said.
“Fraud offenders, in my opinion,
are the smartest criminals and often
have the best legal representation.
The trials are often the most
complex. Everything about fraud is
challenging.”
In the early 1990s, Det Supt Dyson
was a sergeant when he investigated
a fraud case against a man named
Michael Megas.
Today, he cites that investigation
and eventual conviction as one of
the personal highlights of his policing
career.
“Megas was an accountant who
defrauded a number of retirees of
several million dollars,” he said.
“Some of the victims had passed
away while others had lost their
houses. Megas eventually pleaded
guilty and was given a 15 year
sentence with a non-parole period
of nine years – which remains the
highest sentence ever given for a
fraud related crime. I had gained a bit
of a blue rinse cheer squad by the
time the sentence was passed.”
Other highlights included
opportunities on several occasions
to travel.
“I’ve been lucky enough to
visit places like Spain, the United
Kingdom, France, Italy the USA and
New Zealand. I’ve been able to
work with the Serious Fraud Office
TOP LEFT Det Supt Col Dyson as a cadet
in London, the FBI and US Secret
Service, and the Guardia de Finanza
in Italy,” Det Supt Dyson said.
“Having seen them all in action,
I have to say the NSW Police Force
is right up there when it comes to
professionalism. We’re amongst the
best the world has to offer.”
When asked what advice he would
give to up and coming detectives,
Det Supt Dyson said one quality was
essential above all else – passion.
“The advice I would give to anyone
considering an investigative career
would be that they must have a
passion for detective work. If they
don’t, then they are in the wrong
game,” he said.
“You need to live it, breathe it and
eat it. I’ve had many sleepless nights
constantly going over a case. You
need to have that tenacity.”
In light of his own passion for a role
that has consumed so much of his
life for more than three decades, it
comes as no surprise that Det Supt
Dyson has mixed feelings about his
marching out ceremony later this
month.
“It’s bittersweet to be retiring. I do
look forward to a new chapter in my
life and doing other things, but at the
same time this organisation has been
very good to me. It is an organisation
full of professional people,” he said.
“I will miss the camaraderie – it
really is like a big family. I have
been in this role for the past 34
years, so there is a strong sense of
psychological ownership.
“I will also miss being the leader of
a squad. It is a role that entails a lot
of responsibility and accountability,
and that is something I enjoy.”
Although he has no solid plans,
retirement for Det Supt Dyson will
certainly involve spending time with
his family, travelling, improving his
golf handicap and working in his role
on the Police Bank Board of Directors.
He said he has no regrets concerning
his career and has been privileged
to work for what he describes as ‘a
fantastic organisation’.
“This is the best job in the world
and given my time again, with what
I know now, I know that I would do
exactly the same thing.”
ABOVE LEFT from left in 1970 are Steve
Leach, John Bacon, Ray Jones, Neville
Sternbeck, Gary Gillett, Steve Dunn, Rod
Barry, Col Dyson, Peter Gould and Geoff Scott
avid observer of his career. She
has attended award presentations,
including his receipt of the Australian
Police Medal in 2007.
“That award was presented at
Government House and he met the
Governor General. It was my proudest
moment,” Joyce said, adding that she
also gets a thrill out of seeing her
son on television.
“You know he’s on TV all the time?
I love to see him on the television.”
Joyce said her message to her
son in his retirement would be to
reinforce how proud she is of him.
“I think he’s carried his duties out
very well for the NSWPF and I wish
him all the best in his future and
with the rest of his life,” she said.
“Although it is sad that his father
won’t be there for his marching out,
he would have been so proud of him.
He was always very proud of him.”
ABOVE RIGHT Det Supt Col Dyson today
BELOW Det Supt Col Dyson
with his mother, Joyce
Proud mum reflects on changing times
Det Supt Dyson’s mother, 92-yearold Joyce Dyson, recently spoke to
Police Monthly about her pride in her
son’s accomplishments.
Joyce recalled how Det Supt
Dyson’s initial decision to join the
Force did not concern her.
“I didn’t mind that he wanted to
leave school,” she said.
“At that time, to be a policeman
was a very well respected career.
The police don’t get the respect they
deserve these days. It would be a lot
harder to let him go now.”
Joyce, who will be the
Commissioner’s special guest at
Det Supt Dyson’s marching out
parade this month, has been an
AUGUST 2013 PoliceMonthly 23