Download - Queensland Police Union

MAY 2010 

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE QUEENSLAND POLICE UNION 

IN THE LINE OF FIRE 

The road to recovery post-Parodi 

Mick’s Final Lap Feldman’s Fierce Fast bowl QPRIME’s Palm Pilot

cover story Page 31 

In The Line Of Fire - 

The Road To Recovery Post-Parodi 

Hanbury Street is a quiet cul-de-sac lined mostly 

with single-storey brick houses in the middle-class 

Brisbane suburb of West Chermside. 

It must be distinctly understood that any expressions of opinion 

by correspondents in our columns must not be considered the 

opinion of the Editor, and no responsibility arising from there can 

be accepted. 

The Editor of the Police Journal reserves the right to grant 

permission to reproduce articles from this magazine. Such 

permission is hereby granted to any Police Association or Police 

Union in Australia and to the Police Association of New Zealand. 

Permission is also granted to any Police Association, Police Union 

or organisation representing police employees in any other 

country. 

Acknowledgement of the source must be contained in any 

reprint. Where an article indicates that copyrighting is claimed 

by the author, then permission to reproduce is withdrawn unless 

permission from the author is granted. 

also in this issue... 

Contents 

General President’s Message 

General Secretary’s Message 

Assistant General Secretary’s Message 

Metro South Region 

South East Region 

North Coast Region 

Southern Region 

Central Region 

Poker Night Play A Helping Hand 

Eb6 Update 

It’s Official 

In Memory Of Michael John Hayes 

Union Dues For 2010/2011 Ticket Year 

Celebrate Excellence In Policing 

Feldman The Fox 

Investing In Property 

A Few Questions For 

Qps Bosses & Government 

Qprime In The Palm Of Your Hand 

Beyond The Reasonable Doubt 

Pursuits 

Letters To The Editor 

QRPA 

Advertising (07) 3259 1989 

Letters and articles for inclusion in the Queensland Police Union 

Journal should be addressed to: 

The Editor 

Queensland Police Union Journal 

PO Box 13008 George Street Brisbane QLD 4003 

TEL: (07) 3259 1900 FAX: (07) 3259 1950 

Contents 

Page 

2 

3 

4 

6 

8 

9 

10 

12 

15 

18 

22 

25 

28 

29 

38 

40 

41 

44 

48 

51 

55 

60 

EMAIL: journal@qpu.asn.au WEBSITE: www.qpu.asn.au 

Deadline: Editorial Copy - typed or on disk to be submitted by the 

12th day of the month prior to publication. 

General President 

General Secretary 

Asst General Secretary 

EXECUTIVE MEMBERS 

General Vice President 

and Northern Region 

Far Northern Region 



South Eastern Region 


Metro North Region 


HQ & COC Region 

UNION STAFF 

Industrial 

Industrial Support 

Ian LEAVERS 

Mick BARNES 

Denis SYCZ 

Mick Gerrard 

Denis FITZPATRICK 

Bill FELDMAN 

Des HANSSON 

Bob SMITHSON 

Darren Lees 

Shayne Maxwell 

Tony COLLINS 

Paul MULLEN 

Geoff SIMPSON 

Stephen MAHONEY 

Chris STEPHENS 

Rosemary 

FEATHERSTONE 

Executive Secretary 

Finance 

Janice GADEN 

Allan SUTTON 

Legal 

Calvin GNECH 

Solicitor 

wendy 

MACDONALD 

Legal 

Donna BLACK 

Barrister (Retained) Troy SCHMIDT 

Editorial Coordinator and Ross MUSGROVE 

Media/Government Relations 

Journal Editor 

Paula Doneman 

IT Admin 

James JOHNSTON 

Membership 

Kaye ELLIS 

Carly Beutel 

Reception 

Melissa LindNer 

COMMITTEES 

Executive Committees and Committee Members 

Legal 

D. Fitzpatrick (Chair) 

M. Gerard 

B. Feldman 

T. Collins 

WPH&S 

Rules 

T. Collins 

B. Smithson 

D. Fitzpatrick 

S. Maxwell 

B. Smithson (Chair) 

T. Collins 

P. Mullen 

D.Lees 

Conference 

Training 

Communications 

Membership Services 

Finance 

(Treasurer) 

S. Maxwell 

B. Smithson 

M. Gerard 

P. Mullen 


B. Feldman 

D. Hanson 

T. Collins 


M. Gerard 

D. Hanson 

T. Collins 

B. Feldman 


D. Hansson 


(Assistant Treasurer) 

S. Maxwell 

(Assistant Treasurer) 

General President, General Secretary and 

Assistant General Secretary are ex-officio 

members of all committees. 

Queensland Police Union 

PO Box 13008 George Street Brisbane Qld 4003 

Phone 07 3259 1900 Fax 07 3259 1950 

Queensland Police Union Journal May 2010 

1

General President’s Message 

The Coroner is due to hand down his 

findings on May 14 and the CMC report 

regarding the investigation will follow. 

Hopefully, this will bring to a close this 

sorry saga for many of our members 

and the Doomadgee family. 

IAN LEAVERS 

Bail is granted all too freely these days and the public and officers 

are often bewildered as to the reason some criminals are granted 

their liberty. 

For a first time offender, a few hours in the cells may do them a 

favour with a less than subtle reminder that there are 

consequences for your actions. 

Of course I don’t know the outcome 

of the coronial inquest. However, the 

Counsel assisting the Coroner in his 

submission argued for an open finding. 

Chris Hurley has conducted himself 

with great dignity in very difficult 

circumstances during the past six years 

and I know that he has the support of all 

union members. 

I wonder too about the Notice to 

Appear system. I know that it means 

less transports and many less people 

in watchhouses, however, has this 

efficiency led to a generation of people 

who think that unlawful behavior has 

little or no consequences? 

I’m sure I don’t have all the answers, 

but perhaps it’s time magistrates and 

the Department of Justice and 

Attorney-General took some notice of 

the street cops who deal with these 

offenders daily to get some insight into 

how this might be better handled. 

Stay Safe 

Ian Leavers 

General President 

0419 786 381 

Perhaps a little time to contemplate life 

with the clang of the cell door ringing 

We don’t want a situation where our 

watchhouses are overflowing, nor is the 

“ Perhaps a little time to contemplate life with 

the clang of the cell door ringing in their 

ears might be just the ticket to steer some 

wayward young folk back on track ” 

in their ears might be just the ticket to 

steer some wayward young folk back 

on track. 

For the career criminal, I guess we 

must accept that their chances of 

rehabilitation are slim at best. 

However, a spell in the cells will at least 

give the public some respite from their 

offending. 

I was reminded of this fact whilst talking 

to members working nightshift in Cairns 

recently. 

It was their strong view that the trouble 

makers are well aware that they will be 

given bail time and time again. 

So the public and the police have to put 

up with repeat offenders for a range of 

crimes. 

current situation perfect. The solution 

probably lies somewhere in between. 

I’m interested in members’ thoughts 

on this topic so email me if you have 

suggestions at ileavers@qpu.asn.au. 

EB 

Unfortunately, there is no good news 

regarding enterprise bargaining at this 

stage. For all the latest news, register 

at the union website www.qpu.asn.au. 

Don’t forget we are running our $100 

weekly draw for members who register 

their details on the website. 

Palm Island Inquest and 

associated issues 

The next month will see a flurry of 

activity regarding the death in custody 

of Cameron Doomadgee. 

2 

Queensland Police Union Journal May 2010

MICK BARNES 

Let Them Rot! 

Following on from the successes of the “Let them Rot” policy on 

HR issues, it would appear that the Queensland Police Service has 

begun to utilise the same principles on small single-officer stations 

in rural Queensland. The “Let Them Rot” policy is based on the 

premise that if you neglect something long enough like fruit on a 

tree then they’ll rot and drop off. 

So what is happening to all those 

little police stations dotted along our 

highways and outback communities? 

It has become apparent that some 

of our one-stop community police 

stations are being let go to the point 

where they’ll drop from the tree in 

the hope that no one will notice. Well, 

in recent tours of a number of rural 

regions it has been noticed. 

Single-officer stations are not always 

being advertised when they become 

vacant. Resources are always short, so 

when a small station becomes vacant 

the vehicles, equipment and even their 

residences are being utilised to feed 

shortfalls in other divisions. 

One example is a police division on 

a major highway that has become 

as busy as Queen Street thanks to 

the resources boom. Officers from 

neighbouring divisions advise of their 

struggles to stretch their own time 

and resources covering these vacant 

stations with no positive solutions 

from management. 

It amazes me the contempt shown to 

these small communities. Everyone 

within our state should be able to 

receive a policing service when and 

where needed. Why is it that such 

omissions by the QPS need to be 

highlighted in the media or politically 

before action is taken? 

Our members too are being exploited 

with the QPS relying upon officers’ 

own personal commitment to 

community policing in lieu of ensuring 

that their industrial entitlements are 

being honoured. Much is said when it 

comes to the S.E.L.F. Test for officers 

in the execution of their duties, but 

would these strategic decisions pass 

the scrutiny of our communities let 

alone be deemed ethical, lawful or fair? 

If a position becomes vacant, 

regardless of its geographical location, 

it should be filled as soon as possible. 

No buts or maybes. 

Police Communication Centres 

Too often we forget about the 

pressures and conditions experienced 

“ It amazes me the contempt 

shown to these 

small communities ” 

by our colleagues within our Comm’s 

Centres around this great state of ours. 

Staffing in these establishments is 

also at a premium. Training is intensive 

for anyone entering these centres, to 

ensure the flow of communication to 

our operational police is seamless and 

available when assistance is required. 

Police Link is coming on-line in the 

very near future at Zillmere. 

The Police Link facility will boast a 

6-Star environmental rating, with the 

greatest attention to detail ensuring 

each operator has a personalised 

workstation to suit their individual 

needs. The call centre will also have its 

stressors including 000 overflow calls. 

The purpose of this detail is to reduce 

the environmental causes likely to 

cause stress and absenteeism within 

that workplace. These initiatives now 

need to be considered in every Comm’s 

Centre around the State. Sufficient 

staffing to allow meal and comfort 

breaks should be a basic and not a 

luxury. However, resources should 

General Secretary’s Message 

also allow for a time-out away from the 

radios and telephones. 

The work environment needs to 

be conducive to officers’ health 

and wellbeing whilst providing the 

opportunity for time away from the 

console. The onus now is upon each 

region responsible for every Comm’s 

Centre to engage the services of health 

professionals to inspect and report 

on ways to reduce the likelihood of 

absenteeism. 

Vale Mick Hayes 

General President Ian Leavers and I 

recently had the honour of attending 

the celebration of the life of Detective 

Sergeant Michael Hayes of Atherton 

CIB. During his career Mick was also a 

Branch Official of this union. His desire 

to care for his colleagues and friends 

epitomised his life as was witnessed 

by the words spoken by family and 

friends. Thank you, Mick. 

Call for Help – Bali 

Recently I became aware of an 

orphanage set up in Bali by a young 

Queenslander. His story is truly 

inspirational. Brad Little created 

Bali Life Foundation which houses 

and educates 21 boys. Their rented 

accommodation is full, so plans are 

being made to build a new orphanage 

along with a training, education and 

community centre so there can be a 

future for these kids. 

Michael Smith from Brisbane Radio 

4BC has called for assistance. If you 

have any building skills or you think 

you could help with labour and might 

be interested in donating some of your 

time send me an email at mbarnes@ 

qpu.asn.au and I will send you a flyer 

and newsletter from Bali Life. 

This project is dependent on so many 

other factors. Drop me a line, there’s 

no commitment. 

Stay Safe 

Mick Barnes 

General Secretary 

0411 453 335 

mbarnes@qpu.asn.au 


3


In my view it is unreasonable and 

impracticable to require officers to 

make such fine judgments in the 

volatile and dynamic circumstances of 

an unsuccessful attempted interception. 

DENIS SYCZ 

Recently the State Coroner Mr. Michael Barnes handed down 13 

recommendations in relation to police pursuits for incidents that had 

occurred between June 2005 and July 2008. 

These recommendations highlighted the dangers police face when 

dealing with these types of situations. I will reproduce those 

recommendations for the information of all members. 

Recommendation 1- 

Refocus on Safety 

The current pursuit policy stipulates 

safety is paramount but then directs 

officers to balance the safety risks 

of pursuing against the benefits to 

the community of apprehending 

the suspect, whether or not those 

benefits involve prevention of personal 

injury. I recommend the policy be 

recast to ensure it is only the danger 

to the safety of others posed by 

not immediately apprehending the 

suspects that is factored into the risk 

assessment process. 


No pursuits without evidence 

The prohibition on commencing a 

pursuit when there is no evidence that 

a motorist who has failed to stop has 

committed another offence and the 

suspicion that the motorist may have 

committed other offences is based only 

on that failure and/or the intercepting 

officer’s instincts should be removed 

from “Non- pursuit matters” to 

“Pursuit policy principals”. 


Don’t pursue drunk or drug 

affected drivers 

In view of the practical difficulties 

involved in assessing the level of 

impairment of a drug or alcohol 

affected driver and the likelihood that 

chasing them will significantly increase 

the likelihood of such drivers crashing, 

I recommend that all these offences be 

included in the non pursuit category. 


Pursuing stolen cars 

Despite the minimal evidence that 

pursuing stolen cars has an impact 

on the prevalence or clear up of the 

offence, in view of the conviction of the 

Commissioner of the QPS that those 

responsible pose a safety risk more 

significant than the property crime 

aspects of the offence, I will refrain from 

recommending the unlawful use of a 

motor vehicle become a non pursuit 

matter. However, I encourage the QPS 

to continue to review and consider the 

justification for the current policy. 


Abolish Category 3 

The current policy requires an officer 

who has successfully attempted an 

interception and who is contemplating 

commencing a pursuit to weigh the 

evidence indicating a fleeing motorist 

may have committed an offence with 

sufficient precision to determine 

whether it is “known” he/she has 

committed an offence rather than 

just “reasonably suspect” that he/ 

she might have. That is unreasonable 

and impracticable. I recommend the 

distinction be abolished by the deleting 

of category 3 from the policy. 


Reasonable belief is sufficient 

In the current policy each of the three 

pursuit categories refers to different 

offence and different levels of certainty 

that they may have been committed 

by a suspect who has failed to stop. 

I also consider a mere suspicion is too 

low a threshold to justify an inherently 

dangerous activity such as a pursuit 

but that requiring an officer to know 

an offence has been committed is too 

restrictive. Accordingly I recommend 

category 2 be amended to require that 

an officer have a “reasonable belief” 

that a relevant offence may have been 

committed. 


Weighted considerations 

The policy stipulates that safety is 

paramount and then lists 11 other 

matters that should also be taken into 

account when determining whether to 

commence and/or continue a pursuit, 

only some of which relate to safety, 

with no guidance as to how they should 

be factored into decision making. 

I recommend this aspect of the policy 

be reviewed to ensure the intent that 

safety is the overriding consideration 

is made clearer. For example, officers 

should be encouraged to disregard 

those factors which do not add to the 

risk. 


Consider impact of pursuing 

I recommend the policy be amended to 

explicitly acknowledge the likelihood 

that pursuing a motorist who has failed 

to stop is likely to result in the other 

car driving more dangerously and 

require an officer considering whether 

to commence or continue a pursuit to 

factor this into the risk assessment and 

the manner in which the police car is 

driven. 


Development of best practice 

guidelines 

For the reason set out, I recommend the 

QPS develop best practice guidelines 

that: 

• Prohibit officers pursuing, other 

than in category 1 pursuits, unless 

radio contact can be maintained and 

4 



the police car contains two officers or 

hands free radio; 

• Require a pursuit to be terminated 

if nominated dangerous manoeuvres 

such as running red light at speed etc 

occur; 

• Insist on compliance with school zones 

and other particularly sensitive road 

management requirements; and 

• Deem a pursuit to continue until the 

police car ceases to follow or 

otherwise maintain contact with the 

other vehicle. 

I leave it for the Service to determine 

whether these guidelines should form 

part of the policy or training materials. 


Commencement- reverse the 

presumption 

Having regard to the vagaries of the 

current definition of when a pursuit 

commences that have the potential to 

undermine the efficacy of the policy’s 

intent to ensure pursuits are not 

undertaken in connection with minor 

matters, I recommend the relevant 

definition be amended to deem a 

pursuit to commence whenever a 

driver fails to comply with an officer’s 

direction to stop, unless the officer 

has reasonable grounds for believing 

the driver is unaware of the direction 

having been given. I recommend 

that if this definition is adopted, a 

corresponding amendment be made to 

the evade police offence if necessary. 


Pursuit controller training 

In view of the important role of the 

pursuit controller and the difficulties 

that can arise when the officer 

discharging the role is junior to the 

officers in the primary pursuit car, 

I recommend the QPS develop a 

training package especially for pursuit 

controllers. I also recommend the 

project team consider whether training 

should be targeted at officers with in 

excess of 10 years service. 


Evade police review 

I recommend that as part of its review 

of the ”evade police” offence, the CMC 

consider recommending mandatory 

license disqualification upon conviction 

and more flexible vehicle impounding 

arrangements to bolster the deterrence 

effect of the offence. 


Engineered safety 

I encourage the QPS to continue to 

explore developments in technology 

that will reduce the need for and the risk 

of police pursuits. 

I LEAVE the final comment to the 

Coroner “…it was evident that many 

officers who were involved in the 

pursuit inquests were traumatised by 

the incidents.” Think twice. 

I make no comment in relation to most 

of these recommendations, except 

in 13, perhaps the technology of 

helicopters could be one that could be 

investigated in the future to assist the 

members in this very difficult problem 

that they face in their everyday duties. 

Denis SYCZ 

Assistant General Secretary 


5


TONY COLLINS 

Staffing 

Hansard revealed that on the 24th of February 2010 the Minister 

for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Hon. Neil 

Roberts MP gave the following answer, when he was asked a 

question on notice about police numbers during a parliamentary 

sitting. Metropolitan South has an approved strength of 1072 officers 

and, as of February 24, had an actual strength of 1151 officers. 

It would seem that we are overflowing 

with staff to burn, well, from the figures 

at least. Of this number, 1125 officers 

are currently termed operational. So 

whilst we are 79 over our approved 

strength, according to these figures 

we actually have 53 operational police 

more than our approved strength. I 

wonder what definition is used for 

operational police? 

Region 

Approved 

Police 

Strength 

Actual 


Strength 

Far Northern 738 733 -5 

Northern 748 738 -10 

North Coast 1306 1405 +101 

Central 827 838 -11 

Southern 936 984 +48 

South Eastern 1356 1427 +71 

Metro North 1253 1299 +46 

“ I am not begrudging the other regions 

their need for staff, but is it not a matter of 

robbing Peter to pay Paul? ” 

Difference 

Finally, put yourself in the FYCs 

position. When an FYC asks ‘Why 

do I have to move my family and my 

partner to get a new job if there is no 

real justification from the QPS as to 

why I should be sent?’ These are, after 

all, the figures provided to the Minister 

from the QPS. 

Uniforms 

The union has received a catalogue to 

comment upon with photographs of a 

three-tiered uniform structure that the 

QPS is considering for uniform. 

The structure includes operational, 

dress of the day and ceremonial 

uniforms. I have already expressed 

my opinion to the chair of the uniform 

committee, our Assistant Commissioner 

Ann Lewis, that there should be only 

two (2) uniforms of operational and 

ceremonial. 

By my calculation, with the assistance 

of the 2008-09 QPS Annual Statistic 

Report, the QPS is currently sitting on 

9870 operational police. Of course I 

can justify how I arrived at this figure 

should I be required. Therefore all these 

officers should be entitled to wear 

operational trousers, so what is the 

point of a ‘dress of the day’ uniform? 

Coincidentally, 53 is the exact number 

of FYCs that are currently backfilling 

the vacancies of this region. FYCs 

are propping us up; there can be no 

argument about that. 

So when the Deputy Commissioner 

says the QPS will be stripping the 

metro regions of FYCs to fill vacancies 

in other regions, things are about to 

get really tight in metro south. 

I am not begrudging the other regions 

their need for staff, but is it not a 

matter of robbing Peter to pay Paul? 

Whilst the Minister might say we are 

bursting at the seams with staff, in 

actual fact, for officers on the street, 

staffing levels with the extra numbers 

as they currently stand are in reality 

what should be the approved strength 

of Metro South. 

But, let us take a look at the snapshots 

of the other regions as listed below: 

Do you see what I see? From the 

official figures Far Northern, Northern 

and Central regions do require 

propping up but again, according to 

the figures, they are not at catastrophic 

staffing levels yet. Even if this staffing 

issue was shared between Metro 

North and Metro South, then that is 13 

officers only from each region, and the 

ledger is either square or in surplus. 

So why is it that such large numbers of 

FYCs from the metro area will be 

required to uproot and relocate to 

other regions if these figures are 

correct? 

I know they are needed up there and so 

do the officers in these regions. 

So are the figures provided to the 

Minister an accurate reflection of 

reality in the QPS at the moment or 

have the books been cooked? You tell 

me, you’re out there; what is it really 

like for you? 

EB 6 

If you have not registered to the union 

website with your email address 

then you are missing out on vital EB6 

information. I urge you to go to www. 

qpu.asn.au and register now. While 

your branch officials and I strive 

to get out as much information as 

possible, if you register, you will be 

emailed directly with updates on the 

EB progression, as well as any other 

important union issues that arise. 

Survey 

The union will soon be conducting a 

survey of the membership in relation 

to your thoughts on how you are being 

managed by the hierarchy. Whilst 

anecdotal evidence is nice, it is always 

good to have hard quantifiable facts 

when we go into bat. When this survey 

comes out this is your chance to put 

your true thoughts down on paper 

about how you are being led by the 

hierarchy of the QPS. 

6 


Urgent Duty Driving 

A/C Lewis has informed me that she 

considers urgent duty driving and 

pursuits one of the greatest risks 

in policing, and therefore she will 

be concentrating on ensuring that 

the urgent duty driving policy is 

stringently followed. 

Red light cameras take two 

photographs, so the QPS is able to 

work out your speed going through a 

red light. 

Policy requires you to stop at all red 

lights. Take care writing your reports. 

Remember that the first paragraph is 

the disclaimer from the union diary, so 

it can’t be used against you in a court 

of law. 

One officer recently negotiated 24 

traffic control lights, including four 

with red light cameras, on his way to 

a Code 2 disturbance. 

To ensure an accurate report is 

written, ask to see the photograph. 

As for pursuits, more and more 

are coming back for investigation, 

especially the attempted intercepts 

and evade police. Refresh your 

memory of the pursuit categories and 

what are non-pursuit matters. 

Remember you must have your lights 

and sirens on for a period of time to 

provide evidence of an evade police. 

In relation to pursuits, it is my opinion 

not to pursue. 

The QPS provides you with the 

justification for when you can 

commence a pursuit and when a 

pursuit can continue, but there is no 

training to end a pursuit. The majority 

of pursuits move too quickly for 

stingers. So unless offenders give 

up (not likely) or crash, what is your 

end game to bring the pursuit to a 

satisfactory conclusion? 

There is none and you have not been 

trained in any. You are not taught the 

PITT manoeuvre like American police. 

Once the QPS provides an acceptable 

end solution to pursuits, I will then 

review my position. 


But currently you do not have the 

legislative protection against civil and 

criminal matters arising from doing 

your job to engage in this high-risk 

activity. 

Remember, if you have any 

problems I am a phone call 

away. 

Tony COLLINS 

Union Representative 

Metropolitan South Region 

0414 804 472 


7


Bob SMITHSON 

EBA 6 STALEMATE 

At the time I write this, I can report that anyone who is keeping an 

eye on the EBA6 negotiation process would be aware that nothing 

is happening on the part of the government that is. Our union has 

prepared a comprehensive “log of claims” based on the input from 

our members’ responses to a recent questionnaire and also from 

motions put forward from branch meetings across the state. 

We are ready to go. Over the years 

we have all seen, or heard of, our 

members coming into police stations 

on their holidays or rest days catching 

up with urgent paperwork for court 

and other pressing matters. This 

extra, unpaid time was often referred 

to as “goodwill” on the part of our 

members: something we do so the Job 

will keep moving on. But it seems that 

the government does not really care 

for our “goodwill” at all. 

In relation to EBA6, the government is 

just treating our members with utter 

contempt. I’m sure the government 

appreciates all this goodwill put in 

by members, but when it comes to 

recognising it there seems to be very 

little in return. 

You should all be aware that during the 

negotiations stages of an EB we are 

not allowed to use terminology such 

as “working to rule”. That being the 

case, I won’t use those sorts of terms. 

However, I can urge all members 

putting in extra time (goodwill), that 

while you are doing a good thing by 

your work colleagues and your work 

place, apparently there are no thanks 

or acknowledgement coming back 

your way from the government. 

Leading on from this, can I just 

remind members that while there 

is little activity in relation to EBA6, 

there are still plenty of entitlements 

available to you that have been 

achieved in EB1 to EB5. 

Don’t forget about them. 

Be prepared for a tough fight. 

MEDALS AND AWARDS CEREMONY 

On 16th April 2010, I attended the 

South Eastern Region Medals and 

Awards Ceremony held at the Coomera 

District Headquarters. Thirty-five 

police officers and staff members 

from the region were presented with 

“ In relation to EBA6, the government 

is just treating our members 

with utter contempt ” 

national medals and clasps, and the 

Queensland Police Service medals and 

clasps. 

A couple of officers worthy of special 

mention here are Senior Sergeant 

Vern Sanders, who has completed 

40 years service, and our Assistant 

Commissioner, Paul Wilson, with 35 

years service. 

However, there is one particular award 

that I feel needs reporting, and that 

is the Queensland Police Service 

Valour Award presented to Constable 

Matthew Burchard. 

We should all remember the serious 

incident from June 2007 when 

Constable Grant Sampson was 

seriously injured while attending 

an out of control party in the Logan 

District. Grant had been struck in 

the head with a bottle and knocked 

senseless. 

The actions that Matthew Burchard 

performed following Grant’s 

injury on that night were read out 

from the citation. The courage he 

displayed on that occasion was truly 

appreciated by all those in attendance. 

Congratulations, Matthew. 

Once again I would like to acknowledge 

the Region’s V.I.P.s for their assistance 

on the day by preparing and serving 

the morning tea and ushering the 

guests to their seats. Thank you. 

CONFERENCE GOLF DAY 

On the Friday morning following 

the 2010 QPUE Conference, about 

20 delegates and a few guests took 

advantage of the location and played 

nine holes of golf at the Royal Pines 

resort. 

The winning team of the four-ball 

Ambrose competition was Denis Sycz, 

Bill Kaz, John Kaz and Tom Smithson. 

Nearest to pins were Grant Devine 

(QPCU) and Paul Gurieff. Longest 

drives went to Paul Gurieff and Ian 

Caswallander (QPCU). 

Straightest drive was Peter Shannahan 

(Police Health) and apparently no one 

hit the fairway on the other “straightest 

drive” hole. Denis Sycz was going to 

organise some prizes for the winners, 

but we are yet to see them. 

We will be looking at having a similar 

golfing event in conjunction with 

the 2011 Conference. So impending 

delegates wanting to play golf, please 

organise your arrival and departure 

times if you want to be part of this 

activity. (The golf is at each individual’s 

expense). 

Bob SMITHSON 

Regional Representative 


8 



first time is to the academy, the second 

time to their training station and the 

third to their final posting. 

DES HANSSON 

No Confidence 

It seems there are police not happy with the performance of the 

Commissioner of Police (COP). Recently two separate branches 

supported a vote of no confidence in the COP. These haven’t been the only 

no confidence votes, just the most recent. Basically they are unhappy 

with the heavy-handed treatment some of our members are receiving at 

the hands of our organisation in relation to disciplinary matters. 

I must say that there are not too many 

days when I am not approached by 

members who express their disgust 

with the way some of our members 

have been treated in disciplinary 

matters. 

Of particular concern to most 

members who approach me, is the 

treatment of those who have been 

over the alcohol limit while off-duty. 

One member was recently sacked, 

this sanction being outside of the 

sanctions implemented in the QPS 

Drink Driving Matrix. We are all 

governed by rules, it’s a pity the 

service doesn’t believe in playing by 

its own rules. 

All I can say is don’t forget some of 

the Commissioner’s outstanding 

achievements - what about the (GAV) 

General Accoutrement Vest, QPrime, 

support re mandatory sentences for 

serious assaults on police, support for 

police helicopters, and so on. 

EB6 

I was pleasantly surprised recently 

by the large turnout of members at a 

branch meeting at Redcliffe. With EB 

negotiations hopefully commencing 

soon, each and every member turning 

up at a meeting helps our negotiators. 

As I write this article, the anger is 

seething away inside of me at the 

refusal of the government/QPS to 

negotiate a fair pay increase. 

You would hardly call offering 2.5% 

with no negotiation a reasonable 

way to begin, especially after the 

politicians gave themselves a 3.1% 

increase in wages and a 5% increase in 

allowances. I rate police work at least 

as valuable as what any politician does. 

The Thin Blue Line 

Recent police figures released to 

Queensland Parliament paint a 

frightening picture of how many police 

“ With a total population as at 2007 of about 

4 million people in Queensland being policed 

by 6615 officers, you can see what I mean by 

frightening figures ” 

are available for the first response role. 

Out of a total of 8553 “operational 

police” available in the regions, 9.4% 

or 805 are FYCs - that brings the total 

down to 7748. A further 13.2% or 1133 

officers are on long service, sick, 

recreational leave or leave without 

pay. This brings the total down to 6615 

actual operational police. 

As I mentioned in the journal a couple 

of months ago, if you take away the 

other types of leave, it is no wonder 

first response police are feeling 

overwhelmed. With a total population 

as at 2007 of about 4 million people 

in Queensland being policed by 6615 

officers, you can see what I mean by 

frightening figures. 

There are still many dramas associated 

with the final allocation of FYCs on 

completion of their training. In a worst 

case scenario, a recruit/FYC may have 

There is a policy of recruiting 

predominantly more mature recruits. 

Why can’t they be treated in a mature 

manner and be asked to sign up on the 

basis of knowing their final posting on 

completion of their FYC training? 

That way if they are not happy with 

their final posting they can be put at 

the end of the list and the position 

given to a willing recruit. Surely a 

policy like this would save money and 

heartache. No one could complain 

about their final posting as they agreed 

to it prior to becoming a recruit. 

A similar policy has been used in 

the past when recruiting under the 

PACE programme. One hopes that 

our leaders would be able to plan 18 

months ahead. In any case you could 

sign on a percentage of each intake 

who agree to go anywhere in the state 

to allow for unforeseen changes in the 

workforce. 

THE WATCHDOG 

Queensland’s Crime and Misconduct 

Commission knows no bounds when it 

comes to cracking down on crime, with 

forests and national parks to be kept 

safe from noisy off-road motorcycles. 

In a report to parliament, they’ve stated 

that current laws are inefficient and 

ineffective. They recommend setting a 

decibel limit and making it illegal to sell 

items that make bikes noisier. It’s great 

to see they have their priorities sorted. 

Perhaps one day they’ll get onto the 

lesser evil of outlaw motorcycle gangs. 

Keep up the great work. 

Be careful out there. 

Des Hansson 

North Coast Regional 

Representative 

0412 707 434 

to move three times in 18 months. The 


9


range of difficult situations. That 

type of experience cannot be bought 

anywhere. 

Darren Lees 

Dalby District Tour 

In early April, I had the privilege of visiting every station within 

the Dalby District, with our General Secretary Mick Barnes. 

I would first like to thank each and every officer, family and 

AO we met for their unbelievable hospitality. We were able to 

speak to almost everyone in the district to gauge any concerns 

of our members. 

I would also like to thank Inspector 

Tony Brame, District Officer of Dalby 

District, for taking the time to meet 

with us at the end of our tour, to work 

through some of the issues raised by 

our members. I found the meeting 

with Tony to be very fruitful, and we 

were able to work through a number of 

issues which I am sure have now led 

to better working relationships for our 

members. 

One issue that was raised throughout 

the district, which I will be meeting 

with the Assistant Commissioner 

Southern Region about, concerns the 

issue of relief for smaller stations and 

the non-advertisement of positions 

within certain one-officer stations. I 

would like to preface any discussion 

on these issues by saying they are 

not issues that are specific to our 

region; they are indeed issues that are 

affecting members throughout the 

state. 

Whilst I am confident after discussions 

with our A/C we can resolve some of 

the issues our members have raised 

in these two specific areas, I am not as 

confident that we as an organisation 

(QPUE) will have a great deal of 

success with senior executive or 

indeed the state government over this 

relief issue. 

The simple fact of the matter is, if 

you go back 20-25 years, each major 

district within Queensland had a 

component of sworn members built 

into the district. This would ensure 

that if smaller stations (one and 

two-officer) stations required relief, 

they got it. In fact, if you talk to some of 

the old stagers who performed those 

periods of relief, they tell stories of a 

merry-go-round of relieving. 

Police would be sent to a country 

station to do relief for a number of 

“ We need more men and women in blue 

– it is that simple ” 

weeks, and return to their district 

station only to be asked if they would 

then like to attend another country 

station to perform further relief. 

In my humble opinion, this had a 

positive effect in a number of different 

ways. The most important effect it 

had was providing a policing presence 

and therefore a service to the very 

community which we are employed to 

protect. 

Secondly, it allowed officers to 

experience a different form of policing 

(country policing) they would normally 

not have experienced at a larger 

district station. 

Thirdly, and most importantly in my 

opinion, it provided an opportunity 

for police to become confident in 

their own abilities as police officers, 

to make decisions concerning a wide 

range of issues, and to handle a wide 

Now I know that there will be 

managers within the service who will 

claim we still have enough sworn 

personnel to be able to provide such 

relief, but the reality is that notion is so 

far from the truth it is farcical. 

I do not necessarily blame our senior 

executive or regional managers for this 

issue of relief for smaller stations, but I 

do blame governments that cannot see 

the forest for the trees and realise one 

simple but extremely important fact: 

WE NEED MORE MEN AND WOMEN IN 

BLUE – IT IS THAT SIMPLE. 

If the government provides the QPS 

with the budget required to supply 

constant relief to these smaller 

stations, and also provide us with the 

police personnel in each district to 

allow for that relief to occur without 

robbing Peter to pay Paul, then the 

problem will be fixed. You may ask 

members if we will ever go back to 

those good old days so many of our old 

stagers speak of. I cannot give you an 

answer to that, other than to say at this 

stage I can’t see that it is likely, but I 

live in hope that it will occur, and soon. 

The other issue of the 

non-advertisement of positions at 

one-officer stations around the state 

appears very much to me like a grab 

by the Bligh Government to save a few 

bucks by closing down some of these 

small stations around the state, and 

providing a policing presence for those 

communities from the nearest larger 

station. 

If you look at the fact that a one-officer 

station attracts a penalty rate of 35%, 

requires a police vehicle on a full-time 

basis, housing for the officer at that 

station and other associated costs, 

we could be forgiven for being a little 

sceptical at the government’s decision 

to allow the non-advertisement / 

10 


closure (call it what you will) of such 

stations. 

As I have pointed out, there are 

stations within our region where this 

has or is tipped to occur, and I am 

hoping to get some idea when I speak 

to our A/C as to where those stations 

may be. 

But once again, members, this is 

not isolated to the Southern Region, 

as I have consulted with my fellow 

executive representatives across the 

state, and it is happening in many 

other regions, also. 

Before I conclude, I just wanted to 

provide some advice regarding the 

claims for overtime performed in such 

divisions. 

There may be some confusion 

amongst members that if you 

are called out to attend a job in a 

neighbouring division (and you are 

a one or two officer station) that you 

may not be entitled to claim overtime 

for that job. 

The EB is specific on this issue. If you 

perform duties outside of your normal 

rostered hours of duty on any given 

day, in a neighbouring division, you 

are to be paid at the rate of overtime 

applicable under the EB. 

Hence I would encourage all of you 

in that boat to ensure your callout to 

attend any jobs outside your division 

is firstly approved as per EB or local 

standing orders in each district by the 

DO or their appointed representative. 

The claim is then furnished at the end 

of the fortnight accordingly. You are 

not asking for something you are not 

entitled to; you are simply claiming 

what is rightfully yours by law (EB5). 

If there are any issues regarding these 

matters, please do not hesitate to call 

me. 

In signing off I would like to wish 

Senior Constable Tony Turner of 

Dalby police all the best in his 

pending retirement. I understand he 

commences pre-retirement leave at the 

end of April. 


Tony, to yourself and the family, have 

a happy and healthy retirement and 

enjoy yourself. 

That is my wrap for the month of May. 

“Keep up the great work, and 

stay safe.” 

Darren LEES (Beefa) 

Southern Region Executive 

Representative 

0417 776 184 

C M Y CM MY CY CMY K 

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members 

get more 

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70% 

60% 

50% 

40% 

30% 

20% 

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HCF 

52.0% MBF 

47.8% 

Health Insurance Insurer 

Medibank 

Private 

45.3% 

NIB 

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benefits? 

10% 

General treatment (extras) provides benefits to cover a range of health related services not provided by doctor 

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11


BILL FELDMAN 

BOSTON LEGAL MEETS BRISBANE LEGAL 

I had written a very good article for this month’s Journal 

– however on advice from our finest legal experts that we could 

very well be sued to our last cent if it were printed 

– even though every word was true – I had to think of your 

money, not my pride, and the article was retracted. 

I had merely compared a recent court 

decision and subsequent prosecution 

of a QPUE member to being like an 

episode from the American sitcom, 

Boston Legal. Except that instead of 

laughing we just end up crying foul. 

A further upshot from the 

ramifications of this ludicrous 

decision to prosecute and its 

Especially when we act in good faith 

to resolve issues that we are called 

upon to resolve as the umpire; to 

decide upon in an instant and take 

action. 

When are our beloved QPS and 

Leader going to really stand up for the 

thin blue line and demand this basic 

protection from this government? 

“ We members dressed in blue still all sit here 

and wonder when we, as police, are going to 

get CIVIL and CRIMINAL protection ” 

I only hope that the incoming 

legislation with respect to the 

government’s new sentencing 

advisory council will in some way rein 

in this out of control and out of touch 

judiciary. Our hope is also to gain a 

membership on this council. 

We should at least be able to bring 

a touch of realism and truth to the 

hearing of such a committee. 

Work smart, work safe – 

make it home (and lookout 

for the ambulance chasers). 

Bill FELDMAN 

Regional Representative 


outcome was also played out in the 

Rockhampton Magistrates Court just 

recently. On the best legal advice 

available, some of our members, 

whilst contemplating that advice, 

were threatened by the very head 

of our service not to go ahead with 

undertaking that advice. 

You did hear right – THREATENED. 

Threatened for daring to contemplate 

protecting their indivisible rights as a 

police officer and an individual. 

This matter involves the very essence, 

the core, of our mantra: that of 

protecting the unassailable rights of 

our members - when they act in good 

faith - from both civil and criminal 

prosecution. 

We members dressed in blue still 

all sit here and wonder when we, as 

police, are going to get CIVIL and 

CRIMINAL protection. 

DON’T MISINTERPRET THE FACTS 

This is the number one issue that is 

affecting us as police at this time, in 

this era of perpetual litigation with a 

self-effacing legal fraternity. 

If we don’t start taking affirmative 

action now on this matter, as a unified 

union, we will find ourselves enslaved 

by an out of control legal fraternity. 

I for one don’t want to be left turning 

down the bed in a cubicle of any city 

public convenience for the homeless, 

or any other illegal squatter on the 

public purse, just because of one 

judicial decision with respect to move 

on powers. 

I can’t see the QPS taking up the 

cudgel on our behalf but we need to 

take on this weak government which 

has no concept of what the public 

expect of their judiciary. 

12 


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Poker Night Plays A Helping Hand 

Poker Night Plays 

A Helping Hand 

by Paula Doneman. Photos by Sgt James Tibbetts, District Planning & Brisbane Secure Coordinator MNR. 

A poker night raised several thousand dollars for 

the Helping Hand charity on March 30 at Brisbane’s 

Treasury Casino and Hotel. 

Police of all ranks, casino staff 

and friends turned out in droves to 

support Brisbane City Station 

Sergeant Athan Ray whose three year 

battle with a life threatening illness 

inspired the event. 

“Before my first brain surgery in 2007, 

I was handed a poker chip by a close 

friend and he said to me, ‘it only takes 

one chip to be in the game’. I still 

carry that chip with me and hold it 

when times get tough,” Sgt Ray said. 

The Helping Hand Fund, run by 

Community Supporting Police Inc., is 

a registered charitable organisation 

which provides assistance to QPS 

staff and their immediate families 

who are faced with serious, terminal, 

life threatening injuries or significant 

personal trauma. 

Sgt Ray said he and his family have 

has received invaluable financial and 

emotional support from Helping Hand 

since he first became unwell in April 

2007. 

Following surgery for the brain 

tumour, Sgt Ray developed an 

infection called meningoencephalitis 

(an infection of the brain). 

After a very lengthy recovery, he 

returned to work and was finally 

getting his life back on track. 

A few months later, he started again 

to experience excruciating pain in his 

head and collapsed. 

After another scan and numerous 

tests, he was diagnosed with 

lymphomatoid granulomatosis, a rare 

condition which involves the 

destructive growth of lymph cells. 

“As you can imagine I was absolutely 

devastated. I have two young children 

and found myself writing them a letter 

in case I lost my battle,’’ Sgt Ray said. 

He underwent further tests but his 

condition is still not definitively 

diagnosed. 

“My latest incident occurred in 

January 2010, where I had a very long 

seizure and fell into a coma for eight 

hours. The doctors told my wife I may 

never come out of it, but amazingly, I 

did. The MRI showed no active lesions 

in my brain, so this was great news. 

I guess time and the next scan will 

reveal all,’’ he said. 

Now a Helping Hand Committee 

member, Sgt Ray was the driving 

force behind the fundraiser which 

achieved its goal of raising more than 

$3,000. 

QPUE General President Ian Leavers 

said the night was a success and 

testament to the strength of the police 

family. 

“Athan has shown remarkable 

resilience in his fight against his 

illness and buoys those around him 

with his positive outlook on life. The 

Helping Hand fund is an important 

organisation that helps our members 

and their families in their time of 

need. We fully support their efforts,’’ 

Mr Leavers said. 

Since its inception six years ago, 

Helping Hand has supported more 

than 80 QPS members in tough times 

and distributed almost $1million in 

funds to assist with medical bills and 

living expenses. 

Helping Hand Chairman, 

Superintendent Brian Codd, said the 

charity relies on funds raised by 

donations, sponsorships, payroll 

deductions and fundraising events. 

“We were delighted to have garnered 

the support of the Treasury Hotel and 

Casino who kindly entered a 

relationship with us not only to 

support Athan and his inspiring battle 

with a major health concern, but also 

their support for police and the 

challenges they face,’’ Supt Codd said. 

Supt Codd said the charity night 

highlighted the positive aspects of the 

police culture. 

“It was a really enjoyable night…it 

really enforces how coppers are at the 

best when their colleagues are at their 

worst,’’ he said. 

As little as $1 each pay given to 

Helping Hand can significantly 

contribute to members of the QPS 

family when they need it most. 


15


A letter from 

Athan Ray 

to the Helping Hand 

Committee 

Dear all, I am looking forward to 

tomorrow night and the opportunity 

to give something back to an amazing 

group of people. I just wanted to take 

this opportunity to let you know what 

Helping Hand has been for my family 

and me. 

The name Helping Hand doesn’t truly 

represent all you are. I have found it 

to be so much more: a shoulder to 

lean on; eyes to watch over my family 

and me; an empathetic ear; a voice 

that has comforted and reassured us 

during such tough times; and a 

benevolent heart. I often hear people 

give the advice that no matter what 

is going on in your life, take the time 

to smell the roses. Well Helping Hand 

has been my rose as well. 

You invited me onto the committee, 

a role I take much pride in. You never 

know which road your life’s journey 

will take you. My journey has led me 

to a very rough, and, at times, dark 

road. But if following my tail lights 

makes that same journey easier for 

just one other person, the last three 

years will have been well worth it. 

Thank you for your support. 

Sincerely 

Athan Ray 

16 



Queensland Police Union Journal May 2010 17

EB6 - Update 

EB6 

- Update 

QUEENSLAND POLICE SERVICE 

Human Resources Division 

6th Floor, 200 Roma Street, BRISBANE QLD 4000 

G.P.O. Box 1440, BRISBANE QLD 4001 

TELEPHONE (07) 3364 4111 FACSIMILE (07) 3364 6833 

13 April 2010 

Dear Steve, 

I refer to current enterprise bargaining negotiations for a replacement certified 

agreement covering operational employees of the Queensland Police Service 

(QPS). 

As discussed with your organisation and the Queensland Police Commissioned 

Officers’ Union of Employees on Tuesday 30 March 2010, I confirm in writing that 

the Queensland Government has approved that an offer of settlement be made, 

comprising the following: 

• 2.5 % per annum increase to base wage rates; 

• three year agreement from 1 July 2010; and 

• no further changes to the current agreement. 

The above constitutes a log of claims on the part of the QPS. 

I have noted your union’s rejection of the offer described above and your 

disinclination to table a log of claims of your own has been communicated to my 

principals, as requested. 

In that regard, the QPS reserves its position with regard to the tabling of further 

matters, pending consideration of any counter claims that may be tabled. 

QPS and Government representatives remain willing to meet again at your 

earliest convenience to continue negotiations and I look forward to your early 

advice in that regard. 

Yours sincerely 

JIM HARDIE 

PRINCIPAL NEGOTIATOR (EB6) 

HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION 

Q U E E N S L A N D P O L I C E S E R V I C E 

18 


EB6 - Update 

15 April 2010 

Dear Jim, 

RE: Enterprise Bargaining Negotiations 

I am in receipt of your correspondence dated 13 April 2010 to Industrial Officer Steve 

Mahoney confirming that your log of claims constitutes an offer of: 

• 2.5% per annum increase to base wage rates; 

• Three year agreement from 1 July 2010; and 

• No further changes to the current agreement. 

Whilst you note our rejection of this offer, I wish to reiterate how disappointed we are, not 

just with the quantum of the offer, but with the QPS’s complete failure to negotiate in good 

faith. I am also concerned by repeated inappropriate comments in your correspondence that 

infers that the union is reluctant to progress negotiations. 

In the circumstances, I think it is important to document these numerous instances of bad 

faith bargaining and respond to these inappropriate inferences contained in correspondence 

from the QPS. 

The short but spectacularly unproductive history ofEB6 “negotiations” is as follows: 

• In QPS correspondence dated 24 December 2009, but not received by the Union until 

15 January 2010, the QPS initiates EB6 negotiations. That same day Industrial Officer 

Geoff Simpson replies to the QPS and the first meeting is scheduled for the week 

commencing 22 February 2010. 

• The first meeting is held on Wednesday 24 February 2010, however to our complete 

amazement the QPS advises both unions that they don’t actually have authority to 

negotiate; 

• Over the next three weeks, the QPS repeatedly assures the unions that the authority is 

forthcoming; 

• On Friday 19 March, the QPS advises that they have verbal approval to commence 

negotiations and a meeting is scheduled for Monday 22 March at 2:00pm; 

• At approximately 1 :30pm on Monday 22 March the QPS phone to advise that they had 

not received written approval to commence negotiations and therefore cancelled the 

2:00pm meeting; 

• The union contacts the Police Minister’s office to communicate our frustration and 

disappointment with the way we are being treated; 


19

EB6 - Update 

• At approximately 6:00pm that evening, Shane Klien phoned Steve 

Mahoney to advise that formal written approval to commence 

negotiations had been received and that the QPS were prepared to meet 

that evening or the next day. Steve indicated that due to prior 

commitments such a meeting was not feasible; 

• On Tuesday 23 March Shane Klien emailed the parties “confirming the 

verbal offer to meet and commence negotiations today at a time and place 

of your choosing”, and further stated that “the QPS and Government 

representatives are eager to get formal negotiations underway”. Whilst 

there was nothing improper in these statements, we do believe they 

constituted a subtle attempt to portray the QPUE as being reluctant to meet with 

the QPS. To ensure that our position would not be misrepresented at a future date, 

Steve Mahoney emailed Shane Klien as follows: 

Shane 

I am very pleased that the QPS has finally been given formal approval to commence 

negotiations in relation to EB6. I have responded to your email in writing to place on the record that 

the QPUE was not able to meet this week because both Ian Leavers and Ross Musgrove had to 

travel out of Brisbane in relation to a death in custody and other representatives were occupied 

with the Union’s Annual Conference. Whilst I appreciate that you did not attend the aborted meeting 

on 24 February, our involvement at conference should have come as no surprise to other QPS 

Representatives as we clearly noted at this meeting that we had prior engagements this week. 

I note your comment that “I am further instructed to offer that QPS and Government 

representatives are eager to get formal negotiations underway” and also wish to place on record 

that we have been eager to commence negotiations for the past month. As a result of our phone 

discussions over the past few days I confirm our attendance at the meeting at 10:00am on Tuesday, 

30 March and look forward to finally making some progress with negotiations. 

Regards 

Steve 

• The parties met on 30 March with a Government/QPS negotiating team that comprised 

(except for yourself) of totally different representatives. The Unions were verbally 

advised of the 2.5% per annum offer and you made, with respect, some vague and 

confusing references to other items. It was at this stage - after five weeks of inaction 

followed by a failure to table a proper Log of Claims - that the union accused the QPS 

of failing to negotiate in good faith; 

• Unfortunately your most recent correspondence only confirms that the QPS is still 

withholding items for negotiation on the basis that “the QPS reserves its position with 

20 


EB6 - Update 

regard to the tabling of further matters, pending considerations of any counter-claims 

that may be tabled”. 

• This recent correspondence also has several less than subtle comments that we find to 

be totally inappropriate and misleading. Not only does the covering email state that “If 

your Union wishes to continue negotiations ...” but the letter itself states that the 

Union’s “disinclination to table a log of claims of your own has been communicated to 

my principals”. 

This is nothing but a clumsy and underhanded attempt by the QPS to characterise the Union 

as being reluctant to negotiate. It is for this reason I have detailed the factual history of our 

discussions above. The QPUE has proceeded in an open and accountable way throughout 

this process and we have had copies of our log of claims ready to table at every meeting. 

On the other hand, the facts show that the impediments to meaningful negotiations have 

been the breakdown in communication between the QPS and the Government; the repeated 

failure by the Government to give the QPS the authority to negotiate; the resultant cancelled 

meetings; the confusing manner in which the QPS finally (verbally) outlined their position; 

and a veritable merry-go-round of QPS/Government representatives. 

In conclusion, I simply request that the QPS put this fragmented start to negotiations behind 

them and start meaningful discussions with the Unions. I note that a further Meeting has 

been scheduled for 10:00am on Friday 16 April 2010 where, despite our concerns about the 

lack of a proper log of claims from the QPS, we propose to table our log of claims. 

Yours faithfully, 

MICK BARNES 

GENERAL SECRETARY 


21

Its Official - Dave Batt 

It’s Official 

- Dave Batt 

by Paula Doneman 

In 2002, the international spotlight once again 

shone on Bundaberg region with the 

horrific murder of Caroline Stuttle. 

“There have been quite a few big 

internal matters – there were two 

deaths in custody in the watch-house 

and another where a motorcyclist 

who drove off from an RBT was 

killed. There was also the fatal 

shooting of the son of (convicted 

drug trafficker) Alby Rhodes. We 

were concerned about retribution 

from his father and so we had the 

CSIU go to the jail and explain what 

happened, that his son had pulled a 

gun on a police officer. We wanted 

him to get word out to other 

criminals not to be gunning for 

police. He (Alby) did not have any 

issue with the shooting.’’ 

• Certificate from Derbyshire received during his UK trip 

In his career as a detective in the sugar cane city of Bundaberg, Dave Batt has 

investigated crimes on an international scale. 

First there was the Childers backpacker hostel fire in 2000, in which 15 people 

burned to death when Robert Long set the Palace ablaze. 

Then in 2002, the international spotlight once again shone on Bundaberg region 

with the horrific murder of Caroline Stuttle. 

The 19-year-old backpacker from Yorkshire was headed for the Great Barrier 

Reef when she stopped in Bundaberg. Ms Stuttle was robbed and thrown from 

a bridge. Detective Sergeant Batt and Homicide Detective Senior Sergeant Terry 

Lawrence, were two of the lead investigators who worked the case for two years. 

In 2004, her killer, Ian Douglas Previte, was jailed for life. 

In the year between those investigations, in February 2001, Det-Sgt Batt became 

a QPUE Branch Secretary when no one else wanted the job. 

“I have been doing the job since then, doing a lot of interviews and providing 

advice to members for almost 10 years,’’ Det-Sgt Batt said. 

Det-Sgt Batt has also been a Peer 

Support Officer since the late 1990s. 

He was sworn into the Police Service 

in 1990 and worked in Gladstone, 

Woodridge, Upper Mt Gravatt and 

Southbank when it opened, before 

eventually returning to his 

hometown of Bundaberg in 1994. He 

moved into the CIB a year later. 

“I basically went back to Bundaberg 

for family reasons, to spend time 

with my extended family,’’ he said. 

“Being a branch official has been a 

good exercise. The biggest issue is 

ensuring members know that you 

are available and to contact you 

before being interviewed. We are 

available 24 hours a day. The worst 

thing is coming into work in the 

morning at 8am and being told of 

an incident involving a member that 

happened at 4am,’’ he said. 

After the investigation into Ms 

Stuttle’s murder ended, Det-Sgt Batt 

22 


Its Official - Dave Batt 

• Visiting Carolines’ Rainbow 

• AC Certificate for Stuttle 

took a much-needed break from his 

11 years in the CIB, and relieved at 

the local PCYC where he eventually 

became the permanent Branch 

Manager for the next two and a 

half years. 

Sgt Batt’s love of sport made the 

job all the more interesting and he 

enjoyed the challenge of running a 

non-profit organisation. 

“It was a big learning curve and 

I got even further involved with 

the community. I was president 

of a local rugby league club from 

1998 to 2004 and in late 2004 was 

elected on the board for the Across 

The Waves Sports Club, which has 

around 15,000 members,’’ he said. 

• AC Certificate Batt, Williams & Borland 

have been involved with CHOGM 

and looking after the Chinese 

President during his trip to Cairns 

and Port Douglas. We had two days 

in London so the Royal Protection 

Unit gave us a behind-the-scenes 

tour in Buckingham Palace, and the 

second day was spent with the PM 

Protection Team who gave us a 

personal tour of 10 Downing St,’’ 

he said. 

In 2008, Det-Sgt Batt decided to 

diversify and try his hand at local 

government politics, winning 

Division 8 for the Bundaberg 

• Meeting the Stuttle family 

Regional Council. After discussions 

with Assistant Commissioner 

Graham Rynders, Det-Sgt Batt said 

he was able to work part-time for 

the QPS and as a local councillor. 

“I am back at the Bundaberg Child 

Protection Investigation Unit looking 

after ANCOR, the reportable sex 

offenders, and have also been doing 

brief management. I still find time 

to do my union duties as Branch 

Secretary as well,’’ he said. 

• Bundy CPIU 

In 2007, opportunity once again 

presented itself when Det-Sgt Batt 

was nominated and selected for a 

Rotary Exchange to Nottingham in 

the UK for a month to study 

policing. While there he visited Ms 

Stuttle’s parents and the 

foundation they established in her 

memory to raise awareness for 

travellers’ safety. 

Through his international colleagues 

in protective duty, Det-Sgt Batt 

was treated to an inside glimpse of 

the police details which look after 

the British Royal family and Prime 

Minister. 

“I have been doing Close Personal 

Protection part-time since 1998 and 


23

If it happens, protect yourself and your family 

by immediately contacting: 

The QPU office Ph 3259 1900 (24 hours) 

or your regional representative. 

They will steer you in the right direction.


In Memory Of 

Michael John Hayes 


VALE DETECTIVE SERGEANT 

MICHAEL JOHN HAYES 

29th February 1956 – 14th April 2010 

• Detective Sergeant Michael John Hayes 

He became a cadet in 1973 and was 

sworn in as a police officer three years 

later. Acting Senior Sergeant Steve 

Bakss told the congregation the then 

Constable Hayes married Karen, the 

love of his life, after meeting her at an 

Atherton hotel where she worked for 

her parents. 

The couple married in Atherton in 

1982 and started their life with Karen’s 

daughter Natasha, whom he came to 

love dearly. 

“It wasn’t long before they started to 

try to have more children, and were 

subsequently told that it was unlikely 

they could have anymore, and that 

they should consider adopting,” said 

Sen-Sgt Bakss. 

“Michael dearly loved and cherished 

each and every one of his family, 

including his extended family,” he 

said. 

Emma, wearing a pair of purple high 

heels which matched the colour of her 

father’s first car, read a poem to the 

congregation on behalf of her siblings, 

dedicated to their “true friend, teacher 

and guide’’. 

“A part of us went with you; 

you left a gap too big to fill; 

you’re our father and our hero; 

we love you and we always will.” 

“Michael said not long before passing 

that one of his greatest achievements 

and proudest moments was being 

It was a fitting send-off for a much 

loved and admired detective. 

As a show of respect, the police 

escorting detective sergeant Michael 

Hayes to his resting place did a final 

lap around the north Queensland 

town of Atherton. 

It was a tradition the detective 

followed to ensure the town was safe 

before he went to bed. 

The town’s business community also 

formed a guard of honour as the 

funeral procession passed. 

“This news was very heartbreaking for 

Michael, however two weeks later 

Karen rang Michael at work to tell him 

to come home; she needed to show 

him something urgently.” 

“Michael returned home to see Karen 

with a pregnancy test kit showing that 

it was positive,’’ he said. 

The couple were overjoyed. Mid-1984, 

Det-Sgt Hayes, the son of a police 

officer, was transferred to Brisbane to 

start his long career as a detective, 

working in a number of different 

squads to build his skills. 

Hundreds of friends and family turned 

out to fondly farewell Det-Sgt Hayes 

who lost his battle with cancer last 

month. 

His son Christopher was born in 

October, 1984. Emma came along two 

and half years later, and Timothy was 

born in June 1989. 


25


able to be a good father to his children 

and being able to provide for them the 

best way he knew how, with love and 

commitment,’’ Sen-Sgt Bakss said. 

In 1989, when his youngest son was 

five weeks old, Sen-Sgt Hayes and his 

family returned to Atherton. 

“Upon returning to Atherton, Michael 

commenced an unwavering 

commitment to the community of 

Atherton and the Tablelands as a 

detective. I know, as I am sure of 

many other who worked alongside of 

Michael in the CIB know, that he was 

very dedicated to doing his utmost to 

make the community a safer place, 

where he was raising his children,’’ he 

said. 

He was heavily involved with sport, 

especially rugby league, and was one 

of the driving forces for the growth of 

the Atherton Police Social Club and 

his beloved “Shed”. 

He also had a passion for cars, 

particularly Holdens and Toranas, and 

had a built-in radar for spotting stolen 

cars. 

While stationed at the Beenleigh CIB 

in the 1980s, Det-Sgt Hayes 

investigated a major stolen car racket 

involving Romanian organised crime 

operating across four states. 

Acting Assistant Commissioner Mike 

Condon who worked with Det-Sgt 

Hayes, said the investigation, 

Operation Gypsy, set a benchmark at 

the time, as Det-Sgt Hayes did it 

without the help of modern day 

technology. 

“Over 110 cars were recovered from 

Queensland, NSW, Victoria, Western 

Australia and South Australia. Most of 

the offenders served jail terms. Mick 

did this all without covert technology 

or an undercover agent. 

“He used his skills and tenacity; he 

had the ability to interrogate a 

primitive database and could identify 

manufacturers marking and details of 

the glass. He taught us a lot,’’ he said. 

26 



He said his friend showed courage in 

his final days. 

“Right up to the day he died he talked 

about what a great job it was being 

a police officer. He never complained 

about his position, he was very 

positive and had no regrets,’’ he said. 

“For myself and many others who 

phoned him he said ‘Don’t say 

anything there’s nothing you can say, 

I’ll start the conversation off for you. 

He showed amazing courage,’’ he 

said. 

“If he wanted to leave a legacy, it 

would be for everyone to keep up with 

their medicals and get a regular 

check-up with the doctor,’’ Mr Condon 

said. 

Det-Sgt Hayes had many staff work 

under him, or as in his own words in a 

speech he made about a week before 

he passed away, he worked alongside. 

“He felt very deeply about the union 

and the bond that he had formed with 

his close work colleagues n the CIB 

and I am sure that those officers that 

were privileged to work with Michael 

will know some of the tales of the 

jobs, trips away and adventures 

undertaken,’’ Sen-Sgt Bakss said. 

QPUE General President Lan Leaves 

said Det-Sgt Hayes would be greatly 

missed. 

“Mick was a dedicated detective and union branch official. It is thanks to the 

efforts of people like Mick that we are able to support one another and look 

after mates in their time if need,“ he said. 

Det-Sgt Hayes will be fondly remembered as a man who loved his family, his 

job, his work colleagues, his cars and his football. 


27

Union Dues For 2010/2011 Ticket Year 

Union Dues For 

2010/2011 Ticket Year 

Yearly 

Half 

Quarter 

Yearly Disc. Half Yearly Quarter Disc. QPCU Payroll 

(10%) Yearly Disc.(5%) 

(5%) 

Sworn 764.40 688.00 382.20 363.10 191.10 181.55 29.40 29.40 

Recruits 

382.20 344.00 191.10 181.55 95.55 90.80 14.70 14.70 

PLO’s/Pipe 

Band 

PLO’s/Pipe 

Band 

P/Time 

Part Time 

2 - 64 

535.60 482.05 267.80 254.40 133.90 127.20 20.60 20.60 

384.80 365.55 192.20 182.60 96.20 87.15 14.80 14.80 

549.90 494.90 274.95 261.20 137.50 130.70 21.15 21.15 

To obtain the discount price all union dues must be paid by 30th June, 2010. If you wish to change your payment method 

or have any questions regarding your Union dues, please contact Kaye or Carly on 3259 1900. 

• quality cover at a value price 

• exceptional hospital cover including travel and 

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• extras cover with higher value benefits 

easy to understand contribution rates and benefits 

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Over 5,000 Qld police are now members. 

Join Police Health now, so you too can 

enjoy the benefits 

Insurance provided by Police Health Limited ABN 86 135 221 519 

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28 


Celebrate 

Excellence in Policing 

Celebrate Excellence in Policing 

- Calls for nominations in excellence 

in policing awards - 

by Hoa Nguyen 

Calls for nominations in excellence in policing 

awards. Nominations for the 2010 Excellence 

in Policing Awards are now open. 

Nominations for the 2010 Excellence 

in Policing Awards are now open. 

The Australasian Council of Women and Policing 

(ACWAP) hold the annual Excellence in Policing 

Awards in recognition of outstanding 

achievements of the women and men who are 

making policing better for women. 

In 2009, two Queensland police officers were 

recognised for their outstanding contribution to 

improving policing for women. 

Bronagh Gillespie was awarded the Most 

Outstanding Female Investigator. 

She was recognised for being a great role model 

to the women in indigenous communities, and 

for her support of other women officers and the 

wives and partners of male police officers. 

Superintendent Anne Macdonald received the 

“Most Outstanding Female Leader” and the 

“Audrey Fagan Memorial Award”. 

She was honoured for continually seeking to make 

a difference in the world – the policing world and 

the community, through assisting others, 

managing and leading with tenacity, strength of 

will, commitment, integrity, with strong values, 

and by attempting the impossible. 

Nominations for the 2010 Awards are now open. 

To find out more and to nominate someone who 

is making a real difference to policing visit the 

ACWAP website at www.acwap.com.au. 

• Bronagh Gillespie - Most Outstanding Female Investigator Award recipient 

Nominations close on 20 August. 

The 12th Annual Excellence in Policing Awards 

presentation dinner will be held in Brisbane on 16 

October 2010 at the Marriott Hotel. 


29

In The Line Of Fire - The Road To Recovery Post-Parodi 

In The Line Of Fire 

The Road To Recovery Post-Parodi 

by Paula Doneman Journal and Parodi feature cover photo by Seniors Constables Paul Cracknell and Owyn Butters, QPS Photographic Section. 

Hanbury Street is a quiet cul-de-sac lined mostly 

with single-storey brick houses in the middle-class 

Brisbane suburb of West Chermside. 

It was here 10 years ago, on May 1st, three 

Queensland police officers were shot in a 

patrol car in a pre-dawn ambush by gun 

fanatic and Jesse James wannabe, Nigel Wren 

Parodi. 

Two young constables, Sharnelle Cole and 

Daryl Green were responding to a routine 

neighbourhood dispute when the officers 

pulled up in the rain at around 3.40am. 

Their shift sergeant, Chris Mulhall, arrived at 

the same time, concerned about reports of 

firearms being involved and to support his 

constables. 

Twelve hours earlier a resident had 

complained Parodi had threatened to 

“kneecap” him, spray-painted his pet dog and 

had guns. He and another man were unable to 

provide the officers with a house number for 

Parodi. The three officers had difficulty getting 

information from the men. 

After about 15 minutes of speaking with the 

men, Sgt Mulhall went back to his car and 

rang the Comco on his mobile to do some 

checks. 

Consts Cole and Green joined him in his 

car. Const Cole got on the radio to help with 

background and firearm checks on Parodi – a 

mental health patient who had been 

previously investigated for stalking a female 

police officer, was a suspected peeping tom 

and petty criminal convicted of assaulting a 

police officer. 

Suddenly out of the darkness, Parodi, armed 

with a sawn-off .22 rifle fitted with silencer, 

emptied 12 bullets into the officers through 

the two open passengers side doors of the car. 

The attack was so swift, there was no time to 

return fire. 



Police and paramedics rushed to the 

scene, putting themselves in harm’s 

way as they tended to the officers, 

not knowing the whereabouts of the 

gunman. 

Constable Brett Price, Constable Kylie 

Greber and Senior David Hornby were 

the first to respond. Sen-Con Hornby 

thought Const Cole was dead. 

“There was blood everywhere. 

Sharnelle was lying in the gutter with 

her feet still in the car. We sent Kylie 

with her in the first ambulance, in case 

the worst happened…we didn’t want 

her to die alone,’’ he said. 

Sen-Const Hornby, Const Price and 

Petrie Plain Clothes Senior Constable 

Andrew Ayres bravely formed a 

cordon around Const Green to 

protect him. 

The trio could not see out in the dark 

as they were standing under a bright 

street light. 

“It was like we were in a fishbowl. At 

one stage we discussed climbing on 

the roof of the police car and shooting 

the light out but we ended up deciding 

against it,’’ Sen-Const Hornby said. 

• Parodi 

• Ammunition & gun parts found in Parodi’s bedroom 

The second ambulance arrived which 

took Const Green and Sgt Mulhall, 

who by then had been located in a 

nearby house, to the hospital. 

Unbeknownst to police, Parodi had 

fled on foot. 

One of the largest manhunts in 

Queensland’s history ensued across 

the state. Three weeks later, Parodi’s 

decomposing body was found beside 

a tree on the Chermside Hills Reserve. 

A sawn-off .22, fitted with a telescopic 

sight, and ammunition were found 

nearby. He had shot himself in the 

head. 

This callous and totally unprovoked 

attack on Sgt Mulhall, Sen-Const 

Cole and Sen-Sgt Green (who have 

since been promoted) highlighted the 

dangers that face the men and women 

in blue every day. Their colleagues 

say the fact they remain in the job is 

incredible. 

On the eve of the 10th anniversary, 

these three courageous officers reflect 

on the aftermath of the shooting and 

the impact it has had on their lives. 

Sgt Chris Mulhall 

“Parodi went to Daryl’s window and 

shot him in the left side of his face.” 

He collapsed on the seat and at the 

time I thought he was dead. 

“Const Green, who was in the back 

seat, was shot two times, first on the 

left side of his face above his top lip. 

“The bullet smashed bone and 

shattered five teeth, pierced his 

tongue and lodged deep in his throat. 

He then was shot in his left shoulder. 

Holding his bleeding mouth in his 

hand, he got out of the car door he 

was shot through, determined to stop 

the gunman. 

“Parodi then shot me through my 

right upper arm, causing my mobile 

phone to fly out of my hand,” Sgt 

Mulhall said. 

“He then went to Sharnelle’s window 

and commenced shooting at her. 

Const Cole, who was sitting in the 

front passenger seat, was shot eight 

times, with the bullets ripping into the 

jaw, thigh, hand, arm, chest and knee. 

She radioed Communications for help. 

“I got out of the car and drew my gun 

and yelled at Daryl and Sharnelle to 

get out of the car as, at the time, I 

believed we were being shot at by a 

sniper at a distance.” 

“I saw a figure on the other side of the 

car but believed it was Daryl getting 

out of the car – it was Parodi. I had 

raised my gun at the time but had not 

fired. As I continued to hear a 

wooshing sound, I turned around and 

looked for cover. I ran half-way across 

the road towards a brick fence and 

then felt a bullet go into my lower left 

back, just below the belt. This caused 

me to stumble; I then looked up and 

saw a light on in a house. I ran to the 

house and phoned Comms. I again 

spoke to the Comco and after he told 

me the others were still at the car, 

32 



had experience assisting shooting 

victims in the Australian Army, and 

I found her help to be right on the 

money. The police union, in particular 

our local rep Mick Barnes, a real 

character, helped me out no end after 

the shooting,” he said. 

In his first two weeks back at Boondall 

station, Sgt Mulhall went to the police 

academy and did the Glock course. 

“I found this helped a fair bit, as I was 

able to talk about the incident with the 

instructors out there. I appreciated 

their perspectives on things.” 

I told him I was going back. He told 

me to stay where I was as there were 

other police on the scene.” 

Sgt Mulhall thinks about the 

shooting occasionally but not often. 

He no longer carries around Parodi’s 

mugshot but still has the bullet lodged 

in his back near his left sciatic nerve 

as a constant reminder. 

“I don’t have any particular feelings 

about Parodi, however I still have 

anger at the system that allowed 

such a person to be free on the street. 

There are still many more time-bombs 

like him getting around. “ 

The incident has given Sgt Mulhall, 

known affectionately by colleagues as 

“Darkside’’, a greater appreciation of 

life, family and friends. 

“Before the shooting I had no 

concerns about surviving from day 

to day. However, after being in such 

an incident you realise how quickly 

things become terminal,’’ he said. 

The shooting made Sgt Mulhall more 

safety conscious in his approach to 

police work for himself and his team. 

“I did notice that after this incident, 

the police service in general seemed 

to be more conscious of officer safety. 

I noticed this in daily operations in 

that more emphasis was made by our 

Communications Centre to provide 

address history and intelligence to 

cars attending fresh jobs. I have also 

seen that the service has improved 

officer safety in the areas of FOST and 

POST training. I have appreciated 

these improvements,’’ he said. 

Many times he has asked himself 

whether he would have handled the 

situation differently but believes there 

are too many “what ifs” to justify 

worrying about it. 

Sgt Mulhall returned to work six 

weeks after being shot, partly to set 

an example for the more seriously 

injured Constables Cole and Green. 

“It has pleased me to see them both 

stick with the job and succeed. I often 

however, have to put Greenie (Daryl) 

in his place, as he now out-ranks me!’’ 

he said. 

“I figured that the longer I stayed 

away from work the harder it would 

be to come back. I was helped greatly 

at the time by the support and 

camaraderie of my workmates and I 

soon got back into things.” 

“My bosses at the time, Senior 

Sergeant Narelle Curtis and Inspector 

Dennis Houston (now retired), were 

very understanding and made it a lot 

easier to come back. I really 

appreciated their help at the time. 

Also after the incident I received 

counselling from a service 

psychologist, Brenda Lack. Brenda 

“I’m a firm believer that the ‘police 

culture’ is a healthy thing, especially 

in the ways we help each other out in 

times of crisis. Other jobs just don’t 

have this…” 

Senior Constable Sharnelle Cole 

“I don’t have a connection with Parodi 

because I never saw him at the time. 

I saw a photo afterwards but I didn’t 

give him much thought. I’m glad it 

ended the way it did. I’m not glad that 

he took his own life, I’m glad that It 

didn’t drag on through the court. 

It was not the best outcome for his 

family but it was closure for us and it 

meant no one else was hurt.” 

Not a day goes by that Sen-Const Cole 

does not think about the night she 

was shot and is very grateful to be 

alive. 

“If I go to gym I have physical 

reminders. I can’t make a fist, my knee 

clicks and hurts. I am worried about 

what will happen with the injuries 

when I am older. I have a dental 

procedure done every year because 

of it, which takes about a week to get 

over the pain.’’ 

It has impacted on all aspects of her 

life including sleeping patterns and 

choices about her career 

“It (the shooting) has got to change 

your makeup, whether it’s good or 

bad or indifferent. There was a few 

years when I didn’t want to go out.“ 

“I am very security conscious. I am 

not sure whether that is because I am 


IN THE LINE OF FIRE - The Road To Recovery Post-Parodi 

a police officer or it is left over from 

the shooting. Any sort of noise wakes 

me up.’’ 

Sen-Const Cole has taken a different 

life path as a result of the incident, but 

also believes it has presented amazing 

opportunities to her, including 

travelling to Canada to receive a 

bravery award from the International 

Police Women’s Association. 

She was only a year in the job before 

she was shot, and feels the incident 

has robbed her of her hopes and 

aspirations. 

“I can’t believe I am still in the job. 

I don’t enjoy it like I did when I first 

joined.” 

Sen-Const Cole returned to work eight 

months after the shooting and has 

endured 23 surgeries for her injuries. 

“My family found it tough at first but 

knew pretty much that I was 

determined to get back to work. They 

were very proud but anxious. I 

remember when I was lying in bed 

after being shot and Mum saying to 

me, ‘You said this wouldn’t happen’.” 

She lasted three weeks, finding fear 

had replaced the adrenalin rushes of 

operational policing. 

“The shooting changed it for me. I 

used to love all the excitement as a 

fresh Connie but I didn’t want to do 

general duties. I didn’t want to be 

anywhere I could put myself at risk 

which can happen anywhere you wear 

a police uniform. There is always that 

potential.” 

Deciding that she no longer wanted 

the risk of general duties where 

officers can be confronted with people 

with guns, Sen-Const Cole worked in 

different areas, like police 

prosecutions and recruitment. 

“The shooting took my career away 

from me; I have not progressed like 

I wanted to. I can’t envisage a future 

in police as I haven’t built a career…I 

have never stayed in any one field for 

very long. I get bored and I want the 

job to give me more than it’s ever 

going to,’’ she said. In 2006, she 

decided to return to the beat and 

reintegrate into general duties. 

“It was awful. I did generals at 

Fortitude Valley because my mate 

Mark Whitehouse was there and he 

had been really supportive when we 

worked together at Boondall. I thought 

if I am going to do this, I have to do it 

big time. It was okay. It was only two 

nights a week at the Valley for 

reintegration.” 

A colleague advised against her going 

full-time in the Valley, so she went to 

Stafford where she met her partner, 

Senior Constable Mat Harris, and then 

followed him to Caboolture. 

“It was really difficult. I don’t want to 

go out on a limb; I don’t want to put 

myself out there and at the same time, 

he (Parodi) will win if I leave. I am 

very apprehensive since the shooting. 

I am so aware of my surroundings, 

so heightened and very sensitive 

which makes you appear as if you are 

on edge because you are so alert. I 

don’t want to be in someone’s house 

making inquiries. I want things over 

quickly.” 

She is currently on a two-year 

secondment with the Australia Federal 

Police at the Brisbane International 

Airport. 

“I went back to general duties to 

prove a point; I don’t know whether 

it was to myself or Parodi. It was 

knowing I could go back, but I lacked 

confidence. I shouldn’t have because I 

know my stuff. The shooting killed my 

confidence and now I don’t stay 

anywhere long enough to gain 

enough experience.” 

“I have felt very much supported by 

the QPS. I cannot fault it and I have 

met some great people. I intend to 

enjoy life more than work; I work to 

have a life. He (Parodi) has taken away 

my spirit for the job I guess…” 

Sen-Const Cole feels as though her 

career is in limbo at the moment and 

wants to regain her passion for 

policing. 

“I know things could have been a 

lot worse. Since we have been shot, 

police have died. I am surprised I 

have kept going but it’s the job I have 

always wanted to do,’’ she said. 

Every year, the three officers get 

together to celebrate the fact that they 

are alive. 

“None of us did anything wrong 

that night; nothing could have been 

avoided. We were ambushed, we 

survived and now we have a laugh. 

Even at hospital after we were shot we 

took the piss out of each other.” 

“We were good friends before the 

shooting and I guess if I was going to 

get to shot it may as well have been 

with Greenie and Darkside. It couldn’t 

have been with better people. I have 

great trust in both of them.’’ 

Sen-Sgt Daryl Green 

FOR years after the shooting, the 

“what if’’ factor has kept Sen-Sgt 

Green awake at night. What if Parodi 

had used a higher-powered weapon 

than the 22 sawn-off rifle, when he 

shot Sen-Sgt Green in the face from 

only a metre away? 

What if he had not got in the back seat 

of the patrol car, but remained 

• Eileen Green with one of 

her sons’ shirts after an operation 

34 



• Sen-Sgt Daryl Green with Insp. Dave Stevenson 

standing outside the vehicle where 

he felt he was an easier target? What 

if he hadn’t swapped shifts that night 

so he could work with his favourite 

partner? 

“I think Parodi was a frustrated person 

who was angry and struck out against 

authority, and he was a wannabe 

deadbeat loser, who for some reason 

cracked,” Sen-Sgt Green said. 

It has been a long, tough road back 

from a private hell potted with 17 

operations in six years, anger and 

thoughts of suicide, for Sen-Sgt Green 

to feel he has a life again. 

Nine years to be exact. 

“I think about the shooting every day 

and there are physical reminders. 

Like taking such special care with my 

dental hygiene, the small metal plate 

under my left cheek, partial loss of 

taste, and the tracheotomy and 

shoulder scars.” 

Like Sen-Const Cole, he took a 

different career path after the 

shooting, shying away from 

operational duties. He said he felt 

frustrated that after being on sick 

leave for 18 months following the 

shooting, he had no “currency” in 

terms of career prospects. 

“But I made the right choice staying in 

the job.” 

He went to the internet team attached 

to Taskforce Argos upon his return, as 

the position was non-confrontational. 

“I had problems with crowds. I am so 

protective of my personal space. I am 

very conscious of the left side of my 

face because it has so much physical 

memory from the shooting. I have 

since done some operational 

policing, but I am always thinking 

about safety.” 

“I was fortunate enough to end up at 

the Police Academy as a facilitator. I 

was off work for four months in late 

2003/early 2004 for further surgery, 

and I felt like a piece of shit. I had a 

three cm chunk of bone at the front 

of my mouth cut out and rotated, 

and a plastic support fitted, making 

it difficult to talk, and I could only eat 

soft food for months. I was living at 

home with my parents because I really 

needed support.’’ 

“I went to the academy as a closed 

shop. There were some really good 

people there, like Dave Stevenson, 

Mark Harvey and Ann Motteran. I later 

learnt that people were afraid to 

mention anything about the shooting 

to me; it was taboo.’’ 

In 2006, Sen-Sgt Green was feeling 

alienated and at times suicidal. His 

life had been reduced to commuting 

the 45 minutes from his parents north 

Brisbane home to the academy every 

day, work and then returning home to 

study for a very complex Masters of 

Finance. 

He even ate lunch late so he didn’t 

have to sit with colleagues. “They 

would all chat about their life and 

relationships and I felt I had nothing 

to contribute.” 

The only people he really confided 

in were his elderly parents, Alan and 

Eileen. He felt like there was no light 

at the end of the tunnel, but an 

opportunity arose when Sgt. Paul 

Trinder asked him about the 

possibility of his addressing recruits 

about the shooting and its aftermath. 

“Inspector Dave Stevenson who was 

in charge of Flexible Learning Services 

at the academy sat in on the lecture 

and really appreciated what I went 

through.’’ 

Sen-Sgt Green found someone he 

could finally talk and relate to about 

his private, personal hell. 

“I told him I didn’t have a life, and all 

I did was work and study, and how I 

was angry at some of my colleagues 

and how tough things were for my 

parents.” 

“Dave began building bridges with me 

and it really helped. I would often vent 

to him. When Brett Irwin was 

murdered, he took me for a walk to 

tell me the news and made sure I 

was okay. He told me, with what I 

had been through, I was going to go 

through some tough times; this was 

unavoidable.“ 

“I was very worried about my career 

prospects and Dave said there was no 

reason I could not have a successful 

career in the QPS. He and Mark 

Harvey helped me gain a better 

understanding of the promotion 

system, and get some good runs on 

the board, encouraging me to apply 

for EOIs, undertake the panel 

convener’s course, and put me 

through practice interviews.’’ 

“Many thanks to Dave Stevenson and 

Mark Harvey who brought me back 

from the brink when I was close to 

packing it all in,’’ he said. 

Nine years after the shooting, he 

graduated with his Masters, and was 

promoted to the rank of senior 

sergeant. He now works at PoliceLink. 

“A mate at the Academy told me that 

two recruits dropped out a day after 

the shooting, realising this can be a 

very dangerous job. Not long ago he 

said to me I seemed to be getting back 

to the ‘old Daryl’.” 



“I have been trying to get back to that 

but you can’t. When I sat in the back 

of the police car that night I entered 

the vehicle as the old Daryl Green and 

when I moved out to chase Parodi, 

I was a different Daryl Green – the 

shooting has affected every facet of 

my life and relationships.’’ 

“I now take a lot of pleasure in the 

small things in life; I surround myself 

with positive happy people, enjoy 

good food, and appreciate things like 

a scenic view. I am very social now. I 

run to de-stress and keep fit, have 

re-gained my independence and 

self-confidence, and continue with my 

passion for travel.’’ 

Sen-Sgt Green also received good 

news last month that the 

Attorney-General will finally move on 

an ex-gratia payment for the shooting 

- five years after his WorkCover case 

was closed and he was eligible for 

compensation. 

• The suicide note 

“It is yet to be resolved. Because 

Parodi committed suicide, I am 

technically not entitled to criminal 

compensation, so we have to seek an 

ex-gratia payment,’’ he said. 

“I want this finalised, so I can put all 

this behind me.’’ 

Doctor Peter Parodi has broken 

a decade-long silence to tell of the 

burden he carries daily and how he 

feels partly responsible for the actions 

of his only son. 

“My attitude of how I endeavor to live 

with it is by not thinking about it. It’s 

a burden to carry and I will carry it for 

the rest of my life…it’s a burden you 

learn to live with and cope with, and 

how I do it is by not thinking about it, 

and you do think about it from day to 

day,’’ said Dr Parodi in an interview 

with the Journal. 

“Things happen which remind you of 

Nigel, and the easiest way to cope is 

to think about another subject until it 

goes away. I remember Nigel 

saying when we had this terrific pork 

we bought in Nambour, ‘God, it was 

so good I could eat the string’. Every 

time I eat roast with string I think of 

him.’’ 

Dr Parodi, a scientist who studies the 

causes of cancer and heart disease, 

said if he tried to analyse why his son 

shot the officers it would “drive him to 

the nuthouse’’. 

In the aftermath of the shooting, Dr 

Parodi learned through media 

reports that his son was sexually 

abused by a counsellor, Kevin Lynch, 

while a high school student at 

Brisbane Boys Grammar. 

“I accept he was abused by Lynch. 

He was a happy-go-lucky caring 

schoolboy until he went to Grammar, 

and that’s when things went started to 

deteriorate. You could trace it back to 

Lynch in hindsight. At the time when 

he was having problems, we went to 

six different psychiatrists about why 

he dropped out of school, but nothing 

ever turned up about the abuse,’’ Dr 

Parodi said. 

Up until then, the Parodis were a 

close family who holidayed together 

regularly. 

Dr Parodi did not want to elaborate 

further on his son’s life. 

“I don’t want to think about it 

anymore. I accept some of the blame 

but that is not going to help anyone. 

It happened and it’s regrettable for all 

those concerned,’’ he said. 

36 




Feldman 

The Fox 


Luke is in the top ten fast-bowling wicket 

takers for the current Australian season. 

“His grandfather believes that one day he will 

exchange his maroon (Bulls) cap for the baggy green 

cap when he plays for Australia,’’ said his mother Gail 

Feldman. “As a child he would be up every Saturday 

morning, dressed in his whites. Even if it was pouring 

rain he would still want to play.’’ 

His father Bill Feldman, a police sergeant stationed 

at Marian Police Station in central Queensland, and a 

former Caboolture MP, said he lives to be known as 

Luke’s father. 

• Luke & Bill Feldman 

• Luke Feldman was nicknamed “Feldman the Fox” by colleagues at 

Innisfail police station who called him crazy for his audacious requests. 

In response, Luke said he was “crazy like a fox’’ and the moniker stuck. 

At age 11, Luke Feldman looked across the green field of the 

MCG and told his father that some day he might have the chance 

to play there. 

Fourteen years later he found himself doing exactly that when 

he took the field as a fast bowler for the Queensland Bulls in the 

Sheffield Shield in March. 

Described as the team’s find of the season, Luke splits his time 

now between professional cricket and as a constable stationed at 

the State Traffic Support Command Branch’s intelligence section. 

While playing at the MCG he also wore the Chris Hurley bracelet 

as a show of support. 

He has followed in the footsteps of his father, Bill Feldman, in his 

talent for cricket as well as a career as a Queensland Police officer. 

Luke is in the top ten fast-bowling wicket takers for the current 

Australian season. He is currently training at the Australian 

Institute of Sport (Australian Cricket Academy) on a 17-week 

scholarship. He made his first-class debut against the touring West 

Indies last November, taking out three wickets. 

His proud parents say their son always rises to the challenge and 

they have no doubt he will enjoy many more successes as a 

professional cricketer. 

38 



“And I prefer it that way,’’ Sgt 

Feldman told the Journal. 

• Feldman’s stats at MCG 

“We are very proud of Luke; he will 

go a long way in cricket. He has been 

selected in the Australian “A” cricket 

squad and hopes to be selected to 

play against the Sri Lankan side in 

Townsville and Brisbane in June,’’ he 

said. 

Luke’s passion for a bat and ball was 

born out of an 11-year-old’s need to 

“hang out” with his Dad. 

“When I was little I played T-ball and 

baseball but Dad was into cricket and 

I wanted to hang around him so to get 

his attention, I started playing cricket,’’ 

Luke, 25, said. 

Sgt Feldman was captain of the 

Queensland Police side in the 1991 

campaign, and his brother Denis, an 

acting police inspector and fingerprint 

expert, played for the Queensland 

under-19s and first grade for 

Sandgate. 

• Fast-bowler Feldman playing in the Sheffield Shield at MCG 

Luke played grade cricket on the 

Sunshine Coast and second grade for 

the Caboolture Snakes where his 

father was a feared fast bowler in the 

1980s and 1990s. 

“Luke has completely eclipsed me as 

a cricket player,’’ Sergeant Feldman 

said. “I played in the Queensland 

Police side in 1984, 1988, and 

captained 1991 and never won a 

carnival. Luke toured New Zealand in 

2006 with the side and won the 

Australasian Police Cricket 

Championship.” 

After graduating from high school, 

Luke moved to North Queensland 

where he first planned to be a PE 

teacher, and continued playing cricket 

for Townsville Brothers where he was 

• Queensland v West Indies Allan Border Field Nov 09 

selected to play his debut first grade 

game at the age of 21. 

“I was going to do a teaching degree 

but I also wanted to be a cop like 

Dad,’’ Luke said. 

``Country cricketers have a special 

bond, and I remember on Saturday 

afternoons after the game all the 

grades would come back to the club 

and we’d have a sausage sizzle. It was 

great,’’ he said. 

Luke described himself as a late 

bloomer when he went through the 

police academy in Townsville in 2005. 

He juggles his professional careers 

with a gruelling schedule of two hours 

training each day and then an eight 

hour shift at the State Traffic Support 

branch. 

This comes much to the surprise of 

his Bulls team mates who tell him 

they would rather sleep than work 

after their training session. 

has been very supportive as have my 

superiors Superintendant Col Campbell 

and Assistant Commissioner Brett 

Pointing, who are a couple of old grade 

players themselves who also played 

with Dad.’’ Luke said. 

“I want to maintain both careers as 

long as I can,’’ he said. 

Asked whether there were any 

similarities between policing and 

cricket, Luke said, “The crowd are the 

same: either for you or against you”. 

“You are sprayed by people at the 

cricket just like you do as a police 

officer. Only as police you can do 

something about it,’’ he said. 

For the time being, Sgt Feldman is 

happy to admire his son’s cricketing 

skills from afar. 

“Luke will always say, Dad come down 

to the nets, but I think ‘Luke bowls at 

140km/hr – NO way …old bones break 

and they never heal.’’ 

“I work full-time. When I have games, 

I take sporting leave without pay so 

there is no cost to the service. 

Queensland Cricket wrote to the 

Commissioner Bob Atkinson and he 


39

Investing in Property 

by Brendan Smith 

40 


A Few Questions For QPS Bosses & Government 

A Few Questions For 

QPS Bosses & Government 

by Sergeant Leon Staines, Gold Coast Traffic Branch 

Why is it that in 2010, frontline 

Queensland police do not have access 

to in-car computers? 

• Sergeant Leon Staines 

Frontline police across 

Queensland have many questions for 

our police bosses and politicians, who 

are ignoring a multitude of 

important issues that affect them and 

the communities we serve. These 

issues adversely affect the safety 

of frontline police officers. In some 

instances, these issues are also 

adversely affecting and greatly 

hindering the impact and capacity of 

frontline police to detect offenders, 

solve crime and drive down all 

manner of offences. Here are just a 

few questions. 

Mobile Integrated Data Access 

Why is it that in 2010, frontline 

Queensland police do not have 

access to in-car computers? Did you 

know that in 1996 we received 150 

in-car Mobile Integrated Data 

Access computers (MINDA) supplied 

by Queensland Transport, yet 14 years 

later we have only increased by 51 

MINDA units? Last year I discovered 

that the current MINDA units had 

reached their expiration, and that QT 

had awarded a contract to replace 

them. So I figured that a quick and 

easy method of increasing our in-car 

computer fleet would be to keep as 

many of the old MINDA units as 

possible, and I began arguing for this 

to occur. 

That protracted and convoluted battle 

is a full article for another time, but 

in early February 2010, a glimmer of 

hope emerged through the cloud of 

bureaucracy with the news that QPS 

hierarchy had been talking with QT 

hierarchy, and it seems that we might 

see an increase of about 100 or so 

MINDA units. QPS won’t have full 

in-car computer capability for many 

years yet, so 100 extra MINDA units 

is significant and very useful in our 

crime and road trauma suppression 

efforts. 

Why are Queensland Police the only 

service in Australia that does not 

provide its frontline police officers 

with the ability to conduct interstate 

name, registration or licence checks 

via their in-car MINDA computers? 

Yes, that’s right. QPS is the only one; 

we cannot use our MINDA units to 

access interstate data, simply due to 

not wanting to pay an annual network 

access fee of less than AU$100,000 

because someone once estimated 

that interstate checks would comprise 

less than 1% of all state-wide MINDA 

checks. Our interstate cousins can 

conduct in-car PC checks on 

Queensland drivers, vehicle 

registrations and persons of interest. 

So why is the QPS still in the dark 

ages and unable to do the same? 

Automatic Vehicle Locator and 

Emergency Distress Button 

Why hasn’t Queensland Police 

equipped vehicles with an Automatic 

Vehicle Locator (AVL) and Emergency 

Distress Button (EDB) on our 

hand-held radios? Both capabilities 

have been available for years but once 

again the almighty dollar overrules 

police officers’ safety. 

Our single officer units are still being 

sent out into the badlands without 

AVL and EDB. Why is that? Don’t the 

QPS and our government have a 

responsibility to support and protect 

their frontline police as best they can? 

The government saw fit to provide the 

privately owned and operated taxi 

industry with a distress button 

activated in-car camera system so 

why not police, a frontline 

government emergency service? Are 

not our frontline police, who perhaps 

have a more important and dangerous 

role, just as valuable and important to 

government and our communities? 

Did you know that our police radios 

have long had the capacity, if 

activated and paid for, to provide 

emergency distress signalling for 

frontline police? Well, the bean 

counters and senior police 

management consider that emergency 

distress signalling by a bunch of 

police each year is not worth the cost 

of activating this potentially lifesaving 

device. What the....??? 



state government and the QPS. ANPR devices work 

by scanning vehicle registrations, and checking them 

against information stored in secure databases, to 

identify vehicles of interest to police and roads 

authorities. Vehicles of interest include stolen vehicles, 

unauthorised vehicles and unauthorised drivers. ANPR 

is something of great value in crime and road trauma 

suppression. 

ANPR systems can scan thousands of vehicles a day, 

and they have been widely adopted in the United 

Kingdom over the past 20 years, and currently across 

North America and interstate in Australia. 

• Deputy Commissioner Ian Stewart activates the new hi-tech camera being tested 

inside police vehicles on Queensland roads. Photo: Scott Casey Brisbane Times 

November 14, 2009 

In-Car Video Systems 

Why are the police service and the state government continuing 

the 20 years of the sad and dithering tale of in-car video 

cameras? For 20 years some of us have used a range of 

analogue tape systems, digital hard drive systems, digital DVD 

systems and in recent years the solid state memory card 

systems. We’ve had four or five official trials, we’ve had a series 

of concept cars with in-car video fitted, and quite a few of us 

traffic police have bought and used their own systems for many 

years. 

These days I have in-car video, motorcycle video and body-worn 

video, and nearly every member of Gold Coast Traffic Branch 

owns and operates a video system. Yet in 2010, the police 

service once again runs another silly little trial of one in-car 

video unit - the same in-car video system I’ve owned for the past 

three years and that we’ve had in three of our concept cars. So 

while QPS dithers and delays, the NSW Police have had in-car 

video in their entire Highway Patrol car fleet since 2005, and 

Victoria Police’s Traffic Management Unit have in-car video in 

most of their traffic cars. 

ACT Police have them, WA Police have some and SA Police have 

some, but poor old Queensland has nothing and does nothing. 

We’ve trialled in-car video to death; it works, it’s cost-effective 

and it has many benefits to both police and the public. 

Fifteen years ago the then Labor Police Minister announced an 

allocation of $2million for in-car video which never eventuated. 

So can someone please make a decision so we can just get on 

with it? 

Automatic Number Plate Recognition 

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems are yet 

another tale of frustration, dithering and lost opportunity by our 

• NSW Police mobile ANPR cameras, 2010 

NSW Police have had some 30 tripod mounted ANPR 

units for some four years, and have begun 

implementing about 100 car-mounted mobile ANPR 

units. 

VIC Police have numerous units as do our counterparts 

in SA, TAS and WA. The good old QPS has nothing - 

just another trial. This is despite a series of successful 

trials held six years ago in 2004. Nothing eventuated 

until 2008 when we managed to bring on the 

Parliamentary Travelsafe Committee ANPR Inquiry. 

Think about this for a minute: a parliamentary 

committee held an inquiry into a piece of equipment. It 

was unprecedented and the only way around the QPS 

brick wall. 

Unfortunately we did not foresee that the ANPR Inquiry 

would be hijacked by privacy and civil liberties 

advocates, and so today, in 2010, here we are again 

having yet another trial, and we are no better off. 

Wasted man-hours 

Frontline police are wasting valuable man hours 

preparing domestic violence applications and running 

all over the countryside to serve them, when instead 

they could simply be issuing on-the-spot domestic 

violence notices to both parties, with some minor 

database recording later on. 

Parties wishing to dispute, revoke or amend a DV 

Notice can make arrangements with their local court. 

And why have we gone back to wasting thousands of 

man-hours typing court briefs and clogging our courts 

with repeat traffic offences? 

We fought for years to replace traffic breach reports 

with tickets for many of these same offences yet here 

we are again wasting thousands of man hour’s every 

year typing court briefs for the same offences. 

Mobile Radar and Motorbikes 

Why are our police motorbikes not equipped with 

mobile radar? Wouldn’t it be smart to value-add to 

these traffic enforcement machines and officers as best 

we can? Of course it would, and there is absolutely no 

reason why this cannot be achieved with a little effort, 

thought and will. 

The audibility of the radar Doppler tone is not 

insurmountable. Other police agencies across the 

42 



world do it; why not here in 

Queensland? Can someone please fix 

this? Why did it take six years to get 

two unmarked motorbikes out on our 

roads? Way back in 2004 I provided 

QPS with the full business case from 

the Victoria Police trial of unmarked 

video equipped motorbikes. It 

reduced their spiralling motorbike 

crash rate by 48 percent in targeted 

areas along the popular winding roads 

of the Yarra and Dandenong Ranges. 

I thought we would benefit from 

something similar for our own rising 

rate of motorbike crashes in the 

south-east Queensland hinterland 

areas. 

I provided this information lock, stock 

and barrel to QPS hierarchy in 2004, 

and since then we have been pushing 

for this idea through years of Regional 

Traffic Coordinator conferences, chain 

of command and the Commissioner’s 

Suggestion Box. 

Finally in April 2010, the QPS has 

stopped dithering on this issue and 

managed to put a couple of unmarked 

motorbikes on the road. 

The Government needs tougher laws. 

Why doesn’t our state government 

support its roadside emergency 

service workers with some much 

needed protection, as has occurred 

right across North America in recent 

years in the form of ‘Slow down, 

Move over’ laws? 

These laws force motorists to slow 

down and move over if possible, 

when approaching stopped 

emergency vehicles displaying 

emergency lights on our roads. 

How many more police officers and 

other emergency workers need be 

struck and killed or injured before we 

have that legislative protection? 

When is our government going to 

include things like motorbike wheel 

stands and wet weather ‘drifting’ 

around round-abouts (without smoke) 

in legislation regarding vehicle 

impounding ‘hoon’ offences? 

And why can’t police impound 

vehicles for high speed offences and 

dangerous operation of a vehicle? 

Aren’t they often much more 

dangerous and serious than your 

average burnout? 

What about the absolutely useless and 

pathetic penalties for ‘evade police’? 

Why does the government allow the 

average court-issued penalty for 

evading police to be a miserly $317? 

The fine is much less than the $400 

ticket for disobeying a police officer’s 

hand signal to stop. 

The laws for evading police are 

supposedly very tough legislation 

to deter motorised offenders from 

leading police on those dangerous 

pursuits that we are now restricted 

from doing. 

Surely it is time to elevate ‘evade 

police’ from a simple offence under 

the PPRA to a serious criminal offence 

under the Criminal Code, and give it 

some teeth, with a mandatory and 

actual minimum term of 

imprisonment. For Christ’s sake, a 

$317 penalty if that. What were our 

politicians thinking? 

Training 

Whatever happened to providing a 

traffic policing course for our traffic 

officers? Let’s get them up to speed 

with a comprehensive course which 

covers aspects of traffic law, police 

driving, speed detection, alcohol and 

drug driving detection, heavy vehicles, 

vehicle modifications, loading and so 

on. 

Lidars 

Why did we waste money on those 

ancient digi-cams that attach to our 

laser Lidar speed detection devices 

when we could be using the LTI 

TruCam which captures video and still 

shots and does a whole lot more? 

So what have readers learned from 

this article? Well, you’ve learned that 

Stainesy is frustrated, and really 

annoyed that frontline police are 

being let down in so many areas by 

their hierarchy and their political 

masters. 

Their inaction ultimately adversely 

impacts on how we serve our 

communities. You might have also 

learned that despite the rhetoric and 

spin, frontline policing in Queensland 

is far away from the leading edge of 

modern policing practices and 

technologies in so many areas. 


43

QPRIME In The Palm Of Your Hand 

QPRIME in the palm 

of your hand 

by Stephen Kelly of SJK Consulting using the Peepel Technology Platform 

A Mobile Data Unit can give you access to QPRIME, 

which will give not just the right information, but the 

right information at the right time. 

Imagine being able to access 

QPRIME in the palm of your hand. A 

Mobile Data Unit can give you access 

to QPRIME, which will give not just 

the right information, but the right 

information at the right time. 

There will be no need to radio back 

to communications and wait in the 

queue for the inquiries operator. A 

local Brisbane company has 

developed the software to turn smart 

phones into Mobile Data Units (MDU). 

Not only does this give operational 

officers on the road access to the 

information they need when they 

need it, but it provides real safety 

benefits. 

Back-up is never close enough and 

this software platform also enables 

officers to see each other’s location in 

real time. In an emergency situation, 

your MDU will show your location to 

fellow officers as well as giving you 

the ability to communicate directly 

with them. 

Smart phones or MDUs are mobile 

computers capable of both 

transmitting and receiving 

information from QPRIME 

interactively in real time. 

Every officer’s MDU can display 

information sent from QPRIME and 

QPRIME can receive geo-tagged data 

from officers in the field including 

location, text, video, audio or still 

photographs. The MDU effectively 

becomes a terminal to access 

QPRIME. 

For instance, Police Mobile Data 

System (PMDS) allows an officer 

to send the registration details of a 

vehicle to QPRIME. The officer’s ID 

number and location is 

automatically included in the data 

transfer. QPRIME returns the relevant 

details of the vehicle ownership, 

which may include outstanding 

warrants and if the vehicle is stolen. 

The information will be displayed on 

the officer’s MDU as soon as QPRIME 

completes the request. 

PMDS for name check and address 

can include a photograph should one 

be available on the QPRIME system. 

Similarly, PMDS allows officers to use 

their MDU to take a photograph of a 

person of interest and send it back to 

Police Communications where 

another officer can check against 

wanted persons. Indeed, the 

photograph can be analysed using a 

facial recognition system to identify 

persons of interest. If the individual is 

a wanted person, the requesting 

officer will be notified with details 

being displayed on their MDU. 

PMDS will assist intelligence-driven 

patrols by notifying officers in real 

time about a place of interest as they 

approach this known location. 

QPRIME knows the location of current 

and previous events as well as people 

and locations of interest. The PMDS 

knows where an officer is, in which 

direction they are travelling and at 

what speed. This means it is 

possible to determine what 

information to present to an officer 

based upon their location and 

operational role, and display this 

information on a map on the handheld 

MDU. 

44 


An example is demonstrated on the 

MDU screen captured below, where 

officers on patrol are notified of a 

nearby address where known drug 

offenders reside or frequent. Police 

therefore have the most current 

intelligence regarding suspected 

activity at that location. 


the incident is a Code 2, the MDU is placed in dangerous situation mode for 

the duration of the call-out. This means the officers will have to periodically, or 

as requested, confirm they are safe. If the officers are not able to confirm their 

safety, backup will be dispatched. 

Indeed, police forces may consider, as other statutory bodies have, 

implementing such systems as part of their risk management and occupational 

health and safety initiatives. 

The PMDS can even detect when an officer is running. If running 

continues, the system will alert all nearby officers without the need for any other 

communication. Officers ahead of the direction of travel may be in a position to 

intercept the suspected offender. 

In the event an MDU is misplaced or stolen, Police Communication can send a 

command that wipes any data stored locally on the MDU, and lock that phone 

out of the system. 

The misplaced or stolen MDU can still be tracked and recovered. 

The real time benefits of the PMDS 

occur when officers are alerted to a 

crime in progress, such as break and 

enter or robbery. The PMDS will 

immediately notify officers in the 

vicinity by sending an alert to their 

MDU. The information displayed can 

include location, a description of the 

suspects, and their vehicle type and 

direction of travel. 

Smart phones really are smart. MDU 

can determine their orientation and 

measure their speed and movement. 

This means if an officer is rendered 

unconscious or does not move, the 

MDU will know and notify Police 

Communications of the officer’s 

location. Police Communications 

will send the officer a status update 

request. If the officer does not reply, 

Police Communications will alert 

fellow officers in the vicinity. 

For instance, say officers have been 

sent to a Code 2 disturbance. Since 

Defending Dog Handlers 

This system will be advantageous to police performing all types of duties 

and police in some roles will consider it more useful than others. One such 

role would be the QPS dog squads. A dog handler, in certain situations like 

tracking a suspect in bushland, may have more difficulty relaying their 

location without obvious landmarks. 

If a dog handler is called to the scene to assist locating a suspect in 

bushland, they can be directed to the best entry position by sharing a 

marked point on the map with him/her. This ensures arrival in the quickest 

possible time and reduces mistakes. 

PMDS’s technology will allow the dog handler to see where he/she is on a 

map at any time, as well as the path taken to get there. Being able to trace 

the path is very useful because often the dog will have followed the tracks 

of the suspect. 

As the other attending officers will also be able to track the dog handler’s 

path, this path can be followed easily while looking for evidence that may 

have been lost, discarded or hidden by the suspect en route. 

Other options of the system will allow the dog handler to send live media 

(photo, video and sound) to other officers if required. 


45


A 

Dog Squad tracks 

Stolen item 

dropped 

Police follow the Dog 

Squad’s path using MDU 

Thief 

located 

Dog Squad tracks the thief 

Information from the PMDS can share and accept information from other agencies. The Graffiti Taskforce, which includes 

members of the QPS, Brisbane City Council and Queensland Rail, would benefit from the PMDS 

Issue 

Graffiti 

Train Travel 

What is required 

Cooperation between anti-graffiti 

forces for faster control over graffiti. 

Organised, searchable data for 

ease of finding the time and travel 

patterns of repeat offenders. 

Knowing what trains / stations 

transit officers are at, and what 

is the next station to get backup 

officers to. 

What PMDS can do 

Geo-tag photos with time and date 

and upload from the MDU. Easy to 

use data sharing system for police, 

council, railway and public. 

Wi-Fi location as GPS will not work 

on trains. 

Unsecured Wi-Fi allows personal 

data/identity theft and criminals 

to communicate and download 

child pornography anonymously. 

Wi-Fi detection and locating. 

Quick and automatic detection with 

PMDS phone on normal patrols. 

The data is uploaded to server and 

viewed on a map. 

The primary role of police officers is to keep the public safe and PMDS can help by reducing the time spent waiting for 

information. 

Issue 

Foot Chases 

Shots Fired 

Offensive Behaviour / 

Drunk Fight 

Lost and Found Children 

What is required 

Get assistance to the best position 

faster to assist officers on foot or 

bike. 

Armed backup as soon as possible. 

Provide backup quicker, which 

provides officers with security in 

knowing they have support nearby; 

provide extra methods of evidence 

collecting. 

Reuniting the children with their 

parents or guardians. 

What PMDS can do 

PMDS can automatically detect an 

officer’s running speed and direction 

and display on all nearby officers 

MDU’s on a map. 

Police on the scene can see other 

officers coming and vice versa, 

and determine an accurate time of 

arrival. 

Panic and/or Backup mode/button 

which alerts controller and other 

officers. Media (video, photo and 

sound) can be recorded as extra 

evidence. 

PMDS can send a description 

and details to all officers, 

including photograph for ease of 

identification. 

Checks on Suspicious and 

Misbehaving Characters 

Faster and more thorough identity 

checks. 

Send photo and given details to 

controller to check on the crime 

computer. 

46 



The PMDS is built upon the Peepel platform which was 

created and is maintained by SJK Consulting. SJK 

Consulting is a Queensland-based information and network 

technology company specialising in secure internet enabled 

software for mobile phones, supporting computer systems 

and interactive mapping. 

The task of reducing massive amounts of location-based 

data to relevant notification delivered to a mobile data 

device, such as the MDU, has been successfully 

field-trialled by SJK Consulting for another industry. 

SJK Consulting is an IT solution provider, not a policing 

organisation, and no doubt officers in the field will find 

novel ways of using the PMDS. SJK is happy to hear from 

any officer who may have suggestions for policing 

functions for the PMDS. 

Stephen Kelly of SJK Consulting can be contacted on: 

Email: Steve@sjk.net.au 

Phone: 0413 969 969 

Simple Video 

Evidence in Real Time 

The hardware built into modern smart phones allows for 

the building and integration of multi-function applications. 

For example, Geo-tagged photo and video can be stored 

in the phone, streamed to other phones and computers in 

real or later times. Geo-tagged means that the geographic 

coordinates are associated with the photo/video allowing 

playback alongside a timeline and/or map. 

The camera can be turned on for cases where extra 

evidence may be required, such as fights, struggles and 

(high speed) pursuits. Other officers can see where the 

pursuit is. For high speed pursuit scenarios, the phone can 

return the video and location to a senior officer (whether 

in another car or the station) to monitor in real time. The 

senior officer then has more information to assist his 

decision of whether to allow continuation or stop the 

pursuit. 

The phone can also store any high-quality photos taken 

while lower quality versions are streamed to others. After 

reviewing the lower-quality versions, a decision can be 

made to select and retrieve any individual high-quality 

photos for further scrutiny. These higher-quality photos 

can be downloaded at end of shift over Wi-Fi. 

These Geo-tagged photos and streaming video may 

provide crucial evidence to assist with a prosecution and 

may prove invaluable as a training aid in review. It also 

allows for decisions to be made by senior officers instead 

of junior officers. 

For surveillance tasks and siege incidents, updated tactical 

information is shared with each officer via the PMDS and 

they can view each other’s location to see if any of the 

team are moving and which direction. 

Policing on 

Public Transport 

In general, Wi-Fi locating accuracy is not as accurate 

as GPS, but on trains it is more than adequate. This is 

because the location of the train lines and stations do 

not change. When backup is required, police only need 

to know the direction of travel and timetable details 

(express train, forked routes, etc) so they can prepare 

to intercept at the next available stop/station. 

The train timetable can be included on the PMDS 

phone and can receive real time updates from 

Queensland Rail such as delays and other useful 

information. 

As the PMDS knows the location of the travelling 

officer, it can automatically calculate the time the train 

will arrive at the next stop, automatically factoring in 

variables such as express trains and missing stops. By 

querying the timetable, the system will know where 

the next stop(s) will be. 

The resulting information can be displayed on an 

easy-to-read map on the phone screen. 

Depending upon the required permission levels and 

settings, all police may see each other’s location on 

the PMDS and MDU. This helps determine police 

coverage which allows them to maintain an equal 

spread of police presence efficiently. Seeing all police 

officers’ locations also allows for determining how 

near or far backup officers are at a glance. 

With PMDS technology, it will be easier to ascertain 

optimal police presence at the times and locations that 

they are most required. These could include known 

trouble spots, school children travelling times and for 

rowdy passengers after football matches. 


47

Beyond Reasonable Doubt 

Beyond 

Reasonable 

Doubt 

reopening of the hearing, the Magistrate again 

emphasised the trivial nature of the events which gave 

rise to the charge. 

THE DISTRICT COURT: 

by Calvin Gnech 

Legal Officer QPUE 

Commissioner of Police v Kirby [2010] QDC 110 

THE FACTS: 

The defendant had his driver’s licence suspended under 

the State Penalties Enforcement Registry Act 1999, from 

24 May 2009 until 10 July 2009. In the early hours of 10 

July 2009, police intercepted the defendant driving. The 

defendant stated he had no idea his licence was 

suspended. Police rightly had the ability to commence 

proceedings against the defendant on this occasion. 

However, instead, police acted very fairly and generously 

by not commencing proceedings and telling the defendant 

his licence was in fact suspended and he could not drive. 

Some 15 minutes later police again found the defendant 

driving and as such proceedings were commenced. 

THE MAGISTRATES COURT: 

On 12 August 2009, the defendant appeared in the 

Magistrates Court and plead guilty to an offence of driving 

whilst on a SPER suspension. The Magistrate imposed a 

fine of $100 and made no other order. 

The prosecution rightly made application to re-open this 

sentence as the mandatory disqualification period of 

between one and six months was not imposed. This was 

brought back before the Magistrate on 8 September 2009. 

On this date the Magistrate re-opened the sentence and 

imposed an absolute discharge pursuant to section 19(1) 

Penalties and Sentences Act 1992. The Magistrate again 

refused to impose any license disqualification. 

The Magistrate initially took the view that the offence was, 

in all the circumstances, a trivial one and he expressed 

some surprise at the fact that those responsible for 

prosecuting these matters had decided to proceed. At the 

This matter was determined by the District Court on 15 

March 2010 after the QPS Solicitor appealed the 

Magistrate’s decision. The Director of Public Prosecutions 

had conduct of the appeal at the hearing of the matter. 

His Honour Judge Botting essentially had to determine 

two things: 

• Whether the sentence was manifestly inadequate; and 

• Whether an absolute discharge under s19 also means a 

discharge of the mandatory disqualification provision. 

In regard to the sentence being manifestly inadequate, his 

Honour Judge Botting states in his decision: 

“It seems to me that his Honour’s (the Magistrate) finding 

that the circumstances of the respondent’s committing 

the offence, that those circumstances were trivial, is one 

which was well and truly open to his Honour. 

“Indeed, one can understand perhaps some of his apparent 

surprise at the decision to prosecute matters. In any 

event, it seems to me that I should not interfere with his 

conclusion that the circumstances of the respondent’s 

apprehension and the nature of his offence are such as 

they may be properly characterised as being trivial.” 

“It is understandable that a number of you have contacted 

our office asking the question, ‘Is there any sense in 

commencing proceedings against a person found driving 

whilst on a SPER suspension’. 

“In regard to the second issue, the decision of Judge 

Botting appears consistent with previously decided law, 

finding a person who is sentenced via an ‘absolute 

discharge’ is discharged from all penalties and in this case 

that would include the driver’s licence disqualification.” 

WHAT TO DO GIVEN A DISTRICT COURT JUDGE HAS 

DESCRIBED THIS OFFENCE AS ‘TRIVIAL’ 

It is my understanding through contact by prosecutors 

that some, and I emphasise some, Magistrates are already 

commenting that a SPER suspension is a trivial offence. 

48 


Beyond Reasonable Doubt 

When this case is raised during sentencing hearings it is 

suggested the attention of the presiding Magistrate be 

drawn to the explanatory notes from the State Penalties 

Enforcement Bill 1999. Any suggestion of this offence 

being introduced to QLD law as a ‘trivial offence’ is quite 

contrary to the parliament’s intention at the time of 

introduction. 

The explanatory note includes the following reasons for 

the objectives and how they will be achieved. The 

enforcement of fines has become a growing problem in 

recent years. Data from the Police POLARIS system shows 

that as at 3 March 1999, c.$62.6 million in fines and other 

penalties remain uncollected since 1 July 1995. Various 

initiatives have been implemented over time to address 

the problem. 

In 1992, the SETONS Court was established by part 4A of 

the Justices Act 1886 to allow the enforcement process to 

be applied on an administrative basis, rather than 

requiring, as was previously the case, the issue of a 

complaint and summons in all cases where a fine, 

imposed by an infringement notice (or “ticket”) 

remained unpaid after the initial period allowed for 

payment had expired. 

Despite measures such as these, the problem has 

continued to escalate, thus calling for more effective 

solutions to be developed. 

The solution included the ability to suspend driver’s 

licences. The current Attorney-General has been very 

vocal on his strong stance and hard line legislative reform 

to address the unpaid fines issue. 

A valid argument also includes the reason for the licence 

being suspended by SPER. It is usual for a Court, whether 

it be a Magistrate or Judge, to order a fine in court and 

then the defendant refuses to pay the fine as the court 

order. 

In essence it could be argued the refusal to comply with 

the court order is contemptuous. The submission would 

be that a contempt of court is surely not a trivial matter. 

The above issues should be raised in argument when 

Magistrates refer to the decision of Police v Kirby and 

SPER suspensions being a trivial offence. 

Contrary to many beliefs and training within the QPS, 

District Court decisions are not binding authorities on a 

Magistrate, but highly persuasive. A Magistrate is not 

bound to follow a decision of a District Court Judge. 

WHERE TO FROM HERE ? 

I can state this matter is not likely to be successful on 

appeal to the Court of Appeal due to legalistic problems 

that occurred with the presentation of the District Court 

appeal. However, the QPU and QPS Solicitors Office are 

working together on presenting a submission 

incorporating legislative reform to resolve this issue. 

In the meantime, if you identify a case reflecting the above 

mentioned concerns, complete a report for appeal to the 

QPS Solicitor and feel free to contact our office so we 

can support such a request. Transport Operations (Road 

Use Management) Act 1995 s78(3)(f). Valentine v Eid SC 

NSW26 June 1992 


49

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Pursuits 

Pursuits 


The Queensland Police Union of Employees said it was 

concerned about the ban saying the recommendation 

changes the way police approach their duties. 

• Photo by Gold Coast Traffic branch Sgt Leon Staines 

Police should put public safety first and no 

longer pursue drivers suspected of being drunk or 

drug-affected, according to Queeensland’s chief 

coroner. 

The finding is one of 13 recommendations arising 

from Michael Barnes’ investigation into police 

pursuits in which 10 people died in Queensland 

between 2005 and 2008. 

“Perhaps the only thing more dangerous than a drunk 

driver on the road is a drunk driver being chased by 

the police,” Mr Barnes said in his report. He said 

police could not know how impaired a driver was, 

and drivers affected by drugs or alcohol were more 

likely to crash. 

“... I recommended that all of these offences be 

included in the non-pursuit category,” the coroner 

said in his report on March 31st. 

The Queensland Police Union of Employees said it 

was concerned about the ban saying the 

recommendation changes the way police approach 

their duties. 

“Often these people who are drunk or drugged are on 

their way to commit acts of domestic violence,” QPUE 

General President Ian Leavers said. 

“We have a duty to protect people out there in the 

community.“ 

“Police still need to be able to make a conscious 

decision on when to pursue or not to pursue, for the 

fact is police don’t start police chases; criminals are 

the ones who start police chases.” 

Of the 10 fatal pursuits Mr Barnes examined, six 

involved cases of drivers failing to stop for roadside 

breath tests. 

Eight of the 10 drivers were young, aged between 16 

and 26, and all but two had young passengers in their 

vehicles. 


51

Pursuits 

“In the ten years 2000-2009, 22 people 

died and 689 people were injured 

during or following a police pursuit in 

Queensland,’’ Mr Barnes found. 

In seven of the crashes someone other 

than the driver was killed, four were 

members of the public who were not 

involved in the chase, and the other 

three were passengers. 

Mr Leavers said police are still 

expected to be able to make a 

split-second decision that the coroner 

will spend days dissecting. 

“The truth is nothing has changed,’’ 

he said. “Ask most police officers who 

have been involved in a pursuit that 

ends in tragedy and they will tell you 

that they will never bother again… 

that the trauma for them and their 

families just isn’t worth it.” 

“The problem with pursuits is that it 

often isn’t straightforward or black 

and white. You can have all the 

categories you like – but nobody can 

predict what will happen around the 

next bend,’’ he said. 

“Police need better civil and criminal 

protection that covers them absolutely 

when they are acting in good faith in 

the execution of their duty,” 

Mr Leavers said. 

In handing down his findings, Mr 

Barnes said his recommendations are 

designed to reduce the risk of further 

deaths without compromising 

reasonable law enforcements. 

Queensland Police Commissioner Bob 

Atkinson told media he was carefully 

considering the coroner’s findings. 

“This is an extremely difficult and 

complex area of policing; what some 

would say is the most difficult in 

terms of judgement,” he said at the 

time. 

The group also says drivers who try 

to evade police should get tougher 

penalties. 

“Maybe we should be doing what 

they’re doing in America, where 

everything is video-recorded and you 

can actually watch the conversation 

after the event, of the police in the 

vehicle and that sort of thing,” she 

said. 

The State Opposition said the 

recommendations played into the 

hands of criminals. 

Mr Barnes also recommended chases 

be automatically terminated if the 

pursued car was driven dangerously, 

and that police strictly comply with 

school zone restrictions during school 

hours. 

The recommendation was in 

relation to the 2006 death of 

13-year-old Brisbane girl Caitlin 

Hanrick, fatally injured outside her 

school by a stoned teenager evading 

police in a stolen car. 

He also urged police to review current 

policies on chasing stolen cars, but 

stopped short of suggesting a ban on 

police pursuits of stolen vehicles. 

Mr Barnes also said consideration 

must be given to tougher penalties 

for drivers who evaded police, with 

anyone convicted of the offence to be 

automatically stripped of their licence. 

He also recommended broader 

options for police to impound 

vehicles. 

52 


Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said 

the government will respond to the 

recommendations after they have 

been reviewed by Cabinet and 

Commissioner Atkinson. 

“They look to me like very carefully 

considered and thoughtful 

recommendations and if they help to 

save a life then we have an obligation 

to implement them.” she said. 

Bobbie Henry, the secretary of Citizens 

Against Road Slaughter (CARS), 

disagreed with the ban, telling media 

drivers under the influence could kill 

someone else. 

“If there’s a chance the police can 

pull them up and obviously prevent 

them from driving any more, there’s a 

chance of saving a life,” she said. 

“A chance is better than no chance at 

all.” 

“The police have a role to play in 

protecting society and that these louts 

who want to keep breaking the law, 

breaking away from police in crowded 

streets or mainline highways, they are 

only going to be causing more trouble 

and now the police have had their 

hands tied,” Opposition police 

spokesman Vaughan Johnson told 

media. 

State Coroner Michael Barnes’ 

Findings 


Refocus on Safety 

The current pursuit policy stipulates 

safety is paramount but then directs 

officers to balance the safety risks 

of pursuing against the benefits to 

the community of apprehending the 

suspect, whether or not those benefits 

involve prevention of personal injury. 

I recommend the policy be recast to 

ensure it is only the danger to the

Pursuits 

• State Coroner Michael Barnes 

safety of others posed by not 

immediately apprehending the 

suspects that is factored into the risk 

assessment process. 


No pursuits without evidence 

The prohibition on commencing a 

pursuit when there is no evidence that 

a motorist who has failed to stop has 

committed another offence and the 

suspicion that the motorist may have 

committed other offences is based 

only on that failure and/or the 

intercepting officer’s instincts should 

be removed from “Non-pursuit 

matters” to “Pursuit policy 

principals”. 


Don’t pursue drunk or 

drug-affected drivers 

In view of the practical difficulties 

involved in assessing the level of 

impairment of a drug or 

alcohol-affected driver, and the 

likelihood that chasing them will 

significantly increase the likelihood of 

such drivers crashing, I recommend 

that all these offences be included in 

the non-pursuit category. 


Pursuing stolen cars 

Despite the minimal evidence that 

pursuing stolen cars has an impact on 

the prevalence or clear up of the 

offence, in view of the conviction of 

the Commissioner of the QPS that 

those responsible pose a safety risk 

more significant than the property 

crime aspects of the offence, I will 

refrain from recommending the 

unlawful use of a motor vehicle 

become a non-pursuit matter. 

However, I encourage the QPS to 

continue to review and consider the 

justification for the current policy. 


Abolish Category 3 

The current policy requires an officer 

who has successfully attempted an 

interception and who is contemplating 

commencing a pursuit to weigh the 

evidence indicating a fleeing 

motorist may have committed an 

offence with sufficient precision to 

determine whether it is “known” he/ 

she has committed an offence rather 

than just “reasonably suspect” that 

he/she might have. 

That is unreasonable and 

impracticable. I recommend the 

distinction be abolished by the 

deleting of category 3 from the policy. 


Reasonable belief is sufficient 

In the current policy each of the three 

pursuit categories refers to different 

offence and different levels of 

certainty that they may have been 

committed by a suspect who has 

failed to stop. 

In my view, it is unreasonable and 

impracticable to require officers to 

make such fine judgments in the 

volatile and dynamic circumstances of 

an unsuccessful attempted 

interception. 

I also consider a mere suspicion is too 

low a threshold to justify an inherently 

dangerous activity such as a pursuit 

but that requiring an officer to know 

an offence has been committed is too 

restrictive. 

Accordingly I recommend category 2 

be amended to require that an officer 

have a “reasonable belief” that a 

relevant offence may have been 

committed. 


Weighted considerations 

The policy stipulates that safety is 

paramount and then lists 11 other 

matters that should also be taken into 

account when determining whether 

to commence and/or continue a 

pursuit, only some of which relate to 

safety, with no guidance as to how 

they should be factored into decision 

making. 

I recommend this aspect of the policy 

be reviewed to ensure the intent that 

safety is the overriding consideration 

is made clearer. 

For example, officers should be 

encouraged to disregard those factors 

which do not add to the risk. 


Consider impact of pursuing 

I recommend the policy be amended 

to explicitly acknowledge the 

likelihood that pursuing a motorist 

who has failed to stop is likely to 

result in the other car driving more 

dangerously and require an officer 

considering whether to commence or 

continue a pursuit to factor this into 

the risk assessment and the manner in 

which the police car is driven. 


Development of best practice 

guidelines 

For the reason set out, I recommend 

the QPS develop best practice 

guidelines that: 

• Prohibit officers pursuing, other than 

in category 1 pursuits, unless radio 

contact can be maintained and the 

police car contains two officers or 

hands free radio; 

• Require a pursuit to be terminated 

if nominated dangerous manoeuvres 

such as running red light at speed 

etc occur; 

• Insist on compliance with school 

zones and other particularly sensitive 

road management requirements; and 

• Deem a pursuit to continue until the 

police car ceases to follow or 

otherwise maintain contact with the 

other vehicle. 

I leave it for the Service to determine 

whether these guidelines should form 

part of the policy or training materials. 


53


Letters 

to the Editor 

Letters to the Editor should be no longer than 400 words if possible and sent to: 

PO Box 13008 George Street, Brisbane Qld 4003 Fax: 07 3259 1996 (Letters may be edited for length and clarity.) 

Dear Editor, 

As usual it was with great 

anticipation that I received the 

April 2010 issue of the Police 

Journal. I flicked straight to the 

correspondence section to take in 

the views of others on our employer, 

conditions, and perhaps read a funny 

story. 

It is with dismay that I see a letter 

that is one half of a “tit for tat” 

between two of our own. When are 

we going to remember we are all 

part of one organisation that is still 

fondly remembered by many as a 

family. 

I have had the opportunity to move 

around to many areas of the QPS 

and meet some very interesting 

people. Some of these people will be 

my friends for life and others will be 

the people I avoid with every step. 

At the same time, I am reminded that 

you can’t choose your family but you 

can choose your friends. 

Now I have very set views and 

opinions on a number of things, but 

at the same time I understand that 

other people have opinions that 

differ to mine. 

This doesn’t mean that when 

they voice them I take this as a 

personal attack on me. We are all 

in a profession where we could 

be subject to an attack from much 

worse persons than our fellow 

members. 

So I guess what I am trying to 

convey is, it is great to see some 

discussion about our choice of 

career but when it turns into 

personal insults, it is about time we 

put the pen down and leave it alone. 

Let’s bring back the mateship that 

should be a cornerstone of what we 

have all chosen to do. 

Regards, 

Wannie Robb Wann 

Sergeant 8879 

Loganholme Police Station 

Dear Editor, 

This is a thank-you that is quite long 

overdue and is directed to all of your 

members. 

Whilst others, including myself, are 

on holiday and enjoying family time 

your members are on call, out and 

about making driving safer for all of 

us over Easter. 

I live in Gracemere, near 

Rockhampton and have just returned 

from a day trip to Gladstone to see 

family. 

On several occasions today I noticed 

many of your members out and 

about late on a Sunday afternoon 

over Easter whilst my family and I 

were enjoying safer roads due to 

their hard work. 

My family and I would like to say 

thanks for the countless times, year 

after year, all your members have 

done this. 

Regards, 

Tony Trost 

Gracemere Qld 

Dear Editor, 

As a result of my resignation from 

the Queensland Police Service 

effective 18th June 2010, I also 

tender my resignation from the 

Queensland Police Union of 

Employees effective the same date. 

I would like to thank the union 

executive, regional representatives, 

branch officials, industrial officers 

and union administration staff for 

all their support and hard work over 

the years, and all members of the 

union, past and present, for their 

camaraderie and friendship. 

After 28 years in the job, it is time 

for me to move on. It has been a 

long and interesting journey from 

B Squad of 1982 at the academy to 

now. 

I leave with many fond memories 

and great war stories to be told. 

I wish all police, and particularly 

union members, well and good luck 

in the future. 

Unity is strength. 

Yours faithfully, 

Geoff Leahy 

Senior Constable 5101 

Gladstone District SOC 

Dear Editor, 

RE: VICTIMS OF CRIME 

ASSISTANCE ACT 2009 

I have been provided with a copy of 

the Queensland Police Union Journal 

issued on March 10. 

There is an article by Denis Sycz with 

respect to the introduction of the 

new Victim of Crime Assistance Act 

2009. 

I have made some representations 

in relation to how poorly victims are 

treated under the new Act. 

I attach here to a submission that I 

have prepared relating to the Act and 

how the new Act, in my view, is one 

that really treats victims very poorly. 

You may wish to let your members 

know of this view. 

Kind Regards, 

Peter Boyce 

Direct Email: 

pboyce@butlermcdermott.com.au 

Direct Line: (07) 5441 2871 

RE: VICTIMS OF CRIME 

ASSISTANCE ACT 2009 

I confirm that the Victims of Crime 

Assistance Act 2009 is due to come 

into effect on 1 December, 2009. 

It will no doubt be promoted by the 

Queensland Government as a new, 

innovative piece of legislation. 


55


The fact is that this is a terrible bit 

of legislation so far as it goes to 

compensating victims. 

Category 

Criteria 

Minimum 

Assistance 

Maximum 

Assistance 

The existing legislation provides that 

there is a scheme maximum payable 

in respect of injury. 

Attempted murder, rape and 

A certain other sexual offences $5,000.00 $10,000.00 

That scheme maximum is $75,000.00 

and has been $75,000.00 for a long 

period of time. It is based on injury 

and it has a table (copy enclosed) 

which sets out the basis upon which 

assessment of compensation is 

made. Under the current legislation 

no allowance is made for loss of 

wages, out-of-pocket expenses or 

anything of that nature. The Court 

simply makes an award based on 

the injury itself as per the attached 

schedule up to a maximum of 

$75,000.00. 

I have always complained that the 

sum of $75,000.00 should have 

increased even with CPl over the 

years and I have written to the Labor 

Government regularly on this issue 

but that figure has never changed. 

What is the problem with the new 

legislation? 

1. The Government is portraying that 

under the new Act the victims will 

be better off because they can still 

claim $75,000.00, however, they will 

be able to claim for the following:- 

(a) Reasonable counselling expenses. 

(b) Reasonable medical expenses. 

(c) Incidental travel expenses. 

(d) Report fees. 

(e) Loss of earnings up to $20,000.00. 

(f) Expenses incurred for loss or damage 

to clothing worn at the time of the 

incident. 

(g) Other expenses in exceptional 

circumstances. Examples given are 

relocation expenses or security of 

costs for victims’ premises. 

(h) Funeral expenses if the victim is 

deceased. 

(i) Special assistance when the lump 

sum payment of not more than 

$10,000.00. 

2. It is the last clause “special 

assistance” which is particularly 

troubling. 

3. The special assistance is in effect 

the maximum amount that can be 

received for the injury itself. In order 

to achieve an award of $10,000.00 

the Act then defines offences into 

different categories We set out the 

categories as follows:- 

56 


B 

An attempt to commit a 

Category A offence, grievous 

bodily harm, robbery whilst 

armed, burglary with violence 

$1,301.00 $3,500.00 

C 

and certain other offences 


Category B offence, unlawful 

wounding, serious assault, 

assault occasioning bodily harm 

$651.00 $1,300.00 

D 

and certain other offences 


Category C offence, assault 

and other offences of violence 

not covered under the other 

Categories 

$130.00 $650.00 

4. Note special assistance is really 

what is known as general damages 

or in other words if you look at 

the current schedule the most any 

victim can get for pain and suffering 

and permanent impairment is a 

maximum of $10,000.00. 

That has to be for attempted murder, 

rape and certain other sexual 

offences. 

5. Those who are most 

disadvantaged by this Act will be 

those who sustain serious long term 

injuries as a result of violent crime. 

The level of lump sum compensation 

for injury will be cut for a maximum 

of $75,000.00 under the current 

legislation down to a maximum of 

$10,000.00 but in most cases it will 

be a maximum of either $650.00, 

$1,300.00 or $3,500.00. 

6. One wonders why they could not 

have made the amendments and 

allowed all of the other expenses 

up to maximum amounts and then 

allowed special assistance to be 

assessed based on medical reports 

up to scheme maximum of say 

$75,000.00 for each of the Categories 

or if they wanted to they could have 

made:- 

(a) $75,000.00 for Category A. 

(b) $50,000.00 for Category B. 

(c) $30,000.00 for Category C. 

(d) $20,000.00 for Category D. 

7. What it really means is that 

victims of crime will be worse off. 

It must also be remembered that 

when we have a look at the types 

of assistance that will be available 

and analyse what will be paid by the 

Government much of what is 

provided in the legislation will be 

covered by Medicare. 

By way of example, see counselling/ 

psychiatric expenses would normally 

be covered by Medicare, that is 

Psychologist and Psychiatrist; 

reasonable medical expenses would 

normally be covered either in the 

public health system or by bulk 

billing. 

8. Loss of earnings up to a maximum 

of $20,000.00 is a positive, however, 

that seems to have been put in there 

to try and assist people who have 

lost wages but what happens most 

times is that people are either out of 

work or if they are in work they 

get back to work as quickly as 

possible and therefore this loss of 

earnings up to $20,000.00 whilst a 

positive is not really as big a carrot 

as it might seem. 

9. Victims are the losers in the sense 

of special assistance as it is a very 

poor amount to say the least. 

10. The Act should be amended to 

allow for significant compensation 

in the area of Categories A, B, C 

and D and I think that it would be 

appropriate to amend the Act 

and certainly not allow the current 

Government to portray that they 

have been the trends of victims 

when in fact they have really 

penalised most victims by such 

paltry amounts for compensation. 

I am happy to speak to anyone on 

this aspect. 

Kind regards, 

Peter Boyce 

Direct Email: 

pboyce@butlermcdermott.com.au 

Direct Line: (07) 5441 2871


Dear Editor, 

The Dreaded DRE (Digital Rectal 

Exam) - Not Required 

Some months ago the journal ran 

a courageous article written by a 

member relating his experiences 

of the diagnosis and treatment of 

prostate cancer. 

Recently it was my turn when I 

was diagnosed with aggressive 

prostate cancer at the age of 47. I 

turned 48 and got married on 13th 

February 2010, and had a robotic 

prostatectomy ten days later. 

The honeymoon hammock in Fiji 

unfortunately had to be foregone 

for a hospital bed at Greenslopes. 

Without the ‘persuasion’ of my 

better half, Tracey-Lee, I would most 

certainly not have had the requisite 

PSA (prostate specific antigens) 

blood test which ultimately saved 

me from a premature death. 

Prostate cancer is an insidious 

disease - apart from a slight increase 

in the need to pee, you just wouldn’t 

know you had it until it’s too late. 

Typically when the cancer gets out 

of the gland, it often then spreads 

to the spine, and once it’s in the 

bones the prognosis is not good. 

Major surgery and the yet to be 

performed radium treatments aren’t 

pleasant, but they certainly beat the 

alternative. 

I would like to express my sincere 

thanks to Ian Leavers and the 

Queensland Police Union, and to Ian 

Todd and the Police Chaplaincy for 

the moral and financial support they 

have afforded me and my family. 

They have helped significantly 

in lessening the burden of an 

emotionally and financially trying 

time. My deepest gratitude is 

also extended to my boss Senior 

Sergeant Steve McCreight who is 

also a prostate cancer survivor, 

and his wife Marie who have been 

incredibly kind and supportive, and 

to my colleagues at Noosa Heads 

Station. 

All of us from time to time are guilty 

of whining about the job, and the 

service, and this and that. But truly, 

QPRIME notwithstanding it’s a 

pretty good gig and when the chips 

are down the ‘police family’ thing 

really does kick in and I can’t think 

of anything else I’d rather do. Where 

else does your union through its 

members provide a sick leave bank 

that provides virtually unlimited sick 

leave when you are genuinely laid 

up? 

Where else do colleagues pop in to 

see how you’re going with half-price 

coffees in hand? We should all be 

proud of the tough job we do and the 

people who support us in it. 

So gentlemen, and partners of 

gentlemen, ensure that you or the 

man in your life gets a PSA test as a 

matter of urgency. It’s just a blood 

test and the dreaded Digital Rectal 

Exam is not required. 

Ian Lobley 

Constable 13702 

Noosa Heads Police 

Dear Editor, 

I was pleased to read the article on 

Sgt Peter Thomas in the previous 

journal. As the Townsville district 

union representative, Pete is always 

available. 

I wish to thank him and Mick Gerrard 

for the help they gave me recently 

with a difficult work matter requiring 

union assistance. 

Both were amazing and with their 

diligent assistance, I was able to 

overcome this issue. Pete and Mick 

are both extremely professional, 

prompt, encouraging and generally 

good blokes. 

Thanks guys for your continuing 

support of my cause. It is much 

appreciated. 

Donna Baker 

SIC 12035 

Northern Region 

Dear Editor, 

I joined our union 23 years ago. At 

the time the president visited the 

academy and explained the benefits, 

foremost of which was the fact that 

without membership we had no 

support in the event of a malicious 

complaint or civil litigation. 

The point of this message 

was so clear that if there was 

any other reason offered for 

union membership it paled into 

insignificance and I can’t remember 

it. As I saw it, the union’s main 

purpose was to provide an essential 

professional insurance in the 

likely case that we were subject to 

malicious litigation. 

A major inquiry and more than 

two decades later, the industrial 

landscape is very different. 

The current QPUE provides financial 

and other welfare support for 

members in need, negotiates and 

secures award conditions through 

proper Enterprise Bargaining. 

It also takes on an active, and if 

necessary, political role to defend 

the rights and protect the welfare 

of union members both individually 

and collectively. 

Although the need for legal defence 

is as important as ever, members 

must appreciate the crucial role the 

union plays in fighting for just pay 

and basic rights. This is not rhetoric. 

This was not a crucial issue in the 

past but it is now. 

Across the board fundamental 

working conditions have been 

eroded. I have been shocked at 

how abusive conditions that can 

only be described as un-Australian 

have been imposed on Queensland 

workers. 

A couple of examples will illustrate 

my point. My daughter when 

completing her senior high school 

year worked for an American 

restaurant chain part-time. 

To keep the total number of 

employees within the scope of a 

“small business” within the meaning 

of John Howard’s “Workplace 

Choices” the company refused 

to hire more staff instead putting 

pressure on the kids to work to 

midnight three or four nights per 

week. 

Remember, most of these employees 

working for $8.50-10 per hour 

were high school kids. Since the 

company would not change rosters 

or anything else at the mere request 

of staff, I had to go in personally to 

ensure my daughter’s roster was 

changed so she was not working the 

night before her final senior exams. 

There were cases of kids arriving 

back in Brisbane from interstate 

holidays and being rostered to work 

that same night. 


57


In another case, a manager insisted 

that a girl who had been released 

from hospital that morning be 

rostered to work that same night. 

In all these cases, the managers 

knew of the important examinations, 

the return from holidays and the 

release from hospital. 

I have personally witnessed the 

plight of casual teachers/trainers for 

another government department. 

They take leave, are flown to the 

location (24 hours or over trip, two 

separate flights) and work for a 

month at a time. 

All the teachers prepare hours of 

Powerpoint, teaching plans and 

resources in their own time. 

This is between trips and can 

amount to a couple of weeks’ work, 

all of which is unpaid. 

If one starts to make too much noise 

about being paid for the work done, 

then you are likely not be invited 

next time to do the short-term 

contract work when it comes up. 

I have seen situations where one of 

these teachers had performed 12 

hours overtime over three weeks 

as directed by the client and the 

department and only been paid 

the overtime after seven weeks of 

argument with the office manager 

and an appeal to the regional HR 

manager! 

My point is that we can not take 

the current relatively good stable 

industrial conditions police are 

awarded for granted. 

It is naive to think that police for 

some reason would not have their 

pay and working conditions reduced 

by the government in an effort to 

reduce budget spending, if they 

could. 

The media is not our friend, and the 

only body to stand in defence of 

police pay and basic working rights 

and conditions is the Queensland 

Police Union of Employees. 

It is unlikely that major benefits and 

rights will disappear overnight but 

a process of creep could gradually 

erode these conditions in an unseen 

way. 

Each small loss would be justified 

by some specious rationale like the 

economic downturn or the pressing 

need to spend budget elsewhere. 

The union is only as strong as the 

support from its members and 

effective defence of these hard-won 

rights can only continue with active 

involvement and support of the 

union from all its members. 

Vernon Sommerfeldt 

Senior Sergeant 

PROVE Program 

Police Academy 

58 


QRPA 

THE QUEENSLAND RETIRED POLICE ASSOCIATION NEWS – MAY 2010 

By Greg Early, State Secretary 

Ph 3863 1180 

Email early.gregory@gmail.com 

WEBSITE: www.qrpa.asn.au 

Branch, where due to the poor health of Secretary/ 

Treasurer Gus Young, Col has been wearing the three 

hats for some time. 

MESSAGE FROM 

THE Q.R.P.A. STATE PRESIDENT 

M.J. (MICK) O’BRIEN 

With the advent of so many new branches over the 

past few years that provide a secure meeting place for 

our retired officers, there does not appear to be the same 

enthusiasm to actively seek new members through the 

local media outlets in the branch areas by the older 

established branches. Far North Queensland Branch, 

based in Cairns, is a typical example. The wonderful people 

who have run that branch for years need to encourage 

more of those retired officers residing in the Cairns area 

to make the effort to join the branch. We are well aware 

of the number of retirees on the Tablelands and the 

inconvenience of travelling to Cairns for a meeting or vice 

versa. 

I was fortunate enough last December to join with the 

FNQ Branch members and the senior police from Cairns 

at the branch’s Christmas luncheon. Below are a couple of 

photographs taken at the luncheon. 

The Townsville Branch often travels to Ingham to meet 

with our members there. I also note that the new Mackay/ 

Whitsunday Branch will travel to Bowen to hold their next 

meeting. It does take organising as at times the hire of 

suitable transport is just too expensive. Where there is a 

will there is a way, and as serving police we always looked 

for a solution. New members, Associates and established 

members are needed everywhere to lend a hand with the 

running of their branch. 

A number of our branch executive members have taken 

ill recently, and the branches have to keep up their 

momentum. Quite often one branch member, usually the 

President, takes on the additional role/s and responsibilities. 

This would be unnecessary if someone else would 

volunteer to learn the ropes, which is something we have 

done all our working lives. (Especially if the o/c you were 

to replace had left the station some time before you took 

up duty, and you had to start from scratch). Think about 

it, as most executives in the established branches have 

not changed significantly, if at all, over many years. While 

they all do a great job, they would all like someone else 

to come on board and learn the ropes with an eye to the 

continued future success of the branch. 

The work is not onerous or time consuming. Most 

executive meetings are held the same day as the general 

meeting. The introduction of a new man and/or woman on 

the team - bringing new ideas even for just a while - could 

encourage them to stay on and perhaps encourage others 

to also take a turn at the “top table”. 

On the subject of our Executive Branch people having 

a bout with their health, President Terry Walker of 

Redlands and Secretary Bainbridge of Sunshine Coast 

were hospitalised recently. Extra work being carried out 

by Presidents include Col Guy of the Near North Coast 

The people enjoying the function at Brothers Leagues 

Club, with President Jack Frame and myself, included Ray 

Hunter, Don Condie, John Crane from Mackay Branch, 

Maureen Bickhoff, (widow of Jim), Inspector Brent Carter, 

Thel Whyte, Jock MacDonald, Inspector Peter Mansfield 

and special guest of honour, Asst. Commissioner Andy 

Henderson, and many others. 

Annual luncheons are now underway and always need our 

support. The Police Credit Union has lifted their financial 

support for such branch functions and this will keep the 

costs down, making it easier for more people to attend 

and enjoy the luncheons or the dinner at Rocky. The events 

appear in the publications from the branches and the 

Association. Please also check our new website for news 

and events. 

Please check the welfare reports in this journal and on 

the internet and do what you can to assist the welfare 

60 


officers in your branch and in Brisbane where many go for 

specialist care. The year is now almost a third completed, 

so if we have goals for 2010 to complete we need to get 

started now and not leave it any longer. 

I note as a Director of the Police Legacy Scheme that there 

are many opportunities for serving and retired police, 

family and friends to support various functions, sporting 

days, raffles etc to raise much needed funds for the Scheme. 

There are now 74 children on the scheme and unfortunately, 

with a number of our serving officers having real problems 

with their health, the list must inevitably grow. 

The Bundaberg Branch’s Bargara Bowls Day on 10 May 

is always a great day to play bowls, meet old friends and 

make new ones while Bob Hayes and his members go well 

out of their way to make this day a success for Legacy 

and nine local charities. The QRPA Bowls day at Wavell 

Heights Bowls Club will be held on Friday 11 June. Thanks 

to some great sponsors the prizes for both charity days are 

spectacular. Please support them and every opportunity to 

support Legacy and the local charities in your area. 

Please save some special prayers for our members and 

those of their family who are not enjoying good health 

at this time, and also for all of our serving police who we 

know are out there - not knowing what job is next and 

how it may unfold. I know we are proud of their work and 

especially grateful to them for the respect and support 

they afford our members at every one of our branches. It 

is a special position to enjoy because I can assure you that 

in other jurisdictions (no names) they do not enjoy such 

support and/or have any relationship whatsoever with their 

Commissioner. We will have our Patron and Commissioner 

Bob Atkinson for another three years (God willing). We 

are confident that our friendship and the co-operation will 

continue into the future. 

Take care and God bless. 

M.J. (Mick) O’Brien, State President QRPA Inc. 

FUTURE LUNCHEONS: Sunshine Coast, Headland Golf 

Club, 25 May 2010; Hervey Bay at RSL Club on Tuesday 15 

June 2010; Van Diemen’s Land – AGM and dinner 19 June 

2010 at the Great Lake Hotel, Miena, Tasmania; Gold Coast 

at Twin Towns Services Club 20 July 2010; Gladstone at 

the Dragon Garden Restaurant on 31 July 2010; Gympie at 

Gympie Golf Club on 25 August 2010; Near North Coast at 

Caboolture Golf Club on 15 November 2010; Bundaberg at 

the RSL Club on 1 December 2010; and Ipswich at Brothers 

Leagues Club, Raceview, 16 December 2010. 

FUTURE MEETINGS IN BRISBANE: These commence at 

12.30 pm in the ground floor conference room at Police 

Headquarters. The 7 June 2010 meeting will feature an 

address on the Queensland Police Legacy Scheme while 

the 5 July one will be an address by a representative of 

Community Supporting Police/Helping Hand. 

QRPA-POLICE LEGACY ANNUAL BOWLS DAY: This was 

going to be on 12 March 2010, but for a few reasons it has 

been shifted to 11 June 2010 at the Wavell Heights Bowls 

Club . 

QRPA 

QRPA HAS ITS OWN WEBSITE: Courtesy of the Queensland 

Police Union of Employees, the Association has its own 

website – www.qrpa.asn.au. We are gradually building it 

up to contain stories by or about Queensland Police Officers 

and some photos recording recent events involving our 

members. 

QUEENSLAND MOUNTED POLICE REUNION: Former 

Senior Sergeant and QRPA Member Gordon Close was 

the officer in charge of the Mounted Unit from 1980 to 

1983. He is in the process of arranging a reunion at the 

Queensland Police Academy, Oxley, on Saturday 31 July 

2010, commencing at 2.00 pm. He has over 20 starters so 

far, but is keen to make contact with former members of 

the unit particularly between 1953 and 1960. Gordon can 

be contacted on 41289073. 

NEW MEMBERS: Former Sergeant Ernest Robert Hockings 

and former Senior Constable Barry Joseph Vincent Downs 

(Mackay/Whitsunday), former Senior Constable William 

David Kitchin (Redlands), former Senior Sergeant Robert 

George Moore (Rockhampton), former Senior Constable 

Lionel Rodney Bloss, former Kapetah in Yugoslavia Police 

(equivalent to Superintendent in QPS) Safety Avdich and 

former Senior Sergeant Gregory Ian Spies (all Logan/ 

Beenleigh), former Sergeant Rodwyn Colin Bevan and 

former Detective Senior Constable Bradley John Lingard 

(Brisbane), former Senior Sergeant Brian John Knapp, 

former Senior Sergeant Arthur John Law and former 

Sergeant 1st Class Shaun Terence Molloy (Near North 

Coast). 

RECENT OBITUARIES – May They Rest in Peace. 

Family: Diana Langton, wife of Tom, Townsville, 9 April 

2010 and Bette Margaret Lewandowsky, Rockhampton, 

mother of member Brian Lewandowsky and mother-in-law 

of Associate Delia, service 16 April 2010. Serving Officer: 

Detective Sergeant Michael Hayes, service Atherton 23 

April 2010. 

SENIOR CERTIFICATE: (These are issued to members who 

are over 65 years of age and have ten years of financial 

continuous membership): Ross Malin Beer and Edgar 

Robert Zerner. 

WELFARE REPORTS AS AT 12 APRIL 2010: Ron Suhr 

is home and feeling a lot better. He might have to have 

surgery in the future. Kev Nunn recently had a few days in 

Buderim Hospital and is home again. Ray Hunter has been 

in the Royal Brisbane Hospital. Glenda Campbell is in care 

at St George. She has not improved since having a stroke 

recently. Jim Potts has to have a pacemaker fitted. Bob 

Gray and Terry Walker are in Greenslopes Private Hospital 

and are not very well. Janet Brady has had bronchial 

asthma. Frank Donaghue is recovering from a back injury 

incurred while trying to assassinate a cane toad. 

AROUND THE BRANCHES 

IPSWICH: Their last meeting was held at the Ipswich RSL 

Club on 14 April 2010. A special welcome was given to 

Dianne Schloss, a former Police Officer who served at 

Ipswich, and their guest speaker, Chief Superintendent 

Len Potts, Crime and Misconduct Commission. Welfare 

Officer Arthur Zillmann was welcomed back to the 

meeting by President Ken Morris. Secretary/Treasurer 

Ken Martin supplied information about the Crime 

Stoppers Call Centre and the impact of the transition 

and changes surrounding the new QPS Call Centre soon 

to be opened in Zillmere. Chief Superintendent Potts 


61

QRPA 

was able to provide up to date information on the latter 

centre. Discussion ensued about the possibility of having 

a memorial placed in memory of deceased members near 

the Sangster Memorial at North Ipswich. Inquiries will 

be made to the Darling Downs Branch which is engaged 

in a similar venture. Chief Superintendent Potts gave an 

interesting and informative presentation on his career 

highlights in the QPS. Many points were relevant to 

members as he had served in Ipswich and Inala with many 

of the members present. Members of the Branch will be 

involved in the annual Crime Stoppers Race Day to be held 

at Ipswich on 23 July 2010. 

ROCKHAMPTON: They met on 7 April 2010 at the 

Cambridge Hotel. President Barry Self welcomed all 

members and their visitor, former Senior Sergeant Robert 

(Bob) George Moore, who soon became an applicant to 

join the association. A special welcome was given to Max 

Watson who had been absent for a few meetings due to the 

removal of several sun cancers. 

The shelter roof at the Rotary Park, The Bluff, Yeppoon, 

had been repaired so they held their BBQ there on 18 April 

2010. Pat Lawton is having good and bad days with his 

throat, and has to go to Brisbane soon for an operation. 

Jim Oberle has returned home to Capricorn Gardens 

at Yeppoon to be with his wife who is having breathing 

problems. Jim is not travelling real well and would 

appreciate a phone call or visit. Cavill Heywood is to have 

an operation in PA Hospital late in April. 

FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND (CAIRNS): Our lunch only 

meeting at Brothers Leagues Club on Friday 26 March 

was attended by six members and one guest. There were 

six apologies. Ray Hunter is in Royal Brisbane Hospital 

receiving radium treatment. He is presently at home in 

Brisbane but requires daily treatment. He extends his 

thanks to those members who have made contact with 

him. Noel Holding is currently in Cairns Private Hospital 

with prostate troubles. Ron Pocock is at home with chest 

problems and is not well. The next Quarterly meeting/ 

lunch is on Friday 30 April at Brothers Leagues Club, and 

lunch only on Friday 28 May - 12 midday at the same venue. 

(Don Condie) 

SUNSHINE COAST: Their last meeting was held at 

the Headland Golf Club on 23 March 2010. Secretary 

Merv Bainbridge has had some serious surgery and is 

recuperating at home. Treasurer Roly Dargusch is acting 

as Secretary during Merv’s recuperation. Merv is always 

ready for a good yarn. He supervises community service 

participants, several of whom have expressed their dismay 

at his illness and wished him well. 

Jack Jessen remains paralysed on his left side. But, he has 

some slight movement in his fingers. Ron Smith of Canada 

has had a mild stroke and has recovered sufficiently to get 

his driver’s licence back. Kevin Nunn has been diagnosed 

with prostate cancer and is undergoing treatment. Dick 

Keats is having problems with blockages in veins in his 

left leg and may have to undergo surgery to bypass the 

relevant veins. Ken and Pam Scanlan have returned from 

an enjoyable 19-day tour of both Islands of New Zealand. 

Grahame and Lyle Gronow, Hervey Bay, got off the same 

plane as them in Auckland and were off on a similar trip 

around the ‘Shaky Isles’. 

GYMPIE: Our last meeting at Cooroy went well with a 

good roll-up despite flooding rain that kept some from 

attending. The RSL at Cooroy is a great venue and we 

enjoy the trip down there for a change of scenery. The 

Police Wives Association is organising a bus trip on 4 May 

2010 to the Ginger Factory for morning tea and lunch at 

Caloundra. Our members have been invited to join them. 

Joke for All: An Irishman was terribly overweight so his 

Doctor put him on a diet. 

Des Melksham receives his Senior Certificate from President, Laurie Pointing 

“I want you to eat regularly for two days, then skip a day 

and repeat this procedure for two weeks. The next time I 

see you, you should have lost at least five pounds.” When 

the Irishman returned, he shocked the Doctor by having 

lost nearly 60 POUNDS! “Why, that’s amazing!” the doctor 

said. “You followed my instructions, now?” The Irishman 

nodded and said, “I’ll tell you though, by jaesuz, I t’aut I 

were going to drop dead dat third day.” “From hunger, you 

mean?” “No, from bloody skippin’ !” (Norm Breen) 

GOLD COAST: Currumbin RSL Club was the venue for 

their 6 April 2010 meeting. Planning is well advanced 

for their meeting/barbecue on 4 May at the Runaway Bay 

Police Station. It is significant that this date is the 21st 

anniversary of the opening of the station. Arthur Jones 

has had further melanoma removed, one of them being 

from his lower eyelid. Neil Raward has had a successful 

knee replacement and is now recuperating at home. Alan 

Barnes was also expecting to go under the knife for a hip 

replacement but his operation has been put back a few 

weeks. One of their members, Russell Robertson, gave a 

very interesting and informative address on his recent trek 

over the Kokoda Track. The bi-monthly barbecue at the 

Chalker’s residence went off very well with the food and 

company excellent. Secretary Des Sorensen, Nev Hackett 

and Keith Woodbridge represented the QRPA at the funeral 

of Lynne Blasco, a lovely lady who was employed by the 

QPS for many years as an Administrative Officer in the 

district and regional offices on the Gold Coast. 

DARLING DOWNS: As reported earlier, our memorial wall 

has been approved by the Toowoomba Regional Council. 

We are waiting for advice from the historical people on the 

colours of the concrete but before we can get it installed. 

Many widows and families have sent their requests for a 

plaque for their departed husband or father. We are still 

looking for some family members, and have asked Greg 

Early for help, as we are sure they would like to have their 

husband’s or father’s details on the wall. We are looking 

for Jack Rawling’s family and family members of Vince 

McCarthy, Jerry McNamara, Pat Thornton and Jack Brady, 

as well as some others. With help from Jeanette Warwick, 

we made contact with Clare Hamilton, widow of Kev, who 

was a foundation member. Graham Leadbetter called me 

with some advice re our past members. Bob Scarff has 

recovered from his stent insertion at Greenslopes and is 

still taking it steady. Bob Gray was in St Vincents after a fall 

or two but has been taken to Greenslopes Private Hospital 

in Brisbane. The Hohenhaus family is taking a short break 

62 


QRPA 

and are off to the coast in mid-April so don’t expect many 

emails from them. (Graham Hohenhaus). 

NEAR NORTH COAST: Our latest meeting was held 

at Sylvan Beach, Bribie Island, on 19 April 2010. The 

meeting was well attended considering the heavy rain 

that had fallen in the area on the morning of the meeting. 

Fortunately the rain held off for the duration of the meeting 

and the following BBQ. Members were reminded of the 

forthcoming Sunshine Coast Annual Luncheon on the 25th 

May 2010. Seven members at the meeting stated their 

intention of attending the luncheon. Peter Aebersold spent 

some time in the Wesley Hospital but is now back at home. 

He is continuing with his pain management. I visited Gus 

Young at his home on 19 April 2010. Gus still suffers spells 

of shortness of breath, which at times makes life quite 

difficult. He has an appointment with a cardiologist on 

22 April when it is hoped that his problems will be sorted 

out. 

Wal Taylor could not attend today’s meeting as he had 

to have a check-up at Greenslopes Repatriation Hospital. 

Mary Donovan will be going into Prince Charles Hospital 

on 4 May 2010 for a knee operation. Roy Schultz has been 

having some problems with his pacemaker. He said he had 

a 10 year guarantee but it is playing up after only two years. 

It has been causing Roy to have vibrations down one side 

of his body. He is due to go in for a pre op next week, and 

then to have an operation the following week. (Col Guy). 

BUNDABERG: Their 26 March meeting was held at Brothers 

Club. Ron Rooke is back home at Barolin Street, and seems 

to be going along quite good. He was able to attend the 

meeting with the help of his mate Elwyn Jones. Corrice 

Ballin has been in Hospital re her medical condition, but 

is now back home and is going OK. Keith Lipp is much 

improved and getting about a lot more at present. He 

managed to get to the meeting. Ex-Bundaberg CIB Chief 

Retired Inspector Jack Jessen has suffered a serious stroke 

and is hospitalised on the Sunshine Coast. John Milner is 

currently in hospital and not going too well. Rookie and 

Doug Hoare will visit him in hospital. President Bob Hayes 

has had dental repairs carried out in Brisbane on a broken 

tooth. Doug Hoare is looking into a pole for their flags. 

Barry Cope was presented with his Veteran Certificate. 

Planning is well advanced for the Police Legacy Bowls 

Day at Bargara. A subsidised luncheon will be held for 

members and partners on the same date as their AGM. 

Ron Rooke, Cec Bartlett, Clarrie Kelly and Kevin Guteridge 

were the first retirees to receive their QPS Medal in 

Bundaberg recently. Kevin belongs to the Hervey Bay 

Branch. 

TOWNSVILLE: Twenty-five members, one guest and one 

visitor attended our April meeting. As usual we started 

with a minute’s silence in memory of members of the 

police family who had passed away, and in particular 

Jim Jeppesen. Assistant Commissioner Clem O’Regan 

presented our oldest member, Roy Hielscher, with his QPS 

Medal and a 35-year clasp. Roy was suitably impressed 

and gave a short but interesting talk on his life before, 

during and after his time in the police force. The May 

meeting will be dedicated to one of our Life Members, 

Ossie Cislowski. 

In May, 1954, he was presented with the George Medal. 

He was shot three times while arresting a male person. 

Members and visitors are asked to make a special 

effort to attend to show Ossie the respect he is due. 

A thank-you card was received from Marg and the 

Jeppesen family expressing their thanks for the assistance 

and thoughts given to them in relation to the recent and 

tragic loss of Jim. Twelve members indicated that they will 

be attending the Mackay/Whitsunday Branch’s meeting in 

Bowen in May. Members were reminded of our annual visit 

to Ingham to hold the June meeting. A limited number of 

seats are available on the bus which has been organised 

by Trevor Errington. Gordon and Wendy Thomas gave 

an interesting video presentation on their recent trip to 

Canada and Alaska. (John Urquhart) 

HERVEY BAY: Our March meeting was chaired by 

Vice-President Norm Sprenger in the absence of myself. 

Norm and Treasurer Gordon Close also looked after the 

secretary’s duties in the absence of Geoff Flood. June 

Close took over the duties of social secretary in the 

absence of Lyle Gronow and advised the meeting of 

upcoming events in other branches as well as conducting 

the meeting raffle. Gordon Close advised the meeting 

that he had organised a reunion for mounted police officers 

and this will be held at the Police Academy Function 

Room at 2.00 pm on Sunday 31 July. He has had a good 

response for the reunion. Graham Newman, a woodturner 

of note, has donated to the branch a turned wooden 

gavel and matching stand for use at future meetings. There 

was another good attendance at our April BBQ which was 

held at Quota Park on the Esplanade at Hervey Bay. The 

Floods are still in the UK and on last reports were looking 

out the window at heavy snow falling in Ireland. Please 

remember our annual luncheon on Tuesday, 15 June. 

(Grahame Gronow). 

REDLANDS: They last met on 23 March, 2010 at the 

Redlands Sporting Club. Unfortunately, their welfare 

officer, Joe Priddle, has resigned his position. They have 

yet to find a replacement for Joe. It is not known if he will 

continue with his jokes. Bob Minette is making inquiries 

into a social outing/bus trip to Mt Tamborine and offered 

some costs for consideration of members. 

President Terry Walker offered thanks to those who helped 

with the annual luncheon, in particular the MC of the day, 

Adrian Hall, and commented on how well it went. There 

was some discussion about costs not being able to be 

maintained at current level for the function next year. 

The president offered some new-style laminated badges 

for consideration and feedback. There was also some 

discussion about creating a link to the Redlands Branch on 

the QRPA website. 

GLADSTONE: We met on Tuesday, 6 April, with 16 

members and one visitor present and 20 apologies 

recorded. A motion was passed by the branch allowing 

members to pre-pay, for a period up to a maximum five 

years, their membership to the branch treasurer, to be 

held in account and deducted yearly. Many of the 

Gladstone members are still engaged in full-time 

employment or are self-employed. This will alleviate the 

problem of members becoming unfinancial through being 

unable to attend monthly meetings and will negate their 

membership being automatically suspended if in arrears 

for six months or more (QRPA Inc Rule 4.17). Members 

were reminded of our Gladstone Branch Annual Luncheon 

which will be held at Dragon Gardens Restaurant, Tank 

Street, Gladstone on Saturday 31 July at 12 midday. The 

Gladstone Police Charity Ball is being held on 17 July 

and four members have indicated they will be attending. 

The branch has again accepted Gladstone District Officer 


63

QRPA 

Inspector Graham Coleman’s generous offer of the use of 

his conference room for our 1 June meeting. We wonder 

what the Inspector will have in store on this visit. President 

Mal and Welfare Officer Paul visited Arnold Mossman 

at Ubobo, and a few old tales were told over lunch and 

a cuppa. Derek Nichols underwent another bone marrow 

biopsy recently and is awaiting results. Joy Dinte is on the 

mend after her knee operation. Warren has adapted well to 

the role of chief carer, although we have been told he had 

to bring his daughter home to assist. Frank Winn is having 

a knee scrape on 27 April. (Mal Nichols). 

MACKAY/WHITSUNDAY: At our last meeting at Northern 

Beaches Bowls Club guest speaker Sgt. Tony McDowell, 

brought us up to speed with all the developments in 

the Mackay District and particularly the new Northern 

Beaches Division. Congratulations to our Treasurer Margie 

Kussrow (nee Poole) who received her Senior Certificate 

from President Les Campbell. Most of us were unaware 

that Margie was over 40. Many of our members are 

commenting that it is time we chose a headquarters venue 

for ourselves as we have had a chance to try out most of 

the popular clubs since our inception. There are still a few 

left, and Dennis Hansen has excelled himself by obtaining 

a private room at Harrup Park in plenty of time for our next 

meeting. My suggestion is that we can toss it around for 

discussion at the Bowen meeting and when we think the 

time is right take a vote. Whichever venue gets the nod 

it can be our base for the next six months and we’ll see 

how it goes. When we first kicked off there was a strong 

suggestion that we should be prepared to move around a 

bit to give the country members the opportunity to get to a 

meeting. (John Frater) 

guys mixing with other members. There is always one 

little glitch and it was in the form of a raiding party from 

the NSW Retired Police led by Admiral Kevin Ramm. He 

was going to challenge us to a State of Origin indoors 

footy match until he saw that our forward pack consisted 

of new member the Right Honourable Frank Blake, and 

then the Admiral decided to retire to the bunker to rethink 

his strategy. Welcome aboard, Frank. We hope you enjoy 

the Association. After lunch we resumed the meeting 

and I as Secretary had trouble keeping up with the 

discussions as there were many - fast and furious 

ones. But we have decided to pursue a club shirt 

(sub-committee formed) and entertainment/fellowship 

events (Executive to manage). We got a Treasurer’s report, 

but there were a lot of grey areas and we think he is 

suffering from using the same computer system that 

is failing to meet the needs of our friends in the Health 

industry. Since becoming the Treasurer John Enright 

has been to Hawaii twice and he claims it is some sort of 

investment opportunity for us. Our third meeting was a 

great time for all and we are continuing to grow as a club 

with two more new members submitting applications. 

Next month we will be the guests of Supt Dawson at the 

Logan Police Station for a presentation of what policing 

2010 looks like. (Darryl Murtha). 

All the best to you and your family. 

Regards, 

Greg Early, State Secretary, QRPAI 

VAN DIEMEN’S LAND (TASMANIA): Our last meeting 

was held on 11 April with a BBQ at our home in Bothwell. 

Though an overcast day, 19 gathered for our meeting and 

socialising. The weather was kind and it did not rain so 

we did not have to adjourn to the shed. We were joined 

by Hans and Pat Vervaart from Maroochydore who were 

in Tasmania visiting family and travelling around. Hans 

caught up with a few blokes he had not seen for many years 

since his time in the Tasmania Police. We were also joined 

by Mike and Kelly Taylor who have moved to Tassie from 

north Queensland. Both were welcomed and of course 

given application forms for QRPA. Our next meeting will 

be our AGM in June. It does not seem that 12 months have 

nearly passed since we first met at Gretna with a view to 

forming the branch. We are looking forward to Greg and 

Ruby Early coming down for the meeting. If there are any 

others who are travelling down this way at that time you 

are more than welcome to join us. Until next time all the 

best from down south. (Andy Beasant) 

LOGAN/BEENLEIGH: Month three and we seem to have 

found a home for our meetings already. This month 

after “scouting” around we met for the first time at the 

Beenleigh Sports Club, and it is excellent in all features, 

and meets the various needs of all our members. There 

were 30 plus members and guests in attendance. Our 

guest speakers this month were Jacquie Holman of the 

Queensland Police Credit Union and Andrew Smethurst of 

Bridges – Financial Planners, and many members will be 

following up with either Jacquie or Andrew for assistance 

with their financial needs and our sincere thanks to both 

for making the journey. After their presentation President 

Max adjourned the meeting for members to order meals 

etc and our Chaplain Graeme Ramsden said a previously 

unheard but most appropriate Grace. It was great to see 

64 


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