Ph 3259 1900 (24 hours) - Queensland Police Union

Letters to the Editor
Letters to the Editor should be no longer than 400 words if possible and sent to: (Letters may be edited for length and clarity.)
PO Box 13008 George Street, Brisbane Qld 4003 Fax: 07 3259 1996 or Email: journal@qpu.asn.au
Dear Editor
I wish to advise you of my retirement
from the Queensland Police Service
on 2 July, and subsequently my
resignation from the Queensland
Police Union of Employees.
During nearly 38 years of service,
I have seen the Queensland Police
Union represented by many
personnel, from the local branches,
the Regional Representatives, the
Union staff, and the Executive and
their committees. Their dedication
to their positions and to assisting
officers has been tireless.
I urge members of the Queensland
Police Service to be financial
members of the Union. Without the
assistance of the Union delegates to
represent and give advice, members
would not have the finances to defend
themselves against charges or civil
action.
I leave the Service knowing the
Union is in a strong position and
has a leadership that will ensure
all members are represented in all
submissions to ‘fight for your rights’.
Be careful, take care, and stay safe.
Regards
R. O. Coleman (Bob)
Sergeant 2769 (retired)
Toowoomba District Police
Communications Centre
Dear Editor
Regarding all the problems facing
this wonderful state of Queensland, I
consider that the easy answer to that
is to simply double the number of
police in this country Australia, not
just Queensland.
The first thing the politicians are
going to ask is, ‘where is all the
money coming from to pay for the
extra equipment and salaries etc?’
The simple answer is, ‘how much is
currently spent on the road toll in
this country?’ I believe it to be in the
vicinity of $2.8 billion annually.
Well, if by doubling the number
of police on the road reduces the
road toll by even only half, then
there would be $1.4 billion for the
expenditure.
A great bonus for us all would be less
deaths on the road, and less crime
being committed. Just the mere
presence of the uniform will have an
effect across the whole spectrum:
road trauma, crime, etc.
Would it not be a safer and more
comfortable place to live in, with a
happier population and more settled
police officers, because they do not
have to knock on a door at 2am and
say, ‘sorry, but your loved one is
no longer with us’, because he was
bashed and died, or was killed in a
road crash?
I have long held the belief that traffic
offenders can be classified into three
classes:
1) The person who inadvertently
crosses double lines or runs a stop
sign. Get him once and you will
never get him again.
2) The deliberate offender who looks
around, sees no copper in sight,
and so away he goes and just does
what he likes.
3) The fool that nobody can help.
I was once on a marked police
motorcycle travelling at the old
speed of 60mph, when a car
overtook me. I accelerated and
followed him for a couple of miles
at 85mph. He was booked.
G. A. J. Jones
Sergeant 1036 (retired)
Dear Editor
It is with both regret and joy that
I tender my resignation from
the Queensland Police Union of
Employees.
On 13 July, I reached the compulsory
retiring age of 60 years and have
therefore retired from the Queensland
Police Service (Force) from that date.
My regret is that I have met and
known several good mates in this
job, and in my retirement I will no
longer enjoy their company due to
commitments other than work.
My joy is that I will no longer
be harassed or bullied by the
hierarchy of this Service that I have
encountered during complaint
investigations.
During my service of some 29 years,
I have not until the last few years
had cause to personally engage the
services of Union representation.
I must thank our Regional
Representative, Bill Feldman, for his
help in organising assistance, and
Queensland Police Union Journal August 2012
67