of SUPPoRT - NSW Police Force

OPPOSITE PAGE: Queensland Police
Sgt Jose Sarmiento with NSW Police
Force Cst Matt Stokes; THIS PAGE:
1 A NSWPF contingent arrives in a
Hercules aircraft
2 Vehicles were swept up in wild flood
waters. Photo: The Chronicle / APN
3 Some of our brave officers
4 Each contingent was transported
by the Australian Defence Force
5 Qld Commissioner Bob Atkinson
with Acting Commissioner Catherine
Burn APM, who visited the officers
on the frontline and praised their
efforts
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2 3 4
As the Brisbane River threatened to
break its banks, Queensland Police
Commissioner Bob Atkinson requested
support from across the border. Within
days 55 officers, including a command
team of five, flew in courtesy of the Royal
Australian Air Force.
They were relieved the following week by
50 replacement officers, all volunteers. A
third contingent flew in during week three
of the joint police operation.
While the city of Brisbane was still in
shock, our first contingent was sworn in
as special constables and started work
immediately – each partnered with a
Queensland officer.
Queensland’s A/Insp Karen Ballantyne
said the work of the NSW Police on the
ground exceeded all expectations. “Our
crews really worked well together – it’s
like they had been permanent partners for
weeks,” she said. “The support they gave
us was overwhelming.”
NSW Commander of Operation
Safeguard, the NSWPF response to the
Queensland flood, Supt Kyle Stewart and
his command team stayed for the entire
operation, while the three groups of 50
police volunteers were rotated through.
“A total of 155 officers were deployed for
this operation,” he said. “Our job was to
maintain a highly visible police presence
throughout the Metropolitan North Region,
a vast component of which was impacted
by the flood in some way.
“Our officers were involved in anti-looting
patrols and providing general support to
Queensland’s first response crews, which
meant regular GD work on most shifts.”
Supt Stewart, who normally commands
Wollongong LAC, said there were large
parts of Queensland’s Metropolitan North
Region that suffered massive devastation
as a result of the flooding of the Brisbane
River.
“Entire suburbs were all but wiped
out by the flooding. If you can imagine
that occurring in one of our metropolitan
regions you’ll have an idea of the
devastation that’s occurred up here.”
Facebook Feedback
Lucy B Smith glad to hear our
officers back safe and sound..great
job! I gotta hand it to you officers...
(raise my glass...)
Jenny Higgins Hope they are well
and i know they did the best they
could. Congrats
Mary McArthur As a Queenslander
I thankyou for a job well done... :)
Jeaneeta Jackson Always a job well
done. Thank you to all our Police
Force you do an Awesome job and
we should all be thankful for the
freedom & level of safety we have in
Australia thanks to our tireless Force!
Lesle Dragomirovic Good on them
all. One of the toughest jobs in our
country. Can only imagine what
some of them have seen and had
to go through... Good on each and
everyone of you
Shane Fry Great job to all.
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Supt Stewart said most of our officers
found we have more in common with
Queensland police than we do in difference,
which made our transition into the policing
role in Queensland almost seamless.
“Flash flooding was still occurring in the
first week of our deployment and several
officers had to help people out their cars
in rapidly rising water.” Supt Stewart said.
“In the first deployment a couple of officers
Irene Riley Dyer Great work,and
welcome home to you all :)
Ian Harvey Bravo Zulu to those who
left their families to help because
their heart was in the right place
and they felt the need to help. You
have done youself and the people of
NSW proud
Evelyn Pride welcome back good job
guys and thank you all for helping
some of my family
FEBRUARY 2011 / police monthly 5