police monthly march 2013 · police monthly. team. you will get the chance to write articles, as...

APRIL 2013

COMMAND CHANGES POLICE ON YOUTUBE UNDERCOVER PIONEER

Search & RescueA specialist response

8 PoliceMonthly APRIL 2013

THE ROLE OF POLICERESCUE

BELOW PolAir flew a Police Rescue Team into the base of Ebor Falls last month after reports that a man had fallen. Snr Cst Clint Simpson and Snr Cst Andrew Sharpe are swift water technicians who are trained in defensive swimming and water rescue techniques

After the fires came the rain and then the floods, followed closely by the Police Rescue Squad. This is your invitation to join the team.

STORY SGTKEVINDALEYAPM, POLICE MEDIA UNIT. PHOTOS MEMBERS OF THE POLICERESCUE&BOMBDISPOSALSQUAD

As ex-tropical cyclone Oswald moved south into NSW in

January after wreaking havoc in Queensland, it brought widespread heavy rain and flash flooding to the NSW north and mid north coast and parts of the northern tablelands.

Police Rescue Teams were deployed to the North Coast to provide operational support. They

were flood and swift water rescue technicians and aerial deployment operators from Sydney, Blue Mountains, Lake Illawarra, Lismore and Newcastle. They provided a joint operational response with Ambulance Service NSW Special Operations Teams across the affected areas of northern NSW.

Commander of the RBDS, Insp

Brenton Charlton said the teams arrived on location 26 January, and wasted no time in setting up their operational capability.

“Seven teams were sent to the north coast and set up operations at Coffs Harbour, Urunga and Newcastle,” he said. “Police Rescue Aerial Operators were deployed to Wyong, Lismore and Camden to provide an aerial rescue capability.

“They were on hand to deploy to operational requests from the SES or the LAC to flood and swift water rescues. They also coordinated search and rescues, and provided operational and logistical support, as well as providing advice to NSWPF commanders.”

Police Rescue capabilityPolice Rescue provides specialist

operational support to the NSWPF. All teams have primary accreditation

by the State Rescue Board in their respective areas across NSW. They provide general land, vertical, industrial and domestic and swift water rescue capabilities. Police Rescue Teams provide coordination of land search and rescue (LANDSAR) along with a bomb appraisal; chemical, biological radiological, nuclear (CBRN) and bomb technician response capability across the state.

Your invitation to joinAn information day will be held

on Friday 21 June at the RBDU in Alexandria. If you’re interested in joining the team send a two-page expression of interest through your chain of command to the RBDU Training Coordinator, Sgt Michael Smith (smit2mic). For more information call 73900 / 9318 3900.

APRIL 2013 PoliceMonthly 9

COVER STORY

BELOWSnr Cst Colin Benton going ‘down the wire’ to commence a swift water rescue during the floods in Kempsey in March

RIGHT Sgt Richard Walsh on the shore and Snr Cst James Evans in an SES flood boat at Grafton floods in early February

Send your amazing photos to #monthly.

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Text Box

Harbourside LAC is hosting its third local leadership development program.

STORY INSPKRISTYWALTERS,HARBOURSIDE LAC

The Harbourside Leadership Development Program was

implemented in 2011, with 26 officers completing the first two courses and another 26 who have just started the 2013 course including some from Surry Hills LAC.

The six month program is open to both sworn and administrative officers at all ranks from within the command and is designed to develop the leadership skills of staff who have been identified as demonstrating

leadership potential in the workplace. Harbourside Commander, Supt

Allan Sicard says the local LDP is about offering opportunities and challenges to staff interested in stepping into leadership roles.

“We have seen a number of officers make the decision to plan the next two years of their careers and put in place strategies to make their plans happen,” he said. “It’s very satisfying to give all members of our team the opportunity of attending

these training sessions, and it is also beneficial to our LAC.”

Organised by the Harbourside Management Team, the program covers a number of key aspects of leadership including leadership and management, human resource management, media, incident and emergency management, professional standards, project management, time management, communication skills and teamwork.

Course content is delivered through a number of face to face workshops, training days, assessment tasks, presentations and field placement opportunities within various sections of the NSWPF.

Participants are provided with exposure to a number of leadership styles and methods from command and control in high risk incidents through to motivational leadership

within private industry. Guest presenters have been drawn

from a number of internal units and external organisations including Deputy Commissioner Nick Kaldas, Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch, Assistant Commissioner Alan Clarke, Deputy Commissioner Steve Pearce (SES), Professor Gordian Fulde (Director, St Vincent’s Hospital) and Commander David Jones (HMAS Waterhen).

The program finishes with a verbal presentation of a major group assignment to a scrutiny panel. Topics focus on strategies to address issues that have the potential to impact on the command in the short to medium term. Past assignment topics have included communication and training, demographics, technology and crime, electronic based record keeping and the probationary constable


N-Leader Development Program HS-TP

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

A PRIORITY AT HARBOURSIDE


LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

A PRIORITY AT HARBOURSIDE

exchange program. One recent assignment, which focused on operational safety in the workplace, was presented at a region level and subsequently delivered to a group of over 300 trainees at the Goulburn Police Academy.

After completing the program, many officers have gone on to achieve long term personal and career goals including specialist placements and long term higher duties relief. Field placements and secondments have included Public Affairs, Customer Service Unit, Strike Force Raptor, Marine Area Command and State Crime

Command. Other participants have gone on to lead and contribute to major events and operations including New Years Eve Celebrations and the Sydney Running Festival.

Supt Sicard said Harbourside hopes to continue with the success of the past two years with a third program, which started last month.

I would like to commend Insp Kristy Walters for her role in this project. Kristy is a former EDO and an outstanding HR duty officer who has a significant influence on the course content.

ANTI-CORRUPTIONCONFERENCEWITH A DEDICATED POLICE STREAM

ABOVEGraduates from Harbourside LAC’s Leadership Program

The Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference returns to Sydney in 2013 with a dedicated police stream.

Learn from leading experts in exposing and preventing public

sector corruption. APSACC is jointly hosted every

two years by the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption, the Queensland Crime & Misconduct Commission and the Western Australian Corruption & Crime Commission.

This year’s two-day conference will be held at the Hilton Sydney from 26 to 28 November 2013.

Topics will include managing high-risk functions, implementing post-investigation reforms, uses of force and critical policing incidents, the connection between

bullying and corrupt conduct, improving governance, and political corruption.

Dr Peter Eigen, founder of the Advisory Council of Transparency International and the Berlin Civil Society Centre, will deliver the keynote address. Dr Eigen is a lawyer who has worked in economic development for 25 years and his current work encompasses transparency in extraction industries and better governance to ensure wealth sharing for local populations.

The Hon James Wood AO, QC will open the second day of the conference. A former chief judge at Common Law of the Supreme Court of NSW, Mr Wood is Chair of the Law Reform Commission of NSW and Deputy Chair of the NSW Sentencing Council. He was recently appointed as a member of the Customs Reform Board and as head of the review into Cycling Australia.

Find out more online at www.apsacc.com.au. Early bird registration opens on 1 May 2013.

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POLICE MONTHLY


THE SHADOWAN UNDERCOVER PIONEER


THE SHADOW

An unorthodox and thrill-packed career

STORY NORRISSMITH, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS UNIT

Joyce Cardinaels, 90, lives on the state’s Central Coast. She loves

to have a chat – especially about her dad, Frank Fahy. He was a cop in Sydney from 1920 to 1952 – and one of the state’s first undercover officers.

To the media of that era, Frank was known as “The Shadow”. In a 1954 book that detailed Fahy’s success in catching crooks, the author and crime reporter Vince Kelly wrote:

“There have been hundreds of great detectives in fiction, but in the factual records of criminal detection there has never been a police officer with a more unorthodox, thrill-packed career than Frank Fahy.”

Frank’s daughter agrees.

“He was an investigator so skilled at disguise and ‘blending in to the background’ that the members of the underworld didn’t have a hope,” Joyce said with pride.

“My father would go to great lengths to conceal his true identity and his undercover methods were deemed so effective they later became textbook examples of ‘shadowing’ techniques across the world.”

Frank Fahy was born in 1896 and raised at beachside Bronte in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

“My father was one of nine children and my grandparents ran what I suppose you would describe as a general store.

AN UNDERCOVER PIONEER

ABOVEJoyce Cardinaels, Frank Fahy’s daughter

RIGHT Frank Fahy – a shadow that still looms large in the annals of NSW policing.

“In 1919, dad was working as a plumber’s assistant when he decided to join the police. After graduating in 1920 he was stationed at Paddington.

“Dad soon came to the attention of Sergeant William McKay.”

William McKay was appointed NSW Police Commissioner in 1935, but in the 1920s he was busy trying to suppress the Darlinghurst ‘razor gangs’ and contend with Sydney’s major crime bosses – Norman Bruhn, Phil ‘The Jew’ Jeffs, and madams Kate Leigh and Tilly Devine.

“Mr McKay was looking for an officer who was courageous and quick-witted,” Joyce said. “More importantly, he wanted someone who didn’t look like a policeman so Mr McKay selected my father for the undercover work.”

Sgt McKay’s choice proved to be the right one and Frank

Fahy’s methods of concealment and deception proved extremely successful.

“Burglars, counterfeiters, drug-smugglers, safe-crackers, prison escapees, murderers – my father caught them all,” Joyce said.

One of Fahy’s methods involved the creation of an alter-ego, Jimmy Perkins, a city vagrant who seemed harmless.

“The criminals had no idea the unwashed and unshaven man in shabby clothes who was in their midst or loitering in the street was actually a cop on a case – constantly watching their every move, listening for whispers about planned crimes, gathering evidence, and waiting for the moment when an arrest could be made.

“Sometimes his appearance even fooled fellow officers,” his daughter said with a laugh.

“Unaware that my dad was a policeman, an over-zealous cop would move him along – or at times even arrest him!”

In 2001 Joyce presented the State Library of NSW with a scrapbook her father had compiled during his policing career. Filled with newspaper cuttings, mug shots and other photographs, it provides an insight into Sydney’s criminal underworld during that era.

“My father never spoke about his actual work and the undercover role, but I do know how much he loved the Police Force and the part he played in helping to keep Sydney safe.

“It wasn’t until many years later that I fully recognised and

1919 • 1920 • 1935 • 1952 • 1978 • 2001



appreciated the danger he was subjected to and how he was a trailblazer for undercover police.

“Dad’s work wasn’t just dangerous – a lot of the time it was also very uncomfortable,” Joyce said.

“He had a worn-out old motorbike which he would use to follow suspects.

“The bike also had an enclosed sidecar and my father drilled several holes in the bodywork. When he conducted surveillance outside a suspect’s home or business he would huddle unseen in the sidecar watching through the holes.

“Dad spent many days and nights in those cramped conditions to record the comings and goings of underworld figures. But the pain and discomfort were all worth it when he had enough evidence for arrests to be made!”

Frank Fahy also had an unusual fashion-sense.

“My father had a special ‘double-sided’ suit made. One side was blue – the other side was grey.

“Sounds crazy doesn’t it – but there was method in dad’s madness.”

“If a target got suspicious and thought the man in the blue suit was watching or following him, my father would quickly turn the coat or trousers inside out.

“The crooks then went about their business, thinking the blue-suited man had gone away,” Joyce said with a grin.

Because of his job and its requirement to drop out of sight at short notice, Frank Fahy often disappeared from home for weeks at a time. No-one knew where he was

– or if he was even alive. This took its toll on relationships with loved ones – but Joyce easily remembers many happy times spent with her dad.

“It would never happen nowadays, but I can remember plenty of occasions when my father took me to work with him.

“At the time I didn’t know I was ‘working’ with him – it was only when I got older I realised the small part I played in some of his undercover schemes.”

The 90-year-old fondly recalls an outing when she was about six-years-old.

“Dad got me an ice cream and we went to a park in Bronte. We were in the park’s playground which faced a street with a lot of houses.”

“My father spent hours pushing me on the swing and watching while I played. Well…I thought he was watching me…turns out he was actually watching a house over the road.

“A couple of safe-crackers were in the house and when they walked out with their ill-gotten gains, my father gave a signal and police who’d been hiding in nearby bushes emerged and made the arrests.

“Dad continued to push me on the swing and never broke ‘character’ – he was merely a father playing in a suburban park with his young daughter.”

‘The Shadow’ retired from the NSW Police Force in 1952 at the rank of sergeant. He passed away in 1978 at the age of 82.

1919 • 1920 • 1935 • 1952 • 1978 • 2001


SITREP

Colleagues of the late Det Insp Bryson Anderson VA were treated to a special canine visitor in February. English Springer Spaniel puppy, ‘Bryson’, was taken to Windsor Police Station to spend some time with his namesake’s workmates.

The visit was the puppy’s first socialisation outing, which is an integral part of police dog training. A/Commander Supt David Jones said the visit was just as important to the officers as it was to the puppy’s development.

“Bryson is one of eight in a litter born last December,” he said. “As all puppies were given names starting with the letter B, this was also a chance to honour the late Det Cst Bill Crews VA.”

Police puppy Bryson with Cst Christine Nelson on a recent visit to Hawkesbury LAC

On 3 February 1865 Snr Cst John Ward was shot by the Chinese bushranger, Sam Poo who was hiding in the bush near Coonabarabran. Two drovers found the officer with a fatal gunshot wound in the groin. He died of his injuries the following day and was buried in a paddock on his property ‘Birriwa Station’.

Sam Poo was later shot during another gun battle with police. He survived his injuries and was sentenced to hang in the Bathurst gaol later that year.

As part of our 150 year celebrations, Coonabarabran police restored his simple grave and marked it with a remembrance garden, built by officers attached to Coonabarabran Police Station. The team thanked their generous sponsors the Police Bank, the Police Association, the Retired Police Association and members of the executive.

Lachlan LAC has a new Nissan Pulsar, sponsored by Frank Spice Nissan at Forbes. A/Supt Rayner said the sponsor vehicle arrangement highlights how strong support from the business community can help with crime prevention. “This car will be used by officers in the Crime Management Unit for crime prevention, community engagement and other initiatives.”

Snr Cst Daniel Greef, CPO, and A/Supt Scott Rayner with Troy Hurford and Michael Killeen from Frank Spice Nissan in Forbes.

Prb Cst Kristina Buchanan, 24, from Campbelltown LAC was a star at the recent Police Games, winning eight gold medals in the track and field events: 60 metres (8.0 seconds), 100 metres (12.9 seconds), 200 metres (27.5 seconds), 400 metres (1min 06 seconds), mixed 4 x 100 metres relay, long jump, triple jump and shotput.

As a member of the Illawong Athletics Club and the Ramjets Track Club, Kristina trains up to seven times a week. She is currently in training for the National Championships next year.

The team at Campbelltown are also raising funds to help Kristina get to Belfast for this year’s World Police Games.

After 41 years as a front line police officer, Ch Insp Bill Lardner was warmly marched out of Bankstown Police Station on his last day of service in February. Ch Insp Lardner has served at Bankstown, the Drug Squad and PSC as well as the Australian Crime Commission. In that time he has mentored thousands of young officers who have worked with him. The team at Bankstown, and all of his old colleagues, wish Ch Insp Lardner all the very best in his retirement with his wife Diane and family.


Send your SITREP column contributions to #monthly. They need to be no longer than two paragraphs and photos are encouraged.

In what the Commissioner called “a beautiful moment”, 10-year-old Patrice visited Waratah Police Station last year to thank a police officer for the job they do. Cst Toni Chambers was the lucky officer on the desk that day.

Patrice said she’d seen Commissioner Scipione on the TV asking members of the public to thank a police officer.

“So in she came, with mum and a box of chocolates and said to me ‘This is to say thank you for everything all the police do’,” Cst Chambers said.

Then commander of Northern Region, Assistant Commissioner Carlene York said Patrice has made a gesture that is appreciated by police at all ranks across the state.

Commissioner Andrew Scipione has honoured former rep rugby league player and referee, retired Det Insp Kevin ‘Bilko’ Roberts for his contribution to policing at a recent Men of League lunch.

After more than 41 years in the Force, Bilko retired in 1999 and last served as the Crime Manager at Harbourside LAC. The Commissioner presented him with the NSW Police Medal.

The former South Sydney player turned to refereeing in the early 1970s and umpired six State of Origin games and three grand finals.

Other professional Rugby League players who also served as police officers include Johnny ‘Chook’ Raper, Frank ‘Bumper’ Farrell, Brian ‘Chicka’ Moore, Paul Sironen, Craig Young, Paul Osborne, Jim Hall, and Jeff Emery.

Sutherland LAC won the second annual Emergency Services Mega Bash last month, raised $8000 and raised awareness for bowel cancer. In front of hundreds of onlookers the first ball bowled on the day was broadcast live on television, along with delivery of the tournament shield by PolAir.

Celebrity cricketers included NRL stars from Cronulla Sharks Todd Carney, Wade Graham, Chris Heighnington, Matt Wright and Nathan Stapleton, and Canterbury Bulldogs’ Josh Morris. They were supported by Australian junior champion Dave Murphy and a number

of State and First Class cricketers from Sutherland Cricket Club.

Sgt Jayson Heyward led the team which included Supt Julian Griffiths, Insps Craig James, Rod Hart, Matt Francis, Snr Csts Mick Hinke, John Slatter, Paul Tamblyn, Justin Gaunt, Dave Maione, Csts Crystal Lesk, Scott Morris, Matthew Bailey, Anthony Karakostas and Shane Withers.

T-shirts are still on sale for $5 each with all proceeds from the sales donated to cancer awareness. Contact Snr Cst Dave Hayes (haye1dav) for details.

The NSWPF Spokeswomen’s Network has published its first new and improved newsletter for 2013. Stories included social networking within the Spokeswomen’s Network, this year’s International Women’s Day Breakfast and profiles of two Network representatives.

You can find the newsletter on the intranet by searching for “Spokeswomen’s Network” or contact your local representative. All staff are encouraged to send ideas or topics of interest to Snr Sgt Melissa Hawkins via email hawk1mel or ph: 8835 6464 / 26464.

The Board of Directors proposes to update the NSW Police Legacy Constitution to bring it into line with the current needs of police officers and their families. All members are invited to vote on the changes at the Annual General Meeting, scheduled for 2pm on 15 May at the Sydney Police Centre, McQueen Auditorium.

More detailed information of the proposed changes will be published on the NSW Police Legacy website, www.policelegacynsw.org.au, closer to the meeting date.

NSW Police Legacy is there to support those left behind when the unthinkable happens. Ensure the security and wellbeing of your family by helping to support NSW Police Legacy by regular donations via your salary. For more information contact the NSW Police Legacy Office on ph: 9264 1311.

Bowel Cancer gets hit for six! NRL First Graders Todd Carney and Josh Morris were the stand outs, taking two wickets each. Morris even managed an unbeaten 44 with the bat, which included a massive eyes-closed pull shot over square leg

Amateur police boxers took to the ring last month, previewing the upcoming NSW Police Legacy Boxing Championship.

Six officers fought on Friday, 15 February 2013, in the

opening bouts to a Pan Asian Boxing Association Light Heavyweight Title fight.

In the first fight, Snr Sgt Rob Lawson of Central Coast THWP was named the winner in a split decision against Surry Hills Commander, Det Supt Tony Crandell.

Simon Fruend from OC&IC, took

out the second fight in a split decision against Sgt Mark Lawson from Newcastle LAC.

A split decision in the final police fight declared L/Snr Cst Angus Dumbrell from Specialist Operations the winner over Cst John Rose from Newcastle City LAC.

The six officers were selected from a group of more than 100 who are training for the NSW Police

Legacy Boxing Championship, which will run in April and May.

Championship organiser, Assistant Commissioner Alan Clarke said the bouts were a great preview for the NSW Police Legacy Boxing Championship, held in partnership with Police & Citizens Youth Clubs.

“We have men and women from across the state training for the championship, which will raise funds for the families of our fallen officers.”

The NSW Police Legacy Boxing Championship will kick-off in April 2013 with Newcastle’s ‘Huxley Hill Group’ team taking on the ‘Anytime Fitness’ team from Sydney.

“The friendly Sydney versus

Newcastle rivalry from the preview fights will feature in our opening night and we’re expecting to see supporters get behind their town’s team,” Assistant Commissioner Clarke said.

For more information about NSW Police Legacy Boxing, visit their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/policelegacyboxing


POLICE BOXERS TE STTHEIR SKILLS AHEAD OF CHARITY

CHAMPIONSHIP

March 27 – 3 April 2013 is Privacy Awareness Week.

Privacy Awareness Week seeks to raise awareness of staff and

employer responsibilities under the Privacy & Personal Information Protection Act and the Health Records & Information Privacy Act.

The nature of the work we do means that the NSWPF manages a large array of personal information which we use to make difficult decisions on a daily basis.

It’s critical to community confidence for people to know that we will handle that information lawfully and in a way that strikes the right balance between

an individual’s privacy and the community’s safety.

During Privacy Awareness Week all staff are encouraged to complete the Privacy Training Module on iLearn to remind yourselves of how NSW Privacy Laws effect how we conduct our day to day business.

For further information on how NSW Privacy Legislation affects NSWPF please view the following information:•Privacy Article, Policing

Issues & Practice Journal December 2012, Vol 20/ 3

• Information & Privacy Commission website at www.ipc.nsw.gov.au

•Office of the General Counsel (OGC) intranet page.

Ongoing privacy trainingOffice of the General Counsel

has developed a number of privacy law training packages that can be delivered to all commands within NSWPF. For more information contact Snr Sgt Peter Crooks (croo1wil), Employment Law Unit Coordinator on phone 8263 6275 / 45275.


POLICE BOXERS TE STAHEAD OF CHARITY CHAMPIONSHIP

LEFTSimon Fruend from OC&IC, took out the second fight against Sgt Mark Lawson from Newcastle LAC


The NSWPF has been recognised by a prominent Muslim organisation for our work across a range of communities.

The Affinity Intercultural Foundation is one of the leading

intercultural dialogue organisations in NSW. It was formed in 2000 by a group of young Australian Muslims to help the Muslim community interact with the greater society and to increase awareness of the Muslim

community, its religion and culture.At an inaugural awards dinner

last month, the Foundation named Deputy Commissioner Nick Kaldas the Champion of Harmony for 2013 .

Affinity Intercultural Foundation’s Executive Director, Ahmet Keskin said these awards have been a

part of the Affinity Friendship & Dialogue Iftar Dinner in the Muslim month of Ramadhan from 2004 to 2011. Subsequently they’ve become deserving of their own recognition and celebration.

“The recipient of the Champion of Harmony Award is recognised for championing dialogue through public discourse and mobilising others to peacefully engage, collaborate and implement the vision of a harmonious society.”

Deputy Commissioner Kaldas, who is the Corporate Spokesperson for Cultural Diversity and who

actively engages across a range of communities, said it was an honour to have been nominated and accepted the award on behalf of the men and women of the NSW Police Force who are out there every day working with our culturally, linguistically and religiously diverse communities.

“True community harmony can only be achieved through two-way engagement with all communities that make up our richly diverse NSW,” he said.

HARMONY

ABOVEExecutive Director of the Affinity Intercultural Foundation Ahmet Keskin with the winners of the 2013 Australian Affinity Awards. From left: Dr Jeff McMullen AM (Director of Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience & Trustee of the Jimmy Little Foundation), Rabbi Zalman Kastel (Founder, Together for Humanity Foundation), Sara Saleh (Media & Public Affairs Co-ordinator, Amnesty International), Paul Cutler (Director of News & Current Affairs, received on behalf of SBS) and Deputy Commissioner Nick Kaldas APM. Photo courtesy Affinity Intercultural Foundation

CHAMPION OF


Colleagues and friends of the late Snr Cst David Rixon VA raised well over $75,000 for his family and for Police Legacy, thanks to “phenomenal community support”.

STORY BROOKEEGGLETON,VKG

At 6am on Monday, 25 February, officers from the Tuggerah

Lakes, and Brisbane Water LACs began a 350 km walk that ended at Tamworth Police Station for the Our Mates, Our Families fundraiser.

More than 150 members of the NSWPF participated in the relay-style walk, which crossed through six LACs including Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Central Hunter and the Hunter Valley.

Snr Cst David Rixon of the Tamworth Highway Patrol was sadly killed while on duty in March 2012. The walk ended on Saturday, 2 March to commemorate the anniversary of his tragic loss.

Tuggerah commander and enthusiastic walker, Det Supt David Swilks said the event was an enormous success and described the community support as phenomenal.

“Our priority was not necessarily raising funds, but raising awareness of the supportive culture we share in the NSW Police Force and how instances such as what happened to David Rixon impact on all of us,” he said.

While on the walk, passing cars continuously beeped and officers were frequently approached with messages of support and donations from members of the public.

The Murrurundi public school passed along donations from students, while a local coffee shop proudly gave all the money from their tip jar.

Det Supt Swilks said there was an overwhelming response from the silent majority that consistently support police.

“People were saying thank you on the street and their appreciation was really more than just support – it was brilliant,” Det Supt Swilks said.

At 8am on Saturday 2 March at

Tamworth Police Station walkers were joined by the Commissioner Andrew Scipione and other members of the Commissioner’s Executive Team to lower the flag and unveil a memorial plaque in David Rixon’s honour.

Snr Cst Rixon’s family – who participated in the walk – was also present at the unveiling.

Det Supt Swilks described the day as a very special event, which saw an emotional outpouring from all who attended.

“I think David Rixon’s wife Fiona appreciated the support and the indication across the board that what happened to her husband has not been forgotten and never will be,”

Det Supt Swilks said. “All who participated in the walk

should be congratulated for their strong resolve while covering some hard terrain in challenging weather conditions. It was an honour to be in their company.”

“A special thank you to Insp Col Lott and his band of St Johns first aiders, Tracey Freeman and Phil O’Reilly who organised an event at the Tamworth Diggers that raised $8000, Det Insp Guy Guiana who walked the furthest completing 230km and finally, The Entrance MP Chris Spence, whose support was a major contributing factor to the overall success of the event.”

350 KILOMETRES FOR OUR MATES, OUR FAMILIES


N-Maria Bayfield book-TP

A brave survivor and NSWPF employee has self-published a book that shares her experiences in the hope of inspiring others – particularly DVLOs.

STORY NORRISSMITH,CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS UNIT

All employees – sworn and unsworn – within the NSW

Police Force have a story to tell. Life stories. Memories. Tales of triumph or turmoil. Humour or horror. Each of us

has a tale or two.Maria Bayfield from Business

Service Centre, Shared Services has told her story in a 240 page book The Guttersnipe, published last year.

It centres on how Maria survived physical and emotional abuse that began during her childhood and

continued into adulthood.“Writing the book was very

therapeutic for me, but I also did it so I could help others,” Maria said. “I am an example to others that you can survive. You can overcome anything.”

A native New Zealander, Maria moved to Sydney in the late 1970s and began with NSWPF in January 1999. She said her experiences gave her an opportunity to help colleagues understand some of the trauma and issues that abuse survivors have to address.

“I would encourage all staff, but particularly domestic violence liaison officers (DVLOs), to read my book or contact me directly to gain a greater

insight into the world of abuse victims and survivors,” Maria said.

“Understanding what the victim is going through is vital in assisting the healing process.

“As a victim, I believe that if you can accept yourself as being special and as having something to contribute to this world, then the healing can begin.”

Find The Guttersnipe online at www.mariabayfield.com.au. NSWPF staff seeking further information about Maria’s experiences can contact her directly via [email protected]

MARIA shares her story


Late last year the Marine Area Command was invited to participate in Operation Kurukuru by the Pacific Islands Forum Fishing Agency (FFA).

Kurukuru is a maritime surveillance operation in which

Pacific nations with support from Australia, New Zealand, France and the US cooperate to detect activities such as illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, as well as smuggling, people trafficking and transnational crime threats.

Conducted last November, the operation was coordinated from the Pacific Island FFA’s Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Aerial surveillance was provided by France, the US Navy and the US Coast Guard. The aircraft completed daily flights across vast areas of the

Pacific Ocean targeting fishing vessels, mother and supply ships, as well as other small craft of interest. Enforcement activities were completed by 10 Pacific class patrol boats, a French frigate and patrol craft, and a US Coast Guard cutter.

The Surveillance Centre had access to satellite intelligence and data, surveillance flight plans and vessel patrol plans that allowed for strategic targeting of vessels of interest. This data was a critical to creating efficient deployment strategies and provided essential intelligence to command the operation.

The huge operation area presented its own challenges to the team

coordinating aviation and maritime assets, as they worked to ensure maritime interdictions occurred within the jurisdiction of Pacific Nations, enabling the relevant legislation to be enforced.

A number of foreign vessels were directed to port for inspection during the operation. This provided the opportunity to integrate navigation equipment and charts to detect further offences and exploitation of Pacific Ocean fish stocks. Boarding foreign vessels with an Australian Fisheries officer also allowed the vessels to be thoroughly inspected.

Operation resultOperation Kurukuru 2012 resulted

in 323 vessels sightings and 206 vessel boarding and inspections – more than twice the number conducted during the same operation in 2011. Enforcement efforts resulted in 27 infringements, some of which

involve ongoing investigations and the development of transnational crime strategies for future maritime operations.

MAC’s Insp Joe McNulty said the operation had significant benefits for the NSWPF.

“This operation highlighted the importance of maritime domain awareness and the challenges that transnational and organised crime plays within the Pacific Ocean,” Insp McNulty said.

“The interoperability and knowledge gained by working in an international maritime operation of this size was immense.

“Working alongside other maritime specialists, analysing various types of satellite intelligence and tasking expensive aviation and maritime assets demonstrated many innovative techniques that can be implemented into the MAC’s operational procedures.”

MAC TARGETS TRANSNATIONAL CRIME

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