Policing Australia: The Official Podcast of the Australian Police Journal

To varying degrees, all Australians are either victims of terrorism or have been adversely impacted by terrorist acts. This includes police, emergency workers and counter terrorism professionals. Victims of Terrorism Australia (VOTA) has been formed to assist victims cope with trauma and to come out the other side. Two retired police who had distinguished careers in counter-terrorist operations, Caroline O’Hare and David Gawel, join podcast host Jason Byrnes in this episode. They talk about the impact of terrorism in Australia, signs all police should be aware of, and VOTA’s objectives. It is well worth your time. Caroline and Dave’s article, Victims of Terrorism Australia (VOTA), is in the December 2024 edition of the APJ and can be read at www.apjl.com.au Podcast host: Jason Byrnes APM Guests: Caroline O’Hare APM and Dr David Gawel APM

Imagine having to police a war-torn nation with no laws, limited or damaged infrastructure and a deeply traumatised community. That’s what Australian police were faced with in late 1999 when they deployed to East Timor as part of a massive United Nations peacekeeping operation. Michael Ward was one of hundreds of police who volunteered to help the people of East Timor after they had voted for independence from Indonesia, and after the new nation was almost destroyed by pro-Indonesian militias. In this fascinating episode, Mike talks about training and preparing to deploy, the extremely tough living conditions for peacekeepers and the challenging duties he undertook. He also gives an insight to the at times absurd bureaucracy that can exist in major peacekeeping operations. The year 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of Australian police peacekeeping operations with the United Nations. The APJ has published several articles and podcasts about different aspects of police peacekeeping. They can be read or listened to at www.apjl.com.au. The book ‘In the Service of Peace: Australian police involvement in United Nations peacekeeping operations 1964 – 2024’ can be purchased either through AFP Legacy at https://policelegacyafp.org.au/shop/ or at the Australian War Memorial Bookshop at https://shop.awm.gov.au. If you have a suggestion about the topics for future episode of Policing Australia, let us know at apj@apjl.com.au. Host: Jason Byrnes APM Guest: Michael Ward

In the latest podcast from the APJ, hear from two detectives involved in a missing person case which soon became a homicide investigation, and an investigation into criminal drug dealing. Allecha Boyd was reported missing to police in mid-2017. Inquiries suggested the involvement of a local drug dealer and his associates. Detective Sergeants Brent Fletcher and Tim Briggs talk about how police were able to build briefs of evidence sufficient to obtain convictions for murder and associated offences, despite being unable to locate Allecha’s body. Police continued to investigate avenues of inquiry after the court cases concluded, to locate Allecha’s remains. Their persistence eventually succeeded, which enabled Allecha’s family to attain a sense of closure. The article titled Cold Blooded Murder is in the June 2023 edition of the APJ, which can be read at www.apjl.com.au Host: Jason Byrnes APM Guests: Detective Sergeants Brent Fletcher and Tim Briggs

A horrid rape and robbery in December 2006 brought Ipswich detectives into contact with a man who had previously been convicted of multiple rapes and sexual assaults in Queensland and New South Wales. On this occasion however, police were initially unable to find direct evidence of the man's guilt. Over time, detectives were able to build a brief of evidence based on the principles of propensity evidence. Former Detective Sergeant Darren Prickett led the investigation and joins host Jason Byrnes to talk about what occurred and how the brief of evidence was built. Darren's article - The Insatiable Rapist - was published in the June 2011 edition of the APJ, which can be read at www.apjl.com.au Darren has also written two books about Australian military history. His latest - Crawl to Freedom - has been printed by Big Sky Publishing. It's a fascinating account of 40 Australian soldiers who escaped from German imprisonment during the Great War (the First World War). This has been a little-known aspect of Australian military operations between 1916 to 1918. Darren talks briefly about the book, including the amazing story of one Australian who made multiple escape attempts. Subscribe to the APJ at www.apjl.com.au Host: Jason Byrnes APM Guest: Darren Prickett

Police are called to a perplexing scene at a rural property where a man’s body was found lying face down, pinned to the ground by the rear wheel of his utility. There were no tools nearby. Was it a case of death by misadventure, or something more sinister? A scientific officer develops a hypothesis which appears far-fetched at police headquarters. A reconstruction of the scene is undertaken, with amazing results. Recently retired Deputy Editor Barry Fay joins Jason Byrnes to discuss the case, which Barry wrote about in the September 2003 edition of the APJ. This podcast series is provided free of charge to subscribers and others with an interest in true Australian crime and policing. If you like the series, please leave a review on the podcast downloading platform. For more information, access to the APJ, and to take out a subscription, go to www.apjl.com.au Host: Jason Byrnes APM Guest: Barry Fay

Former policeman Ronald Cornish talks about his time as a police peacekeeper with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). Sixty years ago, Australia sent its first contingent of police to UNFICYP, to undertake monitoring duties of Greek Cypriot police. Australia’s contribution to UNFICYP eventually lasted 53 years, with the final contingent leaving in 2017. In 1965 Constable Ron Cornish of the Tasmania Police was selected to be a member of the second contingent (at the time called the ‘Australian Police Element’). In this interview he recalls his experiences, the duties of the Australians, the challenges they faced on a daily basis, where they lived and what he and his colleagues did after-hours. The interview was recorded as part of a special project regarding Australian police peacekeeping. A book about Australian police contributions to United Nations peacekeeping operations – titled ‘IN THE SERVICE OF PEACE’ – will be released on 16 September 2024. It will be sold through AFP Legacy (www.policelegacyafp.org.au) and the Australian War Memorial (www.awm.gov.au). Cypriot locations discussed: Nicosia, Kakopetria, Polis, Paphos/Ktima, Skouriotissa, Lefka, Astromeritis, Limassol, Morphou, Kokkina, the Troodos Mountains, the Solea Valley and Kato Pyrgos. Host: Jason Byrnes Guest: Ronald Cornish

Elder abuse is a crime long ignored or downplayed in society. This needs to change, especially as society ages. Abuse can be physical and/or psychological, is often committed by people the victim relies on or trusts, and can hasten a victim's death. Rob Critchlow APM is the author of the article titled 'Dignity and Safety: Responding Effectively to Abuse of Older Persons', which is in the new (June 2024) issue of the APJ. Rob joins host Jason Byrnes, to talk about elder abuse awareness, the forms that abuse can take, and what police should be alert to when dealing with people over the age of 65. Rob recently retired after 34 years as a police officer, and he also offers some insight into a busy and rewarding career, especially detective duties and being a local area commander. The APJ is a subscription magazine which is available in hardcopy or at www.apjl.com.au. Go to the website for more details. Host: Jason Byrnes APM Guest: Rob Critchlow APM

Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan APM talks about his time as the Chief Police Officer (CPO) for the Australian Capital Territory. The experienced police officer has worked at the local and national levels for 40 years - starting as a general duties Constable in the ACT and ending up leading ACT Policing. On the way he held responsibilities for leading the Australian Federal Police's Counter Terrorism, Cyber and Organised Crime Commands, and the organisation's international engagements. Having recently retired from the Chief Police Officer role, Gaughan talks about a range of issues including the unique challenges of policing the national capital, the impact of laws that have decriminalised the possession of most drugs, the impact of COVID-19 on ACT Policing, as well as aspects relating to the high-profile investigation into an alleged rape at Parliament House.

Author and APJ Deputy Editor, retired Detective Senior Sergeant Barry Fay, discusses his 2016 crime case article titled An Unexpected 'Mayday' in November – the callous murder of three men in NSW. The first two were shot inside a Sydney gun shop in 1977. The third victim was a police sergeant, gunned down in 1980 when he unknowingly asked too many questions of the offender in remote bushland to the west of Newcastle. The offender subsequently shot another police officer in an attempt to avoid capture. This episode includes some of the actual police radio transmissions made in the aftermath of the murder of the sergeant and when the second police officer was shot. This is a redux of Episode 2 - the sound quality of the original episode was affected by a poor telephone line. Host: Jason Byrnes Guest: Barry Fay The story and more details about the APJ itself can be found at www.apjl.com.au Music Theme: Like We Do It by Grace Mesa, available at Premium Beat End: Motivational Digital Piano & Cello by AudioChemicals, available at Audio Jungle

Interested in learning about the challenges of police leadership in the 21st Century? The day before she retired from the role of Commissioner of the Queensland Police Service (QPS), Katarina Carroll APM spared some time to talk to Jason Byrnes about a range of topics. These included the challenges facing police now and into the future, the skills future leaders should possess, how the QPS responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact on the organisation in the wake of the murder of two police officers in December 2022. Ms Carroll also revealed the roles in her career she found challenging, gave an insight into her experience in previously leading Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, and also how she dealt with government, parliament and the opposition. This episode continues the APJ’s efforts to inform and educate police and the community about the challenges of policing at all levels. It is particularly relevant for serving police from any agency, keen to gain an understanding of the priorities, pressures and opportunities that face senior police leadership. Host: Jason Byrnes APM Guest: Katarina Carroll APM

In 2002 three men died in grizzly circumstances in Melbourne, after a series of gang related incidents. One young man was hacked to death by offenders wielding samurai swords. Three of his friends were then chased into the cold Yarra River - two of them drowned. Recently retired Detective Sergeant Brett Smith wrote the article ‘Asian Gangs Blood the Yarra’ in the June 2009 issue of the APJ. In the podcast Brett, and his then Senior Sergeant Jeff Maher, talk about the challenges facing them at the crime scene and during the investigation and subsequent court case. The article can be read at the website: www.apjl.com.au. Host: Jason Byrnes APM Guests: Brett Smith and Jeff Maher

APJ Deputy Editor Barry Fay joins host Jason Byrnes to give an overview of the police investigation into a horrific 1978 crime where a mother and two of her young children were abducted from their home. The mother was raped and all three subsequently murdered. Barry discusses the course of the investigation and explains some of the procedures used to identify and bring the offender to justice. As with many such investigations, chance played a major role a various points throughout the story of this case. Barry's article, 'They Walk Amongst Us', appeared in the June 2008 issue of the APJ. It can be read at www.apjl.com.au. LISTENER WARNING: Some of the discussion in the podcast is about the murder of young children. The comments are germane to the case study, but may be confronting to some. Host: Jason Byrnes APM Guest: Barry Fay

An arson at a major Australian naval base in December 1976 left the country without its naval surveillance and submarine detection capability for months. It was the most costly and complex fire ever to have occurred in the country, apart from major bushfires and some attacks during World War II. In this episode APJ Editor Simon Bouda narrates the article titled: ‘How Teamwork Unmasked the Albatross Arsonist’, written by then Detective Chief Inspector Harry Delaforce, and published in the APJ in 1991. Host: Jason Byrnes APM Narrator: Simon Bouda AM

A gunman goes on a rampage in the national capital. He tries to murder two people, explodes his car and sets fire to an office building, recklessly endangers the safety of hundreds of people, and shoots at police. Specialist (tactical) police enter the burning building to hunt for the gunman, while firefighters rescue people stuck in a radio station on the building’s first floor. In this gripping episode you will hear from police and a firefighter involved in the operation, and how they were able to protect public safety while under fire. Host/narrator: Jason Byrnes. Guests: Shane Connelly, Kim Francis, John Jeffery, Brian McDonald, Liz McDonald, Greg Mowle, Ian Prior, Darren Rath and Mark Usback. Produced by: Adam Axelby and Jason Byrnes. In-episode music: Luke Axelby.

In this special episode we learn about the planning and logistics involved in hosting National Police Remembrance Day (NPRD) services in the nation’s capital. The main Dusk Service involves police from across the county. This year the Commissioners from Queensland and Western Australia attended, along with the AFP Commissioner and the Governor-General of Australia. NPRD has significant resonance for the policing community in Australia, New Zealand and in the Pacific. The main guest in the episode is AFP Superintendent Dean Elliott, whose Recognition and Customs teams are responsible for hosting the Dusk Service and supporting other services. Also in the episode are this year’s Dusk Service addresses of the Governor-General of Australia and the commissioners from the Australian Federal Police, the Queensland Police Service and the Western Australia Police Force. The episode ends with a dramatic reading of the poem ‘I Am’, written especially to commemorate fallen police. Host: Jason Byrnes APM Guest: AFP Superintendent Dean Elliott Speakers at the Service: His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) Commissioner Col Blanch APM, Western Australia Police Force Commissioner Katarina Carroll APM, Queensland Police Service Commissioner Reece P Kershaw APM, Australian Federal Police Poem: ‘I Am’ Written by: Vince Pannell APM Spoken by: Rebecca Kotz and Greg Primmer Music at the beginning of the episode ‘The Requiescat’ played by the NSW Police Force Band

It's seldom that counterfeiters end up killing police. Sadly this occurred in 1902 when a 'Coiner' (old Australian slang) murdered two police officers - one in NSW and one in Victoria. In the first case the coiner had an accomplice. Danny Webster and Noel Johnson's article 'The Coiner Killers' is a remembrance piece in the September 2023 edition of the APJ. Danny joins host Jason Byrnes, to talk about the strange and tragic tale. APJ Editor Simon Bouda also appears to talk about the wide range of interesting articles in the latest edition - including the so-called Collar Bomber case of 2011, developments in a new intelligence sharing system administered by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Cold Case Homicide investigations in Western Australia, and an update on the Museum of Australian Policing. National Police Remembrance Day (NPRD) is 29 September - ceremonies will be held on the day around Australia, all are invited to attend. Host: Jason Byrnes APM Guests: Danny Webster and Simon Bouda AM

Ballistics expert, Sergeant Gerard Dutton, talks about his extensive career. Crimes mentioned include his recollections of the Belanglo Forest Backpacker Murders investigation and the investigation into the Port Arthur Massacre. He also talks about the work he did for the United Nations' Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), assisting to build the ballistics analysis capacity for the Palestinian Civil Police. Gerard has been a police officer for over 38 years, serving first in the New South Wales Police and then for Tasmania Police. He has written several interesting articles for the APJ over the years. The articles are available through the subscribers-only section of our website – www.apjl.com.au. Host: Jason Byrnes APM Guest: Sergeant Gerard Dutton, Tasmania Police

In 2012, 11-month-old Zayden Veal-Whitting was murdered while he was asleep in his bedroom cot, in his home in the regional Victorian city of Bendigo. In this episode we hear about how police were able to identify the offender and bring him to justice - a journey of many twists and turns. The investigation was marked by a high degree of professionalism, thoroughness and basics of policing, including knowing the local 'crooks'. The words 'total and utter evil' were used by the judge in sentencing the offender to life imprisonment. Victoria Police Detective Sergeant Tony Harwood, the case officer for the investigation, talks to host Jason Byrnes. D/SGT Harwood's article - Total and Utter Evil is in the June 2023 edition of the APJ. Listeners can subscribe to the APJ at www.apjl.com.au Guest: Detective Sergeant Tony Harwood Host: Jason Byrnes APM

A burglar literally leaves part of himself behind at a crime scene! APJ Deputy Editor Barry Fay talks about a crime scene investigation he conducted at a Bondi restaurant, where he found the tip of the offender's finger. APJ Editor Simon Bouda then talks to host Jason Byrnes, about the diverse range of interesting articles in the newly released June 2023 edition of the journal. Host: Jason Byrnes APM Guests: Simon Bouda AM and Barry Fay

On 30 September 1971 two NSW police officers were murdered at a house in Toongabbie, Western Sydney. The murderer had earlier shot his brother dead, and sexually assaulted his brother’s de-facto partner. After the shootings the murderer fled the house but was later chased by police. The pursuit ended in a crash between the murderer’s car and a police truck, and then another shooting. In this episode APJ Deputy Editor Barry Fay talks about this tragic story, and his article. about it titled ‘Always Expect the Unexpected’. It was published in the September 2018 issue of the APJ and can be read online at www.apjl.com.au. Host: Jason Byrnes Guest: Barry Fay