In these series of articles, we are taking a close look at the issues plaguing the police agencies in Australia. The people and policies that maintain the status quo at and the ugly stranglehold of mental health stigma. Being in the police is a very stressful job so it’s understandable that these pressures get to officers. However, due to the stigma around mental health, only some officers are getting help through products like CBD (visit https://revitaoil.com/ for more information) and through counseling. Everyone reacts differently to the pressures of the job so it’s important to have a system that is flexible for whoever needs help, whichever way they want it. Note: parts of this article may be distressing to some readers.
Victoria Police Sergeant Marina Gyfteas is one of the most respected police officers in Melbourne’s north and while she has had many achievements over the years, she dislikes the fuss around the recognition, shrugging it off with ‘it’s what I’m paid to do, no big deal’. However, her friends and colleagues say that the award was thoroughly deserved and long overdue. Continue reading Sergeant Marina Gyfteas presented with the Breavington Award→
Phishing is a type of social engineering, a way of getting into your private network that relies more on psychology and deception than traditional hacking that involves exploiting vulnerabilities in your security software. You can find a good introduction to phishing and social engineering on Wikipedia. If you need assistance with protecting your organization from nefarious phishing attacks, you could use the cyber security expertise of someone like Digital Defense. Continue reading Phishing: Safeguarding Yourself and Your Organisation’s Sensitive Data→
On March 27th, 1986 and one day before Good Friday, at 1 o’clock in the afternoon, Constable Angela Taylor left the Russell Street Police Complex in Melbourne to get lunch, but never returned. As Constable Taylor was crossing Russel street, a vehicle packed with gelignite exploded. The events that unfolded later also claimed the life of Detective Sergeant Mark Wylie.
The explosion caused massive amounts of damage to the police HQ and surrounding buildings, estimated at more than A$1 million. A newspaper, The Age, reported that the blast had had such an impact because the open-floor design of the offices had acted like a Claymore mine, sending more shrapnel as the blast ripped through the floors, seemingly adding more pressure to the blast as it followed its path.
In the course of the investigation, a group of people including Craig Minogue, Rodney Minogue, Stan Taylor, and Peter Reed were apprehended. The motive for the bombing seems to have been revenge against the police, as the bombers had previously been arrested and still ‘resented their jail terms’. In court, Taylor, Reed and Craig Minogue were convicted; Rodney Minogue was eventually acquitted on appeal.
On 7 October 1985, gelignite and detonators were stolen from the Tryconnel Mine at Blackwood. On 25 March 1986, a Holden Commodore was stolen. Both crimes were later found to provide equipment needed for the construction of the bomb.
On 25 April 1986, ten Victoria Police officers raided the Kallista home of Peter Michael Reed at 5.45 am. It was alleged that upon attempting to enforce the arrest by forcing entry to the premises, Reed produced a .455 Smith & Wesson revolver and fired at police, seriously injuring Detective Sergeant Wylie. Shot through the chest, Wylie nearly died at the scene and again on the operating table, but his elite fitness and stubbornness helped him defy the odds. Reed was then fired upon by Detective Sergeant Quinsee and arrested.
Reed was charged with attempted murder, recklessly causing serious injury, using a firearm to prevent apprehension and possessing explosives in suspicious circumstances in addition to charges related to the Russell Street bombing.
The Crown did not allege that any person played any particular role in the bombing, but that each of them were members of a team which planned the bombing and caused the bomb to explode. Evidence against the accused was as follows:
Gelignite and detonators used in the construction of the bomb were of the same type as those stolen from Tryconnel Mine.
Gelignite was found at Reed’s house wrapped in newspaper containing fingerprints belonging to Rodney Minogue.
Craig Minogue owned a pair of side cutters which produced cuts similar to those found on detonator wires.
a file with traces of brass deposits matched with brass deposits found at the bomb site.
a block of wood from which a wooden part of the bomb had been sawn was found at Craig Minogue’s premises.
tinned copper wire, similar to that used with detonators found at the bomb site, was found at Craig Minogue’s premises.
residue of gelignite matched residue found at a previous address of Craig Minogue in Lower Templestowe.
evidence from a witness that Craig Minogue called around Easter 1986, to ask about the use of detonators.
a witness testified that Craig Minogue was seen driving a 1979 Holden Commodore around the CBD prior to the explosion.
Stanley Brian Taylor and Craig William Minogue were ultimately convicted of the murder of Angela Taylor and other armed robberies and sentenced to life. Peter Michael Reed was acquitted of the bombing but sentenced to 12 years for armed robberies.
Cessna 310 (civilian), similar to the aircraft operated by WA Police
Australia Day 2001: four police officers onboard a Cessna aircraft (call-sign PolAir 64) are on a return flight to Newman after investigating a serious domestic disturbance in the remote Aboriginal community of Kiwirrkurra, near the border of Northern Territory.
A German Shepherd lies on a stretcher in a sterile exam room, tucked in a fleece blanket. The room’s perimeter is lined with men in crisp khaki uniforms, handguns strapped to their sagging utility belts. A shrill beep sounds over a radio, and an impassive dispatcher’s voice is heard over the men’s gentle sniffling. Continue reading How Police Dogs Turned Into Cybernetic Hunters→
Police news stories and opinions on law enforcement and legal system topics. Focused on Australian stories as well as major international stories of interest to Police Officers.
Now I’m not saying it’s ever been a walk in the park but the promotion process within the Police Service just got tougher.
