March 2000 Volume 81 Number 3
"serving the protectors"
| March 2000 Volume 81 Number 3 "serving the protectors" |
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| By
Brett Williams |
Why cops should go north
Many police only ever serve in Australia’s capital cities and urban sprawls. But some SA cops believe their colleagues are missing out on life-changing experiences in a well-known country town.
ountry policing develops more self-reliance and greater decision-making ability in cops than does city law enforcement, according to Far North LSA boss, Supt Kym Boxall. And, as a one-time constable in the same LSA he now runs, Boxall, 51, sees many aspects of city policing - such as social interaction and comradeship - as outdone by their country equivalents.
Even recruits, he says, master their craft far more quickly in the country than the city.
“Because it’s a compact area that they work in,” he says, “they’re exposed to much more than they would be in a city area. You’re with your partner (in the city), you drive around and you’re probably not aware of what else is going on around the place.
“Here, you’re aware of what everybody’s doing (and) because you’re closer-knit, you’re much more involved.”
But positions within the LSA - at Port Augusta, Marla, Coober Pedy and Roxby Downs - are still vacant, despite a recent influx of probationary constables.
It seems that, with as much to offer as Boxall claims, country policing lacks broad appeal. But is it misinformation on which police officers base their rejection of country career moves?
Boxall believes that, without even visiting country posts, many officers hold “pre-conceived ideas” about country life. He says they fear limited social interaction, too few employment opportunities for their families and poor education standards. But those concerns, Boxall says, are unfounded.
“I’ve spoken to (probationers) about the benefits of being in the country,” says Boxall, “the opportunity to be exposed to a larger variety of offences - and self-develop - a lot more quickly. You therefore give yourself the best opportunities for promotion.
“From the social aspect, particularly in Port Augusta, you’re living on the doorstep of the Flinders Ranges, so in your time off you can go camping or bushwalking there. I promote the area a lot in that sense, and the better lifestyle away from the city environment.
“Our last lot (of probationers) were city-oriented people, and each one of them seems to have settled in very well.”
And officers socialize regularly with their colleagues, which Boxall sees as another advantage over city police life. “The social interaction is a lot stronger,” he says, “because in the metropolitan area you finish work, wander off home and probably don’t see your work partner until the next day.”
Boxall also insists that, even without the support of specialists such as STAR Group, country police work is “no more dangerous” than policing city areas. But officers new to the country, he concedes, often have to alter their style of policing.
“When you come to the country you have to be, in a sense, much more self-reliant,” he says. “But that’s one of the benefits of coming to the country.”
With long-standing support for police from the Port Augusta community, Boxall says more officers should consider transfers to the LSA. And in his recollection, no officer’s safety has ever been jeopardized, nor position compromised, by policing the same community in which he or she has lived.
“Certainly in Port Augusta,” he says, “if you’re prepared to meet the community head-on, they’re prepared to take you on.”
But what do those among Port Augusta’s new probationary constables and a supervisor say?
Probationary Constable Monica Gallio, 25, stationed at Port Augusta since October ’99. Posted by assignment. City-born and -raised.
“I was very apprehensive about going to Port Augusta,” she says. “I didn’t know anyone, or what to expect. But I love it, and I said: ‘If I come back saying it’s good, it must be good’.
“You deal with a lot of the same people, so you know how to treat them after a while and understand where they’re coming from. It’s opened my eyes to a lot of things in life, like different people and cultures.”
Gallio, who arrived in Port Augusta with four other probationary constables, finds the small police community tight-knit and extremely welcoming.
“We came up here not knowing anyone,” she says. “It was a bit nerve-racking but everyone’s really friendly in the station, no matter what rank.
“When I first came up here I thought: ‘Oh, my God, I’m going to be sitting home every night twiddling my thumbs, but I’m pretty much out nearly every night. It’s not like there’s a great night life here - it’s what you make it.
“Everyone’s always out having a barbecue or drinks, or you just get together at someone’s house. There’s a lot of sports here as well.”
Gallio concedes, however, that, for country policing without specialist support, officers have to adapt to a different style.
“It’s got to be more relaxed,” she says. “You just have to try to control the situation a bit more and talk your way out - not go in and fight your way out.”
She’s already faced a prison siege as part of an arrest team last year. Although nervous, she found the experience an invaluable police education and was greatly impressed by her senior colleagues’ teamwork.
Like her probationary colleagues, Gallio must fulfill a minimum two-year term at Port Augusta. She planned to leave immediately after that but has since changed her mind.
“The longer I’m here, the more I’m enjoying it, so I would like to spend a few more years here,” she says. “There’s so much to learn and you get to work closely with CIB.
“I think you just have to take the jump and try it (country policing) out. If you don’t try it, you’ll never know.”
Probationary Constable Carmen Miles, 24, stationed at Port Augusta since October ’99. Posted by assignment. City-born and -raised.
“I got sent here and I’m really glad I came,” she says. “If you’ve got no ties - and for a single person - it’s the perfect experience. You do your work and then you socialize; and the support within the team, from your sergeant and other police, is excellent.
“Everyone’s just so friendly and you get a “help-out”, which is good when your family is 300kms away.”
Miles expected to find country policing “a lot quieter” than patrolling city beats. But she has already responded to a range of criminal offences, including a service station robbery with violence. Like others, she recognizes the need for a specific policing style.
“Not having STAR Group and others available is a bit daunting,” she says. “You’ve got to think on your feet quicker. We need more senior people because we young probationers look to them to guide us with what to do.”
Miles, who lives with a probationer colleague, describes some aspects of her country police life almost poetically.
“We live over the other side of the gulf,” she says, “so you’re driving (to work) over the bridge in the morning when the water’s beautiful and calm, and the sun’s coming up over the ranges. It’s just beautiful.
“And driving around through the scrub, there are kangaroos everywhere. You don’t get that in the city.
“We cruise up through the ranges on our days off and (visit) different areas. I’ve joined the local golf club, and a lot of us do walking, running and go to the gym in the station.”
Miles has become part of the community and now enjoys being recognized by local residents. She says such recognition of a barely-known cop makes the job “a lot easier”.
“I could see myself staying longer (than two years),” she says, “but then I’d like to go somewhere else and see what it’s like.”
Probationary Constable Craig Ranger, 21, stationed at Port Augusta since December ’99. Posted by choice. Country-born and -raised.
“One of the first things everybody said when I told them I was going to Port Augusta was: ‘Why?’,” he remembers. “They thought I was crazy. Port Augusta’s got a big reputation - especially in the city - but is hasn’t been as bad as the reputation (suggests).
“I was expecting the town to be rougher. I didn’t expect it to be as good as it has been. It’s been fantastic. I’ve absolutely loved it. It’s been a big eye-opener. You see a lot of stuff that the general public just doesn’t get to see.”
Ranger had been concerned about the four-hour-drive distance his Port Augusta post would create between him and his family and friends in the city. He still sees this - as well as a limited social life - as downsides.
But his police officer cousin had strongly recommended Port Augusta to him - and Ranger holds no regret about taking that advice.
“The people up here - the community, and especially other police officers - are fantastic,” he says. “It’s a really friendly and inviting atmosphere. Most of the community seems to think pretty highly of the police. Everybody you see out on the street will give you a wave and say: ‘G’day’.”
Valuable work experience has come quickly to Ranger. Earlier this year, he joined his senior colleagues on raids in search of a murder suspect. And, in response to another call, he teamed up with a Whyalla patrol in the hunt for a man who had threatened to kill his wife.
“The story we had was that we were looking for a guy in a car with a gun,” he explains. ‘‘We had the vests on and firearms out, and it was pretty ‘hairy’. The heart was really pumping and I had no idea what to expect.
“We found the guy but it had been blown out of proportion and he didn’t have a gun.”
Away from work, Ranger trains with the local umpires panel, and says that pursuing interests outside police work helps new officers fit into the community.
“Up here, you have to have better interpersonal skills,” he says, “because you could really annoy someone on the job who could (turn out to) be your next-door neighbour.
“At times, you do have to alter your (policing style) because you haven’t got back-up right around the corner, (nor) anywhere near as many resources as in Adelaide.”
Nonetheless, Ranger’s contentment seems set to exceed two years. “It depends on what happens down the track,” he says, “but certainly there’d be a chance that I’d stay for five or six years.”
Probationary Constable Jake Stubing, 23, stationed at Port Augusta since December ’99. Posted by assignment.
“I’d heard stories about Port Augusta,” he says, “but those stories - a lot of them negative - were probably from people who didn’t know the town. I’ve pretty much fallen in love with the place.
“I’d heard that probationary constables often get given a hard time being the new kids on the block, but I certainly haven’t experienced that.
“I’m amazed at how much I’ve learnt already. The training environment is excellent in Port Augusta. You can gain experience in the wide variety of jobs you go to, and you get involved from start to finish in a lot of cases - for minor offences as well as major ones.”
Stubing has dealt with a road death, break-and-enter offences and shoplifters. But his most intense experience was co-ordinating communications from the police station during an 801 (police in trouble) call in January.
A victim had, with others, turned on two officers after an offender’s arrest. Stubing felt greatly frustrated until details of the officers’ plight became clear.
Less back-up support in the country, however, doesn’t make him feel vulnerable.
“It’s something you need to take into account,” he says. “But the type of people who join the police force like to take on personal challenges, and situations that would normally be handed over to STAR Group.”
Although Stubing had felt that recreation options may be limited, he now enjoys abundant sports and social interaction. “If I’m not working,” he says, “I’m playing squash, tennis or footy, or having barbecues and going out for drinks with people.
“I’ve signed up with one of the local footy clubs, and they welcome you as (they would) anyone else. They look past the fact that you’re a copper and just look at you as a person.
“It’s just a really tight-knit police community, and I’ve also met people outside the police who are very friendly and welcoming.”
Stubing may opt to stay in Port Augusta longer than two years and says the country lifestyle “gets in your blood”. “It’s an experience,” he says, “that will probably shape my life.”
Sergeant Michael Towie, 45, stationed at Port Augusta since October ’97. Posted by choice. City-born and -raised.
“I’ve spent 20 years in the country,” he says, “and I’ve got no intention of going back to Adelaide at any stage. The only people I miss in Adelaide are my parents.
“I’ve had people come at me with knives in the back yard of the police station here (at Port Augusta). I’ve never had those sorts of incidents occur anywhere else. I find it’s very challenging, and I think you’ve got to come up here with an open mind.”
Towie enjoys following investigations through to their conclusions; investigations which, he says, would be taken over by detectives or other specialists in city policing.
“When you get a decent pinch,” he says, “you feel quite satisfied you started at one end and finished with a head at the other.”
Like others, he understands the need for caution without city-style support. “In Adelaide, you know that if the shit hits the fan you’ve got help very close handy,” he says. “Here, you’ve got to be able to read the situation, and you learn to do that quicker in the country.
“You tend to look at the big picture, hang back and size everything up. If it’s too risky, you don’t go in.”
To Towie, a clear indicator of the worth of country policing is his family’s contentment. Hints that he may apply for positions outside Port Augusta have brought unmistakable responses.
“I basically get told I’m going on my own,” he says jokingly. “The family is very happy here. My kids benefit by meeting a broad range of people.
“And, to me, one of the good things about being a country copper is your community involvement. I got involved in coaching under-age footy, and that has got me into the community.
“I’ve found that policing the people you live and work with has been a benefit more than a problem. People think: ‘Oh well, I know him; I’ll go and talk to him if I’ve got a problem’.”
With Port Augusta’s many sports clubs and closeness to the Flinders Ranges, Wilpena and Coober Pedy opal fields, Towie says there is “plenty to do” away from police work.
Few cops recommend country police careers as strongly as Towie. “You work hard,” he says, “and the single people here also play hard.
“I think people should give it a go. You can’t complain about something if you haven’t experienced it. I’ll certainly see my career out in the country.”
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