March 2000 Volume 81 Number 3 "serving the protectors"
COMMISSIONER WHO JOINED THE FRONT LINE
By Brett Williams

ustralian policing lost one of its most respected elder statesmen with the recent death of former SA police commissioner, Brigadier John G McKinna.

Credited with revolutionizing SAPOL during his 15 years as commissioner, Brigadier McKinna was recognized as one of the most astute administrators of his time.

A former Prince Alfred College student and son of a clergyman, he died aged 93 in the Wakefield Hospital on January 28. He was farewelled by his family, friends and former colleagues in a memorial service at Pilgrim Uniting Church in Adelaide early last month.

Police Association president, Peter Alexander, described him after the service as an “absolute gentleman” who had commanded respect throughout the entire community. He said the Police Association and Brigadier McKinna had enjoyed an “up-front” professional relationship.

“The affection and respect for him would be unprecedented in the history of the force,” Mr Alexander said. “He has an enormous place in the department’s history, and the association mourns his passing.”

Mr Alexander also paid tribute to Brigadier McKinna’s leadership and determination to improve vital police equipment and facilities during the 1960s.

Brigadier McKinna declared this determination at the Police Association’s annual conference in 1961. He told delegates he would “battle as hard as I can with higher authorities to get as much as I can for members of the force”.

He joined SAPOL as deputy commissioner in 1956, afte0r distinguished military and business careers. But with no experience of policing - and considered an outsider by most of the force - he faced much hostility.

He soon won support, however, by visiting police stations across the State, seeking views from all ranks and joining front-line officers in the field after his own eight-hour days. Determined to fully acquaint himself with police practices, he worked 14-hour days and often cancelled his annual leave.

When Commissioner Ivor Green died in 1957, Brigadier McKinna was recalled from an overseas study tour and appointed to replace him.

He brought sweeping structural change to SAPOL, which was welcomed by officers across the force. Their morale soared to levels previously unseen in South Australia.

Without initial approval from the Government, Brigadier McKinna skilfully acquired Fort Largs from the army through negotiations with the Defence Department. The fort was transformed into Australia’s premier police training facility of the 1960s.

And, against a background of sub-standard police buildings, Brigadier McKinna pushed the Government for a new central police station. Angas St headquarters was built as a result and opened in 1965.

In 1960, Brigadier McKinna visited Asia, Europe, Britain, North Africa and North America to study police methodology, and represent Australian police commissioners at an international police chiefs conference in the US.

He represented Australia at the General Assembly of Interpol, in Washington DC (1960), Rio (1965) and Tehran (1968). During a visit to Washington in 1965, he held talks with American FBI director, J Edgar Hoover.

At the request of former prime minister, John Gorton, in 1969, Brigadier McKinna studied field operations training for the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary. In 1972, he studied its officer component, this time at the request of the late former prime minister, William McMahon.

During the same period, the Queensland Government sought Brigadier McKinna’s advice on its police force, and an operations room to co-ordinate police patrols in the Brisbane metropolitan area.

He is still remembered for forming SA’s Anti-Larrikin Squad in 1958. The squad enjoyed unparalleled success dealing with the hooliganism of the Bodgie-Widgie cult.

Brigadier McKinna was born in Goodwood, began his military career as a 14-year-old cadet and graduated from the University of Adelaide with an engineering degree. He joined Quarry Industries where he later held an executive position before joining SAPOL.

He served with the AIF throughout World War II and saw action in Darwin, Syria, the Western Desert, New Guinea and Bougainville. Commanding the 25th Battalion in Bougainville, he led a victorious counter-attack against Japanese forces in 1944. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his actions.

He returned to his position with Quarry Industries after the war but continued to serve the military in various capacities. He commanded the 10th Infantry Battalion from 1948 to 1952 and, later, the 9th Infantry Brigade, when he was promoted to brigadier.

Brigadier McKinna retired from SAPOL in June, 1972. Later that year, he spent six weeks studying the Northern Territory police force. He reported his findings to the NT Legislative Council.

In retirement, he regularly attended the SA Police Club’s monthly luncheons, a practice he continued into his 90s.

His wife, Betty - whom he married in 1937 - died in 1991. He is survived by his two daughters, Meredith and Verity.

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