Apr 2001 Volume 82 Number 4
"serving the protectors"
| Apr 2001 Volume 82 Number 4 "serving the protectors" |
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Peter
Please accept my resignation from the Police Association due to my age retirement on November 1, 2000.
I wish all front-line members the best for the future, and be heartened by the fact that many members of the public still have faith in you, which I have found out since leaving.
Also, bear in mind, having seen so many changes in all facets of policing in the last 30-odd years that you will be soon marching to the sound of different drums.
There is life after the force, believe me.
John Scudds
Dear Andy
I hereby resign from the Police Association, my last date of service being January 10, 2001, having served since March 1979.
I have retired on an invalidity circumstance – unfortunately my back injury and my employment within the police force proved to be incompatible.
I thank the police department rehab unit, in particular, Ian Humphrey my rehab co-ordinator, Kym Palmer-Harris the claims officer, and Doreen the claims clerk.
Their compassion and assistance has been greatly appreciated over the past six years, in particular Ian, who became a staunch advocate for my capability and ability, rather than my disability.
To Lol Williams and Brian Schmidt of the Hills Murray LSA I say a heartfelt thanks for your support and understanding.
I have gained employment as a private investigator, so I will no doubt catch up with a few of my old colleagues from time to time.
To all the persons I served with at Whyalla, Kimba, Cleve and Mt Gambier, I say thanks for the memories, and to those I served with in Traffic, both on the bikes and in the cars, once again, thanks and good luck.
Yours sincerely
Andy Kirk
Dear Andy
Please accept my resignation from the Police Association, effective February 21, 2001, due to my early retirement on invalidity.
I sincerely thank George and Gaylene Lovegrove for their friendship, understanding and assistance since I have been troubled by my illness.
Ray Dowd has also been of significant assistance to me and I express my appreciation for his counsel and patience over several years.
Thanks also to Tom and Bob for being the catalysts for my early emancipation from SAPOL. If I had managed to hang on until reaching age 50 and then taken early retirement, as was my intention and goal, I not doubt would have suffered much greater health concerns than I have so far endured. My financial situation would not be as good as it is now if I had managed to hang on that long. So, in reality, I feel quite lucky now.
To my former workmates who were, in some ways, placed in difficult positions, to varying degrees:
Trevor, I have never, nor have I ever experienced a desire to do so, wandered out into my backyard in my underwear and howled at the moon. Also, I never attempted, while I was suffering the most from my illness, to contact my workmates as, when I was at my lowest, I was too embarrassed, too ashamed and too afraid to say so. (That is apparently part of the territory that goes with suffering from anxiety and depression, or whatever term you wish to describe the illness I suffered.) In any case, I though that when someone was ill the visiting was usually carried out by the healthy workmates, not the person who is ill.
To the rest of my former colleagues, it is not contagious (at least not passed on from one person to another), instead, you may fall victim to it through your work, if you are not careful. So, please try to keep the camaraderie going with any of your mates who may fall foul of this illness in the future. They will need all the help and understanding you can give them, and it may end up being you who is the one in need of the help and understanding.
A thank you must also go to the Police Association for providing me with legal assistance in dealing with the complications of the WorkCover system.
Finally, I wasn’t going to bag the department, but just quietly slip away. The anger and the pain have now subsided and I am now actually quite delighted by the thought of my emancipation and no longer view it as a “shafting”. However, I think it would be remiss of me if I did not point out how the department has been almost totally inadequate as well as, in one case, downright offensive and careless in dealing with me. This leads me to a point that caused me particular personal distress during much of the earlier part of my illness.
Tom, the “alleged” illness that you have referred to in your correspondence, as well as spoken of, using slightly less subtle terms, when communicating with other members, was, and is, real. I am being paid a substantial amount of money through WorkCover to corroborate that fact.
I have found that the narrow-minded, macho culture of the police force seems to have prevented any acceptance or understanding of my situation. I have, over the years, observed that other members who have found themselves in my situation also appear to have been ostracized. It would seem to me that this situation is caused mainly due to ignorance as well as, in some cases, personal prejudices. An ongoing education program for members concerning mental illness is, I believe, a necessary and long overdue requirement that should help to redress this situation.
Unfortunately, police officers quite often become their own worst enemies in regard to the number of stresses that they are required to endure. This is because they, more often than not, make a bad, sometimes unworkable, system work well through their ingenuity, resourcefulness and persistence. I believe that this is what makes them their own worst enemies.
Why? Because, when they are able to perform up to and often beyond what is expected of them by the department, the false belief is formed that the system is working well – and working well within the existing budgetary constraints. Of course, some genius then forms the belief that, because the system is working so well, even more personnel and equipment may be skimmed from the top.
Over the years, this ongoing cycle of decay has continued, and now, it seems to me, the impossible results are now the expected results from every police officer. This has resulted in more and more pressure and stress for those members working at the coalface.
To top this off there are lamentable training and education schemes, as well as poor implementation of these schemes in regard to all forms of practical training and education. This is especially so in the country areas. It can thus be said that even more pressures are being heaped on those who are already being taxed close to their limits.
I could go on and on bagging the department over the inadequate training of members, but it would only be another waste of my time and effort. I believe that I am now back on track and I am looking forward to life as an ordinary citizen, so I will leave these matters to the Police Association, as well as those member who are left behind.
Yours truly
Mike Fuller
Dear Peter
I tender my resignation from the Police Association following my separation from the South Australia Police. My last day of service was February 23.
I acknowledge all those people I have had the pleasure of working with during the last 26 years, particularly the remaining members of the original course 51, my workmates during my lengthy stint in the Adelaide Hills and Mount Barker (who could forget those cricket matches in the backyard) and my colleagues at Multicultural Services, whose tasks are not always appreciated, but from whom I carry wonderful memories of adventures across South Australia and interstate.
I have left SAPOL to accept a senior project officer’s position within the Department of Human Services.
Good luck and best wishes for the future.
Regards
Rob Zadow
Dear Sir
I wish to advise that I have resigned from the police department, my last day of service being March 7, 2001.
I also resign from the Police Association effective the same date.
Regards
Peter Rowe
Senior Constable, 8480/2
Operations, STAR Group
Dear Peter
Please accept my resignation from the Police Association of South Australia. I have resigned from SAPOL effective March 7, 2001.
I have been a member of the association since I joined SAPOL in March 1989. For a short time, I was a workplace delegate for Adelaide. I thank you and your staff for all the hard work you have done during your time in office.
I have returned to full-time tertiary studies this semester, undertaking a four-year double degree in the information technology field. I’m sure this will prove to be both challenging and rewarding. In addition to my studies, I will continue to operate my part-time painting and handyman business.
I find myself writing this letter about 20-odd years earlier than I had anticipated. I feel like I’ve been at the crossroads for some time, not only in my career, but also in my life. Suddenly my whole identity has changed, which will take some getting used to. Regardless, I feel that I have made the right decision and it’s now time to charge ahead along a different road.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my 11 years as a policeman. Experiences in both uniform and covert postings have served me well. Whilst we consider ourselves “unskilled” as a profession, it’s surprising what I’ll take with me after a relatively short stint.
I will miss the things we take for granted, such as the genuine friendships that seem to come so easily and stay so long. On that point I thank everyone who has supported me recently through some difficult times. You know who you are.
Keep up the good work
Justin Meldrum
Constable 1875/5
Dear Andy
I thought that I wouldn’t be doing this so early into my career with SAPOL but I have been offered a tremendous opportunity that I can’t pass up. I hereby tender my resignation from the SA Police Association as of March 14, 2001, which will be my last day of service. I will commence my new role as co-ordinator – Crime Prevention and Community Safety Officer with the City of Charles Sturt Council on March 19, 2001.
I am swayed to take this position for the benefits of my family; to again live a normal functional life. I say thank you to all whom I have worked with in the job and to those I have met and know. I will not be negative about SAPOL, as there are far better issues to discuss. Therefore, I wish all those who remain the best for their career aspirations and goals.
I say a special thanks to the people at my last posting (the Parks, Port Adelaide LSA) for their support, understanding and commitment to the task in hand (serious police work). Past and present team 2 members, some whom are now spread over the state, again a special thanks of gratitude – they could not have been led by anyone better in the job, Sgt Michael Butler. To those people, thanks.
I will continue to have ongoing liaison with SAPOL as part of this new position and lay open invitation to anyone for a cup of coffee in the future.
Daryll Rivett
FCC 8742/1
Vice and Gaming Section
Dear Andy
Please accept my resignation from the Police Association due to my resignation from SAPOL effective March 28, 2001.
Regards
John F Hosking
Salisbury
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Letters of withdrawal of Police Association membership
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