February 2002 Volume 83 Number 2 "serving the protectors"

Dear Andy

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association. After a working life of over 41 years in government departments (the last 34 being with SAPOL), I have retired (due to invalidity) on November 21, 2001.

I look back on postings at region G (metro), Port Augusta, Gladstone, Naracoorte and, finally, Millicent. I have enjoyed serving these communities in many capacities and have had some interesting experiences, which occasionally bring inner smiles.

This job has its challenges and I commend all those with whom I have had the honour to serve. The staff at Millicent who, over the past few years, have had to contend with a reduction in operational staff numbers, many changes to rosters and shifts at short notice together with increased demand, have without complaint epitomized the great character of our members. It is because you achieved a reduction in crime and motor vehicle accidents that your numbers were reduced (working smarter). Thank you for your continued support over the last few years.

To the members at SEG and particularly my last LSA commander, I recommend that you encourage and recognize all staff and they will respond positively.

My most satisfying achievement has been the establishment of the Wattle Range Road Safety Committee and instigating coloured marker posts at roadside fatalities. For this we received State Government, national and international recognition. The people of the local area have accepted road safety as a community concern and have done something positive to reduce the problem. The community will continue to assist if involved, supported and acknowledged.

Good luck to all for the future.
Yours faithfully
Peter Stanford
Senior Sergeant
1790/9

Dear Andy

I wish to tender my resignation from the Police Association as of December 5, 2001, due to my retirement.
Yours faithfully
Ronan McEvoy
Patrol Sergeant
Mount Barker

Dear Andy

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association due to my resignation from SAPOL effective December 21, 2001, as I have purchased a business at Port McDonnell. Good luck to all.
Peter Zeitz
Beachport Police Station

To whom it may concern

On December 21, 2001, I terminated my employment with the South Australia Police. I therefore write to cancel my membership with the Police Association as of December 21, 2001.

I thank the association for its support throughout my year with SAPOL and wish it and its members well in all future endeavours.
Kind regards
Tanya Lee Walsh
formerly 5866/7

Dear Andy

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association, my last day of service being December 26, 2001.

SAPOL’s oxymoron – an HR department that manages consistent, ethical and professional policy. I’d like to see that! Well, that’s the dummy-spit over and done with.

The last 14 years. Where did they go? There have been so many amazing people and experiences that I have been privileged to be a part of. The times where we just laughed and laughed.

I still laugh, remembering as a team from the old Hindmarsh sub-division responding to a regular customer who somehow got a duress alarm fitted. Lights and sirens – the whole team attended. She was so impressed with the response time. I even think comms were!

I remember on night shift chasing someone’s pet rabbit about the streets of Tusmore. I just don’t recall how it got into someone’s filing cabinet back at Norwood.

The old eight-team speed detection section. What did those passing motorists think when a work colleague and myself arrested a woman on North East Road? Her zip top undid and both of them were there for the whole world to see.

I have to say to the female officer in APS that there was a reasonable explanation when the lift doors opened and a victim had her head in my crotch. She was agoraphobic.

The laughs and cards at Elizabeth CJS, remember “The truth will set you free”. One of thousands of stories that will be retold over several drinks with friends.

At the end of all this, it was a pleasure to return to the coalface and work back on the road at Norwood, group 2. It was like stepping back in time as a probo. It’s funny how you forget what the road was like and the great jobs these guys do.

I’ve decided to pursue a different direction. My wife and I have been accepted to study a bachelor of education at Magill. The one thing that is sure – the memories will stay with me for the rest of my life and the experience has made me a better person.

Good luck to everyone and remember to keep laughing. I’ll see some of you at my first protest.
Regards
Mick Michell
Constable 2805/7

Dear Andy

January 1, 2002 will be my first day of retirement from SAPOL and, as such, please accept this letter as notification of resignation from the Police Association.

Police officers of South Australia are fortunate to be employed in a very highly regarded police department and supported by an equally highly regarded and hard-working association.

Members who are committed, flexible and accept the challenges and opportunities presented, will be supported by the Police Association.

I leave after 35 years in a career that has offered those challenges and opportunities.

I am very grateful to the uncle (a retired police officer) who asked me to consider SAPOL as a career, because I have been rewarded by serving the Far North local service area (the biggest, best and most challenging LSA) as officer-in-charge for the past four years.

Upon departing, I wish to thank all the members (police and public sector employees) with whom I have been associated for their support and loyalty.

Thanks also to the Police Association for its support and service in times of need.

Goodbye, good luck and look me up on the Copper Coast (York Peninsula).
Regards
Kym S Boxall
Far North LSA

Dear Sir

Please be advised of my resignation/retirement from the South Australia police department and the Police Association of SA effective from January 9, 2002.

It is with mixed feelings that I leave the people with whom I formed many wonderful relationships, form acquaintances to life-depending partnerships.

The memories and the stories I can and cannot tell will be with me for many years to come. I achieved what I was after from the job for many years – excitement, thrills, many varied occupations within one job. It also came with the boring and mundane, but that came with the job. Like, in the 1970s guarding the fishpond at Angas St on night shift. Things just had to get better after that, as they did.

To the men and women in the field I say to you the enjoyment and excitement is still there – it is up to you to find your way through the bureaucracy and make it enjoyable with the people around you, find the excitement which will make your day seem important. When they let you off the leash, you will be able to do the job the way you know it should be done.

One could say many things in how the job was and is managed to make it better for police officers and public, but I will save it and when I’m fishing I will explain it to the fish, they might at least listen.

To the Police Association, I thank you for just being there. The thought that I had backup if things blew up in my face was a most comforting feeling indeed.

I also thank the staff at the rehabilitation section (especially Ian) – a group of people who do a wonderful job and the effort they put in on my behalf can only be said to be outstanding.

So I thank all whose paths I have crossed over 34 years for their friendship and I wish you all the best for your future.
Cheers
Tom Hawthorn
Senior Constable

Dear Andy

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association due to my premature retirement from SAPOL as at January 9, 2002.

After almost 40 years, I have to say that it’s been good in the police. For about half of that service I have practised the art of intelligence analysis. Looking back on that time I realize that it has been very fulfilling. The intelligence field for me has been as far as every state and territory in Australia, three years at the ABCI in Canberra, the USA and three months in Papua New Guinea. In all of these places, I have met a broad array of people from all kinds of law enforcement agencies, some of whom I still contact. However, it was Vietnam that came back to haunt me.

To members of the intelligence family, I say keep pushing. Your value is now being recognized.

Thank you to the Police Association for its successes in the past and I am sure the future. Thank you to all I have worked with during my time in the job. Good bye and good luck.
Ian “Moose” Gully
Senior Sergeant
1296/6

Dear Andy

Please be advised that I have resigned from the South Australian Police Department, with my last day of service being January 23, 2002. I wish therefore to terminate my membership of the Police Association effective that date.

I wish you, Peter Alexander, the rest of the elected officials and staff at the Police Association all the best in the years to come.

I have been involved with the Police Association as a delegate for the Communications Branch and used the association’s services on a couple of occasions and appreciate the professional advice and assistance rendered to me on those occasions.

I believe the Police Association is a great organization and invaluable to the working police officer and becoming more and more necessary to that working police officer. May the Police Association go from strength to strength.

To those people with whom I have worked over the last 20 years, I’m proud to have known and worked with most of you.

Good luck to everyone who remains in “the job”.

I’m going recreational fishing and golfing.
Regards
Mark Dobson
Ex-Constable 17/0
(markdobson@picknowl.com.au)

Letters of withdrawal of Police Association membership should be addressed to PASA secretary, Andy Dunn, at:

• Police Association of SA,
  PO Box 6032, Halifax St,
  Adelaide, SA 5000
• secretary@pasa.asn.au
• Police Association 168 (internal dispatch)

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