March 2002 Volume 83 Number 3 "serving the protectors"

Fined for doing job

“Proactive, leadership, customer service, targeting, responsive not reactive”. All these are the key buzz words currently making their way through SAPOL. These are the ideals that management wants members to embrace and practise. Not bad ideals on paper, and not criticized by me. I think they are heading in the right direction to improve and enhance members’ attitudes and ideals. Create the work ethic and the results will follow, I say.

At about 11.26am on September 10, 2001, I was heading back to Gawler after lodging yet another “targeted” crook in the Elizabeth cells. With my trusty and eager probationer – whom I had the responsibility of training – by my side, we set out to find another crook using the proactive approach. She was eager to learn and I was using my experience of 15 years to find suitable candidates for us to check on. She had a KDT and after a morning of training was eager to practise what she had learnt.

We were cruising north on Main North Road. I was picking cars, suspect drivers, possible defects and other potential infringements and she was doing the checks. I had explained to her that a variety of serious matters could evolve from a routine traffic stop and encouraged her to do as many checks as she was able. In police terms, we were “actively engaged” and, as any police officer knows, crooks can be elusive, and we are the last people they want to see. They will avoid you at all costs. They speed up, change lanes, hide in front of and behind trucks, and try not to be detected for whatever their guilty conscience tells them they have done wrong.

About four weeks later I get called into the senior sergeant’s office and presented with a traffic speeding fine. I was photographed in a patrol car doing 91km/h in an 80 zone. After checking, I realized it occurred when I was “actively engaged” searching for traffic offenders and training my probationer. No problem, I thought. People offered me a lot of suggestions. You know, “the disappearing black commodore without his seatbelt on”; “the suspicious vehicle that suddenly turned off and sped away but was not located”, etc.

I said to them: “I’ll just write a report and tell them what I was doing.” After all, I was doing what SAPOL wanted me to do. I was doing my job – showing enthusiasm and a proactive approach, training and showing a positive attitude to my probationer.

I knew the speed detected was not excessive, and by no means an indication of my average speed. It was just a point in time where something had caught my eye and needed to be further investigated before being discarded. I felt I had covered all the criteria to be considered specific duty and all that. So the report went in and was endorsed by my senior officer. Honesty was the best policy, I considered. SAPOL wouldn’t penalize me for showing initiative... Oh yes, it would.

The report came back from Professional Conduct Branch saying that, in its opinion, it was just a “generic duty claim” (what is that?). It (the branch) also inferred that the only way I could catch traffic offenders was to speed.

My application to have the fine dismissed was refused. Well now, I was confused. Professional Conduct Branch is now telling me that, to tell the truth, do your job, actively embrace SAPOL’s philosophy, train and encourage probationers, and take a proactive approach to catch traffic offenders – who do not wish to be caught – were not good enough reasons to dismiss the fine.

Here I was, thinking I was behaving in a professional manner. After all, I wasn’t out shopping. I was basically being told that the speeding fine takes precedence over my work ethic. I am allowed to explore my work ethic just so long as I can produce a job number and/or a crook, as I had neither, then I wasn’t really “working” just generic-duty driving (what IS that?).

In light of this, I was required to pay the fine. I could elect to be prosecuted, of course, but I believe my job is already stressful enough without having to justify what my job is to other non-operational SAPOL members who should know.

My wife has informed me that I can no longer embrace SAPOL’s proactive approach to traffic offenders unless they are doing the speed limit, as our house budget can’t afford it...Where did that black commodore go again?
Senior Constable Simon Cassell
Gawler Patrols
Elizabeth LSA

Shooting changed whole world

Dear Andy

I am writing to thank the Police Association and you for the support of my husband on the September 7, 2001, when Peter was shot at on a routine motor vehicle stop. Your immediate attendance, along with Michael Woods, at the Aldinga police station shortly afterwards was of great relief.

As police officers, we all contemplate the “what-ifs” and know what can happen to us, but when it actually happens to you and your family it changes your whole world completely. Having only five weeks prior to the incident becoming proud parents of our first child, this was something we certainly hadn’t considered in our immediate futures. Our own safety and that of our families is something we all take for granted at times.

Thanks also to Ray Dowd (Welfare) for his support and continuing support with us. Thank you to Supt Madeline Glynn for her professionalism, and concern for Pete’s welfare above everything.

To all the police officers who attended that night and helped by just doing their job – thanks.

Personal thanks to our dear friend Jeff Wight (A906) for his friendship and hourly updates to me at home – without them I am sure I would have worried twice as much.

But most importantly I would like to thank Pete. Without his dedication and commitment to his own safety, and knowing that things “weren’t right”, I am sure we could have had a more severe outcome. Thank you for paying attention at IMOST training sessions and remembering the importance of operational safety.

If this serves as a timely reminder to police – both veterans and rookies – remember your gut feelings and trust them. But most importantly don’t ever take any job for granted. Remember – and don’t tut – when you next have IMOST training, it could just all fall into place when you really need it.

Thank you to Mr White and Mr McKenzie for their kind thoughts and words in the ensuing days and to the many well-wishers who rang to pass on their kind thoughts – we appreciated it.

It’s at times like these when you realize how wonderful the police culture is, despite all the negatives of the job.

Thank you again to all concerned.
Yours sincerely
Julie Clifton
Constable 8498/9
South Coast LSA (currently on maternity leave)

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