August 2002 Volume 83 Number 8 "serving the protectors"

Dear Andy

I hereby tender my resignation from the Police Association due to my retirement from the South Australia Police. My last day of service will be July 4, 2002.

I thank all members with whom I have served throughout my career (36 years and six months to the day). It has been an absolute pleasure to work with men and women of such magnificent character and courage. I have enjoyed my time in the police and I shall take some wonderful memories and friendships with me, as well as some magnificent tales to tell my grandchildren (currently I have four and one more on the way). It is not possible for me to catch up personally with many old friends and, for that, I apologize. I have accepted a position with the parking inspectors and rangers at the Unley Council as team leader, supervisor (chief inspector, perhaps?).

To Peter, Andy and the executive of the Police Association, thank you for all you have done for us. You have achieved excellent outcomes over many years in relation to remuneration and conditions, despite some fierce opposition from governments of both sides of the political spectrum. The Police Association of South Australia is to be congratulated for the manner in which it has performed (in our best interests) over the last 10 years, particularly in relation to the EB agreements.

I have been an operational police officer for my entire career, and I know how hard it can be for patrols to cope sometimes, particularly when staff numbers are down. Police officers do get the job done, despite these obstacles, and the negative effect upon their health and wellbeing. Perhaps one day governments will realize what can be achieved, particularly in relation to crime reduction, if appropriate staffing levels are improved and maintained.

I leave SAPOL knowing that for me it is the right time to go and begin the next stage of my life. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the job, and I take nothing with me other than lifelong friends, good memories and complete satisfaction that I was able to serve the community as a police officer in the South Australia Police. I wish members and their families all the very best, and may your careers be as fulfilling as mine has been.
Yours sincerely
Mick Joseph
Senior Sergeant 1473/9
Port Adelaide Response Unit
Port Adelaide Local Service Area

Dear Andy

I hereby tender my resignation with the Police Association. I officially retired from SAPOL on July 4, 2002.

I send my best wishes to the remaining members of Adult Course 116. I thank all members of the Criminal Investigation Branch for their support and comradeship over the last 24 years.

I also thank all past and present members of the Far North LSA (Port Augusta) for the many happy moments we had together – also their comradeship.

I have enjoyed the 30 years I have been with SAPOL and would do it all over again. I believe that it is a top job and would recommend and encourage any young person to join SAPOL.

Thanks again to everybody.
Yours faithfully
Barry Phillips (2938/4)
Port Augusta CIB

Dear Andy

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association due to my retirement from SAPOL, my last day of service being July 5, 2002.

Wishing all members a happy and safe future.
Regards
GA (Buck) Rogers
Senior Sergeant 1788/4
STAR Group

Dear Andy

Please cancel my membership from the Police Association due to my resignation from SAPOL, effective on July 5, 2002.

I thank all those police officers with whom I have served, as well as the police assistants, who are always there to help.

The Police Association deserves praise, especially (fellow course member) Mark Carroll and Tom Scheffler for their devotion and tireless dedication in assisting all of the police officers in this state.

I leave the job to further my legal education at university. I was hoping to do this while still employed but gaining the degree in less time is more appealing.

To those officers and staff at Adelaide Prosecution, I wish you all well for the future.
John Mattner
Senior Constable 1031/9
Adelaide Prosecution

Dear Andy

Please accept my withdrawal of Police Association membership as of Friday July 5, 2002. This is my effective date of resignation from SAPOL.

I thank you and your staff for your assistance during my career, and all of the members of SAPOL I have had the good fortune to work with.

I am leaving SAPOL after 23 years of very satisfying work. The opportunities are there for the taking for those who wish to be bold enough to take them. SAPOL is one of the few work places where you can change your vocation as often as you like without having to leave the comfort zone of the same employer. For the majority, this should be enough to keep your level of enthusiasm and job satisfaction at a manageable level.

Those who know me would realize that I have always been looking for the next level of challenge. I have now run out of challenge within SAPOL. In recent years, I have specialized in community programmes and project-related work. This relies on conceptual approaches to achieve the outcomes. That doesn’t always sit well with the structured format of SAPOL. The result can often end with a lot of hard work and good ideas being lost in management politics at many levels that are now driven by Performance Outcome Review results, rather than longer-term positive outcomes for all of SAPOL (and the community it is supposed to be serving).

For some to step outside of their square and look at what would benefit the whole rather than the few, appears still to be a step that many can not or will not make. While this attitude continues, those who put in the long hours and continue to promote best practice will remain frustrated, and many will simply stop trying.

What is not seen by some of our decision-makers is that this manner of stifling enthusiastic and conceptual development is creating a workplace of mediocrity. This occurs because those who do give up trying fall in line with those who are happy in maintaining the status quo. Those who want to continue to challenge the norm, leave.

I personally know of three members who have left in the last nine months, all with more than 20 years’ experience. How many do you know? Each of them, like me, leaves with frustration, not bitterness. All four of us still hold SAPOL in high regard and with positive memories.

Then, if that is true, why are so many senior members (in years and rank) leaving? Perhaps a clue exists in the way staff overall are treated by the organization and its systems. SAPOL is spending a lot of money, time and staff on ensuring the recruitment process gains people of the right qualities who will stay long enough to be cost-effective.

I fully agree with and commend the work done in this area. My questions are:

• Where in HR can you find the office of the staff retention officer?
• Which module in the new promotional qualification studies is dedicated to staff retention strategies in the workplace?
• How much time is spent during the officers’ course on positive staff relations and staff retention?

I can only hope that I was looking in the wrong places, because I couldn’t find any answers to these within SAPOL. However, if you look to any private enterprise or industry, you will find that staff retention is a priority in reducing costs and improving work performance and productivity. This improves the quality of its workforce, the reduction of sick leave, a higher value of the company and, ultimately, a higher profit for the shareholders.

For SAPOL, members of the community are its shareholders. As a community member, I wouldn’t be buying shares in SAPOL in its current structure just at the moment.

We all work to our own standards, values and tolerances. For me, there have been two sayings that have guided me through SAPOL in the last 23 years: “You can sit down and complain about it, or stand up and change it,” and, “You can spend all your energy pushing the rock in your path, or you can walk around it.”

I have had the pleasure of being a part of change, and I have tried to push the rock many times. It is time for me now to walk around and move on. I have accepted a position as a real estate agent with Bruce Woodberry (an ex-member) at Ray White Real Estate Glenelg. I look forward to my new challenge, and would welcome any members to give me a call for a chat (no, that’s not a sales pitch). My sincerest best wishes to all members and their families.
Wayne Horwood

Dear Andy

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association due to my last day of service with SAPOL, being July 7, 2002.

I am finally leaving to go and do what I have always wanted to do, that being travelling around the world. God, life is hard.

I say thanks to all the guys I have had the pleasure of working with at Communications and for the last 10 or so years at Christies Beach. I certainly have had some great times and not so great times but, believe it or not, I will miss it.

Most important, I have made some truly great friends who will be in my life forever and, without you guys, it would have been a lot harder. My door will always be open and, hopefully, you will visit me in Canada, or tap on my window in Amsterdam.

All the very best to you all and, maybe in a couple of years, I will see you around.
Take care
Sharon Srzich
Constable 3674/0

Dear Andy

I wish to resign from the Police Association of South Australia effective from today’s date (July 8, 2002). This is because I have resigned from SAPOL.
Kind regards
Vanessa Smith
Cadet 7420/7

Dear Andy

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association due to my retirement from SAPOL, my last day of service being July 10, 2002.

After 25 years, I now feel that my “use-by date” has come and now it’s time to get into the serious side of life, such as playing sport, woodworking, gardening, travelling and generally having a good time.

I thank the many people I have had the pleasure of working with during this time and wish you all good health and happiness.
Trevor Gregory
Senior Constable 2354/6
Crime Reduction Section

Dear Andy

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association due to my resignation from SAPOL, my last day of service being July 10, 2002.

I have recently joined a fine wine distribution company in the area of sales and marketing. Not a bad sort of career to be getting into if you enjoy your reds.

I thank the many people I’ve worked with over the past eight years. I’ve had some amazing opportunities in SAPOL and take with me many fantastic memories. Course 64 – you’re legends. I’ve worked with some of the most professional people around and the friendliest. I encourage those who know me to keep in touch. My husband, Simon, still remains at Adelaide Investigations.

Thanks to the Police Association for all its support and dedication towards creating a better workplace for SAPOL employees.
Yours sincerely
Gina Morris (now Bell)
8855/6
Adelaide LSA

Dear Andy

I hereby terminate my membership of the Police Association to coincide with my resignation from SAPOL, both effective July 10, 2002.
Yours faithfully
Debra Jane Wheatley
Adelaide Hills Criminal Justice Section

Dear Andy

I hereby tender my resignation from the Police Association, last of service being July 10, 2002. I have accepted a position as a community health worker.

I say thank you to all those who I have had the pleasure of working with over the past 22 years.

SAPOL needs to continue to embrace diversity within the workplace. I have seen great changes occur and there was a time a few years back when I believed SAPOL was a leader in workplace equity and diversity issues. I now believe that this is sadly falling behind. Many people within the organization have skills and talents that are not utilized, to the detriment of SAPOL.

My hope for the future is that SAPOL recognizes the resources it has and begins to appreciate its greatest asset, its employees – all its employees.

I leave on a good note and wish everyone all the best.
Regards
Gary Spence
Constable 3588/6

Dear Andy

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association of SA due to my retirement on July 10, 2002.

To all members I have worked with over the years, I wish you all the best for the future.

Thank you to the Police Association for the work you have done on behalf of members.
Michael Standen
Detective Senior Sergeant
302/3

Dear Andy

I hereby tender my resignation from the Police Association, effective July 11, 2002, due to my retirement from SAPOL.

I commenced with SAPOL as a 40-year-old recruit on May 22, 1986, with Course 138, and graduated as a six-month wonder. I had previously done 10 years with FEDPOL and yearned for the police organization and camaraderie and regular pay days. I would say au revoir to all the course members.

I have loved the chases, the arrests, the adrenaline-charged moments, the close shaves, the confrontations and the times when only a person in blue could help a victim. I have loved the close bond that there is between the members who have had to rely on one another during an incident. I have worked with partners for whom I have the highest regard and, if there is one thing that I will miss, it is this bond. Don’t ever think that we don’t make a difference. Imagine society without the boys and girls in blue. After 16 years at Elizabeth, it is the members and the moments that I remember.

I particularly thank Brendan McGee of Elizabeth CIB, Ray Dowd of Welfare and Doctor Flock of Medical Centre, and the members of the Elizabeth Crime Enquiries Section, who assisted in getting me back to work after a recent back operation. Thank you. I returned to full operational duties in November 2001 and have now decided not to wait for retirement but instigate it and pursue another challenge.

I am retiring so that my wife Alisson and I can take over the Wendy’s franchise at Hollywood Plaza, Salisbury Downs and I can concentrate on our vineyard and almond orchard. It will be a major change in our lives, but it beats sitting on the verandah.

Good luck to those who are remaining to carry on the good fight.
Yours sincerely
Peter Marsland
Constable 2406/2
Elizabeth Crime Enquiry

Dear Andy

I wish to advise that my last day with the South Australia Police will be July17, 2002. After 41 years, I cannot think of another profession which could have given me so much variety, enjoyment and so many great opportunities. To those I worked with along the way – thanks for the memories.
Regards
Ken Gunn
Rabaul PNG

Dear Andy

Please accept my resignation as a member of the PASA executive and as a member of PASA effective July 17, 2002. This date is my last day of service with SAPOL because of my retirement.

I send my heartfelt appreciation to all of those wonderful, hilarious, fun-loving, overworked, underpaid and substantially unrecognized front-liners who it has been my privilege to work alongside. You have made my journey through SAPOL so much more enjoyable.
Yours sincerely
Ian Hills

Dear Andy

I hereby resign my membership of the Police Association of South Australia to coincide with my separation from SAPOL.

My last day of service with SAPOL will be July 19, 2002.
Yours sincerely
John Billing
Senior Sergeant 1115/8
Human Resource Management Branch

Dear Andy

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association of South Australia due to my retirement, my last day of service being July 24, 2002.

I thank SAPOL for providing me the opportunity of fulfilling my musical aspirations for the past 42 years in a world-class unit, the Band of the South Australia Police.

I wish every member of the band, both past and present, all the best for the future and thank you for your friendship and support that you have shown me.

I hope and trust that the department and the public will continue with their support for what is recognized both interstate and internationally as a highly talented and professional unit of immeasurable worth to the cause of public relations for the department as well as showcasing the state of South Australia.

Farewell to all other members of the force whom I have met and served with during my time in the job.

As Bob Hope once said, thanks for the memories.
Des “Blue” Clark
Acting Sergeant 331/9
Drum Major
Band of the South Australia Police

Dear Andy

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association as I am retiring, my last day of service being July 31, 2002.

After 42-plus years of service, I have no regrets. There have been fun times, good times and a couple of low spots, but I survived and life goes on.

I wish my many friends and people I have worked with over the years well. May the Police Association continue to successfully fill its vital role in representing its members.
Yours faithfully
Trevor Brettig

Dear Andy

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association of South Australia, my last day of service being July 31, 2002, due to my retirement.

Many thanks to all in there for all you have done over the years, and all the best to everyone I’ve met over the last 38 years.
Terry Carr
Senior Constable 1291/1

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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