October 1998 Volume 79 Number 10 "serving the protectors"
The Last Shift

Dear Sir,

Please accept my resignation from the Association due to my retirement from the South Australia Police Department effective 15 July 1998, which is my last day of service. I extend my best wishes to all members for the future.

I would be pleased if you could continue to send me a copy of the monthly police journal.

Yours Faithfully
Ray Murfitt

Dear Peter,

I wish to advise my resignation from the Association due to retirement. My last day of service will be 23 August 1998.

I am retiring at the relatively young age of 51 after 35 years’ service to try my hand at something other than police work and also because I am frustrated at the lack of promotion and foresight in this job.

I have met and worked with some wonderful people during those years and formed lifelong friendships. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time but can’t help thinking I may have had the best of it. The department cannot be run like a business for profit, it is a service organisation where the workers are the greatest asset. I fear that is being overlooked in the quest to stay within economic bounds.

I believe the Department has lost its independence by the placing of senior executive members on contracts. They are then in the situation of basically serving two masters and I know which one will win out in order for those contracts to be renewed.

I joined this job when Brig. McKinna was the Commissioner, I could not see him accepting budget cuts without so much as a whimper, nor some of his contemporaries. I think that emphasises my previous point.

Peter, thank you and your Association for the excellent work in very difficult times, keep up the good fight. Your media skills have put a very public face on the Association and I know you have the backing of the public at large. Good luck for the future.

Cliff Boydon
Detective Sergeant, Adelaide CIB

Dear Peter,

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association of South Australia, my last day of service being Wednesday 26 August, 1998.

I have accepted a position with the South Australian Ambulance Service commencing in the near future. I feel that SAPOL is unable to provide me with a clear career path and achieving the Associate Diploma in Justice Administration has done nothing to illuminate my situation. My decision to leave SAPOL was not taken casually as it was a career that I worked so hard to be part of. Per chance, a focus ’98 concentrating on existing morale problems may have been better than focussing on 21?

Thank you to all the members both past and present that I have worked with over the years for all the good times and support.

I wish all members of SAPOL, particularly the country coppers who work in conditions and in particular with antiquated equipment that still astounds me, all the very best with your future goals and ambitions.

Andrew O’Connor
Constable 8440/8, Whyalla Patrols

Dear Peter,

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association of SA. I have resigned from SAPOL, my last day of service being 27/8/98.

I wish everyone all the best for the future and thank those I have had the pleasure of making friends with over the last 71/2 years.

I have purchased a furniture removal truck and invite anyone who is moving to ring me for “Police Discount”.

Yours Sincerely
Brendan Cooney

Dear Peter,

I hereby tender my resignation from the Police Association of South Australia due to my retirement from SAPOL. My last day of service will be 28 August 1998.

Can I take this opportunity to thank all of those persons I had the privilege of working with during my 321/2 years’ service. I thank them for their comradeship and loyalty and wish you all the best for the future. It certainly was an eventful journey.

John Perry
Inspector 1186/2

Dear Peter,

I hereby tender my resignation from the Police Association of South Australia effective 18 September 1998. I have resigned from SAPOL after 14 years of fun, frivolity and frustration. I am leaving SAPOL to take up a project position within the wine industry. To all of my friends and colleagues who remain in SAPOL, I wish you all the best. What we have done, and you continue to do, is to perform the most under rated vocation in the community.

I have enjoyed immensely my postings at Port Adelaide, Nuriootpa, Coober Pedy, Mount Gambier, Millicent, Holden Hill CIB, Adelaide CIB, Drug Task Force, Fraud Task Force, Confiscation of Profits, Focus 21 HR and finally at Human Resource Management Branch.

It would be remiss of me not to pay my respects to those members of SAPOL who conduct their duties in the remote areas of the State. I was fortunate enough to spend time at Coober Pedy which was without doubt the highlight of my career. I would recommend the move to anyone wishing to pack the most amount of experience in the shortest time. It was certainly a defining period for me personally, and professionally.

My time in the Crime Command has been the most frustrating period I have had in SAPOL, as the CIB is effectively crippled by the effects of nepotism and patronage. Until the organisation becomes strong enough to admit these and other failings openly, I believe that the good work that I and others completed at Focus 21 will be in vain.

The hardest working group of people I have been associated with at SAPOL has been at HRMB. While the service they provide is not without fault, it is not for lack of effort, they are genuinely trying to do the very best for you with inadequate resources and systems to support them. It has been an honour to work with these people.

There can be no doubt that SAPOL is experiencing fundamental change. I applaud the Commissioner’s new vision and I believe he is resolute in his resolve for change. I wish Joan Russell and the HR Command all the best in leading the change, and raising the profile of contemporary HR practice within SAPOL. For without it, any change will be cosmetic only.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge the significant work that PASA has done to ensure that your members’ conditions are at the high level they are today. I wish you and your members all the very best for the future.

Justin Ross
Detective Senior Constable
Human Resource Management Branch