March 1999 Volume 80 Number 3 "serving the protectors"
The Last Shift

Dear Peter

Due to my completed service with the Police Department on 23 September, 1998, I wish to terminate my membership with the Police Association as of this date.

Many thanks for the efforts of yourself and staff of the Police Association.

Yours sincerely

Grant D Gittos.

Dear Peter

I hereby tender my resignation from the Police Association of South Australia effective from 7 October, 1998, which is the date of my resignation from the South Australia Police Force.

After more than 15 years of dedicated service, I have decided to take a good long hard look at myself and have finally decided to do what I have only ever dreamed of doing. I have now moved to Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast in Queensland to enjoy life and have purchased a business franchise.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank yourself, the committee and all staff, representatives and delegates of the Association for the excellent service you have given to me and all members in the past and I wish you every success for the future.

I have made many life long friends and met some very special and exceptional people throughout my 15 years of service and I leave the force with some sadness but with many fond experiences and memories of those people I have worked with.

To all those friends and colleagues that I did not have time to say goodbye to, in particular those that I worked with from my Graduation Course, Adelaide Patrols, Unley Patrols, BCI, Surveillance, Hindley Street, Southern Command and Adelaide CIB, as well as those others that made the job a little easier to perform from Prosecution, Sexual Assault, Tech Services and Communications I wish you all the very best.

I feel sure that those of you that I leave behind will continue to do an excellent job despite the continued difficulties and frustrations encountered each day from varying outside and inside sources.

I wish every one of my friends and colleagues in the South Australia Police Force all the very best for the future and invite you to look me up for a cold beer should you ever decide to chase your dreams and enjoy life in Queensland.

Regards and best wishes.

Yours sincerely

Paul Hayes
Ex-Senior Constable
Adelaide CIB

Dear Peter

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association due to my resignation from SAPOL which became effective on 1.1.99.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of my friends in SAPOL well for the future. In particular to those of Course 77, who gave me two enjoyable years at Fort Largs. To my neighbouring stations during my time at Riverton, who made country policing the highlight of my career. And finally to the staff at Holden Hill Prosecution who put me back on my feet and helped me get through some pretty bad times so that I could really enjoy the good times when they came along.

It’s been a great 18 years with very few regrets.

I look forward to working for the members when I commence employment with you at PASA later this month.

Your faithfully

Sean Richter

The President

It is with some regret that I have to inform you that I am to resign from PASA due to my retirement from the SA Police Department on 6 January ’99 on which date I shall have completed 42 years of service.

I wish all of those with whom I have served over the years good luck for their future and, in particular, I would note the valued effort of the PASA. During my service I have seen three distinctly different pension schemes in vogue having participated in the structuring of the current scheme whilst a delegate some years ago. I can only say that whilst for the moment it is almost as good as you can get, be warned, it will need constant reviewing to keep up with the ever-changing rules that hang over our heads.

Yours sincerely

AA Ward, RFD, ED.

Dear Andy

Please accept my resignation from the association from the 21st of January, 1999. This is my last day of service after which I intend to transfer to the Federal Police.

And, personal thanks must go to you for all the help and abuse you have afforded me over the years. Quite often the difference became indistinguishable. Fond memories will stay with me of my time at Port Adelaide, Glenelg and finally at Southern Command Response Division. I have had the pleasure of working with exceptional people and enjoyed excellent comradeship.

Sadness must go out to the McDonalds franchisees that will be laying staff off all over Adelaide with the move of my family.

I wish all in the job best wishes and hope that their aspirations can be fulfilled.

Yours sincerely

Kendall Fox
Constable 837/6
Southern Command Response Division

Dear Andy

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association of SA as of the 22nd of January, 1999, due to my retirement from SAPOL, that being my last day of service.

I wish to thank you and your committee, in particular, Peter Alexander, for the tireless effort that has been exhibited in the past years in order to improve both the working conditions and remuneration for us all. I hope that this continues for those remaining, as I am sure it will.

It has become more evident in recent years that the service I joined some 34 years ago has changed. This is only natural, but I refer to the apparent more involvement, or pressure, of the Government, through the Commissioner, to change SAPOL from a service to a money orientated business. To me, there seems more emphasis on revenue raising from traffic related offences, rather than the safety and protection of the community at large, in respect to both moral and criminal offences being investigated. Obviously this form of investigation is not cost effective, as they are both labour and resource intensive, with little or no Government remuneration on a successful investigation.

This is again highlighted in the court system, where traffic offenders (a large number of the public) seem to be punished heavily, perhaps for a monetary income to the Government, where criminal charges appear to receive poor penalties, if at all, as this would again be a deficit for the Government if a person were to be incarcerated. The only cases that appear to be pursued to a satisfactory conclusion are those which are of community interest, and if I dare to say, may be in the best interests of the Government (electoral reasons) if appropriate penalties were imposed.

Is SAPOL now another body to raise revenue for the Government or are its members’ responsibilities to uphold the law without favour for the protection of life and property, hence a service to the community?

I have, however, been very fortunate to be an employee of SAPOL as I have had a regular income which has provided well for my family. I have travelled extensively throughout this state and interstate. I have been able to live in a number of different country towns, including a stay in Adelaide, where I was able to meet a variety of people and work with a number of top people who were also employed by SAPOL. I too have been able to work some very strange hours and for periods other members of the public would gasp at. I have been able to drop whatever family activities have been arranged and return to work at the drop of a hat, regardless of the time or place, without any consideration of family or one’s health. I have been able to wear the brunt of some poor decisions or lack of management direction, but at the same time have been expected to do one’s job to the highest level. Yet one may be tested by both management and the legal system for those actions, after they have had the luxury of time to ponder and to deliberate over legal matter.

I have also had the privilege of doing every job many times over, hence one would think to improve one’s skills. No, as you are required in the first instance to respond to the tasking, take what action is deemed necessary, record what facts are deemed necessary, then again record those actions and deeds on computer files, generate what court and sundry files are necessary, and then, to again and be questioned over the matter sometime later in court. During this process we are assisted by the most up to date of computer systems, programmes, availability of services and information.

All together, I have been privileged to work under this system, as I will be able to appreciate the real world where one is judged on the job done and receive the appropriate remuneration or recognition.

I wish all those remaining in SAPOL the very best along with the association in your endeavours.

Yours sincerely

KM Norris
Senior Constable 875/6 retired

Dear Peter

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association of South Australia due to my resignation from South Australia Police, last day of service being 29 January, 1999.

Over the years I have seen the value of having an effective association working towards the betterment of its members. I believe the members through the Association have demonstrated their professionalism in their dealings with the Department and Government over pay and other disputes. Congratulations on a job well done.

I would like to thank all those I have worked with over the last 21 years and wish you well.

Paul Williams
Offender History

Dear Peter

I hereby tender my resignation from the Police Association as I am retiring on 3 February, 1999.

I extend my thanks to those officers and friends who have supported me during my career, but particularly those who have done so during my illness over the last 11 months.

There is much I would like to say, but maybe at another time. However, I wish to place on record my disappointment at the way in which the Human Resource Management Branch and its staff have been maligned in the past by some members and groups. The frustrations I and my colleagues have personally experienced over many years in attempting to push forward contemporary human resource practices for the benefit of ALL members has been nothing short of incredible.

I read with interest Justin Ross’s letter upon his resignation wherein he openly supports the good work being done in HR Management. Justin was one who was fortunate to experience “front-line” HR Management in the “real world” of politics and from an organisation-wide viewpoint and I appreciate his frankness. I agree that we don’t get it right all the time (who does?), but we have worked very hard to please as many as possible within the scope of the relevant legislation and our organisational policies. It is unfortunate that letters and articles appear in this journal from time to time criticising HR or HR practices generally, but very few employees recognise, or would be aware of the way in which the branch as a team has helped our members in many aspects of their business and personal lives.

Finally, let me say this. The police organisation is unique and comprises police officers and civilian staff with vast experience and knowledge. It is a pity there appears to be divisions between the ranks and some groups. Remember we were all patrol officers, traffic police, investigators, prosecutors, trainers, clerks, accountants or whatever in the past and after 36 years I am disappointed to see such divisions.

You now have an inspirational human resources director who will successfully lead you into the 21st century. I implore all employees to give her their support, unite as one body, stop the nonsense and get on with encompassing equal opportunity principles and leading the way to a safer community.

Yours sincerely

Peter M Mase
Chief Superintendent
Officer-in-Charge
Human Resource Management Branch

Dear Peter

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association effective 4.3.99. This corresponds with my retirement from SAPOL after 33 years.

I would like to say thank you to all members I have had the privilege to know and work with over the years.

I wish a bright future to you all.

Yours sincerely

Alan Gosling
Detective Sergeant
Witness Protection Section