August 1999 Volume 80 Number 8
"serving the protectors"
| August 1999 Volume 80 Number 8 "serving the protectors" |
|
| In the Watch House | |
| By David
Marr |
From last month
It was about 0300 hours and Watch House senior centurion, Gallio, was in his office drafting the LSA mission statement. Tribune Sagacious had demanded significant improvement in the processing and services provided to prisoners booked into the new Watch House cells. Visitors were now offered warm water to sip with their pastry slice topped with tomato, cheese and anchovies.
Gallio had relaxed knowing his prisoner, the inveterate Christian, Simon, was secure in his cell. The new building and facilities hadn’t seen any reduction in required paper work, so he climbed the stairs to the tea room for a coffee refill. The social club had installed a new dispensing machine which, for half a drachma, squirted hot coffee topped with froth and cocoa powder into a throw-away cup.
Hot coffee in hand, Gallio returned to his desk and was feeling relaxed about proceedings when he became aware of shouting and the noisy note of the escape trumpets. He barely had time to get to his feet when the night shift decurion burst through the doorway. “He’s gone, Centurion. The prisoner, Simon the Christian, has somehow escaped his guards and is out of the cells.”
“Impossible”, barked Gallio, “I saw him secured myself, doubled guards and all. Get the supervising optio here immediately; set up road blocks; and get the Dog Squad to search the nearby houses and streets. Tell the Group III supervisor to secure the cells. Oh, and cut out the escape trumpets. We don’t want to advertise this just yet.”
Supervising optio, Portentous, entered the room. He was red-faced and stammering. Gallio looked intently at him and knew immediately they were in trouble. He appeared so shaken speaking was difficult.
“It was an angel, Centurion. First time I’ve seen one, but I knew what it was. Ah, ah, ah, an angel came through the walls, shook off the chains and opened the doors. He then led the prisoner out of the block. They’ve completely gone. The guards are still asleep with the chains attached. The Group III boys and outer guards are lying on the ground. The PMO, Dr Ernest Virus, is checking them all at the moment. No one has seen anything like it.”
At this point, Senior Centurion Gallio, realising they were in major trouble, took a deep breath and arranged to send notice of the breakout to LSA commander, Herod. Immediately he called for a full report of the happenings from the supervising guards.
Within the hour, Gallio was in the conference room with the team decurions and optios to consider the escape and what steps might be taken to recover Simon the inveterate Christian. All felt anxious about how their commander might respond.
As the supervisors related their version of events, each told how the mysterious angel had passed through the wall and spoken to the prisoner Simon. They told how Simon’s chains had suddenly fallen from his wrists and ankles; how the bolted doors had swung open simply allowing Simon to follow the angel in walking to freedom. One optio told how the lamps in the cell suddenly became alight. All guards were powerless and unable to take any intervening action.
As they were discussing the various reports, senior tribune, Dubious Justice, entered the conference room. All members realised immediately how seriously their LSA commander was taking the events and expected grave consequences. This tribune had a fearsome reputation for conducting his own informal hearings and administering his own brand of “jumped-up” justice (later known as a “kangaroo court”).
To be continued.
SA Police Chaplains
Welfare Section 58 David Marr Tel: 8364 3567 Senior Police Chaplain. Academy 8 Mark Thomas. Tel: 8296 9616 Adelaide: Angas Street 158 Bruce Grindlay. Tel: 8295 2220 Adelaide: Hindley Street 62 Bruce Grindlay. Tel: 8295 2220 Adelaide Hills Division 54 Adrian Stephens. Tel: 8398 2510 Office: 8398 2517 Berri 212 Vacant Ceduna 214 Bob Borgas. Tel: 086 253 503 Christies Beach 20 Vacant Clare 202 Michael Dutschke. Tel: 088 423 681 Communications 172 David Hand. Tel: 8295 6992 Elizabeth 52 Stephen Brooks. Tel: 041 884 0739 Far North 210 Tony Redden. Tel: 08 8672 5011 Focus 21 Richard Lawton. Tel: 08 8362 4836 Gawler 52 Brian Tscharke. Tel: 085 222 288 Glenelg 22 Malcolm Thomas. Tel: 8377 0772 Henley Beach 18 Brenton Daulby. Tel: 8443 8286 Holden Hill 44 Tony Swansson. Tel: 8258 8951 Rod Dyson. Tel: 8365 1170 Kadina 71 Mark Dickens. Tel: 8823 2513 Kingston 208 Richard Dutton. Tel: 08 8767 2590 Mount Gambier 208 Brian Ashworth. Tel: 087 231 353 (W)
Tel: 087 252 537 (H)Murray Bridge 200 Malcolm Bottrill. Tel: 085 325 536 Naracoorte 208 Vacant Norwood 60 Vacant Nuriootpa 204 Andy Kowald. Tel: 085 621 011 Plympton 14 Ian Dempsey. Tel: 8210 8108 Port Adelaide 6 Jeff Oake. Tel: 8341 5930 Port Pirie 206 Vacant Prosecution Services 176 Vacant Port Augusta PS 210 Shirley James. Tel: 08 8641 0146 Port Lincoln 214 Rob Packer. Tel: 08 8683 0302 Salisbury 53 Vacant Sturt 12 Chris Beal. Tel: 8278 9578 Tea Tree Gully 48 Bob George Tel: 8395 9363 Thebarton Barracks 32 Joe Grealy. Tel: 8338 3225 Transit Division Wayne Shepherd. Tel: 8443 4895 Unley 28 Max Bowers. Tel: 8272 8324 Whyalla 218 John Dunckley. Tel: 08 8645 2500
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