December 1999 Volume 80 Number 12 "serving the protectors"
The Last Shift

Dear Andrew

I have recently resigned from SAPOL and it is with regret that I must also resign from the Police Association. There have been two occasions when I have called upon the association for assistance and on each one I have been fully supported by professional and very helpful staff.

I have made many acquaintances, known a number of outstanding peers and associates and developed some close personal friends since 1982 and I wish them all the best as I still believe that being a police officer is a worthwhile occupation.

Thanks and good luck
Digby Morrison
DSC1G

Dear Peter

Please accept my resignation from PASA coinciding with my resignation from SAPOL, effective October 20, 1999.

During my eight-and-a-half years with SAPOL I have served at Hindley St, Para Hills, Whyalla, Glenelg and Plympton. A big thank you to those members and supervisors I have worked with at these postings, especially former partners Rowdy and Jonesy.

I have recently completed a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sport science, and I am leaving SAPOL to gain employment in this field.

All the best to those members who are happy in the job, and to those who would rather be doing something else, JUST DO IT.

Graeme Denton
Constable 125/0

Dear Andy

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association as my last day of service is Wednesday, October 20, 1999.

I wish to sincerely thank all staff, delegates and committee members, past and present, for their hard work on our behalf.

I would like to express my gratitude to Ray Dowd, Trevor Haskell, David Marr and Dawn Lunn of Welfare Branch. Thank you for your patience, your professionalism, your understanding and for just being there. One day this department will acknowledge your worth and you will receive the credit that you rightly deserve.

In difficult times it is easy to blame management, but from experience, there are some very decent people among our senior ranks. I am confident that in the near future the job’s best asset, the young operational patrol copper, will be better recognized as a true patrol professional, and not a general duties officer.

I foresee that future times will see the introduction of an exclusive “patrol officer” shoulder patch - a specific operational uniform, as opposed to a ceremonial uniform. Without doubt we will see 20-year inducements for patrol officers, similar to those enjoyed by our American counterparts. In short, uniform patrols will be recognized as a professional career path.

To the many people who I have had the joy and privilege to work with on behalf of Barb and myself, thanks for being allowed to be a part of your life. To the older hands thanks for your company, your comradeship and the esprit de corps that we shared.

After 28 years I still regard the job as just the greatest vocation. I am proud and privileged to have been a member of the thin blue line.

My special thanks to Oleh Cybulka, Paul Bartlett and all members of Transit Division for making my last posting a great place to work.

Kind regards
Warren Featherby
Transit Division

Dear Peter

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association due to my resignation from SAPOL effective October 28, 1999.

I am leaving to care for my daughter and to continue my studies in the teaching field.

I can only repeat that which I have heard so many before me say. It will not be the abusive drunks, gory scenes or death messages that I will miss but the truly professional, caring, dedicated and incredibly funny people with whom I have had the privilege of working.

To all the girls at SAS (especially HP and Murf) thanks for the past six years - who would have thought work could be so much fun?

Wishing you all the best of health and good luck for the future. Keep fighting the good fight.

Sincerely
Melissa Brister
FCC 5223/4
Sexual Assault Section

Dear Peter

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association due to my retirement from SAPOL. My last day of service will be November 3, 1999.

I thank all members who I have had the pleasure of working with over the past 38-and-a-half years for their guidance, assistance and most of all comradeship.

May I extend my best wishes for the future to yourself and members of PASA as you strive for better conditions at a time when morale amongst members is at an all-time low. I depart with heaps of memories and experiences from the good old days.

J G Reed
Senior Sergeant 1054/2
Clare

Secretary

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association of South Australia effective November 3, 1999, this being my last day of service after 39 years due to my retirement from SAPOL.

Because my decision to retire was taken just prior to annual leave meant that I was unable to say farewell to the many friends I have made during those years in person.

Could you please pass on my thanks (via the Police Journal) to all members whom I have had the pleasure of working with during my career.

Best of luck to the executive and members of the association for the future.

David Wright
Sgt 912/2
Sturt LSA

Dear Andy

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association due to my retirement, my last day of service with SAPOL will be November 3, 1999.

I thank all colleagues with whom I have worked over the past 38 years for their comradeship during my time within SAPOL.

I extend my best wishes to all members for the future.

Yours sincerely
John Dennett
Sergeant 969/6
Dog Operations Unit

Andy

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association due to my resignation from SAPOL effective November 10, 1999. Goodbye and thank you to all those who tolerated me during my time in region D, comms and the Far North.

Nick Perry
Constable 354/2
Port Augusta

Dear Andy and Peter

As an optimistic person, I have spent the last six months waiting for things to improve in “the job”. However, nothing has changed so I will be resigning on November 24, 1999. The critical staff shortages and lack of camaraderie has taken the shine off being a police officer. I have enjoyed my 14 years and would like to thank several people who made it all worthwhile:

• Brenton Mart for turning my idea of job sharing with my spouse into a reality.
• Paul Greathead for being such an inspirational academy lecturer (many years ago).
• Hank Swalue for being an outstanding leader and organizer.
• The Colonel, Pilly and Tonksy, my mates from ORG , thanks for the laughs.

And finally, a huge thanks to my husband, Ron, who chose to work part-time for two years to give our son a good start in life.

Regards
Viv Savron (Muller)
Plympton

Dear Andy

Please accept my resignation from the Police Association due to my retirement from SAPOL, my last day of service being November 24, 1999. I wish you all well in the future with your lives and careers.

R A Fairbank
Constable 628/6
Communications Division

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