Residents Against Crimes

                      Queensland Police News

                                  

                                                        

 This page is dedicated to the Officers of the

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Rookie police land dream job in Cairns

Eyes front: Constables Nat Fowler, Rose Clarke, Shane Martin and Dan McEntee are ready for their first assignments in the force, joining nine fellow-rookies in Cairns

PLAYING cops and robbers as a 12-year-old, Dan McEntee knew he had chosen his dream job.

The fresh-faced constable is among 13 new officers hitting the streets for the Queensland Police Service in Cairns.

The budding crime fighters have finished a 30-week training course and will now finish a year-long constable program.

Nine of the rookies will be based at the Sheridan St police station with the others being stationed at Smithfield and Edmonton. They will undergo three months at the various stations to learn the ropes.

Cairns District Education and Training officer Sgt Joy Melchiori said the rookies ranged from having backgrounds in tourism and hospitality to corrections and Customs officers.

"We had six in January, 14 in May, four in August and this lot in December," Sgt Melchiori said.

Award for bravery in gun arrest

WITH his partner staring down the barrel of a loaded gun, Far Northern policeman Sen-Constable Davide Leonforte reacted.

Instinctive reaction: Sen-Constable Davide Leonforte was commended for his bravery during an arrest.

He threw himself into the dangerous situation, wrestling the gun from the grip of the man before using capsicum spray to subdue and arrest him.

Last week, Sen-Constable Leonforte’s actions were recognised by the police with a Commissioner’s Commendation for Bravery, presented to him by police commissioner Bob Atkinson.

The award related to the incident at Theodore in August 2007, when Sen-Constable Leonforte and his partner were sent to arrest a man.

When they arrived, the man who was working in a nearby paddock, walked to his car, pulled out a rifle and started loading ammunition before walking towards the two officers.

Sen-Constable Leonforte’s partner was assaulted by the man and, in the struggle, the gun was pointed at him.

Speaking to The Cairns Post, Sen-Constable Leonforte said it was an honour to receive the award and said looking back, the incident had the potential to escalate. “At the time it wasn’t scary but in hindsight, after it happened, we realised it was fairly serious,” he said.

Mr Atkinson said SenConstable Leonforte’s award, and others handed out at last week’s ceremony, were an important part of police work in Queensland.

Other Far Northern officers to be recognised at the ceremony included Smithfield police station officer-in-charge Sen-Sgt Tim Nolan and Det Sen-Sgt Michael Hayes, who both received awards for 35 years’ service.

Small team of dedicated officers shows diversity

THE line of duty is often a dangerous one, but, according to Innisfail District Inspector David Tucker, he has the best team for the job.

Proud moment: Officers in the Innisfail district who were yesterday rewarded for their work in incidents across the region.

Fifteen officers from Innisfail, Tully and Cardwell were recognised for the role they each played in the fatal tilt train collision at Cardwell on November 27, the search and rescue in dangerous flood water at Tully in February and for an incident involving an armed offender at a Tully unit block.

“ The awards reflect the good work of the operational police, in particular, who respond to a number of different emergencies,” Inspector Tucker said.

“Given that the officers were recognised for a serious traffic accident, a flood search and rescue and a knife incident, which could have turned quite nasty, shows the diverse range of issues our police are able to adequately deal with.

“It demands true diversity and is all undertaken by a rather small number of officers across the region.”

Inspectors Peter Mansfield and Bob Waters, Sen-Sgt Peter Williamson, Sgt Duane Amos and Sgt Brett Smith, SenConstables Andrew Campbell, Stephen Gillinder, Manuel Guligo, Scott Hayes, Tracy Ruthenberg, Jody Silk and Constable Theo Kamien were all handed an Assistant Commissioner’s Certificate for their role in the tilt train accident.

Sen-Sgt Williamson, Sgt Gerard Brady, Sen-Constable Ruthenberg and SenConstable Robert Wilkinson were given the same award for the search and rescue at Tully and Sen-Constable Campbell and Police Liaison Officer Benjamin Ketchell were awarded for a job in which they were confronted by a man carrying two large knives outside a Tully apartment block in September, 2007. Sen Constable Campbell was also awarded a regional award for excellence in setting up the Tully Liquor Accord.

Police to honour those who have died

POLICE across the Far North will pause later this month to honour their colleagues who have died in the line of duty.

National Police Remembrance Day will be held in late September with church services, a police march and candlelight vigils being held across the region.

Three events will be held in Cairns with the first being a candlelight vigil at the Esplanade Lagoon starting at 7pm on September 28.

A police march will make its way through the streets of Cairns on September 29 starting at 1.30pm from the Lagoon before a church service is held at St Monica’s Cathedral at 2pm.

A church service will also be held at Innisfail on September 29 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church on Rankin St starting at 10am. 

September 29 was chosen as police remembrance day as it is also the Feast of the Archangel St Michael, who fought evil. The event was first held in 1989.

 

Click photo to view video:

Field training starts for rookie constables

BUDDING crime fighter Andrew Hunter today begins his new job as a rookie constable – a Cairns boy back from police training to patrol the community he grew up with.

 
 

Rookies: In Cairns to undertake a year-long constable program are (from left) Matt Franks, Courtney Attridge, Andrew Hunter and Anthony Van Fleet
 
Mr Hunter left Cairns after high school and returned recently to start a 12-month, first-year constable program.

He joins three other recruits who today kick off their career with the blue crew.

“It’s good to come back and try to help the community I grew up with,” Mr Hunter said.

The four recruits recently finished a 30week training course in Brisbane and will now complete a year-long constable program.

The “new guys” will spend their first eight weeks working under a field training officer before gaining more independence towards the end of the course.

Sen-Constable Heidi Marek said the recruits would not be teased and taunted like in the movies.

“It’s not like the things you see on the television where they get teased,” she said. “A lot of jobs are given to them initially in their first year so they can learn how the processes work.”

No place to hide for unregistered vehicles

A ROADSIDE camera that scans the number plates of passing traffic and alerts police to unregistered vehicles and disqualified drivers was tested in Cairns last week.

We’re watching: Police trial a camera that scans the number plates of vehicles and checks them against a database.

More than a dozen police, along with inspectors from the Department of Transport, took part in the five-hour road operation on Hoare St, Manunda.

The computer-linked camera reads the number plates of passing cars and conducts checks against the police database, allowing police further down the road to pull over offenders.

The equipment is being tested across Queensland before a final report on its use will decide if it becomes a full-time police tool.

“It enables officers to identify licence and registration offences through the use of technology,” Far Northern Traffic Co-ordinator Insp Bob Waters said.

The number plate camera was also tested at Mareeba and Babinda.

The trials formed part of a high-visibility police operation that Insp Waters said would become more common on Far Northern roads.

“This is an ongoing traffic operation throughout the region and the district and it makes up part of a high visibility police strategy,” he said.”

Don’t worry, be happy, and just play

There's more talent under that uniform

IF you see a brightly decorated piano around town over the next two weeks, don’t panic, you are not hallucinating.

On key: Police sergeant Owen Kennedy snatches a few moments to be the piano man at one of the brightly coloured instruments around the city for Festival Cairns.

As part of Festival Cairns six pianos have been painted by local artists and will be at various locations around town for anyone to play.

“You don’t have to be Mozart to play; just jump on and give it a go,” said marketing director of inner-city facilities Simone Roseler.

Police sergeant Owen Kennedy tickled the ivories on the Esplanade.

“It is great for the community to develop a musical interest,” said Sgt Kennedy who comes from a long line of musicians.

Sgt Kennedy’s grandfather was once the conductor of the Townsville Choral Society, his mother is an accomplished pianist, and his father a tenor in the Townsville Choral Society.

Hi-tech van will assit police

THIS is the state-of-the-art, mobile police station security services have been using to protect dignitaries at this week’s Pacific Island Forum.

Frontline: Sen-Sgt Brendon McMahon inside the mobile station police have used to protect Pacific leaders at this week’s forum.

Far Northern police opened the doors of the $220,000 van this week, allowing access to the facility which was stationed on Collins Avenue, near Whitfield House, where talks between the leaders have been held.

Cairns Police District Insp Russell Rhodes said the van was based in Townsville but was often used by Far Northern police for large-scale events.

He said it allowed police added mobility.

“It allows us to instantly set up a police station,” he said.

“We use it for planned events like the Pacific Islands Forum, Cairns Amateurs or Port Douglas Carnivale.

“The mobility is the greatest asset of this facility.”

The van includes computers, communications equipment and white boards and allows room for two officers.

A generator powering the van is capable of running non-stop for 40 hours.

Insp Rhodes said a similar van based in the Far North full-time would be welcomed by police.

“I understand there is the possibility in the future for the Far North region to get one of these facilities in its own right,” he said.

Insp Rhodes said security at the Pacific Islands Forum had run without incident

'Sneaky' cop cars nab speeders

Gotcha: Constable Wayne Lummis from Cairns traffic branch with the new VW Golf GTI, one of the new fleet of undercover cars that can book people for speeding.

SPECIAL unmarked police vehicles nabbed 23 motorists speeding during a six hour period at the weekend which has disgusted the region's acting inspector.

The patrols on the Bruce Highway, south of Cairns, are believed to have stopped over-eager motorists travelling to the Dunlop Townsville 400 and by midday a motorist had been booked every 17 minutes.

"It is a concern that they can get that many in such a short period of time – it clearly shows that people aren’t driving appropriately," acting Far Northern traffic co-ordinator Insp Preben Farbaek said.

"There is still a high rate of motorists that need to get the message and change their driving behaviours."

The weekend operation – which came as the region’s horror 2009 road toll sat at 27 – was one of many in the region that use the two unmarked police cars called Qcars, which look like any other vehicle on the road.

Acting Innisfail District Insp Peter Williamson said he believed many of the offences were related to people travelling to Townsville.

He said another motorist was caught overtaking a Qcar at 165km/h in a 100km/h zone on the Bruce Highway near Babinda on July 7.

The 21-year-old P-plater from Kirwin in Townsville has had an automatic six-month licence suspension.

"It’s not good," Insp Williamson said.

"People continue to speed and over the last weeks people have seen a lot of high speeds come through.

"It’s only a matter of time until one of these speeds end up in a serious accident."

Apart from the Qcars, there are up to eight other unmarked police cars in the Cairns district also used in operations.

"It’s about trying to change the mentality of these blatant road offenders," Insp Farbaek said.

"We try to have a high visibility presence out there but we can’t obviously be everywhere at once. It’s definitely not revenue raising. We refer to that as a voluntary tax.

"If you don’t want to pay them don’t commit the offences."

After phasing the special Qcars out in the v80s and ’90s the police are reintroducing them into the fleet and more are expected soon.

"The issue here is to try to get people to drive safely whenever they think police aren’t around," Insp Farbaek said.

"It enables us to be a little more operational in a sneaky way and instil that healthy thought in the person’s mind".

Tasers crucial for effective policing, says senior officer

SUPPORT for the use of Tasers remains strong among Far Northern police officers, despite wide-ranging negative publicity surrounding the weapon.

The use of the weapon, which sends an electric shock through potential offenders rendering them unable to move for a short time, has come under increased scrutiny following the death of a man near Townsville.

It has been alleged the man was hit nearly 30 times with a Taser before he died.

An autopsy on the man found he suffered a heart attack.

Queensland Police Union Far Northern representative Sen-Sgt Denis Fitzpatrick said despite the bad publicity surrounding the Taser, its use was supported by Queensland police.

“They have been a significant deterrent option for police,” he said.

“They have been a safe and effective means of taking people into custody.

“And they have saved police officers from injuries on a number of occasions.”

Sen-Sgt Fitzpatrick said the Taser gave police an added option when it came to doing their job.

“There is no question they have a place and there are some instances where they can be deployed with great effect and safety,” he said.

Sen-Sgt Fitzpatrick said police in the Far North had not raised concerns with him about the negative publicity because they were more focused on doing their job.

The first case of a Taser being used by Far Northern police took place in April, when officers deployed the weapon on a man involved in a domestic violence incident.

Tasers have also been unholstered several times in Cairns, but only been used once.

Community urged to help in fight against criminal activity

POLICE are urging the public to pick up the phone today to supply information to Crime Stoppers on organised criminal activity within Queensland.

Members of the community have been urged to call in the 24 hours up to midnight tonight on any criminal activity including drug trafficking, supply and production, extortion, money laundering, serious assault or possession of weapons.

Det Chief Supt Mike Condon of State Crime Operations Command said organised crime in Queensland was an issue the community and police could work together to keep on top of things.

“While we are basically on par with other states around Australia, it is an issue we need to be mindful of heading into the future,” he said.

“We know these groups are responsible for producing dangerous drugs and trafficking them throughout Queensland, extorting members of the community, committing serious assaults and even murder.

“We need the public to provide us the information to help us fight what is happening now and hopefully prevent further offences from being committed down the track.”

Det Chief Supt Condon said significant arrests had been made recently but said police would not rest on their laurels. “We are constantly gathering intelligence to help us formulate our strategies,” he said.

“This type of information could be what we need to close down a significant syndicate or network operating within your community.”

Information can be supplied to Crime Stoppers until midnight tonight on 1800 333 000 or online at www. crimestoppers.com.au

Speak up on state phone-in day

SPEAK up, be heard and help fight organised crime.

That is the message from the Queensland Police Service in the lead-up to a one-off Crime Stoppers phone-in day on June 23 aimed at gathering key information about organised criminal activity in the state.

Police Minister Neil Roberts said police had already made significant arrests in relation to organised crime this year, but was hopeful the phone-in day would lead to new information.

Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson said police were looking for information on all types of organised crime.

“Extortion and drug trafficking are very serious crimes and are characteristic of the types of offences being committed by criminal networks,” he said.

“In terms of this event, it is important we distinguish between less structured or more random crime and organised crime.

“Organised crime involves substantial planning and is often used as a means to obtain large profits, power and influence.”

Police said they were specifically targeting information on extortion, money laundering, drug production and supply, possession of restricted weapons and serious assault including attempted murder.

State Crime Operations Command Det Chief Supt Mike Condon said people could give information confidentially and without fear and could be assured the information would be followed up by police.

“Crime Stoppers always welcomes information from the public on crime and this will never change,” he said.

“This day has been set aside, however, to specifically focus on organised crime.”

Anyone with information on organised crime in Queensland should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Elder abuse in spotlight

SUPPORT organisations banded together in Cairns yesterday to recognise World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

Here to help: At the Elderly Abuse Prevention Expo are Connie Bowen, Acting Sgt Cary Coolican and event organiser Maya Zetlin.

Similar gatherings were held across the country and world to mark the World Health Organisation sponsored event.

Lifeline’s Elder Abuse Prevention Unit senior project officer Maya Zetlin said the issue was a bigger problem than people realised, with up to 26,000 older Queenslanders abused each year.

She said abuse came in several forms including physical, sexual, financial, mental and social abuse as well as neglect.

Ms Zetlin said having a day to recognise the problem was helping efforts to stamp it out.

“ Everyone around the world doing the same thing gives it power and increases the awareness,” she said.

Cairns police also run the Older Wiser Living Safely program providing crime prevention and safety advice for residents over 60 years of age.

Anyone experiencing elder abuse should contact the Elder Abuse Prevention Unit helpline on 1300 651 192, Cairns police on 4030 7000 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

 

Copping unfair flak for doing tough job

 I SPOKE to a man recently about the murder of Maria Ball, and he told me he had seen a suspicious person near the crime scene at Freshwater.

He called Crime Stoppers to report the sighting but then rang me two days later to complain about the police not calling him back for more details.

I told him he should not worry, that the police were extremely busy, suggesting he make another call and give them more details about what he saw.

His response? “I’ve done my bit, it is up to them now.”

Then he hung up. But his sentiment lingered in my mind.

There has been a lot of talk about crime in Cairns recently, and rightly so.

From the bashing murder of Ms Ball almost three weeks ago, to the spate of armed robberies across the city, to the savage beating of a woman at Parramatta Park last weekend.

There have been plenty of stories to fill the paper and plenty of cases to keep the region’s police busy.

Add to those cases the ongoing search for a man who planted a skimming device on a CBD ATM in May, the continuing case of missing man Lance Sobieralski, and the ongoing work of detectives involved with Operation Benchmark, and you get an idea of the ever-growing work-load police deal with.

It is inevitable though that when crime is seen prominently through a town’s local media, people begin to talk. That talk often leads to someone being blamed and that someone is usually the police.

Every week The Cairns Post is flooded with text messages addressing a range of issues, but there is always at least one bagging the police and their apparent lack of action to prevent and solve crimes.

Yes, there is crime in Cairns, some of it violent, some that makes us so angry we feel we could do a better job of dealing with those responsible.

But here is the hot tip – Cairns is not alone; crime happens elsewhere too. Just as bad, just as frequently and just as enraging as what happens in our back yard.

On Tuesday, a man armed with brass knuckles allegedly attacked a security guard at a gun store near Townsville, causing him extensive facial injuries.

“Elderly couple mugged after using ATM” screamed a headline in Newcastle this week after a teenager allegedly attacked the pair in broad daylight.

In Geelong on Thursday, a man was charged with attempted murder after allegedly attacking a couple with an axe and in Darwin this week three men randomly attacked a stranger with metal bars.

I mention these because they occurred in large, regional towns with populations similar to that of Cairns.

Imagine the outrage if they happened here.

It is important for us to understand that investigations take time, police cannot be everywhere at once preventing crime and once a crime is committed, no one is more determined to get to the bottom of it than local officers.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not arguing they deserve special treatment.

The police have made mistakes in the past and they will, no doubt, again in the future. Twice this year Far Northern police have faced court for drink-driving and both times those cases have been front page news.

Complaints were also lodged earlier this year about a senior police figure at Cooktown. A Tableland officer was suspended from duty for allegedly allowing a member of the public to drive and subsequently crash a police car.

If such incidents continue to happen I can guarantee you will read about it.

But in doing my job as police reporter, I’ve learned that the average copper has the community firmly in mind when doing their difficult job. 

It wouldn’t hurt if we all showed a little more faith in them to get that job done.

Law and Order -In the beginning

Cairns began without a police force, apart from the customs officers whose powers were limited to customs duties. However the authorities knew that law and order would be arriving soon. In October, as the town was being surveyed, the Police Magistrate of Cooktown set aside three acres as a reserve for what eventually became the first court house and police station in Cairns.

Early crimes usually were stealing, fighting, drunkenness and stealing livestock. The European officers in charge of Native Police could not deal with it as their job was to 'disperse' aborigines from areas of European settlement. [link to Aborigines] However they became very concerned with the crime rate. Policemen in Cooktown and Cardwell also heard rumours of crimes committed in Cairns and pressured the government to create a police force in Cairns.

Thanks to their complaints, there was a police station in Cairns in 1876 as well as one at Smithfield later in the year. This first station had one Senior Sergeant and five Constables. The arrival of this force was sorely needed, as crimes in Cairns were getting more violent and frequent.

One of the crimes committed after the arrival of this new police force was particularly gruesome and occurred when a dead Austrian packer named Frank was found floating in the Barron River around 3.2 kilometres from its second crossing on the 8th of September 1877. When a post mortem was performed on 27 August 1877, the cause of death was found to be a revolver bullet to the right temple, the revolver being found near the scene of the crime. Although a man was later arrested for this crime on the basis of suspicion, he was eventually released due to lack of evidence.

By the end of 1877 the size of the Cairns police force had grown to 1 Second Class Inspector, 1 First Class Sub-Inspector, 2 Second Class Inspectors, 1 Senior Sergeant, 2 Sergeants, 2 Senior Constables and 20 Constables.

In 1911 Cairns got an attractive new timber police station on the Esplanade. It served the city until 1976 when a new masonry building replaced it. This was on the corner of Shields St and the Esplanade. This only lasted until 1992, when the police moved to the new Police Station and Law Court precinct in Sheridan St.

The Court House

The first court house was a tent on the Esplanade. It was within a metre of the high tide mark and was described as "uncommonly dirty". The Court of Petty Sessions officer was James Pevers. Courts of Petty Sessions looked after civil cases and minor matters, like being drunk and disorderly or trying to recover bad debts. Pevers was soon joined by a Police Magistrate, Edmund Morey, who could hold trials for more serious crimes. Port Douglas took the shine out of Cairns for a while so it took until 1884 to get a proper court house. A new timber court house was built in Abbott St, in the same block as the Customs Office. It was opened by W.R.O. Hill, then the Police Magistrate. It was renovated in 1908 and given new gas lighting but the local residents weren't happy. They wanted a new one. It was described as the "worst court house in the North", which was certainly an exaggeration. In 1919 a new concrete court house was built, in the dignified Classical style of grand public buildings. It served the city until the 1990s when it was replaced by the new building on Sheridan St. The old court house, once the pride of Cairns, is now a bar.

The Cairns Prison

Every police station had a cell or two as a lockup. Official jails (or gaols) were only found in larger towns. In 1897, the jail at Herberton closed because the town was declining, and the Government decided to replace it with a new jail at Cairns. It was behind the old Court House and it was run by police officers. It held prisoners who were locals serving short sentences, no more than 6 months, or awaiting trial at the Court House, or waiting to be transported to Stewart Creek jail in Townsville. The prisoners going to Townsville were those sentenced to longer prison terms for serious offences.

The stockade was fenced in by an iron fence about 6 metres high. There was cell space for 50 men. The only female prisoners were those in the lock-up, which was separate. The lock-up was for people awaiting trial for very short periods of time. Prisoners were kept busy with hard labour, mostly splitting logs for firewood, which was sold as fuel for wood-burning stoves. Prisoners with special skills would do other work eg. Chinese market gardeners grew vegetables.

The jail closed on 28 February 1925 and the remaining prisoners were transferred to Townsville.

Further Reading:

Dawn May, "Cairns Building Boom 1907-1914", Cairns Historical Society Occasional Paper No. 9.

W.R.O Hill, Forty Five Years Experience in North Queensland, 1861-1905.

 

The "PUSH-BIKE" squad has been accepted by residents

Cairns Police Bike squad

The new Police Bike Squad has been accepted by the residents of Cairns.

Their duties consist of riding around the CBD and keeping an eye out for any problems that may arise, they also have been seen riding around some of the suburban areas.

If you see these officers riding around stop and say gday and show them your appreciation for keeping the CBD safe.

Coming up soon "The Trail Bike Cops" stayed tuned for more info.

Congratulations John Hartwell

 

<strong>Honoured</strong>John Hartwell will receive the Australian Police Medal.

 Honoured John Hartwell will receive the Australian Police Medal.

A POLICEMAN and two Cooktown history buffs are three Far Northerners to be honoured in Queen's Birthday awards. 

Det-Insp John Hartwell, the regional crime co-ordinator for Far Northern Region, will receive the Australian Police Medal.

Insp Hartwell, who joined the Queensland Police 36 years ago and been a detective for the past 30, said he was honoured to get the award.

He worked in the Far North between 1983 and 1998, followed by stints in southeast Queensland, before returning to Cairns last year.

"It’s particularly humbling to be recommended for it," he said. "I think it’s acknowledgement of some of the work done with sexual assault victims."

He said police were now more aware of the trauma suffered by sexual assault victims and changes to the law made it easier for victims to make a complaint.

Apart from investigating sex assaults, Insp Hartwell has been involved in investigating some of the most prominent Queensland crimes and mysteries.

These have included a bikie shootout at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast and the alleged murder of a baby in Mooroobool in 1996, a matter which is still to be dealt with by the courts.

Meanwhile, a shared passion for history will see Cooktown couple John and Beverley Shay receive Medals of the Order of Australia after having helped establish the Cooktown and District Historical Society in 1995 and set up the Cooktown Archive and Research Centre.

The couple said receiving the award was a thrill, and thanked the many volunteers who supported them over the years.

"One of the most enjoyable things has been the volunteers," Mrs Shay said.

"There are about 30 of them and they’ve done some mighty work."

The couple was inspired to establish the historical society after they realised the need for a local history source.

Mr Shay said the community was now more aware of its history.

"Cooktown has become more of a history-oriented place than ever before," he said.

Senior officers boost police communication

FIVE highly experienced police officers have joined Far Northern ranks, providing an improved link between officers on the ground and their superiors.

The five new officers will act as Duty District Officers, the first time the position has been used in the Cairns District.

Based out of the Cairns station, the new DDOs will undertake normal police duties but will assume added responsibilities during major incidents.

Sen-Sgt Chris Ferguson, one of the five new DDOs, described his role as an operations manager and co-ordinator.

“We are basically incident controllers and communicators,” he said.

“We are responsible for looking after major incidents and making sure all the boxes are ticked.

“We are the link between the troops on the ground and our managers.

“Not only are we additional staff, we are still attending jobs with the crews as well so it is a boost to the whole force.”

Sen-Sgt Ferguson brings more than 17 years of police experience to the Far North, having worked in several different roles during his time in southeast Queensland.

His latest role was as team leader of the Brisbane Central Bike Squad, a position which brought him to the Far North last November for the announcement of the Cairns Bike Squad.

“I was here to help fly the flag but that five days was when I decided a change to Cairns would be good.”

Sen-Sgt Ferguson began his new role about three weeks ago and said he was enjoying the work and lifestyle Cairns offered.

He has already liaised with the Cairns Bike Squad and said he was looking forward to working with them more in the future.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CAIRNS POLICE OFFICERS

 

Setting the benchmark: Victoria Carrillo, Brent Carter and Brad McLeish have their sights set on reducing property crimes

A squad of 14 Cairns detectives, brought together to target property theft in the Far North, has laid 437 charges against 142 people in less than two months.

Launched in mid-March, officers involved in Operation Benchmark have made a significant dent in what was a rampant property crime scene in Cairns - returning thousands of dollars worth of stolen goods to its owners.

As well as property-related charges, the operation has also laid robbery, fraud and drug charges.

It has also claimed several major scalps, including the arrest of three men accused of robbing and bashing an Italian tourist and a man who allegedly broke into five separate dwellings and sexually assaulted the occupants.

The man has been charged with five counts of burglary, one of sexual assault, two of indecently assaulting children and one of abducting a child.

Cairns Police District Supt Brent Carter, who established Operation Benchmark shortly after arriving in Cairns, said the operation had started well. But it is not over yet.

"It has been a real success story for Cairns," Supt Carter said.

"Property theft has been an issue in Cairns for some time and we are really making a mark on reducing it.

"I knew it was an issue but I am very impressed with the results the detectives have got."

Supt Carter said iPods, phones, cameras and cash tended to be the most commonly stolen items, but said property including power tools, stereo equipment and jewellery had also been targeted.

Although still in its early stages, the operation has already had a marked affect on crime in Cairns, with property theft rates now lower than last year.

"If we hadn't started what we did, property crime would still be going up," Supt Carter said.

"But we are pulling the figures back from last year.

Cairns Property Crime Squad Det-Sgt Brad McLeish said the operation was focused on the western suburbs but charges had been laid in relation to thefts right across the city.

He said solving one theft often led to more charges and arrests in relation to other offences.

As well as gathering information from offenders, police have also used intelligence gained from questioning members of the public through a campaign of more visible policing.

While Supt Carter said that information had proved useful, he said the results could not have been achieved without the dedication of the officers involved in Operation Benchmark.

Anyone with information on property-related crime in Cairns should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333000 or Cairns police on 40307000.

SYDNEYS NEW RIOT SQUAD

Sydneys new riot squad people talking - good and bad but they achieving the results that good citizens would expect.

Watch the video and see for yourself what our police have to put up with and this is what Queensland needs.

Click here to see the video...

Cop runs for top job

Sen-Sgt aims to become State police union president

A CAIRNS police officer has confirmed he will run for the Queensland Police Union presidency in June.

Former union vice president and Cairns SenSgt Denis Fitzpatrick confirmed his intentions to The Cairns Post yesterday.

He was widely tipped to run for the role when it was vacated in early March.

Sen-Sgt Fitzpatrick is the former vice-president and acting president of the union and has run for the top job before, losing by 104 votes to Sgt Cameron Pope in the last election, held in March 2008.

Sgt Pope has since stepped down from the position after allegations he had a relationship with a teenage girl.

Sen-Sgt Fitzpatrick said he was hopeful of winning the month-long secret ballot, in which 10,168 union members across Queensland are eligible to vote.

He said he had more than 19 years’ experience as an elected union official, including more than 14 years as the regional representative for the Far North.

Sen-Sgt Fitzpatrick also has seven years’ experience as a trustee and vice-president of the union.

“I will stand on my previous achievements,” he said. “I secured a 5 per cent police pay rise and I was responsible for the introduction of Tasers by the Government as a use of force option for Queensland police.”

Sen-Sgt Fitzpatrick has received a lot of support since deciding to run for the post.

“Not only from the Far North but I have been inundated by support from right across the state due to the demise the union has sustained in the last 12 months,” he said.

And while he said all issues the union dealt with were important, he stressed police wages and conditions were particularly relevant.

The results of the election will be known by early July.

ROUGH JUSTICE IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

REMEMBER: It could happen anywhere 

A young cop tries to break up a wild pub brawl.

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Crackdown on street crimes - Bring in the heavies

 On patrols: Public Safety Response Team members (from left) Dean George, Vincenzo Fioriti, Pete Robinson and Richard Hinrichsen walk the streets of Cairns last night. Picture:

POLICE from Brisbane last night joined an ongoing effort in the Far North to crack down on anti-social and alcohol fuelled offences in the CBD and across Cairns. 

Four members of the Public Safety Response Team will spend the weekend working in Cairns, helping police in their efforts to clean up notorious trouble spots throughout the city.

Insp Russell Rhodes said the four Brisbane officers would work with the Tactical Crime Squad and City Beat officers.

"Over the last two months we have increased police numbers substantially between 4am and 6am on Saturdays and Sundays in the CBD and other suburban hot spots," he said.

"This has reduced the number of public disorder offences through an increased detection in these vital hours.

"We have also conducted increased compliance with licensed premises.

"It’s going to be an ongoing crackdown."

Insp Rhodes said the crackdown was in response to the high number of offences committed in the CBD on Saturday and Sunday mornings. "We are focused on anti-social offences and offences fuelled by alcohol and drugs," he said.

"The apprehension of offenders will be a high priority because ultimately we need to enhance public safety for those who want to enjoy the restaurants and nightclubs of Cairns."

He said information gathered in the past had allowed police to better target trouble areas.

"We have been doing weekly operations and have increased operations through intelligence-
driven rostering that has put more police on the streets at vital times," he said.

Police defend Taser

 Right response: Acting Chief Supt Brent Carter

 

  ONE of Cairns' police bosses says officers used their first Taser shot appropriately and saved an elderly woman from immediate danger.

The woman was 5m away from the man when he jumped the fence into her back yard as he was running from police at Woree on Monday.

Acting Chief Supt Brent Carter said a domestic violence investigation had started more than two hours before the Taser was used.

Man shocked by taser hit

Officers were called to the Woree property shortly after 4pm and again at 6.20pm.

In between, they were called to a Dunbar St, Mooroobool, incident which involved the same group of people after 6pm.

Acting Chief Supt Carter said the man was in an agitated state with clenched fists and rocking side-to-side but when police confronted him he ran into the back of the yard.

He said the man climbed a fence and police told him they had a Taser and asked him to stop.

"At this point in time, police were made aware there was an elderly woman in the yard next door and they took that into consideration, of course, with the violence that is alleged that occurred in the afternoon that this male could be, or likely to either flee, attack police or perhaps go towards the woman," Acting Chief Supt Carter said.

"He was side-on to police and at that point when police took action and he was immobilised for a five-second period and police arrested him."

The man faced a charge of assault and obstructing a police officer in Cairns Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

So far Cairns police have unholstered Tasers in nine confrontations but had never fired one before Monday.

Tasers were rolled out in the Far North in January and 40 per cent of the Cairns District officers have been trained.

Acting Chief Supt Carter said at least seven out of 10 of those trained had voluntarily been shot by a Taser

State-of-the-art station opens

THE new Ravenshoe police station has opened for business.

The new facility is a welcome replacement to the old station where officers worked from two cramped rooms in a building shared with other government departments.

Its replacement boasts state-of-the-art digital electronic interview equipment, a day holding cell, evidence room and an area to collect DNA evidence including fingerprints and photographs.

Ravenshoe officer-in-charge Michael Musumeci said the new station was a benefit to policing in the region and reflected the Queensland Police Service’s commitment to Ravenshoe and district.

“Operationally, we could not ask for anything better,” he said.

“It’s a welcomed asset to the community of Ravenshoe and illustrates our commitment to the safety and wellbeing of the community.

“ This building and its facilities are a great asset to operational policing.”

The phone number for the Ravenshoe police station, located at 1 Carrick St at the intersection of the Kennedy Highway, is 4097 6200.

Boost for thin blue line We want you: Cops chase new recruits

CAIRNS police are hoping an increased number of new recruits across the state will result in a boost for the Far North’s police numbers.

Recruiting officers will attempt to cash-in on the increased interest in joining the police force by holding a police careers information seminar tonight at the Cairns station.

Constable Steve Drake, who recently swapped a management job at a Brisbane hotel for a position at Smithfield police station, urged those interested to take the plunge.

He said there were many benefits to joining the police force.

“It is a very rewarding and unique experience with the added benefit of job security,” he said.

“I’m learning something new each day and always have the support of my training officer and colleagues.

“I’m confident I’ve chosen the right career and am looking forward to spending time working in the Cape and getting as much experience in other parts of Queensland as I can.”

Constable Ricky Perren is another recent arrival in Cairns, after graduating from the Oxley Police Academy in January.

Constable Perren was a project manager in Rockhampton before he decided to follow a lifelong dream and become a police officer.

“I’d certainly encourage anyone who is confident and has a wide range of life experiences to consider a future career with the police,” he said.

Acting Sgt Cary Coolican said she was hoping for a big turnout at the seminar.

“As a district recruiting officer, I’ve had a lot of interest in recent months with people inquiring about a police career,” she said.

“The police service provides a variety of career paths and one thing you can guarantee – we don’t do boring.”

Bookings for the information seminar are essential and can be made by contacting Acting Sgt Cary Coolican on 4030 7028. The seminar starts at 6.30pm at Cairns police station at 5 Sheridan St, Cairns.

Safety initiative clears fog for Tableland drivers

TABLELAND fogs are the target of a campaign to reduce road deaths.

This year, 11 people have died on Far Northern roads with the deaths of a mother and child on March 1, and a 20-year-old motorcyclist on March 2, adding to the horror stats.

In a bid to tackle the problem, Project Prevent Road Accident Carnage – the brainchild of Ravenshoe police and the community – has put up road signs warning drivers about the dangers of fogs.

The signs, which have gone up at Ravenshoe, Millaa Millaa, Malanda, Yungaburra, Tarzali and on the Gillies Highway, call on drivers to turn on their headlights.

Ravenshoe officer-in-charge Sgt Michael Musumeci said heavy fog reduced visibility and were partly responsible for traffic crashes on the Tableland.

“The signage is well designed with highly reflective fluoro colours being utilised so they are can be clearly seen from the roadway in foggy situations, to ensure the road user can clearly read this safety advice,” he said.

“The design and idea was a local initiative from the Ravenshoe police, Ravenshoe Community Safety Committee, in close consultation with the Department of Main Roads Cairns office. Main Roads technical support officer Mr Geoffrey Madsen designed the effective sign to assist in ongoing road safety initiatives within the Tableland area.”

Sgt Musumeci said the initiative would remind road users to turn on there headlights in dangerous conditions and already police had received positive feedback about the initiative.

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Crime in Cairns Janury-December 2010

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Residents Against Crimes Founder - 2007

I am dedicated to help prevent crimes in Cairns and the surrounding area. This city has unfortunately gone from bad to worse in regards to crime and we the residents of this great city need to band together and put pressure on our local representatives and let them know that we will not tolerate this behaviour. I will continue to pave the way for better living in peace and enable families and kids to enjoy the life the we enjoyed years ago without the fear of being assulted. This is not about me its about the community working together to make this a better place to live.

REMEMBER: TO BE A GREAT CITY, IT FIRST MUST BE A SAFE CITY.