Infrared photography is a method of optical enhancement that can be used for forensic purposes. It enables a person to see by means of an image, what they would not be able to see with the naked eye. There are many forensic applications for infrared photography including fingerprint analysis, the detection and analysis of gunshot residue, document examination and bloodstain pattern analysis.

Sergeant Melissa Bell of the Scientific Section and, Senior Constable Kathryn Denny of the Photographic Section will present “Photography to Detect Bloodstains in Crime Scenes”, to discuss how blood is crucial evidence for obtaining DNA and reconstructing bloodletting events at crime scenes. When blood is deposited on dark coloured clothing and items it cannot be seen with the naked eye which significantly hinders forensic examinations.

During the talk Sergeant Bell and Senior Constable Denny, will outline the basics of infrared photography, how it is used to image bloodstains on dark coloured surfaces and items and the benefits of infrared photograph to forensic examinations. They will also speak about recent research that has been conducted in infrared photography, by the Photographic Section and Major Crime Unit.

The one-and-a-half hour presentation will begin at 11am on Sunday, July 28 and will provide educational and up-to-date content only suitable for high school aged youth and adults.

The Museum opens its doors to the public on the last Sunday of each month from 10am to 3pm from February to November in addition to the standard Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm opening hours. Monthly Sunday openings feature guest speakers from across the historical and crime-solving spectrums.

PLEASE NOTE: The Police Museum will open Sunday, July 28 from 10am to 3pm, and is located on the ground floor of Police Headquarters, 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. … Continue reading →

The first contingent of Australian Police arrive at the Nicosia Airport, Cyprus, to take up duties on the island as part of a United Nations Police Peacekeeping Force, 1964. Five Queensland Police officers were part of this contingent, two of them were Robert Gillespie (front left) and Glen Hallahan (front right).

The Queensland Police Service has always had a strong tradition of supporting overseas deployment of Police to the world’s trouble spots. In 1964, the Australian Government responded quickly to the United Nations request for Civilian Police in Cyprus after violence erupted on the streets. All six Australian states, and both territories supplied officers for Cyprus. All officers were sworn in as seconded members of the Commonwealth Police Force and served as members of the United Nations Police Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).

A United Nations Police Peacekeeping Force, containing members of the Queensland Police contingent, patrol Cyprian streets. Second Australian contingent 1965 – 1966.

The first contingent included five Queensland Police officers. Australian Police keepers were unarmed except when escorting payrolls. Peace keeping generally involved continuous cooperation and liaison with Cyprian Police, and included observation at checkpoints and in sensitive areas, mobile patrols and convoy escorts. It was a dangerous job. The final group of Queensland Police went to Cyrus as part of the seventh contingent between 1970 to 1971. Thirty-nine Queensland Police officers were deployed to serve as members of UNFICYP between 1964 and 1971.

A group of Australian Police in the United Nations Police Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus receive their mail from the Head of the Detachment, Inspector. Third Australian contingent 1966 – 1967. Left to Right: Constable Geoff Page (Qld), Constable Wayne Bartram (TAS); Constable Graham Taylor (ACT); Constable Kon Savchenko-Belsky (Qld); Sergeant Ray McGrath (WA); Eddie Young (VIC); Constable Ron Stubbs (Commonwealth Police); Detective Constable 1/c Anthony Olse (Qld) and Inspector Maurice Stanford (SA)

In December 1969 members of the sixth Australian contingent who served on the UN Cyprus Peace Keeping Mission between 1969 and 1970 were presented with the United Nations Medal by Lieutenant General Ilmare Martola, the Finnish UNFICYP Commander. Front Row L-R: Kevin Carton (Vic – Australian Contingent Commander); Pat Hearn (Vic); John McCaffery (ACT); Harold Darwen (NT); Cyril Magdalinski (Qld); Wally Trenordin (Commonwealth Police); Mike Otley (Tas); Jack Roberts (WA); Colin Creek (SA); John Cumming (Vic)

Today Queensland Police officers, as seconded members of Australia Federal Police, have proven their metal under very hostile and dangerous conditions in places such as East Timor and the Solomon Islands, and have won international recognition for their peace keeping work in these troubled communities

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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available at the time of writing.

The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the ground floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au

Policing Foreign Shores: Cyprus 1964 by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode… Continue reading →

- Manufacturers place a plate on a vehicle to indicate that it complies with Australian requirements for vehicle safety, standards, Australian Design Rules, etc, and as such the requirements for accuracy of the speedometer is disclosed to the public. If an owner changes the configuration of their vehicle which alters the required specifications, it is their responsibility to ensure they have a way of knowing the correct speed of their vehicle.

- The Australian Design Rules are available on the internet for people to ascertain the permitted tolerance for their car. The compliance with the design rules ensure a driver will not exceed the QPS tolerance levels if they stay within the speed limits according to their speedometer.

- There are various ways a motorist is able to check their vehicle’s speedometer for specific accuracy or gross error. A person can request a check via RACQ/motor repairer, a GPS device, and Department of Transport and Main Roads roadside speedometer check points (time over distance based)… Continue reading →

Image No. PM0147 courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum

The fore runner to our beloved Queensland Police Pipes and Drums, is the original Queensland Police Brass Band which was in existence between 1895 and 1905. This 20 piece band included one drummer and 19 brass instrument players and was led by Band Master Professor Seale. They performed at police events and added the music for recruit marching practice at the Petrie Terrace Barracks but were disbanded in 1905.

Full length portrait of a member of the Queensland Police Brass Band in uniform, carrying his cornet, c1895

Group photograph of Queensland Police Brass Band, Brisbane at the Petrie Terrace Depot, 1900. The Bandmaster, Professor Seale, is seated 5th from the left.

Police Parade ” Under Arms” led by the Queensland Police Brass Band, Petrie Terrace Depot, Brisbane, c1903

The Queensland Police Brass Band leads a police march down Queen Street in Brisbane, c1905.

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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available at the time of writing.

The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au

“FROM THE VAULT –  Queensland Police Brass Band 1895 – 1905” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode… Continue reading →

The Tego Springs Store and home of Herbert and Catherine Smith.

Catherine Smith was the wife of Herbert Smith, a hawker residing at Tego Springs, near Cunnamulla. The Smiths has been on friendly terms with a man named James Brokenborough, who stayed with them when he was out of work. But Smith noticed a coolness developing between his wife and Brokenborough. On June 24, 1907 at noon, James Brokenborough reported to Herbert Smith that the had shot Catherine accidentally that morning while out pigeon shooting.

Written on the photograph “The Tego Springs Murder. Place and position where Mrs Smith body was found, Jason Brokenborough, the alleged murderer, myself Constable Solomon Richards, D. T. Scuriah, the JP who held inquiry and my Tracker Jack. Person kneeling beside corpse is husband of deceased.”

Constable Cowley of the Hebel Police Station, was informed of the murder. That evening he went over to the spot and camped near the body and the next day made a searching enquiry. Dr Arthur Murray examined the body and found a bullet hole that had penetrated the left lung and the right ventricle of the heart causing death from internal haemorrhage. Constable Solomon Richards of  Bollon Police Station was also involved with the investigation.

James Brokenborough, who murdered Catherine Smith in 1907

On June 28, Brokenborough told Cowley, “I shot her alright. I had good cause to do so. I was out after kangaroos coming out of the brigalow clump and saw Mrs Smith. I sang out to her. She looked at me and cantered away. She wouldn’t stop. I up with my pea rifle and shot her.”

Brokenborough was then arrested and charged with wilfully shooting Catherine Smith with intent to kill. It was thought that Brokenborough shot Catherine because she had rejected his advances. He was tried for murder in the Roma Circuit Court on September 17, 1907, found guilty and was sentenced to death. This sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in December of 1907.

Group of men surrounding the grave of Mrs Smith. The group will include Herbert Smith, Constables Cowley and Richards, D. T. Scuriah (JP), Tracker Jack and more than likely Jason Brokenborough.

The murder caused quite a sensation and was reported in the newspapers right around Australia.

Police camp in bush after the arrest of Brokenborough for the Tego Springs Murder. Tracker Jack (centre), Constable Solomon Richards (right).

In a time when photography was still a difficult and unwieldy exercise, an interesting element of this case is a series of staged photographs of the murderer and crime scene, taken by an unknown photographer, more than likely one of the two police officers involved with the case.

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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available at the time of writing.

The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au

“FROM THE VAULT – “I shot her alright” – The murder of Catherine Smith, 1907”  by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode… Continue reading →

This week The Police Museum introduced QR (Quick Response) codes to display cases on the museum floor. QR codes are a type of barcode that when scanned by smart mobile phones, will link to a website, document, audio or video clip.

In 2004 retired Assistant Commissioner Greg Early recorded interviews with a group of retired police officers as part of an oral histories project for The Police Museum. Suzanne Miller undertook a similar project in 2007 when she interviewed Muriel Bath and Cecil

Police Transport Display

Smith. Short clips from these interviews will now be available to listen to on this blog over the coming weeks. QR codes will also be on display in the Museum to allow visitors to listen to the audio clips via the blog site.

The Police Museum would like to than our Volunteer Kellie-Anne Blissett for the work she put into this project. She spent a considerable amount of time copying the oral history recordings to MP3, choosing segments to profile and writing the accompanying labels.

We all hope that you will enjoy the stories we have profiled on the Blog.… Continue reading →

Muriel Bath

Policewoman Muriel Bath was appointed on 3 February 1947, she was 38 years old. She had a short but eventful career in the service and was based primarily in Brisbane before she resigned 18 months later when she decided to marry. Policewomen were forced to resign from their jobs upon decision to marry until the legislation was changed in 1971.

This interview took place on 8 October 2007 between oral historian Suzanne Mulligan and Muriel Bath. In this excerpt Muriel talks about her role in an illegal alcohol raid.

Transcription

“They had been trying for a long, long time to get a sly grog seller and they knew this fellow and they knew he was as guilty as could be but they had never been able to catch him. So this night they took me out with them. There were several of them and one of the detectives was told to look after me whatever happened. And I was, I was dressed casually and one of the young detectives was dressed casually and we were passing ourselves off as a young couple, you know. He had his arm around me and giving me a squeeze and all this business as we got near this place. And of course this was before mobile phones and we had to go in and see if there was any sly grog etc and see if we could buy any and if we were successful, when we got outside I was to stand under the nearest lamp and powder my nose. So we went into this awful place and the fellow sold us this stuff. Then we got outside, we went under the light, which was quite near, and I brought out a powder puff and was dabbing my nose like that and then the detectives closed in. One detective grabbed me and took me and put me in a car right away from the business and the others went and they got him.

Well, they were so elated at their success they got a bit over themselves I think. They decided to go after another fellow, they had been after for a long time, using me and my “boyfriend”, so called boyfriend, as a decoy. But I had a strange feeling. I said to them “I have a feeling this won’t come off.” I said “Please don’t do it tonight.” I said, “I’m sure it will not be successful.” “Oh, yes it will,” they said you know. “You’ve done so well, we’ve been after this fellow for ages and you’ve got him etc. No we’ll try this fellow.” “Well I’ve still have great misgiving.” However, they proceeded and the boyfriend and I went along, cuddling each other again. We got to this awful place and the fellow appeared. He walked around us and he gave us such a thump in the back and he said “Coppers’ both of you” so it didn’t come off. And you know I had that presentiment but they were so determined to go ahead. So that was a real washout, but by Jove I felt that thump for a long time.”… Continue reading →

Anti-Looting Duty: On Saturday 28 December 1974, Constable 1/c Bob Latter, along with three NT Detectives, went to Millner St in Darwin. There they found 3 cars packed with goods looted from destroyed homes and shops. The final haul of confiscated goods was huge and included, amongst other things …24 rolls toilet paper; 12pkts razor blades; 12 nappies; 10 striped tea towels; 10 tins of crab meat; 8 folding chairs; 8 pair nylon socks; 6 floor matts; 6 pairs of blue jeans; 5 bath towels; 5 mixing bowls; 4 teddy bears; 3 size 14 dresses; 3 lace table cloths; 3 pink brunch coats; 2pkts glazed fruit; 1 cake plate; 1 radio cassette; 1 purple bedspread; 1 Sharp calculator; 1 fishing net; 1 coffee set; 1 aluminium boat; 1 esky; 1 tool box and 1 pair long trousers. Several men were arrested for stealing these items. Unfortunately, this was not an isolated case of looting in days following Cyclone Tracy. Police officers assigned to anti-looting duty were kept continuously busy.

Before dawn on the morning of December, 27, 1974, a contingent of 12 Queensland police officers, drawn from Lowood, Ipswich and Gatton, departed Eagle Farm Airport, headed for Darwin. Their role was to assist the Northern Territory police in restoring order to the city in the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy, which had devastated the area on Christmas Day.

As the first interstate police officers to arrive they arranged with the local Bank Manager, to use the still reasonably intact, Reserve Bank building as Commonwealth and Interstate Police Headquarters. Accommodation for the 12 Officers was hastily arranged at the Travel Lodge Motel, though the building was unroofed, waterlogged and the windows broken, it was the only place available at the time.

Constable 1/c Bob Latter finds unusual things have been looted from destroyed homes. He is holding a small stuffed crocodile and a pair of stuffed crocodile feet found by the anti-looting party sent to Millner St on Saturday December 28,1974.

On the arrival of other interstate police contingents later that day, a strategic plan was drawn up, and interstate police operations commenced on 28 December. It was determined that their main functions would be search and rescue, anti-looting patrols and airport assembly control. With the second smallest number of interstate representatives, the Queensland police officers performed these tasks, as well as court and investigative duties, and RSPCA Patrol. They worked 12 hour shifts, in often uncomfortable and unhygienic conditions.

Constable 1/c Bob Latter lists the looted possessions found on Saturday, December 28,1974.

With growing tensions between the interstate Police contingents, Northern Territory Police, and at times, the local community, the task of restoring order in Darwin was a challenging one. Queensland’s officers were noted for their exemplary conduct throughout, and were in fact the only contingent against whom, no complaints were made. The Queensland contingent returned to Brisbane on January 3, 1975. While Commonwealth forces remained, all other interstate police had vacated Darwin by January 17, 1975.

The devastation of Milner Street after the ravages of Cyclone Tracy, December 28, 1974.

Letter from Mr W.J. McLaren, Commissioner of Police, Darwin, Northern Territory to Acting Commissioner Martens, January 21, 1975.

“Words of mine cannot fully express my gratitude or that of the members of the Police Force for your wonderful gesture in sending a contingent of your men to assist this Police Force perform its duties in the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy. Some of the immediate work to be done was beyond the overtaxed resources of the Force. your contingent of Police assisted greatly, in conjunction with other Police Forces, in performing duty which otherwise would have taken some months for out members to complete. The members of your Police Force performed their duty in the highest traditions of Police Service and their conduct was exemplary. They were a credit to your Force. I would be grateful if you could express to these members my very sincere thanks for the excellent service rendered.”

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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available at the time of writing.

The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au

“FROM THE VAULT – Help at Hand… Cyclone Tracy – The Queensland Police Contingent” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode… Continue reading →

Commissioner Ian Stewart today attended the unveiling of a memorial bench and plaque to commemorate the 10th year anniversary of the death of Senior Sergeant Perry Irwin.

In 2003 Senior Sergeant Perry Irwin’s life was tragically cut short when he was killed in the line of duty.

Commissioner Stewart said Senior Sergeant Irwin had gone to work that day, the same as he had done for years as a police officer.

“Senior Sergeant Irwin left home that day, ready to serve the community and provide leadership to his colleagues as Officer in Charge of the Caboolture Police Station,” Commissioner Stewart said.

“Each morning, as an officer pulls on the boots and puts on their hat, they face various types of risks and very real dangers.

“When your job is to protect the life and ensure the safety of others, you are inherently putting yourself at risk.

“Senior Sergeant Perry Irwin paid the ultimate price for his commitment, dedication and courage as he strove to uphold the law and protect the people of Queensland,” Commissioner Stewart said

During the day of August 22, 2003 Senior Sergeant Irwin and other officers responded to an armed person near a local primary school, involving a man who had a history of making threats against police. As they searched nearby bushland, Senior Sergeant Irwin was shot and killed. A memorial bench and plaque have been unveiled at the site of the event.

“Senior Sergeant Irwin’s act of bravery will never be underestimated nor forgotten by the people he worked with and the community he served,” Commissioner Stewart said.

Community members can visit the memorial bench and plaque dedicated in honour of Senior Sergeant Irwin at via the Lagoon Creek Historical Boiler Site walking track at the end of Wallace Street North at Caboolture.

Senior Sergeant Irwin will be one of many officers remembered and honoured on again this year as part of National Police Remembrance Day in September.

Community members are invited to attend local remembrance day services and can obtain Blue Ribbons for a small donation (to support Police Legacy) at any police station. Further information on when and where services will be held is available on the Queensland Police website.… Continue reading →

Cecil Smith

Cecil Smith was appointed to the Queensland Police on 30 October 1936, he was 21 years old. He spent most of his career in the Fingerprint Bureau, receiving a Favourable Record for the arrest of six men for the wilful murder of a shop owner at Newstead and leading the fingerprinting of 1100 residents on Ocean (Banaba) Island to help solve a double murder in 1949.

This interview took place on 16 July 2004 between oral historian Suzanne Mulligan and retired Superintendent Cecil Smith. In this excerpt Cecil explains how fingerprints were captured directly from the hand and at crime scenes.

Transcription

“What was fingerprinting like in those days. What did you do?”

“You’d have a thick slab and some printer’s ink and a rubber roller and you’d put spots of ink on the slab, roll the ink out on the slab and get a thin film of ink on the slab, and put the fingers on the slab, get the ink on them and put them on the form.”

“Hasn’t really changed that much, in that respect anyway.”

“No.”

“What about crime scene fingerprints?”

“At that stage we used mercury and chalk. When I first went there we used a very light powder (called lico podium) that you threw on the print and blew the thing off and that left the outline of the print and then you carefully brushed that off and put some mercury and chalk on to make it more permanent. But that had a greater risk of damaging the print when you were wiping the lico podium off and so we gave the use of the lico podium away altogether and went straight to putting mercury and chalk on.”… Continue reading →

Sergeant 2/c Alexander Cochrane (left) and Constable 1/c James Boyle in the act of rescuing a man attempting to jump off the Victoria Bridge on February 8, 1958. Photograph taken by Ray Saunders a Courier-Mail photographer.

On the 8th of February 1958, a twenty one year old man, intent on committing suicide, climbed over the railing of Brisbane’s old Victoria Bridge and out onto a wooden spar. Ray Saunders, a Courier-Mail Photographer, saw what was happening and called the Police.

When Sergeant 2/c Alexander Cochrane and Constable 1/c James Boyle arrived on the scene a short time later, they found the man dangling by one arm from the end of the spar. Thinking quickly, Constable Boyle grabbed the man’s arm and held onto him for over 15 minutes, until other Police arrived with ropes. Using skill and great care, the ropes were tied around the man’s legs and he was hauled to safety.

Police Commissioner Frank Bischof congratulates Sergeant 2/c Alexander Cochrane (left) and Senior Constable James Boyle (middle), on the occasion of the presentation of the British Empire Medal for Gallantry, on August 7, 1959. The medal was awarded to both officers for saving the life of a man who attempted to jump off the Victoria Bridge on February 8,1958.

Constable 1/c James Boyle and Sergeant 2/c Alexander Cochrane were both awarded the prestigious British Empire Medal for Gallantry for their courageous efforts on this day.

Obverse of British Empire Medal for Gallantry awarded to James Boyle. A British Empire Medal for Gallantry was awarded from 14 January 1958 until its replacement with the Queen’s Gallantry Medal in 1974. It was awarded to people below management or professional level. In the uniformed services, it was awarded to non-commissioned officers of the armed forces, officers below superintendent rank in the police, and personnel below divisional officer level in the fire services. It was awarded for acts of gallantry (not in the face of the enemy) below the level required for the George Medal.

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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available at the time of writing.

The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au

“From the Vault – Quick Thinking Police Rescue” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode… Continue reading →

Cecil ‘Cec’ Austen was appointed to the Queensland Police on 15 October 1956, he was 22 years old. He has worked in many regional areas such as Townsville, Hughenden, Nambour, Blackall, Jericho, Dunwich, Pittsworth and Charleville. Cec later played an integral role in the establishment and subsequent success of the Queensland Police Dog Squad in Brisbane. Inspector Austen retired out from the Mareeba district in 1986.

This interview was conducted on 10 August 2005 between retired Assistant Commissioner Greg Early and retired Inspector Cecil Austen. In this excerpt Cec describes how difficult it was to find work for police dogs in the 1970s.

Transcript

“Well, in the early stages I had a full time job getting the dog accepted by the rank and file. We worked something like an 8pm to 4am shift, and that was the most chances as far as the dogs would be needed. And even when we went back to the office to finalise we’d do a long road home going through the outer suburbs, hoping somebody would need a dog as far as they’d chased somebody in a car and he’d go out and took off. And you knew the dog would be able to find him. The hours we put in, above and beyond the call of duty, to try and establish the dogs, but we still had the knockers. And it was hard work getting the message across for our police dogs, that there was a place for police dogs in our law enforcement.”… Continue reading →

At approximately 9.10pm on August 10, 1954, information was received at the Townsville Police Station regarding a suspected prowler on the premises of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. Ltd. in Denham Street, Townsville. Constable 1/c Osmond Cislowski and Constable 1/c Earle Needham proceeded to the address. While Needham was checking the premises, Cislowski saw and gave chase to, 24 year old meatworker Kevin Morris, who he saw fleeing from the rear of the bank.

The Melton Hill steps in Townsville, up which Constable 1/c Oswald Cislowski chased Kevin Morris on August 10, 1954.

An armed Morris ran about 27 meters up a track onto Melton Hill and into an open shed. He turned and fired his gun at Cislowski, hitting him in the chest. Although wounded, Cislowski tackled Morris but he pulled away, and ran back down the hill towards Hamilton Street.

Cislowski continued the chase, he caught and struggled with Morris just before he reached Hamilton Street, where the gun was fired again. Cislowlski may have received his second wound  in the upper right leg at this point. Morris again broke free and ran towards Cleveland Street, but Cislowski caught up with him and threw him to the ground.

Hamilton Street, Townsville, where Constable 1/c Oswald Cislowski received his 2nd gunshot wound while attempting to apprehend Kevin Morris on August 10, 1954.

Constable Needham then arrived on the scene, and both Constables grappled with Morris, who managed to fire off another shot which struck Cislowski in the left thigh. Needham managed to force the gun down onto the road and then Cislowski wrenched it from Morris’s left hand.

Constable Pitt arrived to assist Constable Needham to secure Morris. Constable 1/c Cislowski was driven to hospital in a police utility, and on arrival found that he had been shot three times (chest, left thigh and right leg). He made a complete recovery and was discharged on September 11, 1954.

On 16 November 1954, Kevin Morris was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour at Boggo Road Gaol.

Mug shot of Kevin Morris, the man who shot Constable 1/c Oswald Cislowski on August 10, 1954.

Constable 1/c Osmond Ertman Cislowski was awarded the George Medal for bravery and Constable 1/c Earle Leonard Needham the British Empire Medal, at a ceremonial parade at the Petrie Terrace Police Depot on 11 May 1956.

Constable 1/c Osmond Cislowski, George Medal recipient, and Police Commissioner Patrick Glynn, parade before a Guard of Honour at the Petrie Terrace Police Depot, Brisbane, on May 11, 1956. Constable 1/c Cislowski was the first Queensland police officer to be awarded the George Medal.

His Excellency the Governor, Sir John Lavarack, congratulates Constable 1/c Earle Needham who received The British Empire Medal (Civil Division) on May 11, 1956 for helping apprehend Kevin Morris and assisting the injured Cislowski.

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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available at the time of writing.

The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au

“From the Vault – Police Duty Deserving of Mention…”  by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode… Continue reading →

Merinda flood article, Rockhampton Morning Bulletin, 3 March, 1946, page 1.

William Powell was appointed as Constable on 23 April 1935, he was 25 years old. He was stationed in many regional areas for most of his career, highlights included Rockhampton, Barcaldine, Stonehenge, Tannymorel and Maryborough. Inspector Powell retired out from Bundaberg in 1969.

This interview took place on 21 November 2005 between retired Assistant Commissioner Greg Early and retired Inspector William Powell. In this excerpt William talks about a memorable incident while stationed at Merinda, on the outskirts of Bowen in 1946.

Transcription

“We had a pup, an Alsatian, half grown dog, chained underneath the house and it started to yap. I went out to look at it and it was standing in water so I let it off the chain, took it up inside with me. And I went and looked at the back steps. And I’ve never seen water rise like it, it was over about the first two back steps, and in only minutes it was over the next one. I watched it for a couple of – and it was only just minutes. So I went and I said to Mum, ‘Come on, jump up’ I said ‘The water’s rising too fast, we’ll get out.’ She never queried it, she just pulled on whatever you know was there, grabbed half a dozen nappies for the baby, and the baby and away we went. We walked all night until we ended up at the school. But at midnight you could hear the police station cracking up and going.

In the morning you couldn’t see anything – there was no electricity. The next morning there’s not a thing. There’s no water. But anyway, we had no clothes. There was one house stump left for the Police Station house, and it was about forty-five degrees; it was the only thing left. So we had no money, we had no bank books; we had nothing – and the schoolteacher and his wife they took us in. Now don’t ask me, I don’t how we lived.

I used to walk up and down the creek each day – the creek was completely receded. One day I’m walking along the creek bank and here’s my wallet on top of a great load of wash, you know. And there’s some pine boards out of the house, they’re there lying about. And of course the wash was this. And I got a pine board and I slid it out under the wash and let it float up and got the wallet and I drew it in carefully. And it had forty or fifty pounds in it; it was a lot of money in those days.”… Continue reading →

Constable George Chatfield heads up a peace procession in Kalbar to celebrate the end of First World War, 1918. Kalbar Police Station, previously known as Engelsburg was opened April 25, 1899. The town name was changed to Kalbar in September, 1916. It is currently staffed by a Senior Constable.

At December 1864, in the first year of operation of the Queensland Police Force, there were 27 ordinary police stations with 151 foot and mounted officers, and 16 native police camps of 136 European officers and indigenous troopers. Twenty of the ‘ordinary police force’ stations averaged four officers each, the bigger stations like Brisbane, Ipswich, Rockhampton and Maryborough had larger staff numbers. Native police camps averaged between 7 and 17 men, large camps like Rockhampton could have up to 27 men of both officers and troopers.

Constable Daniel Fitzgibbon and his wife relax on the verandah of the Laura Police residence, 1906. Laura Police Station opened in 1877 with Sub-Inspector 1/c Hervey Fitzgerald in charge. It is still a single officer station today and is staffed by a Sergeant.

As policing reached across the state more and more stations were opened usually in small towns of less than 300 people or in places that were growing due to the building of train lines or the discovery of gold. By December 1884, twenty years after the inauguration of the Police Force, there were 155 stations with 657 police officers and 182 indigenous troopers and trackers. There was also a growth in the number of single officer stations. In 1884, 36 stations were operated by single police officers, of these 6 were assisted in their duties by an indigenous tracker.

The first officer to be stationed at Millaa-Millaa, Constable Daniel Dwyer, standing beside his horse, with his dog at heel, 1922. Millaa-Millaa police station opened in 1922, has always been a single officer station and is currently staffed by a Senior Constable.

Running a police station with one officer was a daunting task. Often there was no station building and one had to be rented or moves made to purchase something suitable. Married officers were generally not sent to single officer stations as there was generally no accommodation for them in town. However wives who did join their husbands found themselves looking after the station and taking enquiries, while her husband was away. Her tasks could also involve feeding and cleaning up after prisoners in the lock-up.

MacKinlay Police Station, c1950. Somewhere along the way MacKinlay became McKinlay. The Police Station was opened in 1893 and it is currently staffed by a Senior Constable.

The good will of the community was necessary if an officer was to be able to carry out his duties effectively while in town and to then to be confident that nothing untoward would happen while he was away checking the rest of his beat by horse. Communities were often loath to let an officer go when he was transferred away and often took up petitions and wrote letters to the Police Commissioner begging for the officer to remain in town. Long standing officers were often presented with gifts and highly decorated letters of thanks from their community.

This is the very first Eromanga police residence which was built in 1894 so the police officer could bring his wife out to live with him. This photograph was taken around 1960. Eromanga Police Station was first opened on the 26 September 1891 in a two roomed cottage rented at a cost of five shillings per week, with Senior Constable Manuell in charge. At this time the township consisted of one large store owned by Mr W Paterson, two first class ‘public houses’ built of brick, and a couple of ‘humpys’. The resident population was about 20 and there was always a number of men from the opal mines and stations ‘knocking down their cheques’ at Eromanga’s public houses. Senior Constable Manuell remained in charge of Eromanga until he was instructed to close this station on the 31 December 1891, and to proceed to Thargomindah. The station reopened in 1893.

There are still a number of stations run by single officers, in small communities across the state. All of the photographs below are of single officer stations, the majority of which still exist today and are still run by one officer all be it in more comfortable circumstances than available in the past.

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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available at the time of writing.

The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au

“FROM THE VAULT – Single officer stations” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode… Continue reading →

Muriel Bath was appointed as a policewoman on 3 February 1947, she was 38 years old. She had a short but eventful career and was based primarily in Brisbane before she resigned 18 months later when she decided to marry. Policewomen were forced to resign from their jobs upon decision to marry until the legislation was changed in 1971.

This interview took place on 8 October 2007 between oral historian Suzanne Mulligan and Muriel Bath. In this excerpt Muriel reminisces about helping a young girl named Betty who fell pregnant out of wedlock.

Transcription

“In those days, a lot of young girls had babies. And that really shook me up. But apparently I had a flair for that because I think I got more than my share of being involved with young girls who had babies.

“What did you do with them?”

“I was just kind to them. That’s all. There was, I remember one in particular. She was only 14 and she lived on a dairy farm up the north coast somewhere. And I was working with the detectives and they took me out to interview her. And she’d had this baby. And we went to the dairy farm. We saw her and her mother and grandmother. Well, grandmother was terrific. She had an enormous safety pin across there I remember. Her hair was all long and matted and whatnot and she was trying to make out that she didn’t know Betty was pregnant and I said to her “But you must have known Betty was pregnant.” I said “Couldn’t you see that she was getting fat?” And she said “Oh yes, but I thought that was because she was drinking so much condensed milk.” Which tickled me, on a dairy farm! Condensed milk! But that was grandma’s story and she stuck to it.

And I saw Betty when she was in hospital, just after she had the baby. Poor downtrodden girl she was. And I said to her, “You know, Betty, you have beautiful hair. If you were to wash and brush it, it would be simply glorious.” And she burst into tears and she said “That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.” Isn’t that terrible, that poor girl.

Well, she went to – they used to send the girls to a shelter at Toowong, I think it was called St Mary’s. Well, from there they disposed of the baby. And some time after, I had actually left the police force, I was married. And I was walking down Adelaide Street one day and this young woman walked toward me and I was taken by her hair. It was fair, and I thought – isn’t that hair beautiful. And she was beautifully dressed. And when she got close to me, she came up and spoke to me. And she said “Oh, Miss Beresford,” and I looked at her and I said “Oh, it’s Betty isn’t it?” and she said “Yes.” “Oh,” I said “Betty you look simply beautiful.” I said “I was struck by your hair but you’re beautifully dressed. Are you working?” And she said “Oh yes I have a job at Shingle Inn.” She had a job at Shingle Inn. And I said “You really look beautiful” and she said “Well I have you to thank for that.” And I felt quite pleased when I walked away. I felt in my own small way I had accomplished something.”… Continue reading →

A police driver in training at the Caboolture Raceway, 1979.
Image courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum

In 1971, due to the number of accidents involving police vehicles, a Driver Training Wing began operating, to instruct police on car and motorcycle handling and especially alternative means to high speed pursuits. In November 1983 the Driver Training Wing was transferred from the Petrie Terrace Depot to the Queensland Police Academy.

Driver Training facilities were mobile through the 1970s and were first practiced at the Lakeside Raceway, later the Caboolture Raceway was used, followed by the Surfer’s Paradise International Raceway. In September 1975 a block of over 41 hectares at Mount Cotton was gazetted as a police centre. Stage 1 of a five stage complex was opened in February 1983 – consisting of a small skid pan and an administration block.

Police officer Ray Andrews on his Kawasaki 1000 tries out the Police Driver Training track at the Surfers Paradise Raceway, 1979.
Image No. PM1433 courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum

The Mt Cotton centre was managed by Queensland Transport and the Queensland Police Driver Training Wing remained at the Academy. Police officers in training were taken by bus to the Mt Cotton site and the Surfer’s Paradise International Raceway. The Driver Training Wing moved from the Academy to the Mt Cotton site on July 15, 1987.

The new driver training area and classrooms at the new Queensland Police Academy site at Wacol, were officially opened on  3 November 3, 2010 and are now being used by the Driver Training Unit.  The new driver training area includes: 2.5 kilometres of road circuit; a technically challenging urban simulation environment including traffic lights, roundabouts and building facades;  a dedicated off-road skills circuit for both four-wheel-drive and trail-bike training; and two sealed surface, large vehicle manoeuvring areas, including controlled irrigation.

Police cars and motorbikes try out the Mt Cotton Driver Training Track at the centre’s opening in 1983.
Image courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum

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 This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available at the time of writing.

The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au

“Driver Training”  by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode

 … Continue reading →

On Wednesday 11th June 1913, The Brisbane Courier printed this notice titled “THE SAMFORD TRAGEDY – Proceedings in the Police Court”. It commenced “A young man named Ernest Austin (alias Ernest Johnston) appeared in the Central Police Court yesterday, before Mr E. Eglinton, P.M., charged with the wilful murder of Ivy Alexandra Mitchell, a little girl, at Samford, on June 8.”

Prison mugshot of Ernest Austin 1913

Ernest AUSTIN was born in Victoria in 1890, and before turning 11 years, on 1st February 1901 he is charged with Stealing in Prahran,Victoria.  The boy is sentenced to the care of the neglected children’s department.

In 1901 little Ivy Alexandra MITCHELL is born to James A. MITCHELL and Jensene M. MITCHELL.

AUSTIN is charged with Larceny in Prahran on 19th November 1906 and sentenced to two months imprisonment – this sentence is suspended and he is sent to reformatory school.  On 15th July 1909 AUSTIN is again charged with Larceny and returned to reformatory from which he subsequently absconded. In October of the same year he is charged with assault with intent to rape and sentenced to three years imprisonment.

AUSTIN is released from prison in 1912 and travels to New South Wales, and then Queensland where he finds work helping Mr. FOGG on his farm.  On 8th June 1913 between 2.00pm and 3.00pm Ernest AUSTIN is seen at the Samford Hotel. Later he rides to Cedar Creek looking for cattle.

On the same date, at approximately 4.30pm, and after a lovely day with friends, Ivy MITCHELL leaves Frisch Farm with young Mary Frisch aged seven, walking Ivy part of the way home.  At 4.45pm Ivy runs into, and talks with school friends. Whilst Ivy is chatting with her friends, AUSTIN has tea with the Hansen family at their farm.  At 5.00pm he is seen on horse back galloping along the road 2km from the Parker Primary School.

Later, a neighbour reports seeing Ivy walking hand in hand with a heavy set man who was leading a saddled horse. The neighbour states the time was 5.30pm.  Another witness recalls seeing AUSTIN at Cedar Creek and asked how he was going and he replied “I have done it this time”.

Whilst AUSTIN and the Fogg’s eat dinner at 6.00pm the Mitchell’s become concerned Ivy has not returned home. Son James takes a lantern and goes to find Ivy.  He attends the Frisch’s house and is told Ivy left at 4.30pm; he is now very concerned and returns home.  By 6.30pm Ivy’s father James MITCHELL and his son set off with hurricane lamps to look for Ivy.  They get as far as the Smith’s house and are told Ivy passed by more than an hour ago.  The pair retrace their steps and find two sets of footprints.  They alert authorities and surrounding neighbours.

Police will later preserve the footprints using plaster and this early use of forensic evidence mounted a strong case for the prosecution.

Mr FRISCH locates Ivy’s naked and mutilated body at 6.50pm, it is partially hidden under clothing thrown over her legs.  He rides to Samford and calls Police.

In the early hours of 9 June 1913 detectives, utilising the Police Commissioner’s car, arrive from Brisbane and commence their investigation.  Later that day Ernest AUSTIN is arrested for the wilful murder of little Ivy MITCHELL.  On 18th August that same year, and after an exhaustive investigation by the Queensland Police including interviewing many witnesses and collecting every conceivable piece of evidence from harsh bush-land, AUSTIN is found guilty of wilful murder, and on 29th August Ernest AUSTIN is sentenced to death by the Supreme Court, Brisbane.

On 22nd September 1913 at 8.00am AUSTIN is executed by hanging at Boggo Road Gaol; He is buried in Allotment 36F (port 6B) at the South Brisbane (Dutton Park) Cemetery.

Two years later, in June 1915 Premier Thomas Joseph RYAN is elected and all sentences of death are commuted to life imprisonment, and later in 1922 Premier Edward Granville THEODORE abolishes capital punishment in Queensland.

On 22th September 2013 at 8.00am Boggo Road Gaol is holding a ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of the last execution.

A new book detailing more of the life and death of Ernest Austin, titled “INNOCENCE LOST – THE LAST MAN HANGED IN QUEENSLAND” will be launched by author Jacqueline Craigie after the ceremony at 10.00am.

The Last Man Hanged in Queensland by Jacqueline Craigie

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The Queensland Police Museum acknowledges Trove and the National Library of Australia for The Brisbane Courier excerpt, the State Library of Queensland for the mugshots, Jack Sim for providing a chronology, and Jacqueline Craigie for her book featured above.  The information has been supplied from the best resources available at the time of writing.

Our Museum is open from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au

 … Continue reading →

A distraught swimmer is removed from Surfers Paradise beach where the sea-mine washed ashore. Newspaper photographers are already there capturing the scene, 1968-1969.
Image No. PM0412 courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum

In late 1968 or early 1969, a World War II sea-mine washed up onto the Surfers Paradise beach. Its arrival shocked a few of those enjoying the sea and sand.

Two Royal Australian Navy explosives experts and a Gold Coast Police Officer (on right) stand beside the deactivated WW2 sea-mine, 1968-1969.
Image No. PM0418 courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum

Explosives experts from the Royal Australian Navy were called in to check the mine and if necessary deactivate it. Gold Coast Police then assisted the navy to remove the mine from the beach.

Royal Australian Navy explosives experts prepare the WW2 sea-mine for transport off the beach, 1968-1969.
Image No. PM0416 courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum

The WW2 sea-mine is being readied for removal from the Surfers Paradise beach by Naval explosives experts and Gold Coast Police, 1968-1969.
Image No. PM0417 courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum

This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available at the time of writing.

The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au

“Beached WW2 Sea-Mine 1968/1969”  by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode… Continue reading →

In February 1925 Police Commissioner William Ryan purchased the first police motorcycles – three Harley Davidson motorcycles with attached sidecars. By late 1925 police motorcycles were being used to advantage by Detectives and Finger-Print Experts to get to places not served by public transport.

1927 Harley Davidson motorcycle and side car, photograph taken in the grounds of the Petrie Terrace Depot, Brisbane.
Image No. PM0013 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum

In 1936, as the number of cars and motorcycles increased, the old stables at the Petrie Terrace Depot were converted into the police garage.  This building still exists and is located in The Barracks development, at 61 Petrie Terrace, Brisbane.

The opening of the first Police Garage, converted from the old stables at the Petrie Terrace Depot, 1936.
Image No. PM0123 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum

By 1938 there were 38 motorcycles in the police fleet, made up of Royal Enfield motorcycles with side cars; English AJS 1000cc and  BSA 1000cc V twin bikes. By the 1960s Nortons, Triumphs and a few BSA Lightening bikes were in use.

Constable Imeson works on his Norton motorcycle at Petrie Terrace Depot garage, c1960.
Image No. PM0436 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum

Safety helmets for police motorcyclists were introduced in 1957.

Constable Bill Purcell on his 1965 BSA (Lightning) motorcycle at Coronation Drive, Milton, 1966.
Image No. 1755 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum

In 1975 there were 104 motorcycles patrolling the state.

Highway Patrol Police Officer on his Honda CB750 motorcycle, c1975. This type of motorbike was used between 1972 and 1978.
Image No. PM1758 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum

As of November 2005 the service maintained a fleet of 87 Honda motorcycles to perform traffic, general, ceremonial and special operations, across the state. In 2006 the Service offered police officers a choice between the new Honda ST1100P or BMW R11500P and the new models that superseded them.  Today motorcycle officers ride on either BMW or Yamaha bikes.

Senior Constable Geoff Robson riding his BMW, K100 TIC police motorcycle, 1991.
Image No. PM1436 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum

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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available at the time of writing. The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane.

Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au

“A History of Police Motorcycles”  by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode… Continue reading →