Since its inception in 1968, the Police Emergency Squad has responded to countless crisis situations. In addition to their case load, the Emergency Squad has rendered occasional assistance to the Drug Squad and Bureau of Criminal Intelligence (B.C.I.Q.) in the apprehension of suspect or wanted persons. The usual criteria for involvement in these operations was information that the suspect was armed and considered dangerous, had a history and convictions for offences relating to assaults and the use of firearms.

Multiple Body Bunkers. Image Courtesy of John J. Daly, “Entrance and Apprehension Teams”, FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin August 1986/11.

In this type of operations the Squad used special tactics designed to overcome armed resistance by exercising of maximum force and aggression with a strong emphasis on firepower. Throughout the 1980s, similar tactics were used by the Boston Police Department Entrance and Apprehension Teams. In addition to heavy firepower, Boston policemen used ballistic shields, which made highly dangerous operations safer for the officers involved.

In the light of the introduction of harsher penalties for offences under the Drugs Misuse Act 1986 in Queensland, the level of violence during arrests was on the rise. In order to increase security of the officers, ballistic shields called ‘Body Bunkers’ used by the Boston Police were adopted by the Queensland’s Emergency Squad. The shields weighed about 30 pounds (14kg) and were not designed to be carried for a long distance, but to give officers the best protection possible. The shields stopped a range of bullets mainly of smaller calibre.

Body Bunker in Use. Image Courtesy of John J. Daly, “Entrance and Apprehension Teams”, FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin August 1986/11.

In Boston the apprehension teams generally consisted of six men. These men were trained to enter any door in 3 seconds and take complete control of a room in 10 seconds. Each officer performed a particular role in the ‘entrance and apprehension’ scenario. During an entry, two officers wearing bulletproof vests were the ‘sledge men’ and stood on the either side of the door to be entered. Behind these men followed three officers carrying ballistic shields and revolvers. The last person to enter the premises was the sixth men armed with a shotgun.

In Queensland the assault team used the shields for building and room entry, diversion and apprehension tactics. As the Body Bunker shields provided protection from small calibre bullets, they were always used in conjunction with protective body armour.

In Boston the Body Bunker shields have been used for considerable time in a range of emergency situations, “and in every instance they have accomplished their objective without an exchange of gunfire or one injury.”

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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available. The article was written by Museum Volunteer and Crime and Policing Historian Dr Anastasia Dukova.

“FROM the VAULT – The Body Bunker, 1980” 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

The Fire and Explosion Unit

June 29

Senior Sergeant Andrew Rowan

‘The bomb squad blows things up; we put them back together again’ a simple but realistic statement about the field of bomb scene examination, one of the unique roles of the Fire and Explosion Unit.

Senior Sergeant Andrew Rowan of the Fire and Explosive Unit, Scientific Section, will present an outline the work of the Fire and Explosion Unit including fire scene examination, to determine cause and origin of suspicious fires and Bomb Scene Examination.

This one and a half hour presentation will start at 11am on Sunday, June 29 and will be both informative and educational, and is suitable for everyone.

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, June 29 from 10am to 3pm, and is located on the ground floor of Police Headquarters, 200 Roma Street, Brisbane.

Please pass this information onto your family, friends and other networks. We look forward to welcoming you to the lecture on June 29.

June 29 – Free Entry – Ground Floor, QPS HQ, 200 Roma Street

Our Sunday lectures are extremely well attended which is fantastic, so thank you for being so supportive of the series. Please arrive early as there are only 100 seats in the room and this is the upper limit which we are required to stick to.

‘Helmeted, baton swinging police charging through a barrage of bottles and beer cans to disperse thousands of drunken rioters, chants of “Kill the Pigs”’ read the 31 December, 1974 headline of the Telegraph. This was just another New Year’s night on the job for the Gold Coast police throughout the 1970s.

In December, 1974 to boost police presence over the night’s festivities, a number of policewomen were assigned to the infamous New Year’s Eve patrol at the Gold Coast. On December 31, 1974 8 female constables along with 55 male colleagues, armed with regulation issue batons and handcuffs, patrolled the streets of Coolangatta, Gold Coast.

Police Woman Batons Up: Constable Jane Tubman, a black belt holder in Judo. Image Courtesy of The Telegraph, 1st January 1975.

Coolangatta was one of the more riotous stretches of the Gold Coast area. As tempers rose with alcohol consumed, cans and bottles were thrown indiscriminately in the crowd and from nearby buildings. Three of the female constables, PC Jane Tubman (P.W. 271), Sharon Booth (P.W. 213) and Monica O’Mara (P.W. 103), joined 40 policemen to form the skirmish line across one of the main streets in an attempt to clear the area. Police wore visor helmets and carried batons, and as the level of aggression remained low, they had little difficulty in directing the rioters. In the aftermath of the celebrations, 62 cases were heard with fines handed down ranging from $50 for obscene and abusive language to $75 for behaving in disorderly manner, or a fortnight in jail.

Public Order Squad, 1974. Anne McFarlane, Sharon Booth, Trudi Sherwood and Monica O’Mara. Image No. 2818 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

As the decade progressed, the riots intensified. In 1977, demonstrations protesting against mining and export of uranium swept over Australia. In response to rise in public disturbances, the Squad was re-organised, new training techniques were introduced along with additional equipment such as ‘crash’ helmets. As the members of the Force endeavouring to control the riot situations were regularly a target of missiles, it was recommended they be equipped with durable transparent plastic shields.

Alternatively, a concerned resident of Capella, Queensland in his letter to the then Premier Jon Bjelke-Petersen recommended a different approach to ‘dealing with unruly demonstrators than to wale in with a batto [sic] with all their obvious disadvantages’ – an electric stock prodder. The correspondent assured that the prodders leave no mark or ill effects, but only ‘a very deep seated fear of receiving another shock’. If this method was adopted, he continued, there will never be any need for Police to carry demonstrators away ‘who sit or lie in public places supposidly [sic] protesting’. In his response acknowledging receipt of the letter, the Commissioner of Police advised that at this stage it was not proposed to adopt the method of control nominated.

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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available. The article was written by Museum Volunteer and Crime and Policing Historian Dr Anastasia Dukova.

“FROM the VAULT – New Year’s Eve and the Riot Squad” 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

Prior to 1935, there was no police radio and not many police cars. Officers were tasked out to police jobs while at the station and then returned to report back on the events of the day. In 1935 a temporary one way radio system was introduced which meant that information could be fed directly to officers on the beat, in police cars or on motorbikes. Just three cars were initially fitted with receiving sets allowing constant contact with Police Headquarters. One car patrolled the north side of the river, another the south side, while the third is held in reserve to be despatched at a moment’s notice. Officers still had to return to the station to make their report. When World War II began a new two-way radio system needed to be put into place for more effective policing across Queensland. In 1941 a permanent two-way radio station was established in a building at the Police Depot.

Sergeant Cecil Trower communicates via his two-way radio equipped BSA motorcycle in 1956.
Image No PM0414 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

In 1975 new motorcycle helmet radio gear is introduced that allows hands free communication.
Image No PM0795a Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

Progress to 1978, and this Ford Transit van is fitted out as a mobile communications option for use in emergencies. The van has its own generator, is fitted with radio systems to cover all police frequencies and contains four VHF handheld radios, maps of every district and a loud hailer.
Image No. PM3677 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

Today police communications are high-tech in keeping with the nature of modern policing. Police radio is truly portable and can be carried on the person by individual officers while on the beat. Portability ensures that contact between police officers, stations and Police Communications Centres is maintained at all times.

In October 2013 fifty personally-issued Apple iPads and iPhones were issued to police officers. With technology at their fingertips, police officers have quicker and more direct access to information checking systems for persons of interest and vehicle registrations.
Image No. P3683 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

These and many more images depicting early police and their technology has been turned into a publication celebrating the Queensland Police Service’s Sesquicentennial, 150^th year. Books are available from the Police Museum (see address below), or by emailing QPS.150YearCelebrations@police.qld.gov.au

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 – Communications on the Go” 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

The line of duty of a beat policeman was and is extensive and diverse. By and large, the majority of duties of the Queensland’s Policeman were spelt out in, very great detail, in numerous rules and regulations guidelines. Due to intricate and precarious nature of police service in a metropolis, and the police and public relationship, a Police manual meticulously outlined the duties and definitions of virtually everything a policeman could encounter on the job. The earliest edition of the Queensland Police manual was printed in 1869 and contained 65 pages.

1869, Rules for the General Government and Discipline of members of the Police Force of Queensland. Image Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

A revised edition of the Manual of Police Regulations for the Guidance of the Constabulary Queensland, 266 pages long, was published in 1876. Both editions were released during D.T. Seymour’s tenure as Commissioner of the Force (1864-1895). In 1905, Police Commissioner W.G. Cahill compiled a new updated Queensland Policeman’s Manual (1914).

An entry included in the 1914 edition of the Queensland Policeman’s Manual showing the plaster cast technique. Image Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

The Manual incorporated the latest policing methods such as fingerprinting techniques, plaster casting and ‘conviction through the evidence of broken matches’.

Vigilant guardianship of person and property was one of the key principles of police duty. Absence of crime was considered ‘the very best evidence that can be given of the complete efficiency of the Police’. A grumbler with regard to duty, however, was seen as a considerable disadvantage to the service, comradeship and confidence of those in authority over him.

Evidence photographed and used for training in the 1914 Queensland Policeman’s Manual. Image Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

Sobriety, proper conduct, attention to duty, civility and courtesy were among the principles that made a good policeman:

Sobriety – a policeman who tipples will never gain the confidence of his superiors or the respect of the public.

Conduct – if a young policeman does not decidedly refuse to be led by another, it indicates a weakness of character and a want of moral courage

Conduct Towards the Criminal Class – a policeman should not hold himself aloof from such persons; on the contrary, he should converse with them upon every suitable opportunity; he should act kindly towards them, and endeavour by advice and encouragement to induce them to abandon crime and live honestly.

Attention to Duty – a policeman on duty should allow nothing but his duty to occupy his thoughts.

Civility and Courtesy –every member of the Force should be most civil and courteous, and endeavour, as far as he can, consistently with his duty, to make himself popular with all classes. He should impress them with the idea that it is his desire to be obliging to all, and to render all the help in his power to everyone in need of it.

‘As a rule, an unpopular Policeman is useless as a detective’, while ‘an uncivil, discourteous person is seldom successful in official life.’

The 1914 Queensland Policeman’s Manual was first printed on 12th May that year, and came in navy or black. 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 article was written by Museum Volunteer and Crime and Policing Historian Dr Anastasia Dukova.

“FROM the VAULT – Unpopular Policeman is Useless as a Detective” 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

Image courtesy of the Courier Mail

Today marks the 50th anniversary of The Beatles performing in Brisbane. The band had arrived in Australia in 1964, at the peak of “Beatlemania” and performed shows in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney before arriving in Brisbane on the 29 June, for the first of their two concerts.

Preparations for the visit were meticulous and genuine safety concerns were raised after two girls had been injured in a crush at a concert in New York. Below is a Courier Mail article about police preparations.

Article courtesy of the Courier Mail.

A letter of thanks from Mr Potts the manager of Brisbane Festival Hall to Police Commissioner Frank Bischof.

The letter from Festival Hall.

In response to numerous reports of drunkenness and disorderly conduct among the miners and requests for police protection, on 21 April, 1895 a Police Station was opened at Coen. In the 1890s the township had a population of about 150, and consisted of post and telegraph offices, public house, stores, butchers shops and several residences.

The long road to Coen. Image Reference 7676 Courtesy of Pastor Roennfeldt Slides, John Oxley Library, SLQ.

The Police Station was located across the river, a quarter of a mile outside of the town proper. As the Station was located on the opposite side of the Llankelly Creek, prisoners had to be taken over the suspension bridge, during all hours of day and night including the drunk and disorderly offenders.

At the time the Station had no cell, only ‘a log to chain prisoners up to for safety’. For the most part, offenders were either committed to Cooktown or discharged. In cases with sentences under one month, the term would expire before the prisoner and the escort would even reach Cooktown.

Police Station House at Coen, 1 August 1928. Image Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

On the night of the 1^st February, 1932, a fire broke out in the office at the Coen Police Station, caused by the accidental overturning of a kerosene lamp by the Officer in Charge, Acting Sergeant Watson. According to his report, Watson was finishing up on his day’s work, when his arm struck the lamp and overturned it, breaking the bowl and globe of the lamp, and causing an explosion. There was little damage done to the office, but the correspondence, which was then on the table, was destroyed.

In September, 1933 a wire notified the District Inspector at Cooktown of another fire at Coen Station. A benzene tin, used by Act Sgt. Watson for sponging his clothes in the kitchen not far from the cooking fire, exploded. The building and all the property it contained were destroyed. The whole lot of Watson’s personal belongings, including all his clothes, Underwood typewriter, and two gold watches perished in the fire. He estimated his total losses to be no less than £100. The reimbursement claim he later submitted was denied. The inquest into the accident yielded no conclusive results as to how the tin was ignited, being a fair way away from the stove.

Article from The Courier-Mail, Tuesday 27th March 1934.

The Station office and living quarters were temporarily moved into a previously deserted cottage situated on the police reserve.

In September, 1937 the Station was relocated to Coen proper. Having weathered the hurricane of 1943, the Police Station was moved once again in 1945. After the final move in 1950 the station underwent a series of modernisations, such as electricity. The 1965 inspection report noted that the station was very well run, and particularly clean and tidy; while the town of Coen was very quiet and well conducted.

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“FROM the VAULT – Unpopular Policeman is Useless as a Detective” 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

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that the following article contains images and stories of deceased persons.

In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples contribution to Queensland Police history, today’s FROM the VAULT is about our Native Police Trackers. NAIDOC (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee) Week commenced Sunday 6^th July 2014, and this article, providing a few stories of the many men who served, is a timely reminder of the dedicated service given to Queenslanders by Indigenous peoples. Police Trackers had superior knowledge of the land, and we trust you’ll enjoy our beautiful images of these hard working men.

Sam Johnson commenced as a Tracker for Longreach Police station in 1899. In 1902 three brothers named Kenniff were sought for illegal cattle duffing. Along with Constable George Doyle and Carnarvon Cattle Station Manager Mr Dahlke, Sam attended as Tracker for the group and the trio set out in search of the felons. In the process of capturing two of the brothers, Constable Doyle and Mr Dahlke were shot and killed. Sam escaped and returned with news of the murders. As the sole survivor of the police clash with the Kenniffs he became a key witness, and his evidence was crucial in the conviction of the brothers.

Sub Inspector Quilter (front, third from left) and his men at Longreach, 1907. Tracker Corporal Sam Johnson stands on the right.
Image No. PM0325a Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

In June 1919 Corporal Tracker Sam Johnson was admitted to the Longreach General Hospital suffering from Influenza, were he died on the 22^nd of that month. There is a long standing display in our Police Museum, dedicated to Corporal Johnson, Constable Doyle and Mr Dahlke.

An overnight camp between Laura and Coen, at Mount Musgrave, 1928. Tracker Jackie stands at left, with mule Jessie, and Tracker Peter at right, with horse Phiz. Image No. PM0286 Courtesy of Sergeant 1/c C.Green, Fortitude Valley.

An overnight camp between Laura and Coen, at Mount Musgrave, 1928. Tracker Jackie (his first name) stands at left, with mule Jessie, and Tracker Peter at right, with horse Phiz.
Image No. PM0286 Courtesy of Sergeant 1/c C.Green, Fortitude Valley. All efforts were made to contact both families seeking permission to use this image, and no disrespect is intended.

George Musgrave commenced as a tracker with Laura Police Station on 27^th April 1972. As husband to Kathleen, and father to Christine, Tommy, May and George, Tracker George was also a good provider, and had been employed on almost every cattle station within the Laura Police Division, which comprised 8,500 square miles. George was born and bred on the Peninsula, was a very competent horseman, with sound knowledge of the terrain and movement of stock using keen tracking skills passed down by his father.

Tracker George Musgrave.
Image by Oliver Strewe Photography. All efforts were made to contact the family seeking permission to use this image, and no disrespect is intended.

In 1989 George recalled the time he located a Normanton pig shooter lost in Cape York for 10 days; “I walked all day and camped, I walked 35 miles, you have to keep walking, if you stop for lunch that boy keeps walking and you never catch up with him”. In 2005 George Musgrave was recognised with an honorary doctorate from James Cook University for his stewardship of Indigenous culture. Dr Musgrave passed away at the impressive age of 85 in Laura on 8^th February 2006.

Barry Port, Queensland and Australia’s last police tracker, worked with Tracker George Musgrave (see above) to trace a stolen vehicle in 1984. Their persistence with old car tracks and deliberate attempts to conceal them for 22kms paid off, with the duo locating the car, the offender, and a large drug crop. Barry was born in Coen, and based at the Coen Police Station. During his career with the Queensland Police Service Barry tracked down stowaways from a ship off Cape York, tracked vehicles being driven upstream to avoid detection, located hidden drug crops in the bush and even tracked the Kelly gang.

Tracker Barry Port, outside Coen Police Station, 2001. Image courtesy of the Qld Police Museum, and used with the permission of Mr Port.

Mr Port has recently retired from the Queensland Police Service, with a career spanning 34 years. He celebrated in style with staff from the Coen Police Station, family members, the wider Coen community and Police and civilians from several other Queensland Districts. We wish you well in your retirement Barry!

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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from resources available at the time of writing. The article was written by Museum Assistant Georgia Grier.

“FROM the VAULT – Police Trackers” 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

Prevention of crime was one of the primary objectives of the Brisbane Metropolitan Branch of the Queensland Police. In 1874 there were 134 policemen in Brisbane, with 92 holding a rank of a Constable, keeping watch over the metropolitan area. A system of beats lined the city, where a certain beat was committed to the care of one or two constables. A constable was responsible for the security of life and property, preservation of the peace, and general good order within his beat during the time he was on duty.

According to the 1876 Regulations danger and disorder came in many shapes and guises, but most commonly they had a shape of either a boy or a ‘fruitskin’, more specifically an orange peel.

Orange Peel. Image Courtesy from the personal collection of Dr Anastasia Dukova

Throughout the 1880s and 1890s, a number of cases of broken limbs have been reported by the Brisbane Courier. Frequent accidents have occurred through persons slipping down from inadvertently stepping upon an orange peel. In one such case in 1888, a man slipped on a peel in Petrie’s Bight and broke a collar bone. In a letter to the editor of the Courier, a reader appealed ‘for the law to be rigidly enforced in justice to the foot passengers, whose safety is gravely menaced by this never abated nuisance – a dangerous practice of dropping fruitskins on the public footway. ‘

In order to contain the number of injuries, the police were made responsible for removal of the pieces of orange peel whenever seen on the pavement.

Similarly, to keep the number of incidents in check, the police were in charge of preventing boys from flying kites and trundling hoops in the streets, parks, or public places, where accidents or danger to passengers may occur. All children trundling hoops in the streets were cautioned against doing so, and informed that they were liable to have their hoops confiscated.

Boys with Hoops. Image Courtesy of Toronto Public Library.

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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 – Dangerous Practices” 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

From the relative comfort of Camooweal Police Station a young Constable Graham Robson with Sergeant Ray Brand were sent on a salvage mission to rescue bogged cattle station master Dennis Lindsay Brown from drenched Thorntonia Station, 100km north east of Camooweal, Queensland. The policemen set off at 6am, 19 February 1976, eventually locating the hungry and tired Mr Brown.

Camooweal Police Station post 1972.
Image No. PM2756a from the collection of the Queensland Police Museum and courtesy of Sgt 1/c Mervyn Tobin.

After a feed and a few cans of beer the men got busy attempting to free the stricken vehicle from the mud. All attempts failed, and resulted in the untimely bogging of the police vehicle, a catastrophe in such a wet, isolated location. Constable Robson, the younger and fitter of the two policemen, sensibly suggested he be the one to walk to the nearest location with men and resources necessary to free both vehicles. The nearest location was Gregory Downs Station, 80 kilometres due north.

Constable Graham Robson attending an Advanced Training Course, October 1973, is seated at the extreme right of the image.
Image No. PM3571 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

Dressed in shorts, shirt, thongs and hat, the young Constable set off at midnight carrying a waterbag. At that hour the temperature was cool, and flies minimal. The dark muddy country however harboured swarms of mosquitoes, and an occasional downpour played havoc with his bearings, but keeping the star constellation the Southern Cross behind him helped keep him on course.

Sir John Kerr presenting Constable Graham Robson with the Royal Humane Society’s 1976 Stanhope Gold Medal, November 1977. Image courtesy of The Canberra Times.

Sir John Kerr presenting Constable Graham Robson with the Royal Humane Society’s 1976 Stanhope Gold Medal, November 1977.
Image from The Canberra Times courtesy of TROVE.

Deep bogs teaming with blood sucking leaches caught Constable Robson by surprise, “but swimming the river was the worst thing. Believe it or not, it’s called Police Creek. Normally it’s just a dry bed, but this time it was about 150 yards wide and flowing really fast”. In February crocodiles swim up river and the threat of being snapped up was very real, as were snakes sharing the river crossing and a near miss with a King Brown. By mid-morning the police officer had located the road, and a very surprised grader driver when Graham approached wearing just his slouch hat “I’d suffered so bad from chaffing that I’d taken everything off”!

Constable Robson’s medals: shown at left is the Royal Humane Society Silver Medal for Bravery, and at right the Stanhope Gold Medal.
The Stanhope Gold Medal is the Royal Humane Society of Australasia’s most prestigious award, and is presented annually to an existing medal recipient.
Image Courtesy of Graham and Tess Robson.

The persistent Constable had walked to within 8 kilometres of Gregory Downs Station. With the help of fresh men Graham returned to the two stranded vehicles and two wet and famished men, released the cars from the mud and drove back to Camooweal arriving at 1am on 21 February.

Constable Robson was awarded a silver Royal Humane Society of London bravery award, and later earned the society’s Stanhope Gold Medal for his mammoth effort trekking through flooded terrain surrounded by the constant threat of hungry insects, wild animals and reptiles. Graham Robson rose to the rank of Sergeant 2/c and retired in 1991.

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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 article was written by Police Museum Assistant Georgia Grier.

“FROM the VAULT – 1976 Stanhope Gold Medal recipient Constable Graham Robson” 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

In 2009 work was commenced on the new Fortitude Valley Police Station and restoration of the original 1936 station building. During the restoration this painting on glass from a sash window, was removed from the top floor of the old police station.

Painted Window Glass The painting features an Australian bush scene with tall gum trees with a creek in centre of the image. Two indigenous men stand on the left bank watching three Caucasian men on the right creek bank, perhaps, pan for gold.

We do not know who painted the image or when it was completed.

Some information suggests that the top floor of the Fortitude Valley Police Station was used during the Second World War as a hospital and that one of the patients was the artist. However, we have been unable to confirm this story.

We would really like to find out who painted this lovely picture so we can exhibit the painting and tell the story. If you have any information about the painting or suggestions about how we might move the investigation forwards then please email the museum as we would love to hear from you.

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“Mystery of the Painted Window Glass” 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

In 1913 Cairns OIC and Police Inspector John McGrath remarked in his annual report to Commissioner William Cahill “It will be necessary to form a new station at Babinda, where a sugar mill will be erected towards the end of the year. It will be the centre of a large sugar district which will carry a permanent population. An Acting Sergeant and Constable will be required for this station, which is 40 miles from Cairns and 28 from Innisfail”. Further requests by Cairns Police District saw the erection of tents at Babinda on 30 July 1914 to act as a temporary Police Station, and by March 1916 a proper building was completed which included accommodation for the Sergeant and his family.

Babinda Police Station, 1918.
Image No. PM0275 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

A destructive cyclone swept through Babinda in March 1918 leaving only a few buildings intact. In true community style the town and police facilities were repaired or rebuilt and policing in the District continued. In July 1926 Wirth’s Brothers Circus came to town and one of their adventurous elephants decided to stretch its legs and break into the police yard. It knocked over and destroyed two new water tanks, nudged the stable building out of plumb, and tore palings off the fence, before wandering off into a swamp where it was finally detained. The repairs to the police station were estimated at £21 and 10 shillings with Wirth’s Brothers picking up the bill.

Wirth’s Brothers Circus elephant detraining in Lismore, NSW, c1925.
Image courtesy of TROVE.

Often in country towns, police accommodation was less than ideal and a shortage of housing and exorbitant rents made life somewhat more difficult. Constable Frank Stevenson described his rented Babinda home as follows:

“The house occupied by me consists of three small rooms with iron walls and is neither ceiled nor lined and has no outside accommodation whatever and is built on a swamp and all within a hundred yards of a Chinese shop, two Greek shops and two Brothels. I am paying 25 shillings per week rent and have since been billed 7 shillings and 6 pence per month for sanitary rates. This being the only available house on my arrival at Babinda, I took it in the hope that better accommodation may be gained, but since then and at present there is not one vacant house in Babinda. I consider it very unfair to have to ask a woman to live in such a house and that there being two Brothels within such a short distance of the back door with the comingcrushing season it will be more or less unpleasant for my wife, she being a delicate woman and suffering the after effect of a recent nervous breakdown and it will be impossible for her to live there…”

Commissioner of Police William Harold Ryan, c1930. Commissioner Ryan’s tenure ran for 9 years from 1925 to 1934.
Image No. PM2298 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

Police Commissioner William Ryan, in a memorandum via the Cairns District Inspector, advised Constable Stevenson it was not the Commissioner’s business to find a suitable house for the Constable and his wife. Constable Stevenson successfully transferred to Gordonvale in January 1927. Babinda is known as the wettest Australian town and police history documents further cyclonic events. The town is also surrounded by stunning mountain ranges and the Great Barrier Reef and although beautiful, can be dangerous places. Babinda Police, with assistance from Innisfail Station have coordinated many search and rescue missions due to road fatalities, lost bush walkers and in May 1985 a plane crash. In 2014 police staff consisting of one Sergeant and two Constables police the largely agricultural Division of sugar cane, banana and tropical fruit farms. They are supported by one Administration Officer.

Babinda Police Station, 2014.
Image Courtesy of Babinda Police Station staff.

This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available. The article was written by Assistant Curator Virginia Gordon and Museum Assistant Georgia Grier.

“FROM the VAULT – Policing Babinda” 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

National Missing Persons Week is a week aimed at raising awareness of the thousands of people reported missing each year across Australia and the issues that surround and impact on this important topic.

As is the case each year, the Queensland Police Service supports the work of the Australian Federal Police National Missing Persons Coordination Centre and their work with National Missing Persons Week, which will this year run from August 3-9.

This year the focus of the week is on older people living with dementia or memory loss and the increased risk they have of becoming a missing person.

In Queensland, the campaign is being supported by Alzheimer’s Australia (Qld) in order to highlight the links between missing persons and dementia. In Queensland alone over 55,800 persons are living with dementia and dementia related illness.

In Queensland, an average of 6,500 people are reported missing each year with the Queensland police recovery rate for 2013 being 99.7%. Approximately 5% of missing persons are 60 years and over.

“Of the 6,500 people reported missing, almost 300 were older persons and some of these are living with dementia. These persons are a high risk of wandering and becoming disorientated which places them at risk in our environment. This is certainly concerning for us, but is something that can be prevented. Thankfully the large majority of people reported missing are located quickly, however there are some cases that end tragically.

“Proactive police work and assistance from the community and family quite often lead to this quick recovery, which to us is the most important outcome. Of course timely reporting by police and community members staying alert and calling police have helped us recover many older people who may have just wandered away from their home,” Detective Senior Sergeant Damien Powell of the Missing Persons Unit said.

The Queensland Police Service is currently working with Alzheimer’s Australia (Qld) on an important initiative they hope will not only help prevent people with dementia going missing, but also contribute to the timely recovery of those who unfortunately, do go missing.

Alzheimer’s Australia (Qld) spokesperson, Kerry Cutting, said the bracelets will give peace of mind to those caring for people with dementia.

“Caring for another person is a huge responsibility, and when they go missing it can be incredibly distressing, especially if the person you’re caring for is a loved one. These bracelets are not only a safe guard for those who do go wandering, but a great peace of mind for those caring for someone with dementia.” Ms Cutting said.

“Without a medical breakthrough the prevalence of dementia in Queensland expected to increase by 345% by 2050, so it’s a critical time to raise awareness of the terminal disease,” she said.

The Safely Home initiative involves a bracelet that can be worn by anyone living with this illness or where there are concerns for a person’s safety. Information can be retrieved about the person by police or a community member and can assist in reuniting the person with their loved ones much quicker.

The bracelets will be available through Alzheimer’s Australia (Qld) at a small cost. Each bracelet is uniquely numbered to enable the wearer to be identified by police when located. The bracelet is designed so that it can only be removed using two hands to prevent the wearer from inadvertently removing it.

Police also rely on members of the community who have a friend or family member living with this illness to keep in constant communication. Check in on them regularly, ensure you have current photographs and consider installing a duress system to help in an emergency type situation.

Dementia is the term used to describe the symptoms of a large group of illnesses, which cause a progressive decline in a person’s mental functioning. It is a broad term, which describes a loss of memory, intellect, rationality, social skills and normal emotional reactions.

Anyone who fears a member of their family has gone missing or fit this description should report the matter to police. By providing as much information as possible, including description, age, gender, height, clothing and even a photograph you can assist police in finding your family member quickly.

Anyone with information which could assist with this matter should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au 24hrs a day.

Crime Stoppers is a registered charity and community volunteer organisation working in partnership with the Queensland Police Service.

For all non-urgent police reporting or general police inquiries contact Policelink on 131 444 or Policelink.qld.gov.au 24hrs a day.

A Complaint form, 1957. Image Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

A Complaint form, lodged November 1957. Image Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

In the late 1880s prosecutions for assaults on women in the Brisbane Police Courts increased. Nearly a third of all assaults covered by the Brisbane Courier were committed on women, and occasionally between women. While on a number of occasions wives turned upon their husbands, in the majority of cases of spousal violence the wives were the victims of their partners’rage. Gender-based violence was not confined to the domestic sphere either.

The passage of time and associated progress facilitated an array of cultural and societal shifts with a tendency for violence remaining a constant.

In January 1975, the Queensland Police established a new one-of-a-kind specialised unit, the Rape Squad. The aim of the Squad was to be the first contact with any female victims in sexual offences. The all-women squad comprised of five to six police constables working on a 24-hour basis. The Squad members provided support to the victims throughout the procedural steps, including court appearances. In 1987, the Rape Squad was renamed the Sexual Victims Support Group and became absorbed into the Sexual Offenders Squad.

The associated Warrant, lodged November 1957. Image Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

The associated Warrant, 1957. Image Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

In 1990, according to the Police Commissioner’s Annual Report, police continued to express particular concerns regarding safety issues involving women’s safety and incidence of domestic violence. In the span of five years, 1985-1990, Queensland had one of the worst rates of offences against the person of any state in Australia. The rate of serious offences was nearly double the average of the national rate. In the 1990s the Service implemented a number of additional programs and initiatives intended to enhance the safety of the public. In November 1990, the Women’s Safety Project was established. In December of the same year, a ‘go-hard’ domestic violence policy was adopted by the Service. Under this policy Police were instructed to act on complaints of violence arising from domestic disputes by charging the offenders wherever evidence of criminal offence emerged.

And, the Minute of Conviction, 1957. Image Courtesy of the Queensland Police Service.

As domestic violence continued to be a serious problem in Queensland, a temporary Domestic and Family Violence Unit was established in October, 2007. By 2009, statistical figures indicated a 40 per cent drop in all areas of domestic violence. Offences such as assault, stalking, wilful damage and public nuisance, also showed significant decline.

The Rape Squad, 1977. Image PM3641 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

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“FROM the VAULT – Assaults” 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

Front view of Qld Police Commissioner’s Dress Tunic (QP182)

The Museum has entered a description and images of a Queensland Police Commissioner’s Dress Tunic (QP182) onto the Australian Dress Register (ADR), a website hosted by the Powerhouse Museum.(http://www.australiandressregister.org/)

The dress tunic features braiding which is formed into loops as well as Austrian and Crow’s foot knots.

ADR staff were kind enough to say it was one of the best entries that they had seen.

Take a look for yourself:

http://www.australiandressregister.org/garment/537/

This one-off framed memorabilia piece features a maroon police shirt produced for the State of Origin, Game III, 2014 Guard of Honour in celebration of 150 years of policing in Queensland. There are 40 Origin Great signatures in total, including Wally Lewis, Mal Meninga, Darren Lockyer, Alfie Langer, Gene Miles, Mark Coyne, Kevin Walters, and Steve Walters to name a few.

The frame also includes:
Queensland Police Service Honour Roll
Limited Edition QP150 Medallion and Ceramic Tile
Queensland Maroons player names for Game III, 2014
State of Origin, Game III, 2014 game information
Photo of Guard of Honour

Valued at $5000.00 Tickets are $5.00 each

Proceeds go to Queensland Police Legacy and Community Supporting Police

Ticket purchase options:

1) Tickets for sale and prize on display at the Royal Queensland Show (Ekka), 7^th to 18^th August 2014 and Police Expo, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, 22^nd and 23^rd August 2014,

2) For QPS employees tickets are available from the QP150 Year Celebrations Project Office, Level 1, Police Headquarters, Brisbane,

3) Also within Police Headquarters, the prize will be displayed and tickets available outside the Atrium Café from 11am on 19^th, 20^th and 21^st August 2014,

4) Tickets may also be purchased by depositing correct funds into the following account:
Commonwealth Bank
Account Name: QLD POLICE SERVICE – QP 150 YEAR CELEBRATIONS PROJECT
BSB: 064 013
Account number: 10042174
Please put your full name as reference, then email QPS.150YearCelebrations@police.qld.gov.au with your contact details, including a mobile telephone number. If there is no reference name we have no way of identifying who has made the deposit. Raffle tickets will be posted when deposit clears.

The winner will be notified by telephone after the draw
on Friday 29^th August 2014.

In the early 1990’s Fauna Squad police became aware of possible large scale criminal activity in one of Queensland’s most remote national parks, Cape Melville National Park on the east cost of Cape York Peninsula. The intelligence received was that criminals were dealing guns and drugs and making death threats to others involved in the illegal harvesting of the Foxtail Palm (Wodyetia bifurcata). The Palm grew naturally within the National Park, and was/is unique to Cape Melville. Although very hardy and readily available within the community, albeit by unlawful means, the popularity of the palm increased and it was marketed interstate and overseas. Criminal gangs would harvest the seed pods from high in the tall palms using long poles with saws affixed. Each pod could contain up to 200 seeds which were then sold for $2 each initially, the price increasing depending on the eventual market.

Foxtail Palms (Wodyetia bifurcata) Cape Melville National Park.
Image Courtesy of Senior Sergeant Gavin Ricketts.

NATIONAL PARK DAMAGE
The palm trees themselves were never threatened. However, botanists argued that future generations and the survival of the species were. As they were all being removed, no seeds were germinating in their natural environment. In the process of taking the seeds gangs were bulldozing roads and delicate hillsides throughout the park to gain access to more and more palms. Old 4WD vehicles with logs chained to the front were utilised to “push the bush”. Illegal camps were being built on precious waterways of which there are few in this dry part of Cape York, creating pollution and disturbing the natural habitats.

Foxtail Palm Seeds (Wodyetia bifurcata) Freshly picked Seeds sell for between 50c and 3 dollars (Southern or overseas market).
Image Courtesy of Senior Sergeant Gavin Ricketts.

Fauna was being shot and eaten. On one occasion, tourists camping on the beach at Barrow Point were photographing pelicans flying overhead when someone nearby “opened up on them with a machine gun.” The shootings were for fun and not food. Needless to say, the tourists fled the park as the pelicans fell from the sky. It was the practice of most of the gangs to carry Chinese SKS rifles, which were converted into fully automatic rifles.

Seized Firearms. Image Courtesy of Senior Sergeant Gavin Ricketts.

CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
When initial intelligence of illegal activity within Cape Melville National Park was received, Rangers flew over the area in a helicopter but were unable to spot any evidence of it. Some months later, the wife of a gang member reported to the police that “someone was going to get killed in Cape Melville if Qld National Parks and Wildlife Service (QNPWS) didn’t stop the foxtail racket.”

Acting on this information, OIC of the Fauna Squad Detective Sergeant Gavin Ricketts organised an operation involving 2 Fauna detectives, 2 QNPWS Rangers and a Cairns Drug Squad detective travelling in 3 4WD police vehicles. It took three days to reach Cape Melville from Brisbane. Initial patrols failed to locate any offenders but damage to the park and evidence of the interference with the palms was obvious. On the second day the officers were travelling on a bush track about 150 metres from a densely forested creek, when DS Ricketts saw a flash of blue plastic through the trees. A foot trek disclosed a large six men camp constructed within what is known as a ‘gallery forest’ (rainforest which follows the creeks in dry areas). The camp was camouflaged from above with green military style tarps, which hid it from detection by helicopters. These green tarps covered the camp on all sides. The blue plastic turned out to be a blue water bottle set up to filter water from the creek.

4WD located with three men and loaded automatic rifle within a National Park Bag of seed located in the rear of the vehicle.
Image Courtesy of Senior Sergeant Gavin Ricketts.

Consequently, within the next two days five men were arrested. Their FWD vehicles, guns, large quantities of ammunition and drugs were seized. Other hidden camps were located throughout the area, which resulted in further arrests. Investigations revealed that these gangs under the control of two men, one in Brisbane and one in Port Douglas were aggressively competing for the spoils of the NP. Regular patrols of Cape Melville were conducted during the dry season until the activity ceased. Foxtail palms are now widely available legally within the community. They make excellent garden plants.

Sawn off .22 rifle and bag of Cannabis located under mattress at No. 1 Camp.
Image Courtesy of Senior Sergeant Gavin Ricketts.

Some never understood the fuss over these palms, as they did not see how the integrity of a unique NP was being compromised and taken over by a bunch of criminals. The dangers that it posed to not only the wildlife but the general public enjoying a wilderness experience. “I’ve got no doubt that we prevented a killing either through gang related murder or the shooting of an innocent tourist.”

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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 article was written by Senior Sergeant Gavin Ricketts, previously OIC of the Fauna Squad, currently OIC of Caloundra Police Station, and edited by Museum Volunteer and Crime and Policing Historian Dr Anastasia Dukova.

“FROM the VAULT – Operation ‘Foxtail Palm’ 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

Since its first days, Mount Isa, a mining town, was a rough sort of settlement. In May 1924, just a year after the town was established, a township police station was opened. At its inception, the town had one policeman per the population of about three hundred, with miners constituting more than half.

During his first months at Mount Isa, Constable Holohan was housed in a tent. Constable Landy, took over the station five months later. By then, the Police Station comprised of a 10’ by 12’ frame tent and two lock-up cells. As the sly grog sales continued to rise, two more constables were attached to the station in 1925. A portable station was erected in 1926, followed by the Court House and Singlemen’s Quarters.

Mount Isa Cell Block, Court House, Police Station and Singlemen’s Quarters, 1929.
Image No. PM0587 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

Mount Isa’s first police Constables had their hands full with charges for obscene language, creating a disturbance, inciting and resisting arrest. In the majority of cases, defendants were found guilty with fines imposed according to the offence. In April, 1925 a town meeting unanimously called for the current police presence to be removed or else it “may lead to serious trouble in the near future.” The residents accused the constables of “trying to terrorise them into their way of thinking by Libel and Summonses.” Witness statements revealed intimidation of signatories by the men, who had previously frequently found themselves at the dock.

In 1931, the strength of the Station had increased to three constables and an acting sergeant. Married men’s quarters were added in 1935, new barracks in 1938, and a motor garage a year later. In 1952 the station strength was increased further to 15 men: one Senior Sergeant (OIC), one Sergeant 1/c and two 2/c, Detective Sergeant 2/c, Detective Senior Constable, and nine Uniformed Constables. The population of Mount Isa was estimated to be 9000 persons.

Mount Isa Police Station, c1950.
Image No. PM1508 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

Decades had passed but the general break down of offences barely changed. By the early 1950’s, Mount Isa had three hotels in the township in which there were 456 arrests made between April and October, 1953, with the majority constituting public order offences. It was estimated that there were between 500 to 600 people in each of the hotel bars on any given Saturday night, with approximately 700 gallons of beer consumed in each hotel.

“We must have law and order and we intend to enforce it!”,

Senior Sergeant Marchant, 1953

On one such Saturday, 10 October, 1953, Constable Samuel Frederick Robinson was assaulted by Richard Tozer, 22, while Tozer was resisting arrest near Hotel Boyd. “More than 300 people milled around to watch the struggle and incited the defendant to fight the constable.”Constable Robinson was kicked and had his head butted against the concrete wall. During the altercation, Robinson had his handcuffs, baton and cap taken away. “Tozer then tore the shirt off the Constable whilst he was held by the crowd, and one of the crowd tore the singlet off the Constable. At this stage the Police on duty arrived, accompanied by all Police available, and even with their presence, the prisoner was still incited to further resist.”Constable Robertson remained in the Force for 16 years, 1952-1968, and received a Favourable Record and three Commendations for his service.

Technical Officer Ryszard Kazimierz Pietrala in the Communications Room at Mount Isa, 1968.
Image No. PM3518 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

The 1959 annual report saw little change, as there were 2400 persons taken into custody during the year, with 1503 charged with drunkenness, 121 with stealing, 71 with using obscene language and 67 for operating a motor vehicle under influence of liquor.

In 1962, the Headquarters of the Police District of Cloncurry were transferred to Mount Isa. As the station strength steadily increased to 46, a new modern Police Station building was completed in 1970. The spacious new building was large enough to accommodate several social programs such as English classes for women migrants.

Mount Isa Police Station, October 1972.
Image No. PM3157 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

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“FROM the VAULT – Mount Isa Police Station” 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

A police officer is faced with many challenging situations in his/her career, and history shows the principals of policing have remained stable: to reduce crime and keep the community safe. So it was in 1923 when the circus came to town. The grand Ringmaster, colourful clowns, athletic acrobats, a music band, and a large menagerie of animals was transported to Brisbane by rail. Wirth’s Brothers Circus owned 13 elephants and their strongest named “Cardie” could move railway carriages with his immense bulk. Cardie had been with the circus for 25 years, was a much loved and talented member of the performing troop, and it appeared had formed a solid friendship with his keeper. The same could not be said for the relationship between the elephant and trainer, as during one Friday night performance, Cardie savaged the man. The circus owners decided it was best to have the animal destroyed, and turned to the local police for assistance.

Constable Bowring James (Ben) Hall was the first ever Main Roads Police Officer, he was also a crack shot, with prior hunting experience, and was one of only two people prepared for the job. Constable James Egan was the other officer entrusted with the grisly task. On Sunday morning with Cardie being ridden by his keeper, and accompanied by a procession of curious locals, the jumbo elephant ambled over Victoria Bridge, through Brisbane city and meandered north towards Kedron Brook, Alderley.

“Cardie” the elephant, destroyed after savaging his trainer, 1923.
Image No. PM1296 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

The deed was completed quickly and efficiently on the bank of the waterway, watched by the large crowd. The image below captures the moments after the shooting. Constable James Egan stands near the head of the great beast holding his rifle, Constable Ben Hall stands near the rump, also holding his rifle. It is a sad story but at least most of the crowd had the decency to remove their hats in honour of Cardie.

From city circus dilemmas to the isolation of a far western Queensland town, even by today’s standards Birdsville is a long way from anywhere. Police Commissioner David T. Seymour’s 1885 Police Report to the Honourable Colonial Secretary reads “…the continuance of the drought has been the cause of the expenditure for forage during the year far exceeding the sum voted, although I have done my utmost to keep down expenses…camels purchased during the year are at Birdsville, under the care of the police…” The report reveals camel trials in South Australia had proven effective, hence the investment for Queensland Police.

Camels resting outside a storage building at the Birdsville Police Station, 1925.
Image No. PM1057 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

The Birdsville Police Station soon received 6 camels from India, and together with their team of horses, heavy work was achieved around the station and the emerging town. With its utter isolation, and hot dry conditions for much of the year, the camels were used as a method of transportation for people, building materials and supplies. Documentation indicates camels (offspring from the original herd) were still in use by Birdsville Police in 1925. That same year Noccundra Police Station, approximately 145 kms west of Thargomindah, obtained 3 camels for their use.

Chaotic traffic duty in Cloncurry! This team of camels collectively transported 10 tons of ore through Cloncurry, c1920.
Image No. PM0671 Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

If you love looking at old photographs, we have recently published a commemorative book titled “Policing Queensland 1864-2014: 150 Years”. Click on this link for the ordering process: QP150 Commemorative Book

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The information above has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available. The article was written by Police Museum Assistant Georgia Grier.

“FROM the VAULT – Jumbo Policing” 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

Queensland Police Museum Sunday Lecture Series
Last Sunday of the Month – August 31 – Free Entry
Ground Floor, QPS HQ, 200 Roma Street

Forensic Scientist, Sergeant Melissa Bell
Major Crime Unit, Scientific Section

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

On May 22, 2009, Graeme Hughes was attacked with a hammer and killed by his employer Allen Murray. Sergeant Melissa Bell of the Scientific Section, Major Crime Unit attended the crime scene and as part of her examinations conducted bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA).

BPA is a specialty in the field of forensic science. Sergeant Bell will describe the fundamentals of BPA and how she examined the bloodstains within the crime scene to reconstruct the events that she believed occurred and how she compared this sequence of events with an alternative scenario. She will also describe how she presented this information to the Supreme Court and the outcome.

The one-and-a-half hour presentation will begin at 11am on Sunday, August 31 and will provide educational and up-to-date content only suitable for high school aged youth and adults.

Our lectures are proving to be very popular. Please arrive on time. The doors to the conference room where the talk will be held will open at 10.45. When the seats are all taken no more entries will be allowed.

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PLEASE NOTE: The Police Museum will open Sunday, August 31 from 10am to 3pm, and is located on the ground floor of Police Headquarters, 200 Roma Street, Brisbane.

FROM the VAULT – The Body Bunker, 1980

Sunday Lecture – June 29

The Fire and Explosion Unit

June 29

Senior Sergeant Andrew Rowan

June 29 – Free Entry – Ground Floor, QPS HQ, 200 Roma Street

FROM the VAULT – New Year’s Eve and the Riot Squad

FROM the VAULT – Communications on the Go

FROM the VAULT – Unpopular Policeman is Useless as a Detective

A Hard Day’s Night – Policing The Beatles

FROM the VAULT – The Long Road to Coen

FROM the VAULT – Police Trackers

FROM the VAULT – Dangerous Practices

FROM THE VAULT: 1976 Stanhope Gold Medal recipient Constable Graham Robson

Mystery of the Painted Window Glass

FROM the VAULT: Policing Babinda

National Missing Persons Week “Dementia and Missing Persons: learn how to prevent these words appearing in the same sentence….”

FROM the VAULT – Assaults

Australian Dress Register Entry

RAFFLE – FRAMED MAROON POLICE SHIRT

Valued at $5000.00 Tickets are $5.00 each

Ticket purchase options:

The winner will be notified by telephone after the draw
on Friday 29^th August 2014.

FROM the VAULT – Operation ‘Foxtail Palm’

FROM the VAULT – Policing Mount Isa

“We must have law and order and we intend to enforce it!”,

Senior Sergeant Marchant, 1953

FROM the VAULT – Jumbo Policing

Police Museum Sunday Lecture – Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

The Fire and Explosion Unit

June 29

Senior Sergeant Andrew Rowan

June 29 – Free Entry – Ground Floor, QPS HQ, 200 Roma Street

Valued at $5000.00 Tickets are $5.00 each

Ticket purchase options:

The winner will be notified by telephone after the draw on Friday 29th August 2014.

“We must have law and order and we intend to enforce it!”,

Senior Sergeant Marchant, 1953

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

The winner will be notified by telephone after the draw
on Friday 29^th August 2014.