In the early hours of 22 March 1964 the Fire Brigade and Police were called to a fire at a shop with a residence at the rear of 190-192 Cavendish Road, Coorparoo, only 40 yards from the heart of the Coorparoo Junction shopping centre. On arrival they found three victims, one on the rear patio and two sets of charred remains inside the house, all female. In an attempt to destroy forensic evidence, the perpetrator set the house on fire.

Fire-gutted the brick living quarters at the rear of a Coorparoo shop.  Scanned clip from The Courier Mail, March 1964.

The three victims were later identified as Mrs Rosina Wood (76), Grace Glennie Wood (48) and, Grace’s sister Meta Marie (54). The three women resisted their assailant. Meta Marie Wood sustained six gunshot and three stab wounds but survived the vicious attack. She was rushed to the Princess Alexandra Hospital, where the following day she regained consciousness and was able to give detailed description of the perpetrator’s clothes to the police, who was wearing a stocking over his head at the time of the assault.

Killer started shop fire to dispose of bodies. Scanned headline from The Courier Mail, 23 March 1964.

Extensive field work and investigation followed in an effort to identity the offender and only 2 days later on 24 March he was caught.  James Whiteford (18), a trainee industrial chemist employed at the Brisbane Abattoir, Murarrie, was charged on four counts, two of wilful murder, one attempted murder and of breaking and entering. He admitted the offences when interviewed and was later found guilty and sentenced for life.

‘Youth Sent to Gaol for Life’, article from The Canberra Times, 23 June 1964.

Over the course of the investigation and a subsequent committal, the case served to set a number of precedents in the Queensland judicature. Whiteford pleaded guilty to both charges, murder and attempted murder, a first guilty plea accepted to a wilful murder charge in the Queensland’s judicial history. Prior his indictment, Whiteford confessed the murder to the police, which was recorded and due to the diligence of the Detective Sergeant Anthony Murphy who was leading the case, the record of interview was later accepted and served as critical evidence during the trial. Consequently, the Coorparoo Junction Murder case served to establish the practise in Criminal Investigations of a “Record of Interview” and subsequent admission of this interview as evidence in Criminal Trials. Up to the time of this trial the Police were struggling to have “Records of Interview” accepted as evidence in Queensland Courts.  Had Detective Sergeant Murphy, who conducted the interview, not been as thorough and meticulous as he was, the interview may not have been admitted as evidence. In hindsight, this interview record was the key piece of evidence that solidified the case against Whiteford, seeing as before the presiding Justice Stanley refused to rule Whiteford’s confession to the police inadmissible, the defendant was maintaining a not guilty plea.

In his interview, Whiteford disclosed particulars of his preparations. The defendant admitted on record that he purposefully used prescription drugs to prepare himself for committing the crime, which gave him a false sense of complete confidence and disregard of the consequences. Following the brutal attack, he returned to the crime scene after disposing of his rifle in the river and having a swim, only to discover that the fire did not catch. He then proceeded to pour two tins of lighter fluid about the room and put a match to it. Seeing that he finally succeeded he went home.

Whiteford’s actions were deliberate and as the interview record went to show, remorseless.

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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.

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 – The Coorparoo Junction Murders”  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.
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Today, Friday 12th December 2014, Rockhampton is hosting the Queensland Police Expo. This event is a must see for anyone interested in becoming a police officer, or wanting to see the intricacies of the Queensland Police Service.  Attendees can talk to the officers doing the job and learn about their duties, whether it be training Police Dogs or working in forensics.

The Police Museum is there, sharing the history of policing in Queensland and providing the service information of policing ancestors.  The recent publication celebrating 150 years ‘Policing Queensland 1864 – 2014′ is on sale too – get your copy before the Christmas rush!

A small collection of the many fascinating objects on show in the Queensland Police Museum.

These events are happening next:

12:00  Identity Theft
13:00 Cyber Safety
14:00 Synthetic Drug Production
15:00 Police Recruiting Seminar
16:00 Taser display, including use of handcuffs, baton and restraining techniques
17:00 Drug Detection Display
18:00 Volunteer & Community Awards
19:00 Taser display, including use of handcuffs, baton and restraining techniques
19:00 Police Recruiting Seminar

Location: Robert Schwarten Pavilion
Exhibition Road, Wandal, Rockhampton

Cost: FREE

This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available.  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

After renting a two room cottage in Eromanga for use as a police station, at a cost of five shillings per week, the station was instructed to close three months later.  It was December 1891.  At the time the town of Eromanga also sported a large store, two first class pubs and a few humpys.  The population of about 20 mostly earned their living through opal mining, and utilised their earnings in the cool brick built pubs by knocking back a beer or two.

In 1893 Inspector 2/C Brannelly reported and recommended two good mounted constables be stationed at Eromanga, and on the 14 and 18 December 1893, Constables Collins and Ordish arrived at Eromanga on transfer from Brisbane. The constables were first accommodated in the back verandah room of Eurongella Station.

Aerial view of Eromanga township. Image courtesy of Google.

In 1894, further police transfers occurred, with Senior Constable J.Manuell returning to Eromanga.  He had originally policed the town in 1891, but this time wished to return with his wife and requested suitable quarters for them both.  In 1895 a four roomed house on one acre was rented at a cost of nine shillings per week for this purpose.

In January 1900, a portable police barracks constructed of galvanised iron with wooden uprights, and comprising three rooms and a verandah, was sent by rail from Brisbane to Charleville. Two bullock teams transported the material on to Eromanga, where it was erected by a police carpenter, Constable Cutler. The barracks were completed in September that year, together with storeroom and water closet (toilet).

Eromanga Police Station, built in 1965. This image was taken during the summer of 2013, complete with emu enjoying green grass, and is courtesy of Eromanga’s Senior Constable Brad Ziebell.

Police Station buildings were maintained and modernised for the next 60 years, then in 1965 the current steel framed, metal sheeted station was erected, including full insulation and a steel sheeted roof specifically designed for the climatic conditions of the region with wide overhanging roof  and over 400 louvres, and fly proofed openings.

A notable figure who served at Eromanga as a Constable from the 15 November 1912 until 26 February 1915 was John Smith who later rose through the ranks to become Commissioner of Police serving from 1949 until 1955.

PM2305 Police Commissioner John Smith was the top Queensland Police Officer between July 1949 to August 1955. 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 compiled by Police Museum Assistant Georgia Grier.  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.
Email contact: museum@police.qld.gov.au

“FROM the VAULT – Eromanga 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

As we reach the end of the Queensland Police 150th celebration year, Police Museum staff wish you a very
Merry Christmas and a happy, safe New Year.

Queensland Police Museum staff, from L-R: Museum Assistants Duncan Leask and Georgia Grier, Curator Lisa Jones and Assistant Curator Virginia Gordon. Image taken at the restoration and blessing of the grave of the first Police Commissioner David Seymour’s wife at Toowong Cemetery, December 2014.

The Police Museum will be closed for Christmas and the New Year, commencing 1600 hours, Friday 19 December 2014, and will reopen at 0900 hours on Monday 5 January 2015.  We look forward to seeing you then.

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

Articles 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

This year marks the 40^th anniversary of devastating Cyclone Tracy.  Her destructive winds made landfall in Darwin during the very early hours of Christmas day, 1974.  66 people died as a result of the tropical cyclone, and all power, water, sewerage and telecommunication services to the town were damaged.  Most buildings were destroyed leaving families homeless and businesses in ruins.  Due to the lack of food, clean drinking water and shelter, many people elected to evacuate.  Those that remained rolled up their sleeves and commenced the very long, dirty job of cleaning up and restoring order to the city.

Anti-looting duty: this vehicle was one of 3 found on Millner Street, Darwin, packed with goods looted from destroyed homes and shops. Police Officers were kept continuously busy with arrests for looting following Cyclone Tracy.
Image No. PM 1933c courtesy of retired Constable 1/c Bob Latter.

Together with affected locals, the defence forces and police from around Australia joined in the massive restoration task.  12 Queensland police officers were seconded to the effort, and arrived in Darwin 2 days after the cyclone.  The main functions of interstate police included search and rescue for people and, together with the RSPCA, animals, anti-looting patrols, court duty and controlling assembly points at the airport.  All police officers worked 12 hour shifts in the steamy Darwin heat of day, and/or during long muggy nights.  Naturally, tensions rose between weary police officers from all states dealing with emotional residents, looting thieves, destruction and death.

Ten of the twelve members of the Queensland Police contingent outside the Interstate Police Control Headquarters. Front row L-R: Constable 1/c T.Sheil, Sergeant 2/c J.Gill, S/Sergeant B.Nolan, Sergeant 1/c J.Brennan, Constable K.Rowbotham. Back row L-R: Constable 1/c R.Latter, Constable W.Hayes, Constable G.Moloney, Constable P.Buckley, Constable L.Potts. Image No. PM1933o courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

In early January 1974 the Queensland police contingent returned home, with accolades for exemplary conduct.  Other interstate police had vacated by mid-January, however defence forces remained to continue rebuilding the broken city side by side with the locals.  Cyclone Tracy traumatised many residents of Darwin, and it took years to rebuild the city, in fact, the severe weather event changed Darwin’s architecture brief, to ensure future buildings, including house had some chance of surviving another cyclone.

The Queensland Police Museum remembers the beautiful city of Darwin and its resilient people today, and wishes everyone a Merry Christmas!

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

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 – 40 years since Cyclone Tracy” 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

Police are urging revellers to use common sense and personal safety strategies to ensure New Year’s Eve celebrations remain safe and enjoyable.

Brisbane Event Commander, Acting Superintendent Mick O’Dowd said revellers heading to the entertainment precincts throughout Queensland could use a number of strategies to protect themselves.

“Common sense and being alert to your surroundings are two key components of remaining safe. If you get into a potentially aggressive situation, walk away,” Acting Superintendent O’Dowd said.

“There will be additional officers on duty in entertainment precincts around the state, including specialist officers from the dog squad, the mounted police, and the water police.

“We will also be reminding people to leave their car at home and use public transport or taxis wherever possible. Parking will be difficult and drink driving could cost more than your license.

“Police will be out in force to enhance safety and prevent anti-social behaviour. We want everyone to have a happy – and a safe — New Year’s Eve.”

QPS New Year’s Eve safety tips:

• Use public transport or taxis where possible and be patient with other commuters waiting for these services

• Stay alert and be aware of your surroundings. If you feel threatened or find yourself in an uncomfortable situation, leave immediately and go to a place where you feel safe

• Trust your instincts and recognise warning signs

• Develop a network of people who will assist you in an emergency and let them know where you are going and when you are likely to return

• Look after your friends

• Consider the necessity of the items you are carrying in your handbag or wallet, and try to keep valuables to a minimum

Police offer the following safety tips to those who plan to drink on New Year’s Eve:

• Plan ahead as to how many drinks you will have and stick to the plan by monitoring your drinking

• Book a taxi or designate a driver to ensure you and your friends get home safely

• Eat before and during drinking

• Alternate alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at a sensible pace

• Avoid mixing drinks and finish each drink before you have another

• Do not leave drinks unattended

• If someone offers to buy you a drink, go up to the bar with that person and accept the drink there.

Further information and personal safety tips can be located on the Queensland Police Service

website at www.police.qld.gov.au

After the colony’s separation from New South Wales in 1859, the young police force was mainly concerned with patrolling the largest city, Brisbane. Rural areas were still looked after by the NSW police. In 1863, a separate police act was endorsed and took effect on 1 January, 1864, and marked the beginning of an independent history for the Queensland Police Force.

On 31 December 1864 the total ordinary Police Force of all ranks in the colony numbered 176 men, who were distributed around 28 stations. During 1865, 15 new stations were formed, with a consequent increase of the force by 38 Constables, while the overall population of the colony increased by 13,052 stretched over 22,331 square miles of new country.

Four indigenous Troopers at the Mistake Creek Native Mounted Police barracks 1880s. Image courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

As the colonial Queensland urban landscape was still developing, predominantly rural Queensland was patrolled by Native Mounted Police. The Mounted Police, a branch of paramilitary character, existed in extremely rough conditions patrolling the ever-extending frontier of the colony. Each patrol included a number of European policemen and a number of Native troopers. In the overwhelming vastness of the frontier the bushrangers were in open confrontation with the mounted police, unconstrained by the urban landscape and sharpened by the hostility of the wilderness.

Between 1864 and 1870, the Queensland Police Gazettes, issued fortnightly for internal use by the Force, listed 37 murders (including discovered bodies). According to the Queensland Supreme and District Courts trials, there were six murder charges recorded for 1864.

One of the trials was of Alexander Ritchie, who was convicted for murder of Charles Owen of Yandilla Station. Disputes such as these were all too common in the early days of the colonial history.

Owen was driving home in a buggy after holding Court at Leyburn on the day in the absence of the Police Magistrate, when Ritchie rode up behind the carriage, shot him in the neck, and immediately made off. Owen owed the defendant £20 for erecting several huts. Two witnesses reported that they heard Ritchie saying that, if he didn’t get the money, he will have Owen’s life.

Ritchie was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death. He was the first convicted offender to be executed at the Toowoomba Gaol. It was the first execution to take place in Toowoomba, and specialised preparations were made in order to carry out the sentence by the letter of the law. The usual structure for public executions was erected within the western end of the new gaol. On the day, shortly after eight o’clock in the morning, the melancholy procession moved the condemned man from the cell and filed into the yard in which the scaffold stood erected. The prisoner’s demeanour — if not defiant — was bold and determined and he marched to the gallows foot and ascended the scaffold without hesitation or assistance.

Addendum: This entry was largely informed by digitised records from the following online repositories:

Trove – Australian online resource for books, images, historic newspapers, maps, music, archives and more www.trove.nla.gov.au

The Prosecution Project – the project investigates the history of the criminal trial in Australia www.prosecutionproject.griffith.edu.au

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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.

The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday 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 – The Early Days”  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

Arthur Albert Bock, previously a Labourer from South Australia, joined the Queensland Police as Constable 467 in May 1904. Between 1904 and 1915 Bock served at Roma Street, Charters Towers, Croydon, Toowoomba, Pittsworth and Oxley where the records show he was a competent policeman and a man of good character. After the Gallipoli landing, Bock, then married with three young children enlisted to the A.I.F.

Portrait of Arthur Albert Bock on his wedding day, 1912. Image PM0792 courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

Private Bock, on a leave of absence for the Queensland Police, embarked aboard the HMAT Kyarra A55 on the third of January 1916. He served for three years in the 25 Infantry Battalion in Egypt, France and Belgium.  He sped up the ranks from Private to Second Lieutenant. He was awarded the Military Cross for his service during the attack on Polygon Wood on the 10 September 1917 during which he sustained wounds to both thighs.

“At Westhoe Ridge, Belgium during the attack on Polygon Wood on 10 September 1917. For conspicuous gallantry while leading his platoon of men up. When he encountered a series of four concrete dugouts, he rushed the entrance of one with a torch in one hand and a revolver in the other, and single handed captured seventeen prisoners. He then continued to lead his platoon with great coolness and courage until severely wounded in both legs. Throughout he set a splendid example of daring and coolness to all ranks.”

Mounted Police at the Brisbane show grounds c1912 – Constable A.A. Bock at left, Constable McPaul at right. Image PM0110 courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

He was decorated at Buckingham Palace by H.M. King George V. He returned to Queensland in March of 1918, having been invalided home by war wounds. The following month he resumed duty with the Queensland Police and was stationed at Toogoolawah, Sandgate, Barcaldine, Longreach, Fortitude Valley and Roma Street. In the 1920’s he formed and controlled a staff of plainclothes police at Roma St Headquarters. Bock was also took charge of the Mounted Police Escorts to his Excellency the Governor and Royal Visitors to Queensland ‘34. He was promoted to Sub-Inspector in 1932 and Inspector four years later.

Left to Right: Sub Inspector Charles James Lisle Perrin, OIC Police Depot; Sub Inspector John Smith, Superintendent of Traffic and Licencing Inspector; Sub Inspector Charles Webster Watson, OIC Fortitude Valley District; Commissioner Cecil James Carroll, Inspector Arthur Albert Bock, OIC Brisbane Police District; Inspector James Edward Toohill, Inspector North Queensland; Sub Inspector Florence Michael O’Driscoll, OIC South Coast District. Believed to be outside Parliament House, Brisbane, c1937. Image PM3113 courtesy ‘The Telegraph’.

Bock was awarded two favourable records: The first in 1927 for ‘good work performed in conjunction with other Police in connection with the arrest and conviction of Harry Collins for theft.’ The second in 1928 for ‘good work, in conjunction with other Police, in connection with the case of Rex. V. Nelson, Fox and McCabe, breaking and entering with intent.’ Bock was also granted a reward of ‘£ 25 by the Arson Award Agreement for good work, in conjunction with other Police in connection with the conviction of Mrs. Jane Campbell for arson at Bowen Hills.’ Bock, a noted disciplinarian, retired from the service in 1944, and died in Brisbane in 1966 at the age of 82 he was survived by his widow, two daughters and two sons.

Bock’s daughter Dulcie Jean Peterson (Nee. Bock) was a probationary officer in Queensland Police Service for a year before she left to serve in the Second World War. Sergeant Paterson served three years and 10 months as a Stenographer in the Australian Women’s Army Service. She married Constable Victor Henry Peterson in 1948.

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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 Alice O’Brien.

The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday 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 – Arthur Albert Bock”  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 following is an account by Albert Austin Montague, an American and former WWII Submariner and retired Sergeant Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, now deceased, of time spent in Brisbane, on sly grog patrol:

“In the early part of 1945 I was transferred from the U.S.S. STINGRAY to the submarine relief crew based in Brisbane, Australia.  I spent a very short time in the relief crew before being transferred to the shore patrol, and was then loaned to the [Queensland] Police Department’s bootleg detail.  Our main function was to buy illegal whiskey from anyone who would sell it to us.  My partner and I would operate with four Queensland police officers and acting very drunk we would go to known bootlegger’s houses and buy bottles of whiskey.  After making the buy we would tip our hats and the four police officers would make the arrest.

Submariner Albert A. Montague, 1921 – 2014.
Image c1941 and courtesy of Young’s Funeral Home, Tigard, Oregon

Two of the arrests stand out in my mind as being somewhat unusual.  The first is when we made a buy from a female and when the officers arrested her, her husband went berserk.  It seems that he had just been released from a 6 month jail term that morning and low and behold they were taking his wife away for another 6 months!  I would have hollered too.  The second [memorable] case occurred when we were attempting to make a buy from a group of men and had a marked patrol car pass by.  The leader of the gang accused us of being undercover agents for the police and pulled a gun.  We had not as yet made a buy so could only talk our way out of the situation.  We finally got clear of the gang and advised the officers of what happened and they arrested them.  We felt kind of funny riding next to them in the police car.

Sketch of a Spirit Still.
Image Courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum

My partner and I worked from 1500 hours to 2300 hours every other day.  Another thing that happened later on our tour with the [Queensland] Police Department was when we would encounter suspects that we had help arrest before and would again buy illegal whiskey from them which would lend to there being arrested once again.  After being in law enforcement for 20 years I can appreciate the professional way in which the [Queensland] police officers protected us during our tour on Brisbane bootleg detail.”

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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available.  The content was written by Albert A. Montague during his retirement, and compiled by Police Museum Assistant Georgia Grier.

The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday 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 – Sly Grog Patrol” 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

On 12 April 1978, just before the 10am opening time, notorious bank bandit David Lawrence Hunter entered the Bank of New South Wales on Waterworks Road of Ashgrove and held up the staff with his sawn-off .22 calibre rifle. He took possession of the money, tied the staff up and then ‘walked out past customers in a queue waiting for the 10 o’clock opening, holding two bags of money.’ (Telegraph, 12 Apr 1978)

Between April and November the previous year, Hunter had robbed three banks and taken a total haul of $58,522. Prior to each raid he had made an appointment to see the bank manager. On 11 April Hunter rang the CBC Bank at Ashgrove and made an appointment. This alerted the Criminal Investigation Branch Break & Enter Squad. On the morning of 12 April they were ready and waiting. However Hunter decided to rob another bank across the street, which threw all the police planning in turmoil. “I remember clearly,” Plain Clothed Constable Barry Krosch (now retired) recalls, “Detective Pat Clancy running up the street, and saying (puffing like mad) ‘VKR* – he did the wrong bloody bank!’” Hunter fled in his gold Chevrolet Impala sedan with $29,292.

A Courier Mail mud map of the crime scene, police chase and shooting, published 13.04.1978.

The car chase that followed was “one of the most dramatic for decades. At one stage there three cars chasing Hunter.” In order to isolate bandit in an area bound by Ashgrove, Toowong, and Indooroopilly, roadblocks were sent up on main roads and the Indooroopilly Bridge. Still, it was 80 long minutes before Hunter was sighted again. In the meantime, the robber returned to his house in Kenmore changed clothes and car to another Chevrolet. By then the police already knew the details of the second car registered into Hunter’s name. On their way to his house, Detectives spotted the car and engaged in pursuit, shots were fired:

I remember it well, because I was driving during the chase, and my partner Keith Green reached down and removed my pistol from my ankle holster. Green removed my pistol and emptied it firing at Hunter in his car. So when Hunter crashed I was in fear of my life, not knowing where he was and I had a pistol empty and no spare ammo.

The police shot out the back window of Hunter’s car along with the driver’s side quarter vent window. Closely followed by police cars, Hunter panicked and failed to notice he turned into Duke Street, a dead-end street in Toowong, where he crashed into a barricade and fled on foot, leaving the money bag but taking his rifle.

More details printed by the Courier Mail, 13 April 1978.

Detective Green went under the last house on the street and made a quick scan of the gully and the backyard. At this stage the dog handler Constable Close arrived with his dog and joined in the search. Shortly, Detective Green heard gunshots:

Detectives George Sieb and O’Gorman both fired at Hunter from about two feet away. Both fired (I thought) right between his eyes. I saw a hole fair between his eyes and I thought ‘Hell, both rounds have gone thought the one entry hole.’ But later forensic tests showed that Sieb’s pistol was the one that hit him.

I drove Hunter’s car back to Police HQ. I remember pulling up at some lights at Toowong and wondering why everyone was staring at me. The car was riddled with bullet holes.

Courier Mail header, 13 April 1978.

*VKR – a CallSign issued to the Queensland Police in 1941 by the Australian radiofrequency regulatory authority, currently known as the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

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This information has been provided by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available.  Personal recollections of the case were supplied by retired Inspector Barry Krosch, with the article written by Museum Volunteer and Crime and Policing Historian Dr Anastasia Dukova.

The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday 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 – Bank Bandit and a Wild Car Chase, Brisbane 1978”  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

‘Signalment is the description of the one whom it is desired to identify.’

In 1882, Alphonse Bertillon developed anthropometry, a criminal identification system also known as bertillonage. Bertillon devised three kinds of signalment: anthropometrical (based on series of specific body measurements), descriptive and signalment by peculiar marks (such as tattoos, scars, birthmarks). Prior to Bertillon’s method of classification, historically the following judicial identification techniques were utilised:

(1) the impression of the tip of the thumb (China)

(2) the plaster cast of the jaw

(3) the minute drawing of the areola and denticulation of the human iris

(4) the impression, mould, or photograph of the ear, the hollows and projections of which present so great and individual variety that it is almost impossible to find two human ears exactly alike, with the shape remaining unchanged from infancy to old age

(5) the anatomical description of peculiar marks, beauty-spots, scars, etc.

Abstract of the Anthropometrical Signalment.

‘Some one said long ago that it is impossible to find two leaves exactly alike. Nature never repeats itself’; applying Bertillon’s descriptive and athropometrical signalments, a drawing helped capture a fugitive Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen, an ear, throat and nose specialist of Hilldrop Crescent, Camden road, London. When his wife, Bell Elmore, disappeared in January, 1910, Crippen claimed they had a fight and she told him she was leaving him. He told the police that she had gone back to America and eloped with a man with whom she had long been on too familiar terms. Mrs Crippen was last seen by her friends on the night of 31 January, 1910:

Crippen was an American citizen, and practised as a doctor in the United States prior to going to London as a medical agent for certain companies. He married Cora Turner (an actress, whose stage name was Belle Elmore) in America about the year 1903, and they lived together in England for 10 years. To their friends they always appeared to be on affectionate terms, but during the last three years at least Crippen was cherishing hatred of his wife, and misconducting, himself with a young typist, Ethel Le Neve. Shortly afterwards [after the wife’s disappearance] Le Neve was observed wearing some of the woman’s clothing and jewellery. (The Register, 24 Oct 1910)

A search of Crippen’s house revealed a dismembered set of remains buried in quicklime beneath the bricks in the cellar. Crippen later attempted to flee to Canada on a boat via Brussels with his secretary, Ethel Le Neve disguised as a boy. The fugitives were arrested on board the Atlantic liner Montrose bound for Montreal, Quebec. Soon after, Crippen was tried and convicted of murder. He was executed on 23 November, 1910. Le Neve, ‘the infatuated typist’, was exonerated.

Nose and ears, Signaletic instructions including the theory and practice of Anthropometrical Signalment.

Anthropometry, as a forensic method of identification, did not stand the test of time and was discredited late last century due to its unreliability. The system could not be depended upon to significantly distinguish between two people whose body measurements and facial features were similar.

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This information has been provided 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.

The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday 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 – A Verbal Portrait”  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 first uniform forensic identification method was developed by Alphonse Bertillon over a hundred years ago. In the twentieth century, his descriptive signalment and signalment by peculiar marks methods were replaced by forensic art. In the 1970s, advances in technology took forensic identification methods a step further with the aid of Photofit kits. In its time, Photofit kit was hailed as ‘the world’s best criminal identification technique’ with a potential of making up nine billion faces:

Population of the earth is estimated at four billion, 81 million. A police Department spokesman said today the makers claimed Photofit was the ultimate identification unit. No additions would ever have to be made to it. Its potential for preparation of full-face likenesses of suspects was 9,81,979,200. (Telegraph, 10 Nov 1977)

‘An example of what new QPS Photofit Kit can do’, Telegraph 10 Nov 1977.

Photofit boxes (one for male suspects and one for female) contained photos of sections of noses, eyes, chins, mouths, foreheads, hair, ears, brows, moustaches, beards, age-lines, wrinkles, hair style and eye and headwear. There were up to 300 images of some of these. The key disadvantages of the system were that the images were available only in black and white, while pre-set hair, facial hair, headwear and eyewear styles were swiftly going out of fashion and becoming obsolete.

Detective Sergeant Al Higgs, Telegraph 10 Nov 1977.

Following Photofit the QPS employed a police artist in the early 1990s to compile freehand drawings from witness descriptions.  This was an effective method in the south east corner of Queensland, but was more difficult in regional and remote parts of the state.

Later the 1990s witnessed yet another jump in forensic facial identification methods with the introduction of Computer Facial Identification Techniques system, or COMFIT (Com-Fit). The original Com-Fit book contained 29 head shapes, 145 pairs of eyes, 80 hairdos, 36 noses and 27 mouths. ‘The computer [turned] these basic shapes into an infinite number of different modifications. The new system [did] in minutes what used to take an hour…The image which [resulted] from the new system was also very life-like making it easier for victims to confirm the likeness.’ (Vedette 154, Sep 1993). In 1999, a revised version of the COMFIT system was released. Developed by the Photographic Section of the Queensland Police Service, the new COMFIT saw the number of pre-programmed facial components expanded to 650, scanned at a higher resolution and with wider selection of contemporary accessories such as hair styles, glasses and earrings, etc.

The latest evolution in facial composite construction came with a launch of the Colour Comfit eBook in December, 2011. The eBook uses colour facial components, instead of traditional black and white, and encompasses more than 2,000 individual images sorted and categorised into gender and racial types allowing for easier navigation and more realistic images; ‘necks are now integrated into the face shapes, hair grows out of a scalp rather than just hanging in space’ with more up to date hair styles.

The progression of forensic identification. Special thanks to Photographic Technical Officer Keryl Willis for these images.

According to Photographic Technical Officer Keryl Willis, the new colour version of Comfit should be more effective in triggering recognition, as feedback suggests that some younger witnesses were not always able to interpret black and white images due to their limited previous exposure to black and white television and photography.

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This information has been provided 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.

The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday 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 Kit to Fit the Criminals”  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

iDcare and how it can help you

22 February 2015
11am – 12.30pm

 Police Headquarters
200 Roma Street
Brisbane  QLD  4000

FREE ENTRY

Have you ever lost your wallet? Had a burglar snoop around your home? Experienced the theft of your passport? Did you ever click on a phishing email?  All these unfortunate events could lead to your identity being misused.  Over one million people in Australia and New Zealand suffer information theft each year.  The scary thought is, it doesn’t necessarily happen immediately, your personal information may be used fraudulently years after falling into the wrong hands.

Dr. David Lacey, Managing Director of iDcare and Senior Research Fellow at the University of the Sunshine Coast, will speak about iDcare and how it can give personalised support to individuals concerned about their personal information.

During the lecture Dr. Lacey will share some insights about identity theft such as the misuse of personal information; the average amount involved per identity theft case; the average time taken to detect a compromise; and that cold-calling scams, the physical theft of documents, and email hacking are the top three methods used by criminals to obtain personal information.

This one-and-a-half hour presentation will begin at 11am on Sunday, February 22 and will provide educational and up-to-date content suitable for all audiences.

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 Thursday 9am to 4pm opening hours. Monthly Sunday openings feature guest speakers from across the historical and crime-solving spectrums.

NOTE:  Out lectures are proving to be very popular, so please arrive on time.  The door to the conference room will be accessible from 10.45.  When all seats are taken we cannot allow anyone else into the room.

The Police Museum will open Sunday February 22 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 seeing you soon.

Traditionally a male dominated profession, the employment of females by the Queensland Police Force did not gain momentum until after 1931 when the first two women were appointed as police officers.  Although their roles were primarily care focused, their appointments paved the way for future girls wishing to join the long list of hard working men who served their state by protecting life and property.

The following timeline shows the progression of women in policing, from initial rejection by Commissioner Cahill 100 years ago, to the current position with over 25% of sworn police personnel being female.  More can be read about women in policing in our pictorial “Policing Queensland 1864 – 2014”.  Have you consider purchasing our book as a Mother’s Day gift? Click on this link for the ordering process: QP150 Commemorative Book

“Policing Queensland 1864-2014 150 Years”

1911	First reference to the idea of women police is made by the National Council of Women of Queensland.
1915	Police Commissioner Cahill rejects the idea of employing women following an enquiry by the Acting Home Secretary.
1931	The first two women police are appointed after Cabinet supports a submission by Irene Longman MP. They are attached to Roma Street Station in the centre of Brisbane.
1941	The Women Police Section is formed with Elizabeth Boyle as Supervisor and attached to the Criminal Investigation Branch Headquarters in George Street Brisbane.
1941-1945	The number of women in the Women Police Section increases to nine in response to the extra demands on policing.
1955	Women are permitted to join the Queensland Police Union.
1956	The Union’s application for equal pay fails in the Industrial Court.
1963	The Juvenile Aid Bureau is formed with one female and one male officer.
1965	The eight serving plainclothes women police are sworn in with equal powers and rank in March. In June the first uniformed women are sworn in following regular probationary training.
1970	The number of policewomen equals twenty-seven. Postings extend outside central Brisbane and to provincial centres.
1970	The Union achieves equal pay for women with the support of Police Commissioner Whitrod. Pre-school public relations with Constable Sandy Harding (centre of image), 1970. Image No. PM2790 courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.
1971	The minimum height for women joining is set at 162.5cm and the bar on married women joining up is removed.
1974	First female detective is appointed.
1975	The quota system for the recruitment of women is removed and integration is adopted in deployment. Police Commissioner Whitrod’s open door policy results in an influx of women.
1976	The number of Queensland policewomen equals 308.
1978	The recruitment of female cadets is stopped but the quota for the recruitment of female adult probationers is revived.
1986	The number of policewomen equals 258 by the middle of the year.
1987	Under Police Commissioner Lewis the advancement of women is curtailed in most areas. The number of female sworn officers drops from over 8 per cent to 5 per cent.
1987-1989	The Fitzgerald Inquiry into corruption includes consideration of sex discrimination resulting in easing of restrictions for policewomen.
1990	The first five female Inspectors are appointed.
1991	The Queensland Anti-Discrimination Act reinforces merit-based criteria in employment and the number of female recruits stabilises around thirty-three per cent.
1992	The first female Chief Superintendent and Superintendent are appointed.
1992	The Queensland Equal Opportunity in Public Employment Act gives legislative support to initiatives to improve the position of women. These include flexible work options, anti-harassment strategies and mentor support.
1999	Women make up 17.36 per cent of sworn personnel. The number of female sworn officers increases steadily by approximately one per cent per year. Constable Nicky Steele in action at pistol shooting, c1999. Image No. PM2557 courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.
2000	Kathleen Rynders is the first policewoman to achieve the rank of Assistant Commissioner and in 2008 becomes the first woman to rise to the rank of Deputy Commissioner.
2013	Women make up more than twenty-five per cent of sworn personnel and serve in many varied roles across the state.

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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available, including a timeline taken from “Policing Queensland 1864 – 2014”.

The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday 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 – Mother’s Day & 50 years of Qld Police Women” 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

Born on the 4^th July 1864, in Grenagh, county Cork, Ireland, Michael O’Sullivan led an outstanding career as a police officer and had acquired many achievements throughout his service. Up until the age of 17 Michael was raised in Ireland, but decided to leave so as to avoid trouble after he had smeared rotten apples on the blarney stone. Upon his arrival in Rockhampton, Queensland, Michael received a job which involved clearing land for a telegraph line. Soon after he joined an engineering firm known as Burns & Twiggs, this lifestyle did not suite Michael though and he decided to join the police force.

Chief Inspector Michael O’Sullivan just before retirement.
Image courtesy The Daily Mail, Brisbane, August 12, 1932

Once he arrived in Brisbane he learned that to join you must be over the age of 20, ignoring the notice Michael lied about his age, stating he was 20 years old, and was placed into officer training. After his training Michael was appointed as a Mounted Constable in 1883 and was posted all around Queensland, some places included such as Taroom, Roma, Dulbydill and Rockhampton. Many times Michael was mentioned in the newspaper as an outstanding officer for the multiple cases he has completed, these ranged from catching murderers and thieves to rescuing travellers out in the bush.

On one such occasion, in 1920, Michael was chosen to be in charge of protecting the Prince of Wales, Edward the 7^th. During a visit Michael was responsible for saving the Princes life.  Before the Prince was to arrive at Coochin Coochin Homestead, Michael was informed by a friend that a drunken man was heard spouting threats to the Prince and that he was going to “blow his lights out”. Once he had obtained this information Michael began a search and soon found the man, he then disarmed him of a revolver the man was carrying and detained him without trouble.

Edward, Prince of Wales, 1919. Image courtesy Wikipedia

Not only was he responsible for ensuring the Prince was not in danger, Michael was, at times, made to deal with the many women who wanted to greet the future king. In his book ‘Cameo of Crimes’, Michael states “Another women begged me to present His Royal Highness a bouquet of flowers grown by her little girl in her garden.  In this case I can say the child’s bouquet reached the Prince’s room.”  Because of the amount of years of service and the death of his wife Michael O’Sullivan retired in 1923. He soon remarried in 1925 and later on died on 5^th of October 1950 at the age of 86.

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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 Jake Creevey.  The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday 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- Michael O’Sullivan” 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

Over the years there have been many awards given to those serving in the Queensland Police. For their efforts some officers are entitled to receive medals, one of which is the Queen’s Gallantry Medal (QGM).  This medal is awarded to those who have expressed exemplary acts of bravery while in service.  One particular moment in police, and Australian history, where these medals were given was for brave actions displayed during the Coolangatta Hotel Fire. On this brief but intense event, seven Queensland police officers were awarded the QGM and another received the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct.

In the early hours of 1 January 1975, Constables Ian Rogers and David Lacon had just finished arresting a man accused of assaulting a father and his son. As the officers were heading back to the police station to finish their paperwork they heard voices screaming out ‘FIRE’ at the back of the station. Setting off towards the screams they saw the Coolangatta Hotel ablaze with many people still inside.

At this point two other officers, Senior Sergeant Viv O’Dea and Senior Constable John Graham, ran inside to rescue those who were trapped. Soon they realised some occupants had to be pulled out through windows and Constable Rogers proceeded to climb onto the hotel ledge to carry them down.  Meanwhile Constable Lacon had rushed inside with the other officers, and surrounded by flames Lacon was able to drag someone out through a window. Constable Lacon later described what he felt while in the building;

            ‘I was first prevented from gaining access through the door at the top of the fire escape, after the explosion left it burning… When I was crawling in black, plastic-filled smoke I genuinely thought I was going to die… I cannot say why I kept on going.  I did not know then and I do not know now.’

Eventually all of the occupants had been rescued with no fatalities, although there were multiple injuries, of patrons and police officers. Because of their bravery and dogged persistence, many of the officers had inadvertently breathed in fumes from burning plastic, some had broken bones or deep cuts from falling timber and searing hot steel.

The eight officers were awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal and the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct for their brave and selfless efforts and are remembered for their courageous actions.

Recipients of the Queen’s Gallantry Medal, from left: S/Sgt Edwin (Viv) O’Dea, Sgt 2/c John Preston, S/Cons John Graham, Cons 1/c William Frohmuller, Cons Gordon Hoffman, Cons Anthony (David) Lacon, Cons Ian Rogers. Recipient of the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct Serg 2/c A. Hayward on right.
Image taken from the book ‘For Exemplary Bravery’ by Retired Colonel Nick Metcalfe,
and provided by Retired Cons 1/c A.D. Hewett-Lacon QGM.

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This information is supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from resources provided by retired Constable 1/c A.D. Hewett-Lacon QGM, and retired Colonel Nick Metcalfe’s book ‘For Exemplary Bravery’.  The article was written by Volunteer Jake Creevey and Museum Assistant Georgia Grier.  The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday 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- Coolangatta Hotel Fire” 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 “Crack It” poster took out first place for the Year 4 to Year 6 category in the Longreach competition

Today Police Minister Jo-Ann Miller, Road Safety Minister Mark Bailey and Acting Assistant Commissioner Mike Keating of Road Policing Command launched the  ‘Your kids are telling you…’ campaign.

We are searching for the masterpieces of Queensland’s budding young artists that will feature as part of a new social media road safety campaign aimed at curbing their parent’s bad driving habits.

Police Minister Jo-Ann Miller said the ‘Your kids are telling you…’ campaign would tap into the unique and frank way that children often unintentionally call out their parents’ bad behaviour.

An entry into the Longreach competition.

There are two categories – Prep to Year 3 and Year 4 to Year 6 – and the posters can be about any aspect of road safety.

Their will be five winning posters from each category and they will form part of the campaign which will run on the QPS Facebook and Twitter accounts during the winter school holidays.

The deadline for submissions is 5pm June 19.

To submit your form go to the QPS News site.

A Crash Course in Forensic Mechanics

  31 May 2015
11am – 12.30pm

 Police Headquarters
200 Roma Street
Brisbane  QLD  4000

FREE ENTRY

Have you ever wondered how police rule out or take into consideration, vehicle faults or mechanical failure when investigating serious and fatal traffic crashes?

The QPS Vehicle Inspection Unit is responsible for the mechanical examination of all types of motor vehicles that may be involved in serious injury or fatal incidents.

Garry Ryan and Simon Major from the Queensland Police Vehicle Inspection Unit will present ‘A Crash Course in Forensic Mechanics’. They will outline the Unit’s responsibility for the mechanical examination of all types of motor vehicles and associated components that may be involved in serious injury or fatal incidents. This one and a half hour presentation will start at 11am on Sunday, May 31 and will be both informative and educational, and is suitable for any audience.

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 Thursday 9am to 4pm opening hours. Monthly Sunday openings feature guest speakers from across the historical and crime-solving spectrums.

NOTE:  Out lectures are proving to be very popular, so please arrive on time.  The door to the conference room will be accessible from 10.45.  When all seats are taken we cannot allow anyone else into the room.

The Police Museum will open Sunday, May 31 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 seeing you soon.

The use of illegal drugs in Queensland rose rapidly in the mid-1960s. In December, 1966, the first seizure of marijuana plants occurred in Cooktown. Shortly, the Drug Squad was formed in February, 1967. The following decade saw a marked rise of prosecutions for drug-related offences; in 1974-75 there were 1,671 drug offences reported, while in 1976-77 the number increased to 2,631.

In the 1980s new bail legislation was introduced in an attempt to curtail the high number of offenders, who were absconding and estreating their sureties enabled by huge profits from illicit drug sales. North Queensland was identified as the scene of greatest activity. In 1984-85 there were 1,206 drug offences reported in Cairns only, while a total of 1,523 was recorded for the Far Northern Region. A further 1,094 reported drug offences were recorded for the Northern Region. Nearly 15% of the state total reported offences, or 2,067 out of 14,119, were split between Cairns and Townsville (the second largest sector of reported drug related offences was Gold Coast, 13%). Accordingly, the Squad strength nearly doubled between 1974 and 1984, from 15 to 28 detectives and plain clothes officers.

The number of drug busts continued to increase throughout the decade; 100,000 plants were located in a forestry reserve outside Townsville. Simultaneously, the use of heroin increased twofold between 1982 and 1984. In consequence, in 1989, additional funds were allocated to boost the Drug Squad, expand its resources in the areas of manpower and equipment, which included covert policing, computerisation of work practices and additional motor vehicles for operational use.

In 1994, Capalaba Police stumbled across a new strand of cannabis plant in Queensland. The plant, which traces its origins to Holland, was discovered in a local residence. Due to its distinctive appearance, this strand became commonly known as ‘Skull Cap’, or the hybrid ‘Dwarf’ plant. During Operation Broken Prop II, in the Northern Region, drugs with a street value of $61 million were seized and destroyed.

Cannabis plant commonly known as ‘Skull Cap’. Image from Police Bulletin 36 (1994).

According to the National Drug Strategy, which collects and collates information on drug trends in Australia, in 1995, the percentage of the population which had used illicit drugs in the preceding 12 months was 4% for major illicit drugs, and 17% for selected socially accepted drugs. The proportion of youth (14-17 yo) use of socially accepted drugs, principally cannabis, increased to an overwhelming 32%. There were 25,011 drug offences reported in 1994-95, which translates to 77% increase over the preceding decade. During the year, the State Drug Investigation Group continued to enhance its capacity through the establishment of the Illicit Laboratory Investigation Team (ILIT). The team processes illicit laboratoried, thus enabling police officers previously utilised for this purpose to be used to enhance the State Drug Investigation Group’s proactive investigation capabilities instead.

In another decade, Queensland Police Service statistical data showed a further increase in drug offences to 48,755 (2004-2005). In 2008, in a joint operation between the State Drug Squad, Drug Operations Team (CDOT), staff from Property Crime and a number of officers from Flying Squad (specialist investigative unit) as well as Southern Region detectives approximately 15 tonnes of cannabis was seized during a raid at Inglewood. The haul of 22,000 green plants with a total market value around $500 million, took police officers three days to burn off. A middle-aged man and his son were charged with producing and possessing a dangerous drug. (Police Bulletin329)

The Drug Squad increasingly relies on the drug detection unit (DDU) of the Dog Squad, as specialist police dogs are trained to search the interior and exterior of residences, vehicles, and vessels for illicit drugs. Zac – the German Shepherd sniffer – was first recruited to assist the Squad as early as July, 1978.

Drug detection Police Dog Zac. Image from the 1978 Queensland Police Annual Report.

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This information has been provided 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.

The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday 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 – The Drug 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

During 1997-98 operations closed by the State Drug Investigation Group led to the arrest of 196 persons on 1,099 charges, including 51 charges for trafficking and 21 for producing dangerous drugs. A total of $200,000 in property (including cash) was forfeited to the Crown and a further $3M in cash and property identified in pecuniary penalty order applications, restraining orders or seized as tainted property. There were 34,347 drug offences reported during the year. (AR1997-8)

In a 19 months-long joint operation between the Queensland Police Drug Investigation Group, Australian Police Force, accountants, interpreters and surveillance teams a prolific drug gang, which operated out of the Gold Coast was neutralised. As a result of this undercover operation, one by one members of the Romanian drug ring were arrested. John P., assisted by his wife in all illicit transactions, was charged with a total of 14 counts of trafficking in a dangerous drug, supplying a dangerous drug, possession of a thing used in connection with the commission of a crime defined in part 2 of the Drugs Misuse Act 1986, and witness corruption.

Heroin, contained in paper.

John P., described as medium built, with fair complexion and black hair, was known to the police. As he mainly targeted shopping centres and recreational areas along the Coast, undercover operatives were positioned in the areas frequented by the defendant. On separate occasions undercover officers purchased heroin in popular places like Burleigh Heads, Yatala, Coomera and Helensvale Shopping Centres. The defendant and his wife were also seen concealing drugs in the rock walls and garden beds of Windaroo and Broadbeach malls.

Between April and November, 1997, the defendant was detected by electronic surveillance methods and by surveillance police for transacting the supply of heroin to others including an undercover officer. When interviewed regarding this the defendant denied any involvement in the supply of heroin. According to the evidence, the couple was convinced God was protecting them as they were the last of the ring to continue trafficking.

Film canisters, used to conceal drugs.

It was alleged that the accused benefited from these crimes to the value of $15,700, for in 1997, heroin retailed for roughly $200-220 per gram. A further 100 grams of heroin were confiscated after the arrest. The defendant plead guilty to all counts and was convicted at the Supreme Court of Queensland and sentenced to 9 years imprisonment.

Today supplying Schedule 1 drugs (e.g. amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, LSD and ecstasy) carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in jail. Maximum penalties of imprisonment depend on the type of drug and its quantities.

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This information has been provided 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 and is from the recollections of Senior Sergeant Gavin Ricketts, currently OIC of Caloundra Police Station.

The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday 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 – Trafficking in a Dangerous Drug”  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