Transformation from part-time Emergency Squad to fulltime S.E.R.T.
Less than three months later, the new Tactical Response Group was dealt a grievous blow. In the early hours of 27 July 1987, one of their own, Senior Constable Peter Kidd, was killed in crossfire whilst storming a house in Virginia, a Brisbane suburb. Detective Constable Stephen Grant was also critically wounded. They were part of a nineteen-man tactical response group engaged to capture Queensland’s No. 1 most wanted criminal, Paul James Mullin, who died in the incident. Mullin’s partner and children were unharmed. Senior Constable Peter Kidd is featured in blog Star of Courage.
Transition to SERT
Sub-unit PRST is formed
In July 1994, another sub-unit was formed, ‘The Public Safety Response Team’ (PSRT), was established to support regional policing strategies involving critical level violence, public disorder, and civil disobedience. By the mid-1990s, SERT, EORT and PSRT units had established their own identities and transformed to the units that we recognise today.
SERT selection… would you survive?
The public’s perception of today’s SERT is that of a highly skilled, tactically trained paramilitary police unit. This perspicacious impression is undoubtedly influenced by viewing Hollywood’s glut of adrenaline-powered crime dramas. Does the image fit the reality of officers working in SERT? Definitely.
Selection criteria for the Emergency Squad in 1968 was straightforward: ‘Persons with courage, initiative, coolness under stress, good physical condition…’ qualities which are highly desired in SERT officers today, though the sophistication of the recruitment process bears little resemblance. Candidates attend lead up training, followed by stringent vetting, psychological testing, and are then subjected to a marathon 14-day pre-selection process. This ensures that only the ‘best of the best’ are invited to a final 14-week training course.
A journalist was given the opportunity to observe the usually highly sensitive, pre-selection process. For days she watched sleep-deprived, bruised, and battered police officers, fail one after another, after being pushed to the limit of their physical, mental, and emotional endurance by SERT instructors. Only a handful succeeded, those who showed a dogged determination and level of resilience to which few could aspire. She finally decided on a by-line for her article: Would you survive?
Emergency Squad of 1968
| Detective Sergeant Sid Atkinson |
| Detective Sub-Inspector Les Bardwell OIC |
| Detective Norm Bryant |
| Detective Darcy Buckle |
| Detective John Clarke |
| Detective Rod Clarke |
| Detective Don Clayton |
| Detective Lionel Clayton |
| Detective Senior Sergeant CFS Corner |
| Constable Brian Craitim |
| Detective Sergeant DE Dux |
| Constable John Elliott |
| Detective Neil Freier |
| Constable Noel Gollschewski (Interpreter) |
| Detective Senior Sergeant N S Gulbransen |
| Detective Owen Heness (Instructor) |
| Detective Keith Herbert |
| Detective Mal Hewitt |
| Detective Senior Sergeant Hourigan |
| Detective Fred Humphries |
| Sub-Inspector J V McCarthy |
| Detective Sergeant Frank McCosker |
| Detective Col Morgan |
| Detective Paul Pichugov (Interpreter) |
| Detective Neil Raward (Instructor) |
| Constable Graham Reid |
| Detective Senior Sergeant JJ Ryan |
| Constable Gordon Storer (Photographer) |
| Detective Senior Sergeant W T Taylor |
| Detective Sergeant Dick Veivers |
| Detective Gordon Watson |
| Sub-Inspector F J White |
| Detective Laurie Witham |
The Queensland Police Museum acknowledges the unpublished work ‘No Stone Unturned’, a collection of works by former Detective Inspector Les Bardwell, who preferred to be known as a ‘field forensic scientist’. He believed that it was important to have first-hand contact with the aftermath of crime and violence. His stories are a source of inspiration in the writing of this blog, and hopefully are authentic in reflecting the legacy of 35 years at the forefront of forensic science with the Queensland Police. Leslie James Bardwell passed away on 23rd March 1995 aged 78 years.
This story was re-written by Museum Assistant Debra Austin using the information from ‘No Stone Unturned’.
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 Best Job in the World – Part 2” 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