[AMA] I Am a Victoria Police Officer - Ask Me Anything

L[Deactivated] on 15/06/2017 - 21:34
Last edited 16/06/2017 - 23:17

Hello everyone!

I've never posted here before but I've been following OzBargain community for some time now. Love those deals!

A bit about myself:

I am a male.
I am a Senior Constable of Victoria Police.
I work in the Melbourne region. I've worked pretty much all areas in Melbourne. Never worked in the country.
I work in the Uniform branch now but I've worked in many areas and it won't take long for me to try and move again. I like diversity.

Please understand that whatever I will reply here, represents my views/opinions only and not Victoria Police. Also, this is highly frowned upon by Victoria Police and they will probably want/try to sack me. I can't post anything to identify me.

Ok, if you have any questions, fire away!

EDIT 1
I didn't expect to have so many questions. It's almost 1AM and I need to go to sleep.
I'll answer more questions tomorrow.

EDIT 2
I went through some of my answers and I made a lot of spelling or wrong words/sentences. I'm sorry for that, I didn't proofread. There are a lot of questions I'm trying to answer. Just read between the lines and get the idea. I'm trying to get quantity instead of quality.

Edit 3
I want to touch upon something that pops up a lot.

  • A lot with what Victoria Police does it is dictated by the media. Whatever makes headlines, that's where the Victoria Police's resources gets directed. Media is a huge chaser of big news of small things and that's what we focus on and not on the major problems.
  • I believe that we are modelled after the community expectations. Whatever the community thought or desired (through media), Victoria Police complied. That goes from Apex to pursuits to drug driving and investigations.

Word of caution be careful what you ask for, you might just get it. I'm afraid we will end up more like USA where we will have a very large incarceration rate (for instant gratification) with a very high recidivist rate whilst the problem is still there. We seem to want revenge not solutions.

Edit 4
The questions popped up a bit and I didn't give a full explanation to the stress levels.

  • There is lots of stress in this job. Most of the stress comes from the police station/unit itself. Victoria Police is extremely political. Who likes you or who you're friends with has a lot more to do with the progress of your career than how good you are at your job. "Management by intimidation" is common.

  • Some of our colleagues embarrass us. We don't have an input into who gets hired. Everyone knows somebody (or more than one) who is reckless, immature, lazy, dishonest, or just dumb. When these people are allowed to keep being cops is when our image suffers. Reporting is not usually an option as it can backfire. You can't report anonymously.

Edit 5 - and final

It has passed more than 24 hours since the start of this thread. For me, it's time to end it.

Thank you everyone for the questions. I've had a blast and never thought it would get so much attention. I hope this as given you a little bit more understanding of what's behind the scenes.

I know a lot more questions are out there, just be a bit daring and ask the copper you see next time in the shopping centre about some of these questions. Questions like traffic, mental health, or anything of interest. You might get a good answer or not. You might get a weird face or a smile. Who knows, never know until you try it.

Say hello to us when you see us at Mecca's. You don't know it but sometimes, that is the nicest thing a member of the public said that day.

Introduce Yourself

closed Comments

      • wombok2 on 15/06/2017 - 23:30

        Thanks

  • altomic on 15/06/2017 - 22:50
    +19

    With phone books being phased out in the future then what will you use to "encourage" people being interviewed?

    • nocure on 15/06/2017 - 23:10

      Bikies

    • [Deactivated] on 15/06/2017 - 23:22
      +2

      Good one :)

      Melways ?

      • Murpha on 16/06/2017 - 08:54
        +1

        What is this thing called a 'Melways'? ;)

    • Scrooge McDuck on 16/06/2017 - 10:23
      +2

      With phone books being phased out in the future then what will you use to "encourage" people being interviewed?

      Jamster ringtones.

    • supnigs super skids on 16/06/2017 - 13:00

      Used rolled up newspapers so it doesn't leave bruises

    • Henrideacon on 16/06/2017 - 21:05

      Pelt them with USB sticks

  • [Deactivated] on 15/06/2017 - 22:54
    +3

    Is it true that bikies/mob/mafia hang around pol graduations to find potential moles to recruit within the force?

    • [Deactivated] on 15/06/2017 - 23:27

      Sorry, I wouldn't know that. I didn't work in that department yet.

  • outlander on 15/06/2017 - 22:56
    +4

    When cops take an interest in you, what do you have to tell them? I ran in to some of them in the park tonight. They asked for my name, address, date of birth, and I gave them all that. Then they asked me to lift up my pant legs, and finally one of them wanted to look through my phone messages, at which I point I declined the invitation.

    Evidentally, as I was able to wrangle out of them, somebody reported a man running around with a knife cutting himself and threatening to cut others, and he matched my description. The description being, a man in gray pants. I just down there to do pullups. They were being kindof dickish shining light into my eyes so I wasn't in the most helpful mood anyway, but what's the minimum I needed to tell them?

    Also, would there be any major issue if I yelled out "HE'S RIGHT BEHIND YOU!" in that situation?

    • [Deactivated] on 15/06/2017 - 23:17

      Everyone matches their description of "someone with a pulse"

    • [Deactivated] on 15/06/2017 - 23:35
      +5

      There is no black/white way of doing things. We act in a grey area most of the time, this one being one of them.

      Without knowing the full extent of the circumstances it is hard to tell you that they did or didn't do the right thing.

      Name / Address / DOB is pretty much standard. You could have refused that (depending on the circumstances) but I don't see an issue for anyone to provide that if they have no worries. Those details you provide will go into oblivion once they've done their checks and will stay with them only.

      As for the torch, I do that as well. And it is because it impairs the vision of a possible offender and buys me time in case things go south.

      What you don't know is that during the night we find most of the interesting things: loaded firearms, knives, machetes, etc etc etc.

      As per your phone … don't know. The only thing I can think of is that you might have been in a "beat" park (where men meet other men for sexual encounters).

      Yelling that, in those circumstances might be considered an assault. You might get charged with that.

      • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2017 - 01:53
        -7

        why do cops care about "beat" parks? Seems fairly harmless having a bunch of guys get together when nobody else is around. Are the cops who do this people who hate gay people? Or is there an actual reason to enforce this?

        • airal3rt on 16/06/2017 - 03:13
          +22

          Seems fairly harmless having a bunch of guys get together when nobody else is around

          It's a public place

          Are the cops who do this people who hate gay people?

          Stop suggesting there is anything homophobic about trying to discourage this sort of thing.

          Or is there an actual reason to enforce this?

          So when I go for a walk through the park I don't have to run into and witness a bunch of degenerates f%&king each other in a public place? Jesus christ mate

        • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2017 - 05:28
          -2

          @airal3rt: these guys do it in pretty far out locations in the middle of nowhere behind some bushes. Why they don't just hire a private place I don't know but that's their tradition I guess. Point is, there is 0.01% chance you would stumble upon it by accident, you'd have to go looking in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night. Are they degenerates because they are doing it in public, or because they are gay people doing it in public? How come hetrosexual couples having public sex isn't much of a target?

        • D Money on 16/06/2017 - 07:38
          +2

          @airal3rt: Leave 'Dirty Mike and the Boys' alone!

        • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2017 - 10:36
          +5

          It creates a lot of problem for us. A lot of children, joggers, elderly go into parks. I've had calls from mother with her 4yo daughter in one of the parks witnessing an gay male oral sex. Not fun.

          Also, from those places we have rape reports of:
          * assaults
          * robberies
          * thefts
          * car thefts
          * etc

          All of which are very hard to investigate because of the stigma, family concerns (most males there are married) and shame.

        • Omitsukasa on 16/06/2017 - 15:45

          @The Land of Smeg:

          Point is, there is 0.01% chance you would stumble upon it by accident

          I did.. well I stopped going forward after I sensed something was off. Thought it was strange there were that many cars parked at night there, thought people were holding a night bbq or something (but there were no bbq in that park. No one kicking balls on the grass either).
          Lone men kept coming and leaving this path up a hill. There was this dude standing right at the path intersection, eyeing me intently; could tell he was scrutinising/judging me on something. I thought they were dealing drugs or something. Sensed this place was really off, went back to car then Googled the park to learn that they were in the middle of a beats meetup.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 16/06/2017 - 16:03
          +2

          @Omitsuki:

          No one kicking balls on the grass either

          I think that would be crossing the line…

      • stingy-oz on 16/06/2017 - 09:49

        I believe Police force are not allowed to take the phone unless there's a warrant. Asking the standard questions which i believed are just standard. I think you are spot on with the person rights to refuse, but i too don't see there's any issues with giving those info if the person has nothing to hide. :)

      • outlander on 16/06/2017 - 11:45
        +5

        Spot on Dick Tracy! My park does in fact have a reputation for assblasters and knobgobblers, although I've never personally encountered any. Which is strange to me because I run through the park as late as 1am and never seen so much as a bare ass. Only reason I know is because of my gay friend The Duke who says it's a hotspot

      • manshrew on 16/06/2017 - 16:18

        Would there be an issue if I shine a torch back in their eyes?
        I'm sure I can find a CREE LED one on Ozbargain that would work.

    • Scrooge McDuck on 16/06/2017 - 10:32
      +1

      I just down there to do pullups.

      Honest mistake, they were looking for the guys down there to do pulloffs.

  • Empharand on 15/06/2017 - 22:57

    Firstly, thank you for your service to the Victorian public and community.

    An ex-colleague's son was previously a police officer and ended up transferring between 3 precincts before quitting due to bad internal bullying and discrimination between other officers, can you confirm or deny if this is a big issue within the Victorian Police force?

    • [Deactivated] on 15/06/2017 - 23:42
      +4

      I can tell you that it used to be up to about 2 - 3 years ago. Bullying was part of the culture as it is in schools for example.

      In the last years, there was a very hard push towards changing and curbing that. So much so that it went a bit on the other side.

      I can confirm now that there is no issue with bulling in Victoria Police now. In fact, if you burp now (even by mistake) someone will take an offence and report that. You will be screwed. Badly! Someone is waiting for a chance to make an example out of you.

      As per discrimination, there is a lot of nepotism but not discrimination as such because of race/age/religion/etc. There is a lot of discrimination against men in favour of women now (not kidding).

      Edit*
      The reporting against bullying or sexual harassment is hammered into the new recruits since day 1 with … would you report your mother if she …

      • Scrooge McDuck on 16/06/2017 - 10:43

        Do female officers on average perform equally to male officers or do they have relative strengths and weaknesses?

        • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2017 - 12:51
          +3

          Same. They do get the jobs easier now though.

        • MessyG on 16/06/2017 - 17:45
          -2

          @harwooden: Easier compared to what? Were there barriers to entry before? I.e male culture, overt sexualised bullying etc…

        • supersabroso on 17/06/2017 - 00:53
          -1

          @DisabledUser221568: This is true for a lot of industries, I know for a fact that mine pushed with women only scholarships. My company also pushes strongly for a 50-50 even split on men and women in the workforce. This forces otherwise superior male candidates out of the recruitment process because HR is busy trying to create the 50-50 gender split.

          People should just be hired on their merits and nothing more, it's sad that in an effort to push for gender equality we had to get get gender inequality in the opposite direction.

  • Skramit on 15/06/2017 - 22:58
    +1

    I realise the police don't make the laws only enforce them, but do you think the fine for using a mobile phone whilst driving should be much higher like $2000 to stop people being distracted drivers?

    • [Deactivated] on 15/06/2017 - 23:43
      +13

      Except for 4 crashes that I've been to, every single one was due to a mobile phone. And I've been to many.

      • pongky on 16/06/2017 - 07:28
        +1

        That's a really scary fact… shouldn't there be some law making people put their phones in the glove box or something, the same way you enforce people wearing seatbelts? I think that'd be really help

        • Zondor on 16/06/2017 - 10:32
          +1

          Phones are the best GPS's though.

        • MrTweek on 16/06/2017 - 10:50
          +2

          @Zondor:
          You are allowed to use them as GPS as long as you don't touch them while driving.
          If you need to touch them, put them in a proper holder.

          Not really a problem. Biggest problem is probably use Facebook and stuff like that while driving.

        • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2017 - 12:52

          @MrTweek: True

      • dufflover on 16/06/2017 - 12:07
        +1

        On mobile phones then who/why are they also disallowed when the car is stopped? I think that is going too far and blatant revenue raising, considering (IMO) in that situation pretty much anything else is an distraction too.

        • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2017 - 12:53
          +6

          You are allowed when you are stopped.

          You are not allowed when you are stopped at the traffic lights. That's in traffic and you are control of your car.

          Also, when you do that at the traffic light, you most likely do that when you're moving. Don't negate it.

        • Zondor on 16/06/2017 - 17:42
          +3

          Because when the light goes green I want you to go, not realize it's green after 10 seconds.

  • barginsarelife on 15/06/2017 - 23:00

    Can a police officer in a white general duties car pull over drivers for traffic offences (speeding) or is that for the highway patrol with sporty cars

    Cheers

    • [Deactivated] on 15/06/2017 - 23:44
      +8

      We all wear the same uniform, we all have the same powers.

      • bchliu on 16/06/2017 - 16:16

        But don't they need proper calibrated detection (and recording) equipment in order to justify your speeding though?

        • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2017 - 16:21
          +1

          The cars are pretty well calibrated and we can take position behind you and maintain an even distance. Pull you over and give you a ticket.

        • bchliu on 16/06/2017 - 16:24

          @harwooden: So all patrol cars are outfitted with calibrated speed detection gear? Thought only the highway patrol ones have those? thanks.

        • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2017 - 16:34
          +1

          @bchliu: All cars are calibrated to operate withing an error of +/- 2km/h. That's the car's speedometer. We go by that if need be.

          When we sign out equipment we can get laser's, the manual small ones as well.

          And also we can go by our own eyes, estimation but that's another story.

  • [Deactivated] on 15/06/2017 - 23:01
    +14

    tell us the real reason the band broke up?

  • railspider on 15/06/2017 - 23:12

    Do you like it when upstanding citizens call you a Cuntstable?

    • [Deactivated] on 15/06/2017 - 23:45
      +18

      It brushes off me, everything thrown at me it is thrown against the uniform that I'm wearing and not my person. I personally don't care.

      • Scrooge McDuck on 16/06/2017 - 10:48

        Can you have a sense of humour while on the job?

        Do you have a different mindset while on the job? If so, is that difficult?

        • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2017 - 12:56
          +2

          Very delicate with the sense of humour nowdays. Can't be offensive to anyone or anything as someone will get upset and you'll get a report.

          Whilst on the job, it's not difficult at all, you jump straight into it, becomes second nature. We can (and I did) jump from laughter/jokes to guns out in a split second.

  • CyberMurning on 15/06/2017 - 23:13
    +1

    what is the short and long term solution to deal with those sudanese gang in victoria/melbourne area? apex

    • [Deactivated] on 15/06/2017 - 23:51
      +18

      Most of the "problems" you see in the media are just that. Headlines for the masses to sell news. Apex is not and was not a big problem. Out of the thousands of offences committed in South East, only a small part came from Apex.

      We drive a police for the media and not for the community.

      It is very hard to dish out a solution for short/long term for any type of gang, especially those coming from broken countries. We favour putting them in a room for a while and letting them out hoping that they will behave (aka jail) without really understanding underlying the problem and how to address that.

      Get some local ministers involved in the recovery process, get their parents involved in counselling, break the rotten link in the chain and get it straight again. No, we put people in rooms hoping they will get better when they get out.

    • Scrooge McDuck on 16/06/2017 - 10:54

      When I was a lad Apex were all about community service; how things have changed!!

  • [Deactivated] on 15/06/2017 - 23:38
    +1

    I tried to report a crime but cops refused to even look at security video. Do cops investigate incidents based on the crime or only the ones with bleeding victims?

    • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2017 - 00:03
      +4

      I'm not sure what happened there and why you were refused service. You were probably given an explanation of something like, that's not a police matter. We can't really refuse service.

      And we should investigate every offence. Easier said than done.

  • ChillBro on 15/06/2017 - 23:51
    +1

    How many years does it take a civilian to join the police force and become a senior constable?

    • [Deactivated] on 15/06/2017 - 23:57
      +8

      9 months (academy) +
      1.5 years Constable (Probationary - technically 2 years but that starts from the Academy) +
      2 years Constable (seen as First Constable)
      Exam
      Senior Constable

      • happydude on 16/06/2017 - 00:10
        +4

        What's in the exam? Law stuff?

        • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2017 - 00:13
          +6

          Mostly procedural stuff. Things that you should know anyway.

      • timmysbiscuits on 16/06/2017 - 01:17

        As others have said, thanks for your service.

        Do you think the amount of training is adequate?

        • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2017 - 12:59
          +5

          Vastly inadequate. You have to balance things though. Service hours with training hours as a force.

          Imagine giving a lesson on … how to assembly your vest, to thousands of people. When you're finished with that there's another topic. It's hard and mind boggling.

          We do it via online training. That's ticking the boxes for managers as we get the training and for us as we did the training but in reality is that we are not trained.

          There are a lot of topics we train in, but training is lacking.

      • vaccant on 16/06/2017 - 08:26

        Are there any pre-requisites for joining the police force?

        height/ weight/age/education/region?

        • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2017 - 10:38
          +2

          Weight might be one.

          I've seen recruits with age range 18 - 50.

          The more educated the better, lately we don't seem to care as much about that.

          Region (country?), the diverse the better.

          https://www.google.de/search?q=victoria+police+recruitment&g…

        • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2017 - 11:45

          @harwooden:

          So you are from a foreign country yourself?

        • sergun on 16/06/2017 - 11:48
          +2

          @Warier: I think that was TOR talking.

  • FisSort on 15/06/2017 - 23:56

    When going through the interview and asked the question about the reason for joining the force, what are they wanting to hear? E.g. Is it to serve and protect?

    • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2017 - 00:00

      I'm not sure but I suspect they don't want any answer in particular. I think it's more too see what you think or say. There is no script, as far as I'm aware.

      I think mine was something along the lines of… I wanna give it a go and see what's that like. Mind you I had a pretty good resume to backup my answer.

      • ravonda on 16/06/2017 - 00:20

        Do you mind expounding a bit on that 'pretty good resume' please? I'm curious as to what defines a good resume for a police.

        • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2017 - 00:31
          +5

          Sorry, I won't get into much details.

          My life experience was pretty broad before going to police. I've worked in many areas, volunteered in a lot of place and done some pretty crazy shit before applying.

          I also reduced my income by about 50% when I took the job.

        • SnoozeAndLose on 16/06/2017 - 10:31

          @harwooden:

          How much do you earn now ?

        • Scrooge McDuck on 16/06/2017 - 10:59
          +14

          Do you mind expounding a bit on that 'pretty good resume' please? I'm curious as to what defines a good resume for a police.

          Nice try Cyber Crimes Unit!!

  • Banana on 15/06/2017 - 23:58
    +2

    How many hours/days do you work a week?

    • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2017 - 00:13
      +1

      Very hard to answer as it depends on luck.

      If I'm lucky, 40 hours/week.

      Last year I've been unlucky and in the last part of the year I've done 60+/week.

      • AlienC on 16/06/2017 - 00:35
        +1

        Does the number of hours affect your pay?

        • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2017 - 10:43
          +1

          Yes, overtime and depending of the type of work and time of day or day.

          Also, detectives are paid an allowance each year, I think it's around 15k, for unlimited unpaid overtime.

          In some regions, for detectives, 12 hour shifts are becoming the norm whilst 10 hour shift are the norm. I've seen 17 hour shifts (yes, for detectives, unpaid). Comes as an expectation.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 16/06/2017 - 10:59

          @harwooden:

          How do you manage stress?

        • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2017 - 13:01
          +5

          @Scrooge McDuck: I do this :)

        • Scrooge McDuck on 16/06/2017 - 16:06

          @harwooden:

          :)

        • AlienC on 16/06/2017 - 17:26

          @harwooden: we all got your back buddy.. one world. Always feel free to come here this is your safe space.

  • jonathonsunshine on 16/06/2017 - 00:03

    Do you think pot should be legalised?

    • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2017 - 00:11
      +8

      I personally have no issue with pot. Mostly because I understand that the most they can do with it is "die" from relaxation or lung disease.

      The problem is if I don't act. Then I lose my job.

      I've never had an issue with someone who smoked pot. Never had a violent offender with that drug in the system.

      If the memory serves me well, the pot was criminalised in the 50's by president Truman(?) to promote his next presidential campaign. I think he lost, America went with mandatory sentencing, the rest of the world picked it up.

      Can't say that I would like it to be legalised. I think it's mostly because of the smell. I came to hatting it from so much freaking dope in our work safe.

      • ozbjunkie on 16/06/2017 - 10:27

        Does this mean you personally, or as a group, are more likely to search say a meth-inroxicated individual than someone on cannabis?

        More broadly, how much of your work is decided by the potential harms you perceive from the possible perpetrator?

        Or to ask the question in another form, are you more likely to stop a 20 year old drinking in a park than a 40 year old in a suit?

        Thanks for you work and this thread.

        • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2017 - 14:43
          +2

          It's me personally. However, I have colleagues who feel the same. We can't do much about it until the law changes.

          A lot of what we do is dictated by potential harm perceived or not. In theory we have to plan every time. Doesn't happen as often but for potentially physical encounters. I do trust my life to my partner and vice versa. We take it for granted but when sh*t hits the fan then you see how good he/she is.

          One time I was pushed on the ground by my partner whilst as he saw a perpetrator with a knife coming towards us. Saved our lives ? Probably. I never knew such a skinny guy had so much force, he never knew why he acted like that. Adrenaline kicked in, split second decision and he took it.

          Looking back it's easy to say he should have done things differently. I think he's done the best way he could then and there and I don't judge him. I'm grateful for his actions.

          Oh, depends on the circumstances before me when I stop someone. Last time I arrested someone, was actually a 50yo male, dressed nicely. He was stealing a car when we approached him. Can't give you a blanket statement. All is grey.

  • djmm on 16/06/2017 - 00:06
    +15

    Have you ever fired two guns whilst jumping through the air?

    • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2017 - 00:33
      +7

      I'm yet to firing one whilst jumping. But that sounds cool !

  • jonathonsunshine on 16/06/2017 - 00:11

    When we hear the "stories" that come out of America about all the unarmed people being shot etc, is there another side that we aren't considering or is 'Murica just a f$&#ed up place?

    • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2017 - 00:35
      +9

      Not sure what you mean.

      I also don't watch news or hear news over the radio. Ever. The media just spits to much shit and it won't make my day any better.

    • Peck on 16/06/2017 - 08:32

      America is a dangerous place. I see policing in a country gets more serious the more dangerous a country is.
      NZ they are very relaxed.
      Aust. a bit more serious.
      USA police do a vehicle stop and get shot! It is no wonder they are trigger happy. Such a dangerous place to be in the Police force.

      • MrTweek on 16/06/2017 - 10:56
        +2

        Having moved to Melbourne from Europe, I have to say that police down here seems generally very good at deescalation. If you are respectful, they will treat you well.
        In Europe, it's easy to feel threatened by police. They sometimes show you that you better should be scared of them. Even if you have done nothing wrong.

        Haven't had that experience here, yet.

      • lysp on 16/06/2017 - 18:04

        @jonathonsunshine:

        Definitely can be dangerous. I'm reminded of this American police body-cam video from a couple of weeks ago:

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_06v-FoM5Co

        Police pulled over to give assistance to what looked like a broken down motorist and it escalated in a split second with no warning whatsoever.

        Warning: Slightly NSFW.

    • Piranha2004 on 16/06/2017 - 10:39
      +2

      Thats mostly an America problem because carrying guns is legal for the general public. The police have no idea when a nutjob may pull one on them.

      • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2017 - 13:02
        +2

        What happens in USA it's mind blowing. It amazes me how they can't see they have a gun problem.

  • happydude on 16/06/2017 - 00:11
    +17

    I'm just waiting for a mate.

    Are you a federal officer of the law?

    • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2017 - 00:34
      +1

      No fed here.

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