Policing Australia: The Official Podcast of the Australian Police Journal

Police are called to a perplexing scene at a rural property where a man’s body was found lying face down, pinned to the ground by the rear wheel of his utility. There were no tools nearby. Was it a case of death by misadventure, or something more sinister?

A scientific officer develops a hypothesis which appears far-fetched at police headquarters. A reconstruction of the scene is undertaken, with amazing results.

Recently retired Deputy Editor Barry Fay joins Jason Byrnes to discuss the case, which Barry wrote about in the September 2003 edition of the APJ. 

This podcast series is provided free of charge to subscribers and others with an interest in true Australian crime and policing. If you like the series, please leave a review on the podcast downloading platform.

For more information, access to the APJ, and to take out a subscription, go to www.apjl.com.au

Host: Jason Byrnes APM

Guest: Barry Fay

Former policeman Ronald Cornish talks about his time as a police peacekeeper with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). Sixty years ago, Australia sent its first contingent of police to UNFICYP, to undertake monitoring duties of Greek Cypriot police. Australia’s contribution to UNFICYP eventually lasted 53 years, with the final contingent leaving in 2017.

In 1965 Constable Ron Cornish of the Tasmania Police was selected to be a member of the second contingent (at the time called the ‘Australian Police Element’). In this interview he recalls his experiences, the duties of the Australians, the challenges they faced on a daily basis, where they lived and what he and his colleagues did after-hours.

The interview was recorded as part of a special project regarding Australian police peacekeeping. A book about Australian police contributions to United Nations peacekeeping operations – titled ‘IN THE SERVICE OF PEACE’ – will be released on 16 September 2024. It will be sold through AFP Legacy (www.policelegacyafp.org.au) and the Australian War Memorial (www.awm.gov.au).

Cypriot locations discussed: Nicosia, Kakopetria, Polis, Paphos/Ktima, Skouriotissa, Lefka, Astromeritis, Limassol, Morphou, Kokkina, the Troodos Mountains, the Solea Valley and Kato Pyrgos.

Host: Jason Byrnes

Guest: Ronald Cornish

Elder abuse is a crime long ignored or downplayed in society. This needs to change, especially as society ages. Abuse can be physical and/or psychological, is often committed by people the victim relies on or trusts, and can hasten a victim's death.

Rob Critchlow APM is the author of the article titled 'Dignity and Safety: Responding Effectively to Abuse of Older Persons', which is in the new (June 2024) issue of the APJ. Rob joins host Jason Byrnes, to talk about elder abuse awareness, the forms that abuse can take, and what police should be alert to when dealing with people over the age of 65.

Rob recently retired after 34 years as a police officer, and he also offers some insight into a busy and rewarding career, especially detective duties and being a local area commander.

The APJ is a subscription magazine which is available in hardcopy or at www.apjl.com.au. Go to the website for more details.

Host: Jason Byrnes APM
Guest: Rob Critchlow APM

Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan APM talks about his time as the Chief Police Officer (CPO) for the Australian Capital Territory. The experienced police officer has worked at the local and national levels for 40 years - starting as a general duties Constable in the ACT and ending up leading ACT Policing. On the way he held responsibilities for leading the Australian Federal Police's Counter Terrorism, Cyber and Organised Crime Commands, and the organisation's international engagements. 

Having recently retired from the Chief Police Officer role, Gaughan talks about a range of issues including the unique challenges of policing the national capital, the impact of laws that have decriminalised the possession of most drugs, the impact of COVID-19 on ACT Policing, as well as aspects relating to the high-profile investigation into an alleged rape at Parliament House.  

Author and APJ Deputy Editor, retired Detective Senior Sergeant Barry Fay, discusses his 2016 crime case article titled An Unexpected 'Mayday' in November – the callous murder of three men in NSW. The first two were shot inside a Sydney gun shop in 1977. The third victim was a police sergeant, gunned down in 1980 when he unknowingly asked too many questions of the offender in remote bushland to the west of Newcastle. The offender subsequently shot another police officer in an attempt to avoid capture.

This episode includes some of the actual police radio transmissions made in the aftermath of the murder of the sergeant and when the second police officer was shot.

This is a redux of Episode 2 - the sound quality of the original episode was affected by a poor telephone line.

Host: Jason Byrnes
Guest: Barry Fay

 The story and more details about the APJ itself can be found at www.apjl.com.au

Music

Theme: Like We Do It by Grace Mesa, available at Premium Beat
End: Motivational Digital Piano & Cello by AudioChemicals, available at Audio Jungle

Interested in learning about the challenges of police leadership in the 21st Century?

The day before she retired from the role of Commissioner of the Queensland Police Service (QPS), Katarina Carroll APM spared some time to talk to Jason Byrnes about a range of topics. These included the challenges facing police now and into the future, the skills future leaders should possess, how the QPS responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact on the organisation in the wake of the murder of two police officers in December 2022. Ms Carroll also revealed the roles in her career she found challenging, gave an insight into her experience in previously leading Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, and also how she dealt with government, parliament and the opposition.

This episode continues the APJ’s efforts to inform and educate police and the community about the challenges of policing at all levels. It is particularly relevant for serving police from any agency, keen to gain an understanding of the priorities, pressures and opportunities that face senior police leadership. 

Host: Jason Byrnes APM
Guest: Katarina Carroll APM

In 2002 three men died in grizzly circumstances in Melbourne, after a series of gang related incidents. One young man was hacked to death by offenders wielding samurai swords. Three of his friends were then chased into the cold Yarra River - two of them drowned.

Recently retired Detective Sergeant Brett Smith wrote the article ‘Asian Gangs Blood the Yarra’ in the June 2009 issue of the APJ. In the podcast Brett, and his then Senior Sergeant Jeff Maher, talk about the challenges facing them at the crime scene and during the investigation and subsequent court case.

The article can be read at the website: www.apjl.com.au.

Host:
Jason Byrnes APM

Guests:
Brett Smith and Jeff Maher

APJ Deputy Editor Barry Fay joins host Jason Byrnes to give an overview of the police investigation into a horrific 1978 crime where a mother and two of her young children were abducted from their home. The mother was raped and all three subsequently murdered.

Barry discusses the course of the investigation and explains some of the procedures used to identify and bring the offender to justice. As with many such investigations, chance played a major role a various points throughout the story of this case.

Barry's article, 'They Walk Amongst Us', appeared in the June 2008 issue of the APJ. It can be read at www.apjl.com.au.

LISTENER WARNING: Some of the discussion in the podcast is about the murder of young children. The comments are germane to the case study, but may be confronting to some.

Host: Jason Byrnes APM

Guest: Barry Fay 

An arson at a major Australian naval base in December 1976 left the country without its naval surveillance and submarine detection capability for months. It was the most costly and complex fire ever to have occurred in the country, apart from major bushfires and some attacks during World War II.

In this episode APJ Editor Simon Bouda narrates the article titled: ‘How Teamwork Unmasked the Albatross Arsonist’, written by then Detective Chief Inspector Harry Delaforce, and published in the APJ in 1991.

Host: Jason Byrnes APM
Narrator: Simon Bouda AM

A gunman goes on a rampage in the national capital. He tries to murder two people, explodes his car and sets fire to an office building, recklessly endangers the safety of hundreds of people, and shoots at police. Specialist (tactical) police enter the burning building to hunt for the gunman, while firefighters rescue people stuck in a radio station on the building’s first floor. 

In this gripping episode you will hear from police and a firefighter involved in the operation, and how they were able to protect public safety while under fire.

Host/narrator: Jason Byrnes.

Guests: Shane Connelly, Kim Francis, John Jeffery, Brian McDonald, Liz McDonald, Greg Mowle, Ian Prior, Darren Rath and Mark Usback. 

Produced by: Adam Axelby and Jason Byrnes.

In-episode music: Luke Axelby.