Victoria Police - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

For the Canadian Force see: Victoria Police Department
Victoria Police Department
Victoria Police Department is the municipal police force for the City of Victoria and the Township of Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada. It is the oldest municipal police department in Canada west of the Great Lakes, the first Canadian law enforcement agency to deploy Tasers and creating the...

Victoria Police is the primary law enforcement agency

Law enforcement agency

In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...

of Victoria

Victoria (Australia)

Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....

, Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

. , the Victoria Police has over 12,190 sworn members, along with over 400 recruits, reservists and Protective Service Officers, and over 2,900 civilian staff across 393 police stations.

Early history

The Victoria Police was formally established on 8 January 1853 from an existing colonial

Colony

In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....

police force of 875 men. The first appointment as Chief Commissioner was William Henry Fancourt Mitchell

William Henry Fancourt Mitchell

Sir William Henry Fancourt Mitchell was an Australian politician. Mitchell was the son of the Rev. George Mitchell of Leicester, England....

.

Their first major engagement was the following year, 1854, in support of British soldiers during the events leading up to, and confrontation at, the Eureka Stockade

Eureka Stockade

The Eureka Rebellion of 1854 was an organised rebellion by gold miners which occurred at Eureka Lead in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. The Battle of Eureka Stockade was fought on 3 December 1854 and named for the stockade structure erected by miners during the conflict...

where some miners (mostly Irish), police and soldiers were killed . Following the brutality of the police after the stockade, public opinion turned against them, the 13 miners charged with treason were all acquitted and police numbers were dramatically cut.

A new Chief Commissioner, Charles MacMahon, was appointed that same year. The first death in the line of duty, that of Constable William Hogan, also occurred in 1854.

The following couple of decades saw the growth of the police force, including the beginning of construction of the Russell Street police station in 1859 and the establishment of a special station in William Street to protect the Royal Mint in 1872.

Six years later, three more officers (Kennedy, Lonigan and Scanlan) who were hunting the Kelly Gang, were killed by them at Stringybark Creek. Two years later, in 1880, the police confronted the Kelly Gang at Glenrowan

Glenrowan, Victoria

Glenrowan is a small town located in the Wangaratta Local Government Area of Victoria, Australia. It is 184 kilometres north-east of Melbourne and 14 kilometres from Wangaratta and located near the Warby Ranges and Mount Glenrowan...

. A shoot-out ensued on 28 June, during which three members of the Kelly Gang were killed and following which Ned Kelly

Ned Kelly

Edward "Ned" Kelly was an Irish Australian bushranger. He is considered by some to be merely a cold-blooded cop killer — others, however, consider him to be a folk hero and symbol of Irish Australian resistance against the Anglo-Australian ruling class.Kelly was born in Victoria to an Irish...

was shot and captured.

1880 also saw the formation of the Aboriginal Tracker Corps. The corps was disbanded in 1968.

In 1888 Senior Constable John Barry produced the first Victoria Police Guide, a manual for officers. (The Victoria Police Manual, as it is now known, remains the comprehensive guide to procedure in the Victoria Police.) Police officers were granted the right to vote in parliamentary elections the same year.

In 1899 the force introduced the Victoria Police Valour Award to recognise the bravery of members. Three years later, in 1902, the right to a police pension was revoked.

1923 Victorian Police strike

On 31 October 1923 members of the Victoria Police Force refused duty and went on strike

Strike action

Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...

over the introduction of a new supervisory system.
The police strike led to riots and looting in Melbourne

Melbourne

Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...

's central business district. The Victorian government enlisted Special Constables, and the Commonwealth of Australia called out the Australian military

Australian Defence Force

The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...

. Victoria Police are the only Australian police department to ever go on strike.

Only a few of the strikers were ever employed as policemen again, but the government increased pay and conditions for police as a result. Members of the Victoria Police (as its officers are generally known) now have among the highest union membership rates of any occupation, at well over 90%. The Victorian police union, the Police Association

Police Association Victoria

The Police Association Victoria is the union organisation representing about 11,000 members of the Victoria Police. The association is affiliated with the Police Federation of Australia, representing over 50,000 Australian Police Officers.-History:...

, remains a very powerful industrial and political force in Victoria.

Recent history – controversy and corruption allegations

In the 1980s and 1990s allegations were made against most Australian police forces of corruption

Political corruption

Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...

and graft, culminating in the establishment of several Royal Commission

Royal Commission

In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...

s and anti-corruption watchdogs. Inquiries have also been held into Victoria Police (Beach et al.). The force was criticised because members of the public (both innocent and guilty) were being fatally shot at a rate exceeding that of all other Australian police forces combined.

In 2001, Christine Nixon

Christine Nixon

Christine Nixon APM was the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police between 23 April 2001 and 27 February 2009. After leaving Victoria Police, she was appointed chair of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority in February 2009 until she stood down from the position in July...

was appointed Chief Commissioner, becoming the first woman to head a police force in Australia.

In addition to allegations of corruption among the Uniformed Members of Victoria Police, allegations also surfaced in respect of senior members of the Civil Service serving in Victoria Police. Two Motions were raised in the Supreme Court of Victoria. One, Motion 5771/2002 alleged that senior members of Victoria Police divulged the name of a senior Victoria Police Whistleblower to the detriment of his safety. The other, Motion 6337/2002 alleged that the Ombudsman's Office and Auditor General's Office in Victoria had falsified evidence and produced a whitewash report into allegations of corruption in relation to several multi-million dollar contracts. For reference, these documents may be viewed at the Prothonotary's Office at the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne.

In June 2003, Taskforce Purana was set up under the command of (then) Assistant Commissioner Simon Overland

Simon Overland

Simon Overland APM is the former Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police in Australia. He previously worked with the Australian Federal Police, and then with Victoria Police, focusing on Melbourne's gangland wars. On 2 March 2009 he was named by Premier John Brumby as Victoria Police Chief...

to investigate Melbourne's "gangland killings"

Melbourne gangland killings

The Melbourne gangland killings were the murders in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia of 36 criminal figures or partners between 16 January 1998 and 13 August 2010. The murders were in a series of retributional murders involving various underworld groups. The deaths caused a sustained power vacuum...

In May 2004 former police officer Simon Illingworth

Simon Illingworth

-Biography:Simon Illingworth is a former member of the Victoria police in Australia. He served in many different roles throughout his time in the force, but his most significant contribution was with the Victoria Police Ethical Standards Department where he helped weed out and prosecute corrupt...

appeared on Australian Story

Australian Story

Australian Story is a national weekly documentary series, produced and broadcast on ABC Television.Since 1996 Australian Story has featured many Australians from diverse backgrounds and reputations...

to tell his disturbing story of entrenched police corruption

Police corruption

Police corruption is a specific form of police misconduct designed to obtain financial benefits, other personal gain, or career advancement for a police officer or officers in exchange for not pursuing, or selectively pursuing, an investigation or arrest....

in Victoria Police. He has also written a book about his experiences entitled Filthy Rat.

In early 2007, Don Stewart, a retired Supreme Court

Supreme Court of Victoria

The Supreme Court of Victoria is the superior court for the State of Victoria, Australia. It was founded in 1852, and is a superior court of common law and equity, with unlimited jurisdiction within the state...

judge, called for a Royal Commission into Victorian police corruption

Police corruption

. Stewart alleged that the force was riddled with corruption that the Office of Police Integrity was unable to deal with.

In early February 2009, in response to evidence that many of the 2009 Victorian bushfires were deliberately lit, Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon announced the creation of Taskforce Phoenix to investigate all related deaths during the fires, to be led by Assistant Commissioner Dannye Moloney of the crime department and was composed of around 100 police officers.

On 2 March 2009, Simon Overland

Simon Overland

was named as the new Chief Commissioner, replacing Christine Nixon, who was retiring. Simon Overland prematurely resigned on 16 June 2011.

In November 2011 then Acting Chief Commissioner Ken Lay was named as Chief Commissioner after five months in caretaking.

Rank structure

The Victoria Police is run in a para-military structure. All sworn members start at the lowest rank of Probationary Constable / Constable and work their way up. Confirmed Constables are promoted in situ to Senior Constable after 4 years. Promotion beyond Senior Constable is highly competitive.

Constable & Non-Commissioned Ranks
Rank	Constable Constable A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...	Senior Constable	Leading Senior Constable	Sergeant Sergeant Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....	Senior Sergeant
Insignia

Commissioned Ranks
Rank	Inspector Inspector Inspector is both a police rank and an administrative position, both used in a number of contexts. However, it is not an equivalent rank in each police force.- Australia :...	Chief Inspector	Superintendent Superintendent (police) Superintendent , often shortened to "super", is a rank in British police services and in most English-speaking Commonwealth nations. In many Commonwealth countries the full version is superintendent of police...	Chief Superintendent	Commander	Assistant Commissioner	Deputy Commissioner	Chief Commissioner
Insignia

Non-Commissioned Ranks

Promotion to the Rank of Sergeant and beyond is based upon a "merit based" promotion system. A Sergeant normally manages a team during a shift, like Patrol Supervisor of a district for a shift. A Detective Sergeant is normally in charge of a team in a specific part of either Local Detectives at Police Stations or crime squads.

A Senior Sergeant oversees the Sergeants and traditionally perform more administrative work, coordination of policing operations or specialist work than active patrol duties. They perform middle management duties. General duties Senior Sergeants are traditionally in charge of most police stations or can be a sub-charge (or second in charge) of larger (usually a twenty-four hour) police station. In each Division, or group of divisions on a night shift, a Senior Sergeant is the Division Supervisor for a shift and is responsible for managing and overseeing incidents in their area. Detective Senior Sergeants are usually Officer in Charge of the Crime Investigation Units.

Designations

Additional classifications are available for members skilful enough, and upon completion of certain training and work-based performances, for classification of Detective

Detective

A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...

at Senior Constable level. Detectives also hold classification up to Chief Superintendent.

Devolved Ranks

The ranks of Chief Inspector and Chief Superintendent are no longer promotable ranks, however some officers still hold these ranks.

Positions

It used to be the case that Leading Senior Constable (LSC) is a position listed in the Rank structure but was not a Rank per se. It was only open for Senior Constables to apply for and was not a permanent position. If a member transferred to another duty type or station, the officer was then relieved of the position of LSC. It was primarily a position for Field Training Officers who oversees the training and development of inexperienced Probationary Constables or Constables.

The most recent round of wage negotiations however saw the title of Leading Senior Constable become an actual rank. It is awarded "in situ" but only after assessments have been made against the Senior Constable's ability to move to the higher position. Leading Senior Constables are now capable of being upgraded to Acting Sergeant and it is expected that the position is one that people will move through as they are promoted.

Members who held the position or classification of Leading Senior Constable under the last Enterprise Bargaining Agreements will retain their title and position.

Detective branch

Detectives form an integral function in Victoria Police for the detection and investigation of serious crime. Crimes ranging from Burglaries and major thefts, serious assaults and now, as a result of the reorganisation of the Crime Department, Murder/Suicides are just some of the crimes investigated by Suburban (Divisional) Detectives.

Many major police stations, in places such as Prahran, Fawkner, Broadmeadows, Dandenong, Geelong and Melbourne West have a Crime Investigation Unit attached to the station, which looks after crime within those and other neighbouring sub-districts falling within their area.

The State Crime Squads, situated in St Kilda Road, have been recently realigned and contain a number of squads and mini taskforces responsible for the investigation of major drug trafficking activities, major frauds, Homicides, Armed Robbery and Firearms Trafficking and sex offences to name but a few.

To become a Detective within Victoria Police members must be confirmed Senior Constables, with at least 4 years service, have completed the Field Investigation Course and obtained sufficient experience to sustain the application and interviewing process. Upon obtaining a position at a CIU/Squad, members must then complete the training package (preliminary portfolio of work and course attendance) at the School of Investigation (Detective Training School) to confirm their position as a qualified Detective. Detective positions within Victoria Police are highly sought after and awarded, generally, to only the best police applying.

Traditionally, more experienced detectives cut their teeth at divisions and then moved into the crime squads. However the last 10 years has seen a switch in that progression, in that many junior detectives first obtain positions at the sometimes easier to fill Crime Department positions and then later moving onto divisional work. One major reason for this is the travel and often heavy hours involved in working within Metropolitan Melbourne.

Honours and Awards

Recognition of the bravery and good conduct of Victoria Police employees is shown through the awarding of honours and decorations. Employees (including both sworn and unsworn personnel) are eligible to receive awards both as a part of the Australian Honours System and the internal Victoria Police awards system.

Australian Honours System

Victoria Police Employees, like those of their counterparts in other states police forces, are eligible for awards under the Australian Honours System, including:

Australian Bravery Decorations, namely the Cross of Valour
Cross of Valour (Australia)
The Cross of Valour is Australia's highest civilian award for bravery. It was established in 1975 to replace the British George Cross, previously awarded to Australians....

(CV), Star of Courage
Star of Courage (Australia)
The Star of Courage is a bravery decoration awarded to Australians. It is awarded for acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril. The SC was created on 14 February 1975. The decoration recognises acts of bravery by members of the community. They selflessly put themselves in...

(SC), Bravery Medal (BM) and the Commendation for Brave Conduct
Commendation for Brave Conduct
The Commendation for Brave Conduct is a bravery decoration awarded to Australians. It is awarded for an act of bravery that is worthy of recognition. The Commendation for Brave Conduct was created in February 1975. The decorations recognise acts of bravery by members of the community who selflessly...

.
Australian Police Medal
Australian Police Medal
The Australian Police Medal is awarded for distinguished service by a member of an Australian police force.The APM was introduced in 1986, and replaced the Imperial Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry and Queen's Police Medal for Distinguished Service....

– The Australian Police Medal (APM) recognises distinguished service by a sworn police employee and is awarded on Australia Day and Queen’s Birthday each year;
Police Overseas Service Medal
Police Overseas Service Medal (Australia)
The Police Overseas Service Medal is an award in the Australian honours system. The award is presented to those members of an Australian Police force who undertake service;* with international peace-keeping organisations, or...

– The Police Overseas Service Medal (POSM) recognises service by employees of Australian police forces with international peacekeeping organisations;
Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal
Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal
The Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal is an award in the Australian honours system. The award is presented to those who perform humanitarian service in a foreign country, in particular those working in dangerous environments or conditions or during a humanitarian crisis...

– The Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (HOSM) honours members of recognised Australian groups that perform humanitarian service overseas in hazardous circumstances;
National Medal
National Medal (Australia)
The National Medal is an Australian award given for long service by operational members of specified eligible organisations. It was introduced in 1975, as an original component of the new Australian honours system, and replaced a range of medals available to military and civilian uniformed...

– Available to sworn police employees only, the National Medal (NM) is awarded to specified categories of employees from recognised organisations for diligent service and good conduct over a sustained period. Issued for 15 years service with a clasp issued for each additional 10 years of eligible service;
Public Service Medal
Public Service Medal (Australia)
The Public Service Medal is a civil decoration awarded to Australian public servants for outstanding service. The PSM was introduced in 1991 and replaced the Imperial awards discontinued in 1975, supplementing the Order of Australia introduced that same year...

– The Public Service Medal (PSM) is awarded for outstanding public service and is awarded on Australia Day and Queen’s Birthday each year;
Campaign Medals such as United Nations Medal For Service
United Nations Medal
The term United Nations Medal refers to one of several international decorations which are issued by the United Nations to the various militaries of the world for participation in joint international military and police operations such as peacekeeping, humanitarian efforts, and disaster relief...

, when seconded or attached to an appropriate United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...

position overseas.

Internal Victoria Police Honours and Awards

Victoria Police Valour Award – The Victoria Police Valour Award (VA) is awarded to sworn police employees for a particular incident involving an act that displayed exceptional bravery in extremely perilous circumstances;
Victoria Police Star – The Victoria Police Star is an award for employees killed or seriously injured, on or off duty;
Victoria Police Medal for Excellence – Awarded to an employee/s who has/have demonstrated a consistent commitment to exceeding the organisational goals and priorities of Victoria Police;
Victoria Police Medal for Courage – Awarded to an employee/s who has/have performed an act of courage in fulfilment of their duties in dangerous and volatile operational circumstances;
Victoria Police Medal for Merit – Awarded to an employee/s who has/have demonstrated exemplary service to Victoria Police and the Victorian community;
Victoria Police Service Medal – The Victoria Police Service Medal (VPSM) is recognition by the Chief Commissioner of the sustained diligent and ethical service of Victoria Police employees. The medal issued for 10 years service with a clasp issued for each further period of 5 years eligible service. Additionally the medal is available to former employees who left Victoria Police prior to the introduction of the VPSM on 26 February 1996;
Victoria Police Thirty Five Years Service Award – The Thirty Five Years Service Award recognises employees who have an extensive and dedicated employment history with Victoria Police
Victoria Police Unit or Group Citation for Courage or Merit – As per the Medal for Courage and/or Medal for Merit criteria;
Victoria Police Department or Regional Commendation – A Department or Regional Commendation provides recognition of exceptional performance or service;
Victoria Police Divisional Commendation – A Divisional Commendation provides recognition of exceptional performance or exceptional service;
Victoria Police Unit or Group Commendation – A Unit or Group Commendation can be awarded at Department, Regional or Divisional level;

Firearms and equipment

Officers carry the .38 Special

.38 Special

The .38 Smith & Wesson Special is a rimmed, centerfire cartridge designed by Smith & Wesson. It is most commonly used in revolvers, although some semi-automatic pistols and carbines also use this round...

Smith & Wesson Model 10 revolver in K-Frame, containing six copper jacketed, notched, hollow point bullets (147 grain) and one speedloader

Speedloader

A speedloader is a device used for loading a firearm or firearm magazine that will run out of ammunition very quickly. Generally, speedloaders are used for loading all chambers of a revolver simultaneously, although speedloaders are also used for the loading of fixed tubular magazines of shotguns...

of spare ammunition (six rounds). It has been in service since 1976. They also carry an ASP brand 21-inch expandable baton, Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) Spray and Hiatts

Hiatts Speedcuffs

Speedcuffs are a model of handcuff which were designed and produced by the now defunct UK based Hiatt & Company. They are now produced by Safariland. They are characterised by their rigid grip between the two ratchet cuffs, this replacing the older type which were linked by a chain...

brand handcuffs. The vast majority of officers carry a Motorola

Motorola

Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...

brand tactical radio (with or without handpiece). Other divisions of the Victoria Police have speciality equipment and defensive weapons.

Equipment is carried by officers in a nylon

Nylon

Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers known generically as polyamides, first produced on February 28, 1935, by Wallace Carothers at DuPont's research facility at the DuPont Experimental Station...

equipment belt, also known as a gun or weapon belt. The nylon belt, specifically designed to be very light-weight, was first issued in 2003 as a replacement for worn leather belts. The belt consists of one firearm holster placed on the hip (either side), one speed loader pouch, one ASP (baton) pouch, one OC Spray pouch, one hand cuff pouch and one holder for the portable radio. Other holsters can be added to the belt to suit members duties such as a clip to hold the Polycarbonate Baton or mag light. In 2007/08, the Chief Commissioner approved the issue of firearm holsters which could be strapped around the members thighs, to replace the low-riding belt gun holster. These holsters are not standard issue but are issued to members upon request, and are commonly requested by members who suffer from back aches (as a result of heavy utility belt), or those who find it more operationally sound to draw their firearms from a lower position (as this option offers a more comfortable reach).

The weapons issued to police was a politically contentious issue in the 2006 Victorian state election. A deal between the police union and the state government allocated funding sufficient to cover replacement of the revolvers with semi-automatic pistols, and the equipping of all police cars with taser

Taser

A Taser is an electroshock weapon that uses electrical current to disrupt voluntary control of muscles. Its manufacturer, Taser International, calls the effects "neuromuscular incapacitation" and the devices' mechanism "Electro-Muscular Disruption technology"...

s, was reached without the involvement of police command. However, despite the allocation of funds in the 2007 state budget, there was initially no indication that the police command had actually decided to purchase the new weapons.

After a violent shootout in Melbourne, during which a man shot a police officer and was shot dead himself, concerns were raised by the Police Association about a possible upgrade to semi-automatic

Semi-automatic firearm

A semi-automatic, or self-loading firearm is a weapon which performs all steps necessary to prepare the weapon to fire again after firing—assuming cartridges remain in the weapon's feed device or magazine...

weapons with the $10 million allocated to the police in the 2008–09 Victorian State Budget. Chief Commissioner

Chief Commissioner

A Chief Commissioner is a commissioner of a high rank, usually in chief of several Commissioners or similarly styled officers.-Colonial:In British India the gubernatorial style was Chief Commissioner in various provinces , the style being applied especially where an elected assembly did not exist,...

Christine Nixon

launched an inquiry into the fiscal aspect of a possible upgrade.
On 6 June 2008, Chief Commissioner

Chief Commissioner

Christine Nixon

announced that an external panel, consisting of a County Court

County Court of Victoria

The County Court of Victoria was established in 1852 by the County Courts Act 1852. The court has jurisdiction in the State of Victoria, Australia...

Judge

A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...

, members of the Australian Defence Force

Australian Defence Force

, members of the community, an ethicist

Ethicist

An ethicist is one whose judgment on ethics and ethical codes has come to be trusted by a specific community, and is expressed in some way that makes it possible for others to mimic or approximate that judgement...

and "other professionals" advised that Victoria Police should adopt semi-automatic

Semi-automatic firearm

duty firearms. The Chief Commissioner

Chief Commissioner

had previously announced that she would accept and implement the recommendations of the external panel. She further stated her concerns in regards to semi-automatic firearm

Semi-automatic firearm

s, especially if Members of the Police Force required the additional fire power. She believed that there were no incidents she could foresee where general duties members would require the additional ammunition

Ammunition

Ammunition is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which embraced all material used for war , but which in time came to refer specifically to gunpowder and artillery. The collective term for all types of ammunition is munitions...

afforded by a semi-automatic

Semi-automatic firearm

duty firearm

Firearm

A firearm is a weapon that launches one, or many, projectile at high velocity through confined burning of a propellant. This subsonic burning process is technically known as deflagration, as opposed to supersonic combustion known as a detonation. In older firearms, the propellant was typically...

. In her statement on the Radio 3AW

3AW

3AW is a talkback radio station in Melbourne, Australia on 693 kHz AM. It began transmission on 22 February 1932 as Melbourne's fifth commercial radio station.-History:...

Melbourne she stated that she would like to see the new firearms begin to be issued in about six months.

On 29 April 2010, it was announced that the .40

.40 S&W

The .40 S&W is a rimless pistol cartridge developed jointly by major American firearms manufacturers Winchester and Smith & Wesson. The .40 S&W was developed from the ground up as a law enforcement cartridge designed to duplicate performance of the FBI's reduced velocity 10mm cartridge which could...

Smith & Wesson M&P

The Smith & Wesson Model 10, previously known as the Smith & Wesson Military & Police or the Smith & Wesson Victory Model, is a .38-caliber revolver developed from the Smith & Wesson .38 Hand Ejector Model of 1889. In production since 1899, it is a fixed-sight, six-shot handgun with a fluted...

semi-automatic pistol was selected as the service weapon to replace the existing Smith & Wesson Model 10 revolver. Over 10,000 Victorian Police officers will undergo training and qualification before being issued new pistols.

Officers killed on duty

13 July 1979, Detective Senior Constable Robert Lane was shot and killed while performing a routine interview. Lane was the first officer to be slain on duty since the end of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...

.
27 March 1986, Constable Angela Taylor was killed in the Russell Street Bombing
Russell Street Bombing
The Russell Street Bombing refers to the 27 March 1986 bombing of the Russell Street Police Headquarters complex in Russell Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia...

. Taylor was the first female police officer killed in the line of duty in Australian history.
12 October 1988, officers Steven Tynan and Damian Eyre were gunned down in the Walsh Street police shootings
Walsh Street police shootings
The Walsh Street police shootings was the 1988 murder of two Victoria Police officers, Constables Steven Tynan, 22, and Damian Eyre, 20. The officers were responding to a report of an abandoned car when they were gunned down about 4.50am in Walsh Street, South Yarra, Australia on 12 October...

.
16 August 1998, officers Gary Silk and Rodney Miller were gunned down in the Silk-Miller police murders
Silk-Miller police murders
The Silk-Miller murders was the name given to the murders of Victoria Police Officers Sergeant Gary Silk and Senior Constable Rodney Miller in Cochranes Road, Moorabbin, Victoria, Australia on 16 August 1998....

.

Memorials to officers killed on duty are maintained at the Chapel of Remembrance within the main Chapel of the Victoria Police Academy

Victoria Police Academy

The Victoria Police Academy is the main induction training establishment for the Victoria Police. It is located at 1 View Mount Road, in Glen Waverley, in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia...

at Glen Waverley

Glen Waverley, Victoria

Glen Waverley is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 19 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Monash...

in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne

Melbourne

. There is also a memorial to police officers who have died on duty in Kings Domain, Melbourne.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.

Early history

1923 Victorian Police strike

Recent history – controversy and corruption allegations

Rank structure

Non-Commissioned Ranks

Designations

Devolved Ranks

Positions

Detective branch

Honours and Awards

Australian Honours System

Internal Victoria Police Honours and Awards

Firearms and equipment

Officers killed on duty

See also

External links