'evening to you CHRISGAFF1000...

By gosh you have crammed a lot into your life haven't you ? I understood you held an Army commission, but I had no idea the circles in which you served ? I must say you certainly enjoyed a fine military career, why ever did you resign your commission in favour of the NSWPOL ? Military prestige usurped absolutely any esteem that you may've gained in the coppers ? Anyway, it was obviously a very personal decision, a decision if I've read it correctly, is not entirely one of profound regret ?

I should admit right up front, though a regular, I rose to the dizzy heights of Cpl, no more. And I completed my six years 'period of enlistment', with a somewhat routine service record intact. Nevertheless it did remain unblemished for the entire six years. Which I suppose illustrated conclusively, I was just another unremarkable nondescript junior NCO ?

I agree with you totally on the appointment of our Governor General designate. It's most appropriate (and politically smart?) to have a highly regarded, decorated Military Officer to represent the Queen. I don't believe even the crazy 'greens' could find fault with such a individual ? I also believe we should all appreciate his 'kind', because there are worrying signs, the likes of Gen. Cosgrove and his former cohorts, are a rapidly disappearing breed ?

Thanks again Chris for taking the time to contribute to this somewhat banal topic, in any event, I really do appreciate it.

o sung wu,
I was way past my "use by date" as far as the army was concerned. I tried to introduce Americanisms of efficiency, effectiveness and empathy where vets were concerned.
I always knew there would be long lingering psychological problems back in civvy street for the vets coming home.
They showed me the door and I walked out basically one of the victims.
The police force seemed the logical next step.
Right now I am building the LNP offices in the far north as my contribution to a better form of government.
I am also in the Supreme Court on a brief that seeks to have the concepts of bias and decision makers balanced in presentation of natural justice. All pro bono pro publica.
It keeps me busy and the 'black dogs" at bay.

Hi there CHRISGAFF1000...

Your 'pro bono' work in the Supreme Court, would keep an entire pack of these damn 'black dogs' at bay I would've thought ? Still, working within such a high strata of the justice system, would certainly keep your brain from languishing and stagnating ?

You leaving the Army and entering the police, as 'a logical next step', is something I can well appreciate. Though the roles differ significantly, the structure and orderliness are not that divergent in my opinion. There are many in the job who served in all branches of the Military, consequently many of them held analogous views, not unlike yours - 'it seemed to be the next logical step' ?

As a former Army (Commissioned) Officer, did NSWPOL offer you anything above and beyond normal entry into the job ? What I'm trying to say, was there any hint or suggestion of some sort of lateral entry, or even accelerated or precipitated promotion, even offering you a higher pay scale on entry ?

I've always believed, if you wish to lockup a smart crook, you first need a smart copper ! While I was still around, there were many of these young blokes and girls who were slowly emerging throughout the lower echelons of the CIB. Among them, there were some pretty smart young detectives amid them also?

Blokes of my generation, though we had a bit of the old street credibility, the more organised, smarter crooks tended to circumvent many of the processes that we and DPP would put in place. And we'd end up losing it in Court, if not in Court, on appeal ? Consequently, many of those we locked up were mere minnows, and not the people higher up ?

It was the various Task Forces' that tended to get the desired results for the Commissioner ? Probably because of an injection of the additional resources, and the topical gravitas of the operation at hand ?

We managed to put a few runs on the board, that's all that matters at the end of the day ?