..." They call him mellow yellow " (refrain) - What in hell would you know about the Feds and NSWPOL? Only something you've parroted from STEELEREDUX? Why don't you seek succour from your putrefying Green mates, where you should feel right at home? After all a political party formed by someone with the odd proclivities of Dr Robert BROWN, would certainly lend itself to a full anthropological investigation on deviant behaviour? Correct me if I'm wrong hasn't one of your number sought to have the Statutes changed to permit bestiality?

Now now, don't get upset PAUL1405, that's an activity I know you'd never entertain. Besides, you could get hurt, and as we all know, you have a distinct aversion to anything that might cause you pain, discomfit, or fear eh PAUL1405!

Might I offer you some advise? Keep your mouth shut, until you know what you're talking about; otherwise you're merely confirming what a pitiful little idiot, and immense failure as man, you really are.

Dear o sung wu,

My SO certainly tells all and sundry how insufferable I can get when I'm not firing on all cylinders. I understand you are not having the best time of it at the moment which happens to the best of us so I'm going to be measured (for me at least) in response.

I contend you have proven my point, that coppers don't like outsiders in charge, particularly those they deemed not to have done the hard yards.

The AFP recruitment does give preference to those with tertiary qualifications in “Criminology, Criminal Justice, Law, National Security, Forensic Science, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism, International Security, Information Technology (communications, software, and network specialist)”

Also that their applicants show they “have a high level understanding of verbal, numerical and abstract relationships”.

It is true that they are rarely faced with hard edged community policing which doesn't mean they are not facing down some very hardened crims. However they do have a different function such as targeting multistate players and white collar crime. They certainly aren't employed breaking up fights between Sudanese youths, and if Ashton had come straight from the AFP to the Vicpol top job you might have had a case. Yet he first had several senior roles within their ranks in which you conceded he flourished.

All branches of law enforcement by their very nature think they are the best. While you might be derisive of the AFP they can be just as myopic. For instance they see briefs of evidence coming from their state counterparts and whinge about how poorly written they are. Expecting exacting standards of paperwork from those spending far more time on the streets is just as bad as your griping.

Ultimately I suspect there is a lot of care taken by very experienced people in choosing a chief commissioner. I'm not sure they get it wrong that much nowadays.

Anyway I hope you are coming good.

Cheers.

To O Sung Wu- Some believe- The map is the terrain... ;)

Hi there STEELEREDUX...

I respect both your tone and your support of Graham ASHTON. It's true what you say I did laud Mr ASHTON'S senior managerial roles in some of VICPOL'S more important Commands. He has abilities in the area of crime Interdiction, as a MANAGER, not as a detective. They're worlds apart Steele

The policing industry is like any other industry or trade. It's a skilled occupation. Like most trades, one enters as an apprentice, and you do your four years apprenticeship, and off you go with a career until you're aged retired. To my knowledge, all State Forces follow the same procedure, save the Feds.

Apparently they allow lateral entry. Meaning if you possess some qualification or a particular skill they want, you're in. No apprenticeship, no learning of the basic ropes - straight in. They're known as the 'College Cops. I don't suggest their work is easy . Or they're reluctant to take-on the 'hard heads', they will and they do.

Steele; it's not the Feds that are of issue here, it's Graham ASHTON and whether Mr ASHTON has ever served 'ANY' apprenticeship at all, regarding 'street policing'; 'on the road'; or community policing; whatever moniker you want to call it. Clearly he hasn't. So how can a Commissioner of Police, begin to appreciate the difficulties and problems street coppers have to daily contend with?

Simon OVERLAND, another Fed, had done his share of Street policing in Canberra, before he was appointed VICPOL Commissioner. Has Graham ASHTON? As a copper with over 32 years in the job, I can tell you, Graham ASHTON is well out of his depth, and will prove a disaster for VICPOL if he's not replaced.

In conclusion please take this in the spirit in which it's meant; I understand Mr ASHTON had several bouts of depression or other emotional difficulties, requiring him to take time off. Clearly the job got on top of him. Police Commissioners need to be hard. The job is hard. I can only hope Mr Ashton is well on the road to a full recovery.

I'm sorry CANUM MULUM...

I'm not with you apropos 'the map is the terrain'? I'd be most appreciative if you could unravel for me what it means, and if a reaction is required? Many thanks.

To O Sung Wu- The map is not the terrain- it's very different to use a map than to walk the terrain- often used in the forces to indicate that what works in theory may not in practice. The allusion was to humorously point to your experience in the police force walking the terrain over others presumably uninitiated who lack empirical experience. Sorry for my obscure reference- I remember you being from the military yourself I thought you may have heard of it. No reply necessary.