Yeah you would think that the biggest news story of the year would be a bunch of mulsims in an American state (new Mexico) training kids to do school shootings. Oh wait, a he is offended for being called a she. The abc is disgusting and an enemy of Australia just like the fake news outlets in the US who hate Trump. Shut down the news that does not fit the sick left narrative.

Dear o sung wu,

One of my relations served directly under Ashton while in the AFP and did not have a bad word to say about him unlike his views of one or two other senior members. Apparently he was more than competent and very operationally sound. To get the gig leading the Australian contingent in Bali after the bombings meant he was highly regarded, you don't send anyone you don't have absolute confidence in to perform that role.

He has an Order of Australia and the Australian Police Medal which isn't too shabby in anyone's language.

Yet you are assessing the bloke from a course in 1983 when he would have been just 23 years old still learning the craft in many respects. I'm sure he would have been keeping the head down with all the crusty types present.

This year there has been a significant decrease in offending rates across the state, many of which have continued the trend from the year before.

Gang violence is of course a concern but the media has blown it way out of proportion.

And contrary to what you might be reading over the border most Victorians thing we do alright, particularly in comparison the crime rates in your state.

Victoria has the lowest crime rate of any state in Australia and is second only to the ACT. Perhaps your state could do with an Ashton.

“New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows Victoria has the second lowest rate of offending, trailing only the ACT. In Victoria, there were 75,860 offenders proceeded against by police in 2016-17, or 1392 per 100,000 persons.”
http://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/crime/statistics-paint-clearer-picture-of-crime-scene-in-victoria/news-story/db37465d0eb16e03760be826da8d8e18

SteeleRedux Quote "Victoria has the lowest crime rate of any state in Australia"

Of course Victoria police would not fudge the figure or would they.

Where do ABS get there data from in this case Victoria police.

When on numerous occasions Africans have rioted police were advised to do nothing, NO CRIME HERE.

Dear Philip S,

Around 50 youths mostly of African descent clash and end up breaking a window of a police car. Look at all the resultant media.

Compare it to this one in NSW which took over 26 police cars responding to bring under control with police subjected to scores of bottles and their cars damaged.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/police-pelted-with-bottles-as-300-youths-crash-lake-macquarie-house-party/news-story/41d92dd6f4dc58b9006a9cd80a167269

Or this one involving 75 youths at a carnival;

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/5192973/massive-brawl-breaks-out-at-south-coast-carnival-on-australia-day/

"As many as 12 police vehicles rushed to the scene of the punch-up, which witnesses said involved as many as 75 people, including teenagers and older people. One witness said the brawlers were throwing glass bottles and rocks at each other in the car park before continuing to fight inside the carnival grounds. Once inside the carnival, the brawlers allegedly bashed into the back of the portable toilets while small children were inside screaming and then fought their way through one of the amusement rides. Another witness said her 10-year-old child saw a man with blood all over him next to the front entry."

Just good Aussie fun?

G'day there STEELEREDUX...

There are elements of truth in what you say, as there are in mine. It was well known, Mr ASHTON was sent to Bali I/C of the forensic investigation of the Bali bombing, NOT for his forensic input, he didn't have any. But because he spoke Bahasa Indonesian. He'd been a, LO, I think the Feds call them, in Indonesia where he learnt the language. He was dispatched there for no other reason, than as a facilitator.

You're right, he was a recipient of an; OAM & the APM. If I was to tell you about some of the rorts associated with getting the nod for a APM, you'd not believe me! So I won't even bother trying. All I can say, over my long police service, there are many more worthy Officers far more meritorious than Mr ASHTON, who should've got infinitely higher recognition for their jobs, then Mr ASHTON. I will say, he apparently acquitted himself very well with a couple of senior jobs in VICPOL. However, leaders are born. You can learn leadership skills, but unless you have that unique benefit of being a natural leader, all the learning in the world won't help.

It's like the military STEELE, to be awarded a decoration ,you've gotta be lucky enough to have 'the deed' witnessed, by an Officer or a W Off attesting faithfully to what they saw you do.

The OAM... One of my closest and dearest mates (a Vietnam Veteran at FSB 'Coral & Balmoral') got an OAM, for services to Veterans (an Advocate). He contracted a particularly virulent Brain Tumour (believed caused by the insidious 'orange mist', used as a defoliant in Vietnam). The then Governor of Queensland heard about it, and instead of making him wait until Queens Birthday or whenever gongs are handed out - The Governor (also a Veteran in his own right) held a private investiture for David, his wife and grown children, awarding him his OAM. David died less than three weeks later. I've never got over it!

Dear o sung wu,

Of course we are bringing different perspectives to the debate but you described him as the worst ever.

So he tops even the utterly corrupt individuals who have held that position? Or the gung-ho macho unintelligent leaders who encouraged a type of so called 'hard' policing which saw the force kill over 34 members of the public in a decade? This was in the same period that only claimed 15 for the rest of Australia including just 7 in NSW as well as sparking tit for tat killings which saw too many young officers lose their lives.

There is no way this bloke comes anywhere near that even with the most jaundiced viewing of his performance.

I think any person would bring pluses and minuses to the chief's role, they are human after all. I was talking to a police officer after Ashton openly went on stress leave and they were keen to stand up for him. For them it showed that it was okay to acknowledge being impacted by mental fatigue or stress and to ask for time to deal with it.

In the end you did a course with a very young Ashton and formed an opinion of his leadership capabilities. After reading your post I rang my relative to get his perspective of the man and as I said he was unwaveringly positive about his capabilities and leadership. He may have made a derisive remark after I read him your post but it wasn't directed at Ashton.

I have another relative who is currently in the force. I will have a chat to him when I see him next to get his views but I'm not sure they will be much different.