Hi there STREELEREDUX...

I repeat, in the opinion of many in VICPOL that I know, Mr ASHTON is the worst Commissioner in their memories. Another VICPOL heavy a Mr Kelvin GLEAR (sic) was quoted in part; and using my own language - 'modern Officers are too scared of making a mistake to do their jobs properly', and; 'Officers have lost sight of what their job is', and again; 'a failure of leadership'.

A TV or Radio Show titled Miranda DEVINE (I've never heard of her) She was quoted as saying Graham ASHTON was 'completely hopeless'. Given his background in the AFP, NOT community policing. I spoke to an ex NSWPOL/Narcotics Invest. in Customs/ and former Commander (rtd.) from the Feds. Why Graham ASHTON was selected for the Bali Bombing, he confirmed (i) his ability to speak the lingo (II) and as a former L.O. he was familiar with the Indonesian policing hierarchy. Not for his investigative of forensic abilities.

You can believe this or not, frankly I couldn't care less...Most 'State' police forces in this country, have very little regard for the AFP. They're (the AFP) are known by many uncomplimentary epithets. Chief among them; 'the plastics' among other less complimentary names.

STEELEREDUX, when as a detective sergeant, I worked on a number of joint task forces with the Feds. For the most part, they're good people (individually). One particularly large drug importation job I was I/C of a squad of NSWPOL detectives, coupled with a squad of Fed. Investigators. Their Agent I/C was a nice sort of young bloke in his late thirties. In general conservation it emerged - he himself, had never actually made an arrest !? I was gobsmacked, in fact I didn't initially believe him?

Later enquiries revealed this is not that unusual. The Feds are split in two. One deals with Federal crime. The other's are the police for the ACT (Canberra). Apparently they undertake the normal community role in the Territory and yes their arrest records would be like anywhere else in Oz, proportionate to the population I would imagine.

o sung wu,

SR is beyond reasoning, and your experience is wasted on him. While most people learn more as they mature, SR seems to get sillier with each post. Perhaps a traumatic experience froze his development.

yep crime statistics are down. I mean when you could leave your car and house unlocked it was much more dangerous. Who really pays these corrupt researchers to invent statistics (sorry lies) to deny crime rates in ghettos created largely by failed immigration policies. Only a brainwashed leftie convincing themselves of their sick failed narratives could believe such c=ap. Same people who deny the reasons for the murder rate in London now surpassing New York. Nothing to do with muslim population is it guys?

G'day there TTBN...

Yeah you're right I reckon, though I'm not trying to vilify Graham ASHTON at all. It's just a Commissioner is your top man and everything he does can affect big time what the troops do. There's not a man or women in the job who can claim they 'DON'T fear/respect the Commissioners power. Police Commissioners exercise enormous power over their troops. The police force is very much a para-military organisation, and it's run along similar lines. If the rank 'n file have no respect for the man, well the job can deteriorate markedly. Thanks mate!

//Recreate yourself as 'Jim': that'll muck 'em up.//

You'd hope so, but I suspect it would only be a matter of time before I got called 'Gym' or something along those lines.

But I guess I could go for something that's a bit more idiot-proof, I dunno, 'qqqq' or something. I'm sure even bright sparks like SM would have their work cut out for them messing that up.

.... But as it turns out this website does not appear to let you change your username. I wish I could say I'm surprised to come across such a glaring design flaw, but I'm used to OLO's little quirks now. In some way, they're charmingly quaint. Mostly just annoying though.

Dear o sung wu,

You said;

“I repeat, in the opinion of many in VICPOL that I know, Mr ASHTON is the worst Commissioner in their memories.”

Well no, this is the first time you have claimed it. Until now your only assessment of him was when the two of you attended a training course when he was in his early 20s. I compared that to the assessment of someone who served directly under him when he was in the AFP in a senior role.

Now forgive me if I take the assessment of your Vicpol contacts with a grain of salt. There has always been deep resentment within some of the members whenever an 'outsider' is appointed chief commissioner. Simon Overland also came from the AFP and faced serious undermining from within.

You insinuated that Ashton only got the Bali job because of his fluency of the language. Well that fluency came through application and determination to be as thorough and professional in his role as LO as he could. I pretty sure that task would have thrown most people but he made sure it was part of his skill set. While I think it would have been a factor there is no way he would have got the Bali role if he didn't tick a lot of the other boxes as well.

Cont