St Kilda - The Police Association Victoria

St Kilda
A Dynamic Workplace
“Dynamic,” “Diverse”, “The best in the Force”. That’s how
Acting Inspector John Hauer describes the people at the St
Kilda Police Station. Once bedevilled by a poor reputation
and facing real problems, St Kilda is now a sought after
workplace where workload and morale are both high.
victoria police association journal, february 2005
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The diversity of the people living in the response zone
means that members experience a variety of policing issues
in a short time at St. Kilda. Many of the members here are
young and inexperienced in policing terms (at times up to 65 percent
of the station’s strength has been made up of probationary
constables) but what they lack in experience they more than make
up for in enthusiasm and commitment. They work with a smile
on their face, sometimes under very adverse circumstances.
“What we’ve developed here in recent years is an extraordinary
team approach,” explains the officer in charge, Senior Sergeant
John Hauer. “We have a great pool of sergeants here, a great pool
of sub-officers. And the senior constables and leading senior constables
are hard working and team orientated. The members get
great experience, great guidance and commitment from the more
senior members.”
Some long serving members will remember the days when there
was a real stigma attached to working at St Kilda. Detective Senior
Sergeant Terry Kane from the St Kilda CIU says that due to the
actions of a few, in the past, a lot of embarrassment was brought
onto the office. There has been a significant cultural change here
and a complete turn over of staff.
“The true fact of the matter is the place has changed and the
members that are here are extremely motivated, dedicated, hard
Acting Inspector John Hauer, and Acting Senior Sergeants Mark Delahunty and Jo Dolan
The CIU – Senior Detectives Nick Carmichael, Chris Hale and Paul Shoots with
Detective Senior Sergeant Terry Kane and Melissa Hamme
working and honest,” he says. “We’ve got really good people here
and if you join the job to be a policeman or policewoman it is not
a bad place to work – you are, fair dinkum doing the job.”
While the suburb has changed a lot in recent years it still has its
traditional problems – street prostitution and drug dealing. And
there are the associated problems – everything from armed robbery
and assault to wilful damage and thefts of and from cars.
“The number of street sex workers hasn’t decreased over the years.
They are still there, out of necessity. Naturally enough the associated
dealings that come with that – drug trafficking and associated crimes
– still occur.”
To deal with the street sex workers, the police have been an
active partner in the introduction of a problem solving court once a
month. All the support services are represented and the defendants
are dealt with taking their problems – be they drugs or others –
into account. This way a more long term solution might be found
rather than issuing a penalty notice and forcing the street workers
back onto the streets to pay the fine.
The police at St Kilda have created a phenomenal reduction in
some of the key crime categories…assault and robbery in the
street has been reduced by 75 percent. Theft of and from motor
cars has been reduced by 50 percent. There has been a total
reported crime reduction of 50 percent in the last five years. These
are outstanding statistics.
“This just shows the commitment, enthusiasm and hard work of
the members at this station,” says John Haeur with obvious pride.
“Our members are very innovative in addressing crime issues,
providing a top quality service to the community.”
“Members who come to this station don’t just work the watchhouse
and the van. They get exposed to plain clothes work, specific
crime targeting operations as well as the traditional foot and

Photos – Greg Noakes
Shannon Paterson, Kylie Jones and James Miller – the backbone of the station
bike patrols. We encourage members to seek secondment to
enhance their career opportunities and their personal skills and
competencies.”
As well as the strong commitment to the development and
reward of people there is a commitment to their welfare.
“We care about each other. Everyone has families at home and
we take that into account with rosters and the request book. We
are committed to finding a balance for the members between
operational requirements and their own family lives.”
John Hauer puts his concern for his troops’ welfare down to his
early days in the job 28 years ago…when “there was a strong
commitment to each other”. Over the years he has seen times
when that support hasn’t been there. “Without people’s commitment,
enthusiasm and drive there is nothing.”
“Over the years I have learned what is important when truly
managing and leading people. At the end of the day, family and
loved ones come first. Work is important and we do a tremendous
job and an important job, but welfare has got to come first.”
As well as an active peer support program operating at St Kilda
there is a comprehensive internal welfare system. Every member
with a welfare issue is allocated a sub-officer to help, as well as
their peers. These more experienced members can assist with a
more organisational view of support, like putting them in touch
with services provided by The Police Association.
This personal support doesn’t end at the end of the shift. If need
be, members can contact any of the station’s management team of
Constable Paul Glew
senior sergeants and sergeants, 24 hours a day. And the support
doesn’t just relate to work problems. The members help each
other through relationship breakdowns, personal crises, the deaths
of loved ones and severe illnesses.
“We have a strong philosophy here that welfare doesn’t just
relate to the job. Welfare is welfare. We are one big family and
family comes first here at St. Kilda.”
This close knit family includes the four unsworn members of
staff. “They are very much part of the team effort.”
St Kilda has one of the highest concentrations of welfare and
support services which in turn attract a great number of people
suffering mental health and other problems. At the station there is
a high number of ‘walk-ins’ with complaints ranging from armed
robbery and rape to mental health issues. And the van crews can
deal with up to 30 jobs in a shift.
On the top of the street sex workers, the drug dealing and high
volume of mental health issues to deal with there are the normal
policing issues – burglary and theft. There is a large transient population
– including backpackers. They don’t cause problems for
the police but they do become victims, mainly because they are
unaware of their surroundings.
There is no disputing that St Kilda is a busy station and after
spending even a few hours here, there is no disputing it is a happy
station. While it is busy there is a definite sense of caring about
the place. Little wonder nearly 50 members applied for each of the
last two sergeant’s vacancies.
Constables Jeff Chapman and Gary Steel in the Watchhouse
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