PSA Podcast - The Frontline of Justice: Inside the NSW Sheriff's Office

Assistant General Secretary Troy Wright sits down with Glenn Elliott-Rudder, a Wagga Wagga-based Sheriff's Officer and PSA delegate, to discuss the realities of working in the New South Wales Sheriff's Office. As the oldest law enforcement body in the state, established in 1824, Glenn explains that the lineage of the role actually traces back to Anglo-Saxon times, long predating the classic American Western sheriff.

A massive part of a Sheriff's day-to-day job is protecting the justice system. This includes screening visitors for weapons, managing juries, and de-escalating situations with highly emotional or agitated people inside the courthouse. Beyond the courthouse walls, Sheriffs are also responsible for enforcing civil orders. This challenging work involves serving legal documents like divorce papers, chasing down debts, and carrying out property evictions.

The complexities of the job have increased significantly in recent years. Officers frequently find themselves managing confrontations with anti-government "sovereign citizens," as well as dealing with individuals affected by illicit drugs or experiencing mental health crises. The episode also breaks down the recent, highly successful industrial action taken by Sheriff's Officers across the state. Through collective union action and striking, members secured a vital reclassification of their roles and a significant pay raise that finally reflects the true dangers and demands of their profession.

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