WA Police Confidential (Formerly Operation Podcast)
The official WA Police Force Podcast
WA Police Confidential (Formerly Operation Podcast)
Ep 27 - Suspected Murder Victim Never Reported Missing
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Episode 27 of WA Police Confidential! The official WA Police Force Podcast.
On this week’s show:
- Superintendent Amber Harvey from Perth Police Station talks us through NightSafe operations in the CBD !
- Hear directly from some of Perth's brightest young artists about their ideas for the WA Police Force through the Let's Join Forces Drawing Competition.
- We revisit a missing persons case that goes back all the way to 2001 with the disappearance of Rebecca Delalande. Senior Constable Dan Ryan talks us through a fascinating cold case.
And much more !
This podcast discusses real life crimes and law enforcement matters. It may include detailed descriptions of criminal activity, traumatic incidents, and other content that could be confronting or distressing, particularly for victim survivors. Listener discretion is advised. If you find any of these topics upsetting, please consider whether this content is right for you and seek support if needed.
SPEAKER_04Welcome to WA Police Confidential, the official podcast with the Western Australia Police Force. I'm one of your hosts, Joey Katanzari. And I'm Sergeant Nate Gilmore. One of other of our hosts.
SPEAKER_06And I'm Maya Grave.
SPEAKER_04Also a host. And in this episode, we'll bring you some details of a missing person's case and how, even though we haven't found a body, police officers working on that case suspect it is actually a homicide. It's quite interesting and it's quite detailed.
SPEAKER_02We'll be kidding up and heading out on patrol in Perth's Entertainment Precinct. We're joined by Superintendent Amber Harvey to talk more about the efforts of Perth police with their night safe deployment, seeing firsthand how police are keeping our streets safe after dark.
SPEAKER_04Street chaplains. And the street chaplains. Yeah, and other partners out there who may or may not be good at rapping.
SPEAKER_06Absolutely. And we'll also take a look at our agency's drawing competition ahead of this year's Perth Royal Show. The winner receiving the ultimate show and tell.
SPEAKER_04You'll find out what that is a bit later, right, Nate? Yeah, definitely.
SPEAKER_06And that's all coming up this week. This is Confidential. Welcome to WA Police Confidential. Our next guest knows a thing or two about patience, persistence, and piecing together the smallest details. Detective Senior Constable Dan Ryan was part of the cold case investigation into the disappearance of Rebecca Delande, a young woman who vanished in 2001 and was never reported missing until 17 years later.
SPEAKER_04Dan, um if I may just quickly just butt in and ask a question.
SPEAKER_07Yeah.
SPEAKER_04What's what do we know about the disappearance? Um can you kind of fill us in on the sort of the story, the backstory, if you will?
SPEAKER_12Uh so the backstory was that uh in 2017 uh we were doing another investigation regarding um the disappearance of Lisa Brown. Lisa disappeared from uh outside the Northbridge Hotel uh in 1998, and Rebecca was uh a friend or associate of Lisa. Uh we tried to contact Rebecca and couldn't find her, there was no answer, um there was no current addresses for her, so basically her whereabouts were unknown. Uh our intel um officers did a little bit of a intel scrape and uh realized that uh there was basically nothing for her um since 2001.
SPEAKER_04Wow, so okay, so just to to clarify, so Lisa Brown disappears. Uh and in the course of trying to to find her, you've then gone and and realized that her friend, who was also a I guess a young vulnerable woman, is missing. She's not been she hasn't been seen for for yeah, 17 years, I think you said Maya. Yeah. Wow. That is that that sounds quite unusual.
SPEAKER_12It is unusual, and uh, I guess the question that most people ask is like, well, why hasn't someone reported someone missing um in that period of time? It why did it take police to realize that she was missing? Uh surely family and friends would have said something. Um effectively what happened was that because Rebecca had a really uh troubled teenage years um uh where she spiraled into uh drugs um and offending that comes with using drugs. So uh we're talking hardcore uh heroin uh back there in the in the late 90s. Um and with that lifestyle, she basically just uh estranged herself from her mother, her sister, uh, and the rest of the family who had really just sort of had enough because they were getting late-night phone calls about the next uh thing that had happened in Rebecca's life. Uh and there was a a decision where Rebecca stopped calling and they just were kind of distanced themselves because of the city.
SPEAKER_04It's a sad, sad story, and it you know, drugs uh can can have this effect on families, um, you know, and and certainly um for for those that, as we know, um have an addict in the family, it it's almost like they're not that person anymore, their daughter or their sister. Um they're you know they're changed by that addiction, if you will. Um so so so basically she didn't really have uh a network, a support network around her because of those um those factors, and so no one had clocked that she was gone.
SPEAKER_12No, and uh I think there was some uh the rumors that uh that she'd moved to the eastern states, and so um I think everyone who had previously been family and friends had got sort of taken that as true, um, that she moved to the eastern states, and uh, you know, that's where she was, and she just hadn't bothered to contact family or friends anymore in West Australia. So that's why uh there was an assumption made that she was over there and that uh and the reason why she wasn't declared a missing person prior to uh 2017.
SPEAKER_04So what what then did made you decide, okay, this is actually suspicious. She hasn't moved to the eastern states. What what was it that you clocked that sort of basically roused your sus you know suspicion?
SPEAKER_12Initially, so we uh we asked the question like because she was a significant significant witness for the Lisa Brown investigation. Normally we would touch, try and find someone in interstate and we would make inquiries and maybe even travel there to find them. If the if a if a witness is significant enough, we'll we'll make those efforts to find them to get information, particularly if it's relating to a uh say a homicide investigation. We did a a full uh intel scrape, if you will, of all the births, deaths, and marriages around the country. Um, and there was no change of name uh or anything along those lines. Um and there was no other offending either. So Rebecca's when we did the victimology for Rebecca, right up until the point that she uh went missing, Rebecca constantly had contact with police.
SPEAKER_03Yep.
SPEAKER_12Um that pattern of behavior did not show anywhere else in Australia. So we looked at and said, well, either this person's changed their life totally, or they they would blip on the radar, apply for a you know, a driver's license, register a car. Um, none of these things came up in interstate, um, which then started to raise suspicions that, you know, okay, well, what else is there that you know tells us that um what does a person need to live and get through life and leave a digital footprint?
SPEAKER_02And that's quite hard. Back in the 90s, there wasn't, you know, the luxury of mobile phones or Facebook. Yeah. So just really trying to track her uh last movements through any means possible. And and that takes a lot of time and effort, doesn't it?
SPEAKER_04What did you what did you come up with? I guess is probably you know what what did what was the scenario where where you sort of realized this was the last time she'd been seen?
SPEAKER_12Uh so so from there, uh once we started to do look at that and we didn't find any movement in any other states, and we also obviously checked uh whether she departed the country as well. So from there we we had a bit of a break. So we searched uh the old uh there's been a change in database. So the old archival data store, which holds all um information that prior to uh 2002, um it's the old informate uh offense information system, criminal records, lockup admissions. Um so from that search we found um a bank account, which then we did an order to produce um to that particular bank. Uh and normally bank records are called are only held for seven years and they're destroyed.
SPEAKER_02Yep.
SPEAKER_12Um by some fluke, uh the bank involved had not destroyed the um bank statements for Rebecca from pretty much from 2000 through to 2000 and the end of 2001. So that was a big break because effectively it showed all the transactions that uh Rebecca had done, her expenditures over the time and where those expenditures were, um, which showed a pattern of behaviour. Um and there was an interesting one that in that spending pattern of behavior, which was mostly in Perth, but then there was a uh an expenditure that was uh happening in Linster, uh, which was outside her pattern of behaviour. Like, why would she be out there?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, mining town in regional western Australia, it's quite quite a significant distance.
SPEAKER_12And and not only that, it it appeared to be uh look like uh expenditure for two weeks and then return to Perth. So it kind of looked like a FIFO swing when you when you looked at it. Our understanding, like, and we've done uh settling uh searches with um and ATO searches with Rebecca, um, that she was in and out of employment, but she never had an enlisted that was for a FIFO job. Um so moving on from that, we uh we spoke to all the ex-boyfriends. Uh we had that that mindset of of uh let's look at every ex-boyfriend and see account for where they were.
SPEAKER_02So as part of the investigation, Dan, um you've interviewed uh a number of associates of uh Rebecca's and um one of them was the uh ex-boyfriend, I believe.
SPEAKER_12Yes, that's correct.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, did did anything significant come from that?
SPEAKER_12Uh yeah, so there was when we uh spoke to the ex-boyfriend, uh initially he downplayed his uh relationship with her. Um but uh we did locate a uh an old Crime Stoppers report um that was linked to an address that uh after doing inquiries, uh we know that both Rebecca and the ex-boyfriends were um staying at for a certain amount of time. Uh the Crime Stoppers report, which was from there, uh, basically said that a um a female had uh died at that house and that uh this person and the ex-boyfriends uh were involved.
SPEAKER_02Wow. Okay, we might just pause it there because that's that's a real breakthrough. So um what we might do is we'll cut to a quick break and um we'll come pick that up right after this.
SPEAKER_04This is confidential. Dan, you you now have a suspect. Can you talk us through what happens next?
SPEAKER_12Yeah, so basically we again because uh we don't have a lot of physical material, uh we looked back over um Rebecca's movements again. Uh and uh also the movements of the boyfriend uh at the time uh that had been nominated. Uh and so what we started to look at was that there was a lot more involvement between uh Rebecca and her boyfriend than what had previously been mentioned uh at the start of the missing person investigation. Uh so what happens from there is we went back to uh one of the uh the witnesses who were at the house and were the basis of his Crime Stoppers report. So basically, that uh a girl had been taken out of a house uh in Seville Grove uh and the people involved who got away with it. So we identified the occupants of the house who confirmed that Rebecca and her boyfriends of the time uh did stay there uh infrequently, um and that they had a room in the house. Um and they confirmed uh part of the uh of that crime stoppers report that um the boyfriend had carried uh Rebecca from the house and put her in the car saying that uh that he was taking her to the hospital.
SPEAKER_04Oh okay. Well that's pretty significant.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and was that like from an anonymous tip from Crime Stoppers?
SPEAKER_12Yeah, so uh when we get uh Crime Stoppers reports, so we try to trace it back, but in this case we uh our search was exhausted, we could not find uh who the original source of that information was. Um and it's never been um it's never been identified who the anonymous source was.
SPEAKER_04So potentially if you are listening right now or if you know someone who knows something about this, it could be extremely important that you come forward and and chat with police. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, even all those years later, like if you've still got a little piece of information and you think the police might know that it may not actually be the case. So every every bit counts. Um, and again, as as Dan's explained, you can you can remain anonymous.
SPEAKER_04Um so Dan, is this is this then the last kind of supposed sighting of her alive, or at least of her?
SPEAKER_12Yes. Um, so basically by going through some other things such as her Medicare history, we were able to establish that the other from another point where she was actually cited was going to a dental um appointment uh in those last days uh before she has that final transaction. Um and that was uh a source where we we looked at and said, yes, we know that she attended that appointment. Uh and we did a uh social media or a media release at the time saying when we started the missing persons uh investigation saying this is the last known sighting of her. Um the difficulty being that that uh original Crime Stoppers report saying that she was carried out of the house. Um the witnesses because it uh for the time that elapsed uh were unsure of the exact date that that incident happened. As knowing that was late 2001, but not knowing a specific date.
SPEAKER_04Um okay. All right. So let's let's move it forward. At what point then did you or did say uh investigators, police uh think this is a suspected homicide? Was this the point where you where you were convinced?
SPEAKER_12Yes, uh, so in this investigation, some of the witnesses uh uh gave us uh basically uh feeding us information. So in the initial engagement, they gave us information um that uh the boyfriend knew Rebecca um and confirmed that they'd lived at the house. And then uh as we progressed with the investigation, uh we went back to uh one of the housemates who then uh gave us information that uh that the boyfriend had made a confession to him that uh he didn't take um Rebecca to the hospital and that uh he had um actually disposed of her body.
SPEAKER_04Okay. All right. Now I probably should, and I think we because uh I uh it needs to be said that somebody was charged, somebody was acquitted as well of of her murder. Um let's that's correct. Yeah, I I think probably the best thing to do now is to move forward to today. What are we looking for now? What's the situation now?
SPEAKER_12So the situation is now that uh Rebecca still remains uh as a missing person. And if you go onto the Crime Stoppers webpage, you can see information um regarding uh her what she looked like at the time um and her age and the circumstances, and it mentions that dental appointment that she went to. Um and really it would be uh a call for any other information that after uh as part of that whole investigation and uh the subsequent trial, there was because it generated media attention, there were people that came forward uh who said that they may have seen her um at certain places, but um further inquiries from those people who came forward uh couldn't say that that those sightings or confirmed that those sightings were after November of 2001. Uh so effectively what we're looking for is uh anything, any information that would uh basically put her um again, she's sighted uh in Highgate around uh when she's claimed to have uh been dropped off. Um and anyone else who has any information about her from that point on to now, um look, a person uh who is alive and well, uh coming back to that whole idea of a digital footprint, couldn't progress through 17 years without going to the doctor uh to um uh engaging with various government services uh or anything along those lines.
SPEAKER_02So she's essentially vanished without a trace, and uh someone out there actually knows something, but they they yet to come forward, or you know, they they might be sitting on information from 25 years ago and it might now might be the time to come forward with that information.
SPEAKER_04I want to just play devil's advocate for a second here. Is there a is there a particular reason why we don't, you know, but there look obviously foul play is is one option. Is there is there an another is there any other options that were considered around this time that maybe she has gone somewhere and she might have been let's say she was walking in the bush and she might have you know fallen and hurt herself? I mean, it had you looked at those possibilities as well?
SPEAKER_12She's not the person who was an avid bushwalker or anything along those lines. Uh we we considered uh things like uh what was her mental state at the time and her mental health. What was there any suicidal tendencies which we didn't identify? Uh it was looked at that the activities that she was doing prior to her disappearance, like getting her teeth done um and doing various things in life didn't really didn't match up. Suggested some suggested somebody who was who was looking forward in life and not someone who was who was planning, say, for the future. Um and not uh so that's why uh that was considered, but it seemed to be unlikely. So if anyone had any uh information to the contrary of that that says that um we're happy to hear.
SPEAKER_04Yep. No, no, no. Look, I just I just had to ask a question. And just quickly, I just want to put in um look if you or someone you know is um is struggling, uh you can call Lifeline on 131114. That's 1311. Uh mate, um, I I guess look, we we have um one more question, and it's it's terrible that um this has remained uh one of those unsolved cases, sadly, for so many years. I I'm just curious because you mentioned Lisa Brown and her disappearance, which sparked you know everything that that came after. Did what was do was there an outcome in that particular missing person's case?
SPEAKER_12Uh I believe there isn't an outcome and it's still uh unsolved.
SPEAKER_04Wow. Okay. Okay. Um Well, I guess that doubly kind of reinforces the point that if you know something about either of these two very vulnerable women who uh have disappeared without a trace, all crime stoppers.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, you can do that by calling 1-800-3330000 or going online to Crimestoppers WA.com.au. And as we've mentioned, you can remain anonymous. Every piece of information counts. And uh you may be actually providing some uh some answers for the families that are still holding on to some hope to know where their loved ones have gone.
SPEAKER_04And look, I've just and I've just double checked. And you are right, Dan, that Lisa Lisa Jane Brown is still missing. I'm looking at a photo of her right now on the Crime Stoppers website, and you know, she just she looks so young. Um there's a million dollar reward there um for her uh uh for any information that might lead to um the case being cracked. Uh and she disappeared, it looks like on the 10th of November 1998 at 19 years of age. Uh shocking um actually. Please, if you know something, please get in touch. Um Dan is there anything that we've missed that you you you think is important for us to know?
SPEAKER_12Uh just as an investigator, uh any information is vital and sometimes little things uh may seem insignificant to somebody, but uh it forms part of a bigger picture of what happened to someone telling that story. So um if people have anything in that relation to that, we're happy to hear it. Uh and from there we try and validate um and add it to a big picture of what happened to that person.
SPEAKER_04Thank you very much, Bain, and thank you to all of the team, to all of the officers who've worked on this over the years, and certainly um yeah, I want to say thanks in advance to that person from the community who I hope is coming forward with the with that missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle. This is confidential.
SPEAKER_00All units, the WA police force is looking for people, all kinds of people. People in the tech, into cardia, into four-wheel driving, dog people, and horse people, people who like motorbikes, pushbikes, planes, helicopters, and boats. People who are big on community, helping others and solving true crime, not just watching it, you know. Ordinary people who are up for doing extraordinary things. If you could be one of these people, you've found your people.
SPEAKER_02Search Let's Join Forces. You're listening to WA Police Confidential. Recent high-profile incidents in Northbridge and the Perth CBD have attracted significant attention, raising questions as to whether or not Perth's Premier Entertainment District is safe. Is it a really dangerous place? What are police doing to prevent violence and keep the community safe? Are there genuine causes for concern? To answer all of those questions, we're joined by District Superintendent Amber Harvey. Ma'am, thanks for joining us. No, thanks for having me. Um, yeah, Saturday night, I think there was an exclusive story in the news. Um, some high profile assaults recently. We've had some woundings as well. Um coward punches. Yeah, coward punches. It's is is it is it the Wild West out there? What's happening in Perth?
SPEAKER_05It's definitely uh it's definitely not the Wild West. I think that's um a bad reputation that it's been getting. Um we are seeing that the uh Friday and Saturday nights, the numbers that are coming into the city are still as the numbers that we normally get in the summer. So we're people are willing to come into the city, they're enjoying nights out, um, which is great for what the city is there for. They've activated the spaces, everyone's coming in, and it's just a select few that are coming in wanting to cause trouble, um, not managing their alcohol use and then engaging in those altercations that's giving it the bad reputation that it is. So we have had a few isolated incidents, but that's not the general um behaviour, what we see all the time in the areas.
SPEAKER_04I have a question. Um, what would you say is the average age of the the the sort of the the Northbridge city kind of punter revela uh on a Saturday night, Friday, Saturday night?
SPEAKER_05It really does var vary. Like I've been out there and I've seen right from probably 18 to sort of 21-year-olds, it's probably the vast group, but we're also seeing a lot of the older generation come back as well. So they are out there, there are going to some of the new establishments that are there, the little bars and the little quaint ones that are within Northbridge. Um so we are definitely seeing some of the older crew come back as well.
SPEAKER_04And is there any anything in terms of any consistency across which demographics are kind of causing the problems? Young, old, everyone?
SPEAKER_05It's generally our younger ones, and surprisingly, a lot of females um involved in altercations as well. Um, it's generally stemming from issues that are happening within the license premises, so they all have a little bit of a um stare at one another, or someone said something to the boyfriend, or whatever it may be, and then they're generally engaging in some little altercations as well.
SPEAKER_04So okay, I'm actually surprised by that, Abbott, because I thought potentially that the offenders would all be old guys over the age of 40 who are just really angry like me. Bitter about things. But so young people.
SPEAKER_05It's definitely, yeah, definitely the young one. It's a real mixture between the young ones, um, to the females and the males that are engaging in it. So the girls are probably just as bad as the blokes and half of them.
SPEAKER_02What's the um the sort of circumstances? Is it like too much alcohol? Is it drugs? Is it both? Is it just angry people?
SPEAKER_05I think it's the alcohol. Um, I think it's um the level of anger, and I think people not dealing with that emotion properly. Um, I think that's what it is. It's not having the respect for one another. Um, to just, you know, if something happens, just to ignore it and let people enjoy their nights out. It seems to be we're quite reactive to some of them are. Um, but it's definitely, I think, the alcohol fuel that does it makes people's aggression probably spike a little bit more.
SPEAKER_02Are you finding that um preloading is a big problem?
SPEAKER_05Yes. Yeah. So I've been out there, I've done a few patrols on a Friday and Saturday night with the crew to see what it is actually like. Um, and I was pretty surprised at you know, 9:30 at night, and there's already people wobbling around or sitting up against walls because they're intoxicated.
SPEAKER_049.30 is very late for me, anyway. For us it is. 9:30 is the end of the night, right? No.
SPEAKER_06No.
SPEAKER_04No.
SPEAKER_02For those that aren't aware what preloading is, yeah.
SPEAKER_06So it's just um having a couple drinks before you get to the city or to wherever you are heading out to.
SPEAKER_04Of course, you know that only in the academic sense. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, my my studies.
SPEAKER_04Uh yes. And look, and not to detract from the excellent work that your your officers do in the CBD and Northbridge because they do, and like any precinct entertainment precinct in I would argue the world, it's always going to be a you know a challenging environment. It's pretty safe. And I'm and I'm genuinely I'm I'm I I mean this uh looking at it even uh from um from you know more than a decade ago. There are so many police officers there. Like you you you basically can't turn around without bumping into five police officers.
SPEAKER_05Yeah. No, we have um extensive resources in there, particularly on a Friday, Saturday night. That's how the bulk of the work that we do. But not only do we have the boots on the ground, we've also got our camera room. So we have police stationed with the City of Perth City um watch room uh where they're monitoring the cameras um in the area. So if they're seeing things then or they're seeing groups escalating, they're seeing that behaviour, the tension bubbling over, they'll direct the resources to there to st intervene before it does escalate. So whilst we might not have an officer on that corner, we've likely got a camera that we're watching and we'll get there as quickly as we can if something happens.
SPEAKER_04There's over 800, isn't there?
SPEAKER_05Yeah, over 800 cameras from the city of Perth.
SPEAKER_04Wow. Uh look, we don't usually talk about policing numbers, but there's a lot there's a lot in that in the district, especially in uh those, I guess, high traffic times when people are out doing their thing, going to the disco. Dis talk a little disco? No, that's right. The disco tech. The disco disco tech. Um okay, in all seriousness, so we're looking at um, I think in some of these really more serious ones that I'm gonna put the serious hat on, uh response time can be seconds. It can be seconds.
SPEAKER_12Yes.
SPEAKER_04But those couple of seconds, you can't, as as is often you know remarked upon by many police officers, you can't be right there all the time. And you could be seconds away, and someone does one of these horrible coward punches, and in those few seconds lives are lost or changed forever. Yes.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, yeah, definitely. And you know, from the crew, they're often standing opposite um locations, and people will have fights despite police being standing over the road watching. So there's only so much, I suppose, that we can do to intervene on those, and our response is that we'll get there as quickly as we can, and we intervene when we can, but there are going to be unfortunately those instances where we can't. Um, and it's just those split, like you said, split minute decisions that people are making that can impact people's lives.
SPEAKER_04Have you um uh I guess ever had like a situation where you have one of the offenders who you know in the moment has done terrible violence against somebody else, inexcusable violence, who's at some point during the process of being arrested and charged and maybe sobering up in a lockup and going to court has sort of realized holy moly, I've I've I've done something horrific to a human being and I've ruined my life.
SPEAKER_05I think majority do. I don't think people intentionally go in there thinking that I'm gonna throw a punch at someone that's gonna either put them in hospital, give them life-changing injuries, or potentially murder that person. I think it's they don't think that far ahead of the possible consequences. So they're just throwing punches thinking that it's just gonna be a one punch and it's just gonna land a cheeky blow on someone's face or whatever it may be, but not thinking ahead to well, if that person falls over and knocks their head, um, then they could potentially die from that injury.
SPEAKER_02So are most of these um these matters uh to people known to each other, or are they random attacks? Are they a mixture of both?
SPEAKER_05Some of them are a mixture of both. Some are they are known with each other. So some are random, which is spiral from conflict that they've had within licensed premises or out earlier in the night, and then they bump into each other and then they just react um by throwing that one punch at somebody.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, there's been plenty of times in my former life as a reporter where I've spoken to people who've been the victim of these horrendous attacks or all their grieving families. And you know, it's it is yeah.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, it's it's not only the victim, it is, as you said, the families that, you know, life-changing for these families.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02I just want to touch on quickly. Um, we mentioned the policing um resources that go into a Friday and a Saturday night, but um, we we gave a little shout out during the um ride along on uh Friday night for some of the support services that help out. Um, do you want to talk to them just quickly?
SPEAKER_05Yeah, so we obviously work with a lot of support agencies because we can't do it all on our own. Um we acknowledge that, and that's why we get those support agencies with us. So we've got the street chaplains, which are an invaluable source for us. So they're the um teams that go around and they look after a lot of the intoxicated people, they provide them the care, they'll put them into cars and send them home. If it's um their phone batteries have died because that's cool.
SPEAKER_04Do they have like bling? I feel like they've got bling cross-ups. They got purple shots. That's pretty cool.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and do you know what? They don't they don't discriminate, like they they will help anyone of any religion, any background, anything like that. They're not there to preach, they're there to help, and they're volunteers.
SPEAKER_05And they're all volunteers, they're all coming in on a Friday, Saturday night. And they not only do they do it in Perth, they do it in Northbridge, they do it down in, I mean, sorry, Fremantle, they do it in Mandra, they've gone out to Kalgooli.
SPEAKER_04I feel like they're good at rapping too. They are, aren't they?
SPEAKER_02But I mean, like, they've got like port of power banks, if you've your flowing phone goes flat, it's not a policing issue, but we have people come to us all the time going, I'm stranded, I'm like, can't help you because we're dealing with an assault or something. So these guys are great.
SPEAKER_06How do people actually I don't know, if you're stuck out on the street and you know your phone is dead or you're too intoxicated, how do the chaplains find these people, or how do these people find these chaplains and support services?
SPEAKER_05So we work together with them. So we they come into our briefings on a Friday, Saturday night, they provide us with the mobile numbers for the teams, um, which is included onto our um tiles that we run to monitor the event. So their mobile numbers are yeah. And then we give them a call and we just say, look, we've got this person that needs some help, um, and they'll come over straight away and help and provide what they can do.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, so if you are ever stuck out in the city for whatever reason, you can always go up to a police officer and they'll be able to find someone who can help you.
SPEAKER_05Yes, yep. So if you can't find the street chaplains, the street chaplains are quite visible. Um they do wear the purple shirts and they can see them walking around and they're very visible within the area. But if you can't see them, then find a police officer and we will contact the street chaplains for you and they'll come and provide some support.
SPEAKER_02Oh well, okay. Sorry.
SPEAKER_04I mean it could be though in an instant, really. That's the whole thing. They're ready to roll, they could bless, they could yeah, bless and go. Um, hey Maya, I as the um the slightly younger uh member of this uh this particular podcast session, slightly by like 20 years or something, uh something like that. Um what about so why is it in your experience do you do you think that there's a lot of teenagers going to Northbridge and why are they going in there?
SPEAKER_06I that's tricky because I think when you're a teenager, you think going into the city, going into Northbridge, like it's party, it's fun, it's all the nice lights and colours and drinking and all those things that really appeal to young people in one area. Shiny things, shiny things, right? And you know, as a 18-year-old, your first experience most of the time is going into Northbridge for a clubbing experience. And you kind of if you have a good experience, you'll continue to go there until you know you're 30 years old and don't want to go clubbing anymore. Um, but if you have a bad experience, that one bad experience is what turns you off straight away. So I think and then they'll try and find somewhere else to go, you know. But every time that I've gone out to the city, I've had a great time. And, you know, there's so many police officers there, there are so many people out there that are looking out for you so that even if you did have a bad experience, someone will try and help you as soon as possible.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, yeah. That said, it's never a consolation, is it, to the people who unfortunately are victims of crime. Um and but like as you said, um unfortunately police can't always be prevented. We can respond to the problems and we can lock people up. But it's tough in that preventative space.
SPEAKER_05It is, yeah. And that's why I think it's you know, a lot of it is on the community, it's a lot of it's showing respect to one another out there and being kind, you know, that messaging of being kind. Um we do hold offenders account if we can. We'll investigate thoroughly for those that do are victims of crime. Um, but we can't do it on our own. And we do need the support from the community just to be nice to one another.
SPEAKER_04Yep. And I and I think, you know, I'd I also would like to thank those who who have actually been a victim of crime or their families who have stood up in the media and and you know and through other channels and have told their story. Because I think it's important that people realise that the this is a re the the consequences of this sort of violence are real, that that you could be facing serious jail time that you're gonna have to live with the fact that maybe somebody someone's never going home to their kids or or whatever the case may be. Um again, the stats are pretty good though, aren't they?
SPEAKER_05They are the stats are very good, and I think um it's that perception over reality. Our um stats are lower than this year than they were this time last year. Um we're locking more people up. Um, so it's not as bad as what it may feel like or seem. Um I go for a run around the city every morning at 5 a.m. and I see um elderly people going for walks as well. Um, and nothing says to me that we've created a safe environment if those types of people are willing to go for a walk through per CBD at five o'clock in the morning because they feel safe enough to do that.
SPEAKER_04So I was worried you were gonna say you walked you ran past me.
SPEAKER_05But no, I think um yeah, I think it's a safe place. I don't think it's as bad as what it seems to be, and we are out there 24-7.
SPEAKER_04Well, I guess that's a really good note to end on. Um, and I just want to say, what about what about we asked a pipe band to just remind everybody, especially the young women who apparently are fighting, that girls just want to have fun by Cindy Lauper? Is that a good is that okay? Can they even play that?
SPEAKER_06I'd be impressed if they could.
SPEAKER_04Only with your blessing would we go down that road.
SPEAKER_06No problem. We we can do that. I'm happy with that.
SPEAKER_04Girls just want to have fun by Cindy Lorfer. Thank you very much for coming on the podcast and thank you to all of your officers who are out there on a weekend keeping everybody safe and doing their very best to respond to those very few idiotic people who continue to be vile in our community.
SPEAKER_05All right, thanks for having me.
SPEAKER_04This is WA Police Confidential.
SPEAKER_02This is WA Police Confidential. Now, for something a little bit more lighthearted, if you're a fan of police helicopters, donuts, flashing lights, or just getting creative with your colouring pencils, the WA Police Media and Corporate Comms team have have just run their colouring in competition for the Royal Show. We've received some fantastic entries from young artists across the state. And earlier we caught up with a few of the finalists to hear what inspired their creations. Just quickly, no, um, what what can they win? The ultimate show and tell prize, Joey.
SPEAKER_06And if you want to find out how to choose a winner, there'll be five finalists at the Royal Show Perth exhibition, where we'll have them displayed, and you get to vote on who you think deserves the winning the winning vote.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, and what is that ultimate show and tell?
SPEAKER_02I'm excited to announce this. It is a visit by the WA Police Air Wing Helicopter. It will land on your oval and you'll get to talk to the crew and uh have the ultimate show and tell session at your school.
SPEAKER_04That is actually amazing. That's pretty cool. Alright, let's uh let's see what they're gonna say. Yeah, Alicia, hi. Um, this is Joey. Can you tell us is this the police helicopter by any chance?
SPEAKER_11Um yeah, I tried to draw it with lots of detail and lots of rooms.
SPEAKER_04You have succeeded magnificently. I will say that, Alicia. Um can you tell us some of the rooms that you've you've added into the police helicopter?
SPEAKER_11Well, I've added it in some of the um people um could work out.
SPEAKER_04I I think they would love that. Yep.
SPEAKER_11Um added um a place where they could train.
SPEAKER_04Excellent, very practical.
SPEAKER_11And a hospital area, so if they were hurt, they could go there and get fixed up.
SPEAKER_04Oh, that's that's actually that's very sweet. Thank you, Alicia.
SPEAKER_11Um I also adding a staff room so staff can do have their food and and stuff. Um, and there's a food call for other prisoners as well.
SPEAKER_04Oh, well, that's that's nice because I know police do actually do their very best to take care of uh people. Um so I mean Alicia, have you ever considered maybe being an inventor? Because this is really clever. I mean, I don't think our current helicopter has any of these features, but I'll tell you what, maybe somebody should have thought of this before now. Have you ever thought about being an inventor?
SPEAKER_10Not really.
SPEAKER_04No? What are you thinking about doing when you get older?
SPEAKER_11Uh I want to be a marine biologist.
SPEAKER_04Oh wow. Well, I mean, if that doesn't work out, I'm just saying, Alicia, we do have police divers if you're interested.
unknownOkay.
SPEAKER_04Alicia, um, thank you so much. Guys, is there anything you'd like to ask about this excellent setup in the helicopter?
SPEAKER_02I just think the creativity is um second to none. It's it's it's pretty much covered everything. I do note though that the staff room is empty. Um, I'm wondering, Alicia, are all the police out on duty? Is that why it's empty?
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_04Perfect. Working hard, working hard, protecting their community. Or flying the helicopter. Or flying the helicopter, or working out in the gym. Oh, thank you so much, Alicia. Well, um, we don't know yet who who the finalists will be. Um, so regardless of whether you do or you don't make make that finalist category, I just want to say from us here at the podcast, we think you're a winner, and thank you so much. You're so cool.
SPEAKER_06Thank you.
SPEAKER_04Thanks, Alicia. See ya.
SPEAKER_06Right. So, our next drawing is by Olive. Olive, can you tell us how old you are and maybe one fun fact about yourself? What's your favorite colour, Olive?
SPEAKER_04Olive, I thought you were gonna say Olive was your favorite. Favourite colour.
SPEAKER_07Okay.
SPEAKER_06Um, Olive, we love your drawing. We think it's so creative. Um, I think Joey has one of the biggest questions about what we see on our drawing right in front of us.
SPEAKER_04Olive, is it okay if I ask you one question about the drawing?
unknownUh-huh.
SPEAKER_04Okay. Now, I got very excited because I and I actually showed the Commissioner of Police, Cole Blanchard, picture. Because, and I but I think I've I'm conf I'm not sure. So either I can see the helicopter, police helicopter, I can see police horses, I can see police dogs and police officers. And then right in the middle, there's one of two things, and I'm not sure what it is. It could be a police officer parachuting out of the helicopter to go and fight crime, or it could be a police officer with a with a hot air balloon on their back, which would mean that we'd have a balloon squad, which I quite like. Which one is it?
SPEAKER_10Um probably the first one.
SPEAKER_04The parachute. I still love the parachute. We don't have parachuting police officers that I'm aware of at the moment, but what do you guys think? Maya?
SPEAKER_02Nate?
SPEAKER_06It's very cool, I think.
SPEAKER_02I think we could we could definitely look at that and get officers into problem locations very quickly if we had parachutes. But I don't know if you'd find any coppers that are willing to jump into it.
SPEAKER_04Would you do it?
SPEAKER_02Um, I actually said I would never jump out of an aircraft, but um, look, if it's I'm getting paid to do it, maybe I will.
SPEAKER_04And looking at this cool picture, um, it's a really good idea. Um, Olive, what what was sort of what inspired you to draw this picture, if I may ask?
SPEAKER_08Uh I don't know.
SPEAKER_04Just just felt like it at on at the time.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_02I think um Olive's pretty keen to win the prize. I think that having a helicopter land on your school oval might be the ultimate prize, yeah.
SPEAKER_04Well, we don't we don't know when the winners will be uh well, the finalists will be announced um it uh basically during the royal show. And if you want to come down and say hello anyway, regardless, Olive, we think your picture is amazing. I just had one last question. If you had a choice of being a police officer and being in the helicopter, the parachute squad, which you've you've created, which I love. Olive's parachute squad. Uh the police mounted, so the horses, or with police canine unit with the dogs, which one would you choose?
SPEAKER_08Um maybe a helicopter.
SPEAKER_04Oh helicopter it is. Yeah. Okay, that's pretty cool. Olive, is there anything else you want to say before we leave you?
SPEAKER_08Don't think so.
SPEAKER_04Okay, all right.
SPEAKER_06Thanks, Olive.
SPEAKER_04Thanks, Olive. Thank you.
SPEAKER_06Bye.
SPEAKER_04Hi, Stevie. It's Joey and Nate here. How are you?
SPEAKER_09Good.
SPEAKER_04Okay. Well, let's start off with the basics. How old are you, Stevie?
SPEAKER_09Um, eight and a half.
SPEAKER_04Eight and a half. Well, I gotta say, your picture is magnificent. We all really love it. Can you um can you tell us if you can remember, what are some of the some of the things in your picture that you you included?
SPEAKER_08Um, well, I included a police stop and some going out, some police and a robber and a police car.
SPEAKER_04And and let me just say it is fantastic. Um and it appears to me that you've invented something here that we have been lacking in policing for a very long time. The helicopter. Now it appears to be delivering a donut. A giant donut. Is that is that about right, Stevie?
SPEAKER_08Yeah.
SPEAKER_04What was the idea behind that?
SPEAKER_08Um, because when I uh when I watch um some of my shows, I always eat like donuts. So I wanted to make it look um nice and look um pretty. So I wanted to um put the donut on the on the um on the helicopter.
SPEAKER_09Yeah, on the helicopter.
SPEAKER_02I think that's a great idea. And as look, as a frontline police officer, uh can confirm that donuts are our uh choice of sweet treat. They uh they're easy to grab and and eat on the run.
SPEAKER_04And and Stevie, so this is such a cool invention. Um I actually did show the the WA police commissioner Cole Blanche this. Do you do you think that in your mind, your invention, your your, let's just say, your donut delivery service uh with the police chopper, would you would that mean that the helicopter could then bring these large, giant, delicious-looking donuts and and actually give them to police officers out on the street who are keeping the community safe?
SPEAKER_09Yeah. What? That's amazing! Yeah, it's like they drop them down.
SPEAKER_04Oh, so don't even have so basically we could make it rain donuts.
SPEAKER_09Yeah.
SPEAKER_04Because sometimes when it's raining, you know when people say it's sprinkling? Oh, what if there's sprinkles on there and it's just and then the coppers are like it's sprinkling, and then next thing you know, it's real sprinkles and donuts.
SPEAKER_07Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_04Now, I gotta ask one last question. I think it's the question that every single police officer who is listening to this wants to know. What flavor of donut are we likely to be delivering chocolate and strawberry and okay that's very good.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, what do you think? Yeah, I'm I'm impressed, I think, as well, Stevie. Your your attention to detail with the the helicopter and the police car and even the police dog, that's that's very, very good. So it is indeed.
SPEAKER_04Um, and Stevie, um, another question that I asked uh another one of our artists who submitted a drawing. If you could be any type of police officer in a police car, out in road policing, or working with the police dogs in canine or in the water police or air wing in the helicopter, what would you choose?
SPEAKER_09A canine.
SPEAKER_04Canine. Okay, that's a good choice. Yeah. And would you go with like the bitey dogs, or would you go with one of the ones that can sniff sniff out bad things? Sniff out Okay, all right. Well, look, um, we'll come back to you in about what's I eight, so 10 years time, Evie. Expect a call from Sergeant Nate Gilmore and we'll remind you uh that you wanted to be a um uh a member of the canine unit, and we'll we'll we'll get you signed up, okay?
SPEAKER_07That's awesome.
SPEAKER_04It really is awesome. And so are you, so are you, Stevie. Um, thank you so much. Uh the the finalists for this will be um uh announced, I think, at the Royal Show. Uh where there'll be um uh a display, I think, that people can vote for down there. Regardless, uh, I just want to say thank you so much because you've made our day, and I and I know that all of the police officers who are listening will really appreciate everything that you've done for us. Thank you so much, Stevie.
SPEAKER_08Thank you too.
SPEAKER_04Thank you. Have a great day.
SPEAKER_08You too. Bye.
SPEAKER_04This is confidential. This is confidential. We're joined once again by Claire Sienta for it's probably not good news.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, but in this case, we actually have two good news stories, Joey.
SPEAKER_04I do love it when you um, I guess disappoint me? Or yeah, okay, this is a good thing. This is a good thing. This is a good thing.
SPEAKER_01So, first up, our detectives from the Transnational Serious and Organised Crime Squad disrupted an alleged money laundering operation. So they seized more than $1.1 million in cash and ended up charging two people.
SPEAKER_03Cool.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so it all it started in April this year when the AFP officers arrested a man um at Perth Airport and they found quite a substantial amount of money on him, about $900,000 in cash. Okay. Um further inquiries led detectives to uh basically find out that he potentially or is allegedly linked to other maybe not so above-board um operations. Okay. Yep. And um, yeah, in the end, two people, a 56-year-old Mira Booker man and a 27-year-old Westminster man, have both been charged with um some pretty serious drug-related offences. And yeah, that $1.12 million in cash was seized.
SPEAKER_04Fantastic. And look, under I think proceeds of crime, that'll probably end up going back in some way to catching more criminals or or you know, helping our justice system. Um so thank you for your donation, criminals. And um, yeah, do not pass go, do not spend one million dollars going directly to jail. Yeah, exactly.
SPEAKER_01Although allegedly. Allegedly. Allegedly. Allegedly. Um in some other news, we you may have seen this week uh the WA police unveiled its new jet, which is a very exciting purchase for the police force and will essentially um halve some of our travel times to some really remote areas and respond to those critical incidents really quickly, um, which is really exciting.
SPEAKER_04Um, and I think it's really important to make a point of saying this is a it's going to be used specifically for operational reasons. So we're talking about, you know, forensics if necessary for a major crime, a murder, or something of that nature. Um could be the tactical response group if there's some sort of you know active arm offender incident. And it's about bringing, I guess, those services that we often take for granted in the metro area, bringing them rapidly to those people in regional Western Australia who equally deserve to have that support and our officers out there too.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, exactly. And it's not about you know just responding to those critical incidents, it's deploying the resources where they're absolutely needed the most. So, um, and and having access to those areas that are otherwise really inaccessible. You know, WA is a very vast state, so you know, this will just help police um do their job even better.
SPEAKER_04I heard it's it can it can do Perth to Albany in 26 minutes. Yeah. Although they probably wouldn't deploy it for that just because it's so close. They're existing sort of fixed airwing um planes that we have that have a turboprop engine, a propeller. Um, I think they're about 36 minutes. So it's that longer um distance, like here, Perth to Kunanara or Balgo or somewhere like that, um, where you know you don't want to spend an hour refueling somewhere along the way, which currently we have to, um, and we can just go straight there.
SPEAKER_01And land in some really um like specific places as well. It doesn't have to be a long runway or anything like that. It could be a road.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, yeah, could be could be gravel. It's pretty cool. Yeah, yep. It's a very exciting um addition to our air wing. Absolutely, absolutely. Um, Claire, it's good to have some good news for a change. Thank you very much.
SPEAKER_01Thank you.
SPEAKER_04This is confidential. Thanks very much for sticking with us for another week. Uh how cool and how kind of cute were our little police artists.
SPEAKER_06I loved it. It was great.
SPEAKER_02They're definitely like some creative geniuses out there.
SPEAKER_04Absolutely, absolutely. And I want to say thank you to all of the kids who who submitted drawings because this was just a very small um fraction of the, you know, it was more than a hundred, that's for sure. And they were all excellent. And I know that it was it's really difficult for the judges um to come up with the finalists, but hey, come and say hello to us at the police at the royal show anyway, at the police pavilion. Um, just quickly, a couple of um other ones I wanted to highlight because I think the theme for our uh I guess our interviewees today was innovation. And and these are these are kids who effectively have invented new technology that could be the future of policing. So we've heard about what I thought was the balloon squad, but actually turns out to be the parachute squad, which is great.
SPEAKER_06Um we had a design of a completely new helicopter, including jail, gym, staff room.
SPEAKER_04Yep.
SPEAKER_06Anything you could want, really.
SPEAKER_04Absolutely everything you could want. Uh donuts, say no more. And I'm looking at another thing here. Looks like it might be from Mad Max. It looks like it's been done by AV. AV? And it says police caravan on it, but this thing is. Can I just what are you looking at, Maya? Can you want to have a quick yeah? Yep, excuse me.
SPEAKER_06It is awesome. So it's a large vehicle um which has 14,000 litres of storage of some sort.
SPEAKER_03Or or fuel.
SPEAKER_06Or fuel, whatever it may be.
SPEAKER_03Or soft drink, we don't know.
SPEAKER_06We've got four beds on this uh caravan vehicle. We've got a caravan of courage. Yeah, we've got these lay-down um chairs that look like they have wheels on them as well. Potentially, you know, you could drop them out the side and handy. Yeah, exactly.
SPEAKER_04Handy.
SPEAKER_06Um, and really it's just it's quite awesome. There's a jail in the back, I believe. It's looking awesome.
SPEAKER_02And colouring's on point too. It's crazy. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_04Nate, would you would you um would you spend some time um working one of these bad boys?
SPEAKER_02I think if we were to deploy it to regional Western Australia, it would be very well utilised.
SPEAKER_04Well, thank you very much, Abe, for that for that idea. If you um if you see one of these out and about, you'll know that you inspired it and you helped keep our community safe. Also, a quick shout out as well to uh the Belden Education Support Centre, the Pink Room. Um guys, I mean, what are we looking at right here? Come on, Nate, tell our listeners.
SPEAKER_02Well, that's more than a drawing. That is an actual creation and a half. It's a is it made of cardboard? Yeah, cardboard. 3D cardboard helicopter with the full police markings on it. Um, probably room for one. Um, but that's good in terms of you know, fuel savings. Oh, look, there's more. There's more, there's more detail. What's the detail on the other page? It's got a helipad. Yep. It's got a helipad.
SPEAKER_04I think the kids all went together. And and if you do want to join forces with us, um you we are recruiting, are we not?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, search let's join forces and uh follow the prompts from there.
SPEAKER_04Yep. We don't have a balloon squad yet.
SPEAKER_02Or a parachute squad.
SPEAKER_04Or a parachute squad, but yeah, hey, anything's possible.
SPEAKER_06Um from the new the new generation, our future innovators to the old generation. Nate, you have a history fact for us.
SPEAKER_02Are you calling me old?
SPEAKER_06Oh, potentially.
SPEAKER_02Right. I did turn 40 the other day, so yeah, there you go. Um, yeah, our history fact for the week. Uh a few weeks ago we teased uh the who was the luckiest police officer in WA history? Uh one name that came up in conversation was Sergeant Ted Cunnington. Okay. So back in 1959, a gunman named Robert Thomas went on a deadly rampage. He killed three people, including a taxi driver, before murdering a young couple in Mosman Park. Pretty grim. This is very grim. After firing at another resident who managed to escape and call police, uh, Thomas turned his attention to police officers. The hunt ended in a standoff at the Fremantle Cemetery. Whoa. Kind of creepy. Uh where officers cornered the gunman. During that shootout, Sergeant Cunnington was fired upon at close range. Incredibly, the bullet passed straight through the top of his trousers and left a hole on each side. Somehow it missed his legs and caused no injury. If that wasn't luck uh enough for one night, another officer, Sergeant Dennis Hilton, had a bullet strike his handcuffs, saving him from serious injury. The offender was eventually taken into custody, bringing the incident to an end. As for Sergeant Cunnington's famous trousers, they were displayed in the police canteen for a number of years. As a reminder of one of the closest calls in WA police history. Unfortunately, the trousers have since disappeared, but the story remains one of the most remarkable escapes ever recorded.
SPEAKER_04And if uh you or someone you know knows anything about the whereabouts of those trousers, you can call us, uh, Crime Stoppers, even if you wanted to. They could maybe take a message. We're opening a police museum, um, and yeah, obviously we'd we'd like them back. Back for good. We said one for back for good. Nate, can I just ask you a quick question? Uh on a scale of zero to ten, how many times have you seen like a police officer's piece of clothing specifically put on display in like a crib room or a canteen?
SPEAKER_02Uh never. Not in my 17 year history.
SPEAKER_06I've I've seen one.
SPEAKER_02Okay.
SPEAKER_06Are we allowed to talk about this?
SPEAKER_03I don't know. What do you gotta say?
SPEAKER_06In the um firing range at Academy, there is a sock with a hole in it.
SPEAKER_02There is.
SPEAKER_06But I think if you want to find out the story, you have to go to You have to join the police force.
SPEAKER_04Yes. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06You have to go to Let's Join Forces.
SPEAKER_04Yep, you you do. I we're gonna talk about this afterwards because I actually don't know the story behind the sock. Um also, can someone please um out there in in our um amongst our listeners just keep an eye on D Pop or Sergeant Sergeant Cunningham? Did I get that right? His trousers with a hole in it?
SPEAKER_02Cunnington.
SPEAKER_04Cunnington. Sergeant Cunnington's trousers.
SPEAKER_01Cover song by the WA Police Pipe Band, and cheesy podcast theme music by Joey Catanzaro. By the way, why just listen to a podcast about policing when you could actually be doing it? Let's join forces.wa.gov.au.
