Don’t go solo

By Kath Gannaway
CORONER Kim Parkinson’s report into the death of Senior Constable Tony Clarke at Launching Place in 2005, has focused attention on solo patrols in isolated areas.
Sen Const Clarke was on patrol as part of the Regional Traffic Tasking Unit (RTTU) along the Warburton Highway on 24 April, 2005 when he was shot with his own gun after pulling over Croydon man Mark Bailey.
Mr Bailey had been picked up earlier in the night by Sen Const Clarke and given a speeding ticket. He had been drinking at the Sam Knott Hotel in Wesburn before leaving at around 1.15am. He was stopped again by Sen Const Clarke at Launching Place where Ms Parkinson found he shot the officer after grabbing his gun from his holster.
Mr Bailey, who Ms Parkinson said had a history of mental illness and was affected by alcohol at the time of the murder, then took his own life after driving the police car to Sepik Avenue in Mount Evelyn.
Ms Parkinson found that the fact that Sen Const Clarke was working alone was one of a number of factors which contributed to his death.
She said while she recognised that having as many vehicles as were available policing the roads had positive safety outcomes, that it was also clear that working ‘one up’ was more efficient use of police time, and that some officers preferred to work alone, they were matters which did not outweigh safety considerations.
“I am satisfied that solo police intercepts of drivers in isolated areas and particularly at night are unsafe,’ she said
In a summary of evidence by Sergeant Stuart Thompson, acting sergeant at the RRTU, said Region 4 covered 52,000 square kilometres of suburban, semi-rural and rural areas.
In April 2005, he said the RRTU had three sergeants and nine members.
On 23 April the Warburton Highway was targeted with a focus on drink driving.
“This location was described by Sergeant Thompson as notorious for unlicensed and drink driving on weekends,’ Ms Parkinson said.
The Police Association has welcomed the key findings, which secretary Greg Davies said were in accord with the association’s extensive submissions.
“The Coroner expressed qualified misgivings about police officers working alone. She found solo patrol intercepts of drivers in isolated areas, particularly at night to be unsafe,” Mr Davies said.
He said one-member patrols would be part of their discussions with Victoria Police Force in relation to the Coroner’s findings but said it was impractical to ban one-member patrols in all circumstances.
Inspector Richard Brown, police service area manager for Yarra Ranges said the Coroner’s report was still being examined by the police management.
In relation to Sgt Thompson’s comments on the Warburton Highway, he said he was unable to comment on matters in the report, but could reveal that the latest statistics on drivers breath-tested within Yarra Ranges was a 98 per cent negative reading.
Insp Brown said in response to Yarra Ranges police working solo on a day to day basis, that it was not common practice.
“They are rostered two-up but on occasions, due to unforeseen circumstances, may work one-up,” he said.