Well of course the main work I'm working on is Uphold the Right, the motto of the Victoria Police and centers on a aboriginal police woman in Geelong as she struggles with the job and all the problems it brings. It's a serious effort that I keep putting off but I really do want to finish it and look at getting it published, even going back and tidying up what had been written and filed away, as well as reviewing some of it's influences so I can edit my story to make it read less like a copy of another work and more like my own writing. Below is the first couple of pages setting up how the ethical standards had become involved due to what happens because of the investigation that serves as the main plot. I'm happy to provide a little more detail but I really would like to have this published so I don't want to give away too much, the first couple of pages and if there is interest certainly a little more, help where it's needed would certainly be most appreciated and of course if there is something I would like to work on and need help I'll ask for it here.
Call Out
Rubi Parker looked across at me seated across from her, from the look on her face she seemed to notice that I was fidgeting. That she could well be understood, given the circ*mstances. An investigation by the Victoria Police Ethical Standards Department may be regulation given my actions but it is certainly no fun, not for me or any officer who has to go through it, not for the investigating officers trying to determine whether my actions were justified and not for the department itself trying to save public face in demonstrating that it will act when the situation calls for it, which was certainly the case here.
“Now that some time has passed,” she said, the meeting having gone for half an hour now, “I would like to ask you about the incident that took place on the seventh of July this year.” The psychologist probably found it unusual to be questioning me instead of the other way around, but it was a requirement in regards to a police shooting, for the police as well as myself to see how I was handling it, plus she was personally picked for the task, something I was most grateful for. Having been involved in the initial case as a social worker and having knowledge of the events leading up to the reason I was here now were I to have a say in the investigation I would have possibly chosen her as well.
“Leading up to the event,” I began, as Rubi looked through her notes and saw that was how it was commonly referred to, “There had been several offences involving the use of firearms, including an incident where one gang managed to get a hold of such a gun and used it in an attempt on someone’s life.”
“These would be the incidents that led to you being called out to the residence in Geelong?” Rubi asked.
“Yes,” I replied after a moment. “I was tasked with finding the suspects behind the attempted murder.” The information had already been written down, as well as discussed at length on the news and papers. Thankfully no one was able to identify who was involved, that was why Rubi was here now conducting an evaluation of the incident to pass on to ESD.
“At the risk of looking like I don’t know much about the police, wouldn’t that be something more for a detective?” Rubi tried to phrase the question in a way that wouldn’t come across as offensive, which I could tell from her hesitant tone. From the way she glanced away for a moment I could tell that Rubi hoped it wasn’t.
“That’s right.” Leaning in a little I saw fit to explain. “Sergeant Packer saw me watching for the persons of interest in the shooting as a good way for me to be involved in the case.” From that statement Rubi’s thought process appeared to consider several lines of inquiry to pursue. “Had things gone normally it would be likely Detective Locke or even the Special Operations Group would have been involved in the arrest.”
“It was important for you to be involved?” Rubi asked, wondering if pride might be an issue worth investigating.
“It was,” I agreed. “And there was the fact there were several issues to deal with. But that is getting ahead of what led up to…to the incident.” That was how the Vic Pol referred to it, and that could be well understood as well. How else do you refer to what I had done, no matter how justified? Rubi nodded and added the details to her report. “Is that the right thing to say?” It was a question considered valid to ask. “That I felt it was important to be a part of the investigation?”
“Absolutely.” Rubi seemed to understand that it might have been a concern and tried to explain that it wasn’t a negative reaction. “From my discussions with your colleagues you all wanted to bring the matter to rest, it’s an entirely natural and appropriate reaction.”
“I’m just wondering if that might be interpreted as me reacting the way I did.” From what I knew of her she would have liked to say that she didn’t think it would, but she couldn’t say how ESD would react, and tried another way to approach the interview.
“It might help to explain in your own words the events leading up to your involvement,” she suggested. Between the media coverage and what the senior officers had told her many of the details were already well known, and had been discussed several times with investigators, however the idea that giving them again to an impartial third party might provide some perspective to what happened.
“I suppose the biggest concern I had with the case was not looking professional,” I blurted out. Even though I was not a huge part of the investigation, not as much as I would have liked, I think it did affect me, and not just the murder. On the other hand if I hadn’t been so involved then maybe I wouldn’t be in this position now.
“What makes you say that?” It was the same question the officers from ESD asked when I said of how professional I wanted to be on the case, and the answer I gave was the same as well.
“Because of the high profile of the case I wanted to be seen as being able to do my job.” It was a reasonable response I thought, to the investigating officer’s credit he didn’t come after me on this as a possible reason for my actions like I might have expected. If I presented my case well enough I may well be able to get out of this, or at least save the force face. On the one hand I don’t think I did anything wrong, even if some of the public does not share that opinion. On the other, it has been hard living with what happened, and to some degree felt that I did need to be held accountable even if I did do the right thing.
“On the fourth of July we received a call in regards to a shooting that took place, when we discovered the body backup was called in.” Homicide from Melbourne was called who left us to investigate the case, as well as our Special Operations Group, Victoria’s SWAT team, who helped try and find the murderer. It was up to us rank and file to find evidence that would lead to the person or persons responsible to be put behind bars. This was information Rubi already had.
“I know this might be information you have already covered,” she said, “but would you mind going over the case we me again?” To save my neck and the public outrage at the police handling of my actions? As I said I felt conflicted. As much as I wanted the force to be shown that I did the right thing, and still believe I had, what I did do was regrettable regardless of the circ*mstances. Nonetheless I figured that the psychologist that had been brought in as well as ESD would know what they were doing. All I really could do is tell them everything, despite advice to not offer any more than I had to, and let the investigation and my fate rest on that information. At least that was how I saw it, either I would be cleared and have to live with what I’d done, or be made to pay for doing the right thing. Much like some of the people involved in the case, come to think of it. It was only later I came to that realization, the path to it being a much longer story.
1
The call came in just after 8:00 PM, with the members of the Geelong police responding to reports of a gunshot in Sommers Street. When the nightly patrol arrived they had reported what they found and requested assistance. That was why senior constable Peter Marsters, a seven-year veteran of the Victoria Police, had stopped to pick up the partner assigned to him.
“Jordan?” he called out through the open door of her home. From the lack of reply he figured she must have been busy getting ready, or exercising while she waited for him to arrive. The dark skinned officer, he knew, maintained a very strict diet and fitness regime, one Peter was willing to bet was more intense that what all the other Geelong police members did to keep fit put together.
Where are you? Peter looked through the door, trying not to get agitated. He felt like calling out that it was a homicide they were attending, certainly something that was unusual for the area, but even more unusual were the circ*mstances of the case.“Jordan,” he tried again. “C’mon, we gotta go.”
“Just a minute,” she called out in reply. “I’m just doing my hair.” Peter was not in the mood to quip that it would take hours, however in Jordan’s case there was some truth to it. She wore twin-braided pigtails, refused to have her hair any other way, she claimed it softened how she looked and thought she looked too butch otherwise. A concern Peter could well understand, even though she had to wear them pinned up while on duty Jordan was an imposing figure, and not just because of her height. Her physique was impressive, certainly she was fitter and stronger than he was, and Peter thought he was nothing to be sneezed about. Jordan once said she did it otherwise she wouldn’t feel confident in doing the job. “You said there was a 000 call about a shooting?” By now Peter had let himself in.
“Patrol attended the scene and found the murder victim.” Peter could hear Jordan rummaging for something in the bathroom, before she emerged.
“We’d better get to it then.” She brushed past him. “I’ll finish the hair on the way.” She was in the process of pinning up the twin braids she wore as she spoke.
“Dave's not home?” Peter asked.
“He’s late from Uni.” With her size, and the face she had as she took in there was a murder made her look a little intimidating. Peter knew that given the choice Jordan would have her hair undone because of it.“Anything else we know about it?” she asked once they were both in the Ford Falcon patrol car.
“Yeah there is actually.” And Peter told her about the details he had learnt so far, knowing how disturbing they were. Jordan kind of turned away from him, taking it all in.
“You sure?”
“That’s what was reported from the scene.” Peter thought of how glad he was that the Victoria police discourage officers from working in their home towns, exactly for this reason. Not that Jordan was raised in Geelong; she grew up on a farm, as much of a cliché that sounded. He would have wondered if her reaction was due to her knowing the victim, but Peter thought he had a pretty good idea that she wouldn’t run with that sort, though Jordan wasn’t the investigator Detective Locke was and even if she knew…his thoughts were interrupted by her thinking of what would need to be done.
“We’ll have to doorknock the area, see if anyone saw what happened.” She watched as Peter drove the patrol car out.
“Enrica and Stewert are already doing that.” He double checked where the homicide took place. “Gary wants us there for crowd control.” Jordan looked at him on that.
“Crowd control?” she repeated. “People are watching what’s going on there?” An idea began to form and she reached for the radio. “Geelong 600 to Geelong 400.”
“What’re you doing?” Peter wondered.
“Before they get bored and leave I wondered if…” she paused as Stewert’s voice came through.
“Geelong 400, go ahead.”
“We’ve been called out on keeping the onlookers at bay,” Jordan told him. “Have you been able to question any of them so far?”
“I’m doing so now. Enrica is doing the doorknock; so far we only have sounds of a scuffle and a gunshot.” Jordan guessed it would be too optimistic to ask if anyone knew what type of gun they might have heard.“When you get here your help would be appreciated.”
“Understood, ETA…” she glanced at Peter who held up four fingers. “Four minutes.”
Currently reading up My Rule Fu Is Stronger than Yours
