The Crime Couch with Rochelle Jackson

"Off with the wigs!"

Geoffrey Steward is a barrister of some note. He specialises in criminal law, coronial inquests and other quasi-criminal proceedings. 

Interestingly enough, he attended high school with the lads from Australian Crawl. Geoffrey did his articles at Mahoney's Solicitors, worked at Legal Aid, joined the Bar in 1989, conducting his first trial that year. 

He's never been a prosecutor, but he has been involved with some infamous trials including instructing the legendary Bob Kent, representing ex-cop Paul Dale, Burnley Tunnel's truck-driver David Kalwig and involved in the Herman Rockefeller matter. 

Contains Snappy @2021 performed Jonathan Boyle with music written by Jonathan Boyle, courtesy of Premium Beat.

Post-production by Rob Johnson from On Replay www.onreplay.com.au and acknowledgement to Stephen Peters for his assistance and support. 

Thanks for listening. Please take the time to rate & review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. We'd love to hear your thoughts, and it makes it easier for the rest of the podcast world to find The Crime Couch.

"Law for the law"

Susan "Sue" Davis has two focuses in her rather brilliant career: as a Victoria Police Inspector and a principal lawyer.

She's currently managing the Counter-Terrorism Legal Unit and also running her own law firm; Anmar Legal. Sue oversees both criminal and civil areas of law and has a National Security Clearance Negative Vetting Level 2. This means she manages highly sensitive, protected and secret information. 

Sue's worked as a Critical Incident Commander, a government liaison in the Chief Commissioner's Office, been in the Police Media Unit and the Ethical Standards Department. She's been an Assistant to the State Coroner and began her career as a frontline copper in Melbourne's St Albans, Carlton and Sunbury.

Contains Snappy @2021 performed Jonathan Boyle with music written by Jonathan Boyle, courtesy of Premium Beat.

Post-production by Rob Johnson from On Replay www.onreplay.com.au and acknowledgement to Stephen Peters for his assistance and support. 

Thanks for listening. Please take the time to rate & review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. We'd love to hear your thoughts, and it makes it easier for the rest of the podcast world to find The Crime Couch.

"The person most likely to be in prison"

Kevin "Kev" Collister is from "the school of hard knocks". The former ADF Infantry solider and military policeman also spent years in the prison system working in the Security and Emergency Services Group's dog squad.

He's wrestled with Australia's most dangerous criminals including convicted serial killer Gregory Brazel.  Kev credits Brazel for teaching him invaluable life lessons; something he discusses in this interview on The Crime Couch. 

Contains Snappy @2021 performed Jonathan Boyle with music written by Jonathan Boyle, courtesy of Premium Beat.

Post-production by Rob Johnson from On Replay www.onreplay.com.au and acknowledgement to Stephen Peters for his assistance and support. 

Thanks for listening. Please take the time to rate & review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. We'd love to hear your thoughts, and it makes it easier for the rest of the podcast world to find The Crime Couch.

"Giving survivors a voice"

Helen Adams is passionate about assisting victims of crime, sexual assault, elderly abuse and trauma.  

This was a focus in her Victoria Police career of 29 years and continues in her current role as a Victims of Crime Support worker with the Victims Assistance program. In 2001, Helen was recognised for her work and awarded an Australian Police Medal. 

She's worked in General Duties, and specialist roles within the Women Police Division, Community Policing Squads, Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation teams or SOCIT and the Crime Squads. 

Contains Snappy @2021 performed Jonathan Boyle with music written by Jonathan Boyle, courtesy of Premium Beat.

Post-production by Rob Johnson from On Replay www.onreplay.com.au and acknowledgement to Stephen Peters for his assistance and support. 

Thanks for listening. Please take the time to rate & review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. We'd love to hear your thoughts, and it makes it easier for the rest of the podcast world to find The Crime Couch.

                                  

"TJF - turning a negative into a positive"

David (Dave) Evans and Cleve Salmon are former Victoria Police members with a wealth of experience between them. Dave was in the job for 23 years, working in family violence, a covert IT unit and as a detective in the Moorabbin Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Unit. He's also qualified as a social worker. 

Cleve Salmon spent 19 years in General Duties, Highway Patrol, the Heidelburg Crime Scene office as well as being a Divisional Firearms Officer. Cleve is also a qualified chef.

They're both dedicated to and responsible for an emergency service mental health and wellbeing group called "TJF" and before you say I know what that means; it stands for "The Journey Forward". 

Contains Snappy @2021 performed Jonathan Boyle with music written by Jonathan Boyle, courtesy of Premium Beat.

Post-production by Rob Johnson from On Replay www.onreplay.com.au and acknowledgement to Stephen Peters for his assistance and support. 

Thanks for listening. Please take the time to rate & review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. We'd love to hear your thoughts, and it makes it easier for the rest of the podcast world to find The Crime Couch.

"Fighting the good fight"

Julie "Jules" McAlister is the second veteran police officer to be given a Police Assistance dog through the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation.

The black Labrador Charlie-Kane has made a major difference to her life. And Julie's been through a lot; including a PTSD diagnosis, being forced to retire "ill-health", a suicide attempt and getting accidentally shot with a shotgun at a rifle range. In March 2023, Julie was officially recognised for her service with Victoria Police, given an apology, her badge was given back to her "retired" and she was handed a certificate of service.

Contains Snappy @2021 performed Jonathan Boyle with music written by Jonathan Boyle, courtesy of Premium Beat.

Post-production by Rob Johnson from On Replay www.onreplay.com.au and acknowledgement to Stephen Peters for his assistance and support. 

Thanks for listening. Please take the time to rate & review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. We'd love to hear your thoughts, and it makes it easier for the rest of the podcast world to find The Crime Couch.

"Shots fired - part 2"

This is final episode of a two-part special featuring former Victoria Police Special Operations Group member, Jim Venn. 

He was "in the job" for 24 years, also working in the Major Crime Squad, the BCI, Firearms Operational Survival Training Unit and as a Staff Officer.

After leaving Victoria Police, Jim ran his own investigative consultancy business. He investigated the ACT 2003 bushfires and led a major inquiry into bullying and misconduct at the Canberra Institute of Technology.

Although police members don't like to bang their own drum, Jim's received a Valor Medal, a National Medal, several citations and a City of Melbourne award. Jim was involved in the state's major criminal investigations including the fatal shooting of gun nut and Neo-Nazi Thomas "Tommy" Messinger.

Contains Snappy @2021 performed Jonathan Boyle with music written by Jonathan Boyle, courtesy of Premium Beat.

Post-production by Rob Johnson from On Replay www.onreplay.com.au and acknowledgement to Stephen Peters for his assistance and support. 

Thanks for listening. Please take the time to rate & review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. We'd love to hear your thoughts, and it makes it easier for the rest of the podcast world to find The Crime Couch.

"Shots fired - part 1"

Jim Venn, registered number 17909 is not your average former Victoria Police member. The highly decorated officer was a Special Operations Group member and qualified as a bomb technician, marksman and in close quarter combat. 

Jim spent 24 years in Victoria Police, working in the Major Crime Squad, the BCI, Firearms Operational Unit and as a Staff Officer. After leaving Victoria Police, he ran his own consultancy business employed as the Chief Investigator for the ACT 2003 bushfires and the ACT Government.

He was involved with the State's most dangerous crooks including the capture of escapee and armed robber Ian John Peter Steele and the shooting of gun nut and Neo-Nazi Thomas "Tommy" Messenger.  Jim's been involved in Mick Drury's Witness Protection, Mad Max, the Russell Street bombing, the Queen Street Massacre, the Turkish Consulate bombing and the Tynan/Eyre shootings to name a few. This is part one of a two-part special featuring Jim.

Contains Snappy @2021 performed Jonathan Boyle with music written by Jonathan Boyle, courtesy of Premium Beat.

Post-production by Rob Johnson from On Replay www.onreplay.com.au and acknowledgement to Stephen Peters for his assistance and support. 

Thanks for listening. Please take the time to rate & review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. We'd love to hear your thoughts, and it makes it easier for the rest of the podcast world to find The Crime Couch.

"Thanks to a small goods incident"

The Crime Couch - series 5 is back! Lex de Man has just retired from his CEO role at Victoria Police Legacy, but his career in the emergency services isn't as easily defined. He began as a 17-year-old volunteer CFA firefighter before joining Victoria Police in 1978. Lex worked on a taskforce with support from the FBI and UK Police on "The Family" investigation finishing as a Detective Senior Sergeant. He's been employed with the CFA and even served as the Mayor of the Shire of Nullumbik for several terms. 

Contains Snappy @2021 performed Jonathan Boyle with music written by Jonathan Boyle, courtesy of Premium Beat.

Post-production by Rob Johnson from On Replay www.onreplay.com.au and acknowledgement to Stephen Peters for his assistance and support. 

Thanks for listening. Please take the time to rate & review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. We'd love to hear your thoughts, and it makes it easier for the rest of the podcast world to find The Crime Couch.

"The Crime Couch 2024 compilation - the end of season 4"

It's the end of season 4 on The Crime Couch and what a year it has been! This is a compilation of the 20 episodes during 2024. You'll hear former AFP Superintendent Tim Egan, former Victoria Police Sergeant Sheree Moore recall the Queen Street shootings, former Deputy Chief Magistrate Bob Kumar reflect on his career, Queensland Detective Sonya Leeding remember the night her life was changed forever, Victoria Police Sergeant Barry Randall talk about Operation Soul Surf, former Victoria Police Deb Keogh, former Victoria Police officer Susan McLean now a cyber-security expert and Victoria Police's Senior Chaplain Jim Jung reflect on the year that was. I want to thank everyone who took a leap of faith and sat with me this year on The Crime Couch. It continues to be a privilege to hear your stories. I look forward to you joining me again in 2025 on The Crime Couch.

 Contains Snappy @2021 performed Jonathan Boyle with music written by Jonathan Boyle, courtesy of Premium Beat.

Post-production by Pete Dillon @www.fearlesscollective.com.au and acknowledgement to Stephen Peters for his assistance and support. 

Thanks for listening. Please take the time to rate & review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. We'd love to hear your thoughts, and it makes it easier for the rest of the podcast world to find The Crime Couch.