The Crime Couch with Rochelle Jackson

:The suburban gum-shoe” - part 2

In part two of his interview on The Crime Couch experienced sex crimes investigator Chris O'Connor reflects on his 36 years in Victoria Police.

The former Detective Senior Sergeant talks about working on some of the state's biggest cases, dealing with the offenders and how as an investigator you represent the rights of the victim. 

Chris is now a published author and runs an interview training and investigating consultancy; Strategic Questions. 

Trigger warning: this podcast may contain triggers related to child sexual offences and could cause distress.

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.

”The suburban gum-shoe” - part 1

Chris O' Connor reflects on his 36 years in the job as an experienced sex crimes investigator with Victoria Police.

The former Detective Senior Sergeant has been responsible for some of the country's highest profile cases including serial murder, rape and abduction. These have included the murder and abduction of Karmen Chan, the murders involving Peter Dupas and the bombing of Russell Street headquarters.

Chris's also a published author and runs an interview training and investigation consultancy, called Strategic Questions.

Trigger warning: this podcast may contain triggers related to child sexual offences and could cause distress.

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.

”Offer your hand; not your judgment”

Myrene Purcell is not your typical ex-Victoria Police member. The former Senior Sergeant trained in the Army, was the first female member of the Prison Squad and qualified as a social worker after she left the job.

She was the only policewoman in Seymour before being transferred to the Sexual Offences Squad, in the Crime Squads and inner-city CIB's before becoming a detective.  

Working as an operational police member gave Myrene a strong foundation to continue to work in the family violence space as a social worker. 

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.

”Our day starts when your day ends”

Former Homicide detective Charlie Bezzina knew the "Black Prince of Lygon Street" Alphonse Gangitano. The experienced officer spent 38 years in the job, 17 years in the Homicide Squad and investigated more than 300 suspicious deaths.

But he never expected to find the Melbourne gangland figure dead in his underwear. The infamous criminal had been gunned down in the laundry of his home in January 1998. Charlie was one of the first police members on the scene and tasked with investigating Alphonse's death. To this day, he knows who murdered the gangster, but the case still remains officially unsolved. 

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.

”That night of the Kangaroo Flat seige” - part 2

Sergeant Peter Lukaitis had no idea of who or what he was facing when he was called to a Kangaroo Flat scene in 1999. The experienced officer walked into a seige where a gunman was targeting cops. 

Peter and three of his colleagues were shot and seriously injured in the incident. It remains the single biggest number of officers shot at one scene in Victoria Police history. 

The former officer is a recipient of the prestigious Victoria Police Valour Award and National Bravery Medal for his courageous actions that night.

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.

”That night of the Kangaroo Flat seige” - part 1

Peter Lukaitis was an experienced Victoria Police officer when he was called to a scene in Kangaroo Flat in 1999. As he walked into the siege, he had no idea of who or what he was facing. The former Sergeant and three of his colleagues were shot and seriously injured in the incident. 

Peter is a recipient of the prestigious Victoria Police Valour Award and National Bravery Medal for his courageous actions that night.

He was in the job for 39 years, working in city and country locations spending the last 18 years in Castlemaine.

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.

”Facing up to crime”

The ability to recognise an offender is vital for police work. Creating a likeness of an offender's face increases police's chances of nabbing them!

Victoria Police's former Detective Sergeant Adrian Paterson created a world first. A computer program called F.A.C.E or Facial Automated Composition and Editing.

This amazing technology took Adrian around the world solving crime and allows life like images to be created using sophisticated software that can blend or blemish skin tones, adjust the shape of a nose and the color and style of someone's hair.

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.

”Attitude is everything”

Margie Lewis has just retired after 43 years in Victoria Police. The former Inspector had a diverse career from General Duties, NCA's Surveillance Unit, Ethical Standards, Welfare to the State Emergencies and Support Command. 

Despite wrangling some prejudice and sexual harassment, Margie triumphed becoming a commissioned officer; a rank she never imagined she'd reach. She claims it's all to do with having the right attitude and not letting anyone or anything stop you! 

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.

”The thin blue line”

Every day, at least 8 Australians die by suicide. Police and first responders are some of the groups most at risk. 

Well, Drew Gormlie is doing something about it. He's the CEO of Life Central, an Australian agency that provides programs and support to people at risk. Currently he's working with Victoria and Tasmania Police and the US Military. Recently they focused on the small Victorian town of Corryong - which has a high rate of youth suicide - working with the local police, with great results. 

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.

”Gang today, gone tomorrow”

Street gangs and crime go hand in hand. Former Detective Superintendent Pat Boyle is an expert in gang warfare. What he doesn't know about gangs isn't worth knowing. He's highly credentialed and worked in Victoria Police's crime squads for most of his life. 

It was his passion for street gangs that led him into academia. He secured a Churchill Scholarship to do further research which led him to completing a Masters.  Pat talks about who's who in the zoo 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.