The Crime Couch with Rochelle Jackson

”Seeing the bigger picture”

I first met Esther McKay in 2005 at a writer's festival. We were both authors talking about our new true crime books. Esther is a former NSW Police Force Detective Senior Constable whose life journey has been fascinating. 

She worked for 17 years in the job specialising in forensic services. Esther entered that tough, male-dominated world determined to hold her own. But it took a huge cost. She was discharged from the NSW Police Force hurt in the line of duty and began a very different journey. Today, Esther's a Consultant Manager of Police Care Australia and Quest for Life Foundation's Program Development Manager. 

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. 

From the Crime Squads to reality TV”

The Crime Couch is back! With a new sponsor, Police Care Australia. It's an online portal where current, former police and family members can get support and counselling with professionals that understand police.

Ken "Ashy" Ashworth was one of the hard men in the job. He retired as a Victoria Police Detective Inspector, was awarded an APM and two Chief Commissioner's Commendations. Ashy worked in the Armed Robbery and Homicide Squads before heading up the Water Police Search and Rescue Squads.

He joined the Purana Taskforce before working in the Trident Taskforce and investigating organised crime on the waterfront. Now, Ashy's turned his talents to reality TV, working behind the scenes on the Ten Network's "Hunted" series.

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. 

”Cyber-crime - think before you click”

Russian-based hacker groups, phishing, data-breaches and ransomware attacks have become part of today's workplace. This week on The Crime Couch, former Detective Leading Senior Constable Christopher McNaughton talks about cyber-criminals, the latest trends and how our internet-enabled devices like the fridge can be used against us!

Chris left Victoria Police and joined the corporate sector running global investigations with GE before forming his company, SECMON1. He specialises in fraud, corruption and cyber-crime in the corporate sector. 

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. 

”From the vault - Tit for tat; the waterfront wars - part 2”

This is part 2 of an interview I did 20 years ago with former Victoria Police Detective Superintendent Alan Pleitner. I interviewed Alan when writing Billy "The Texan" Longley's biography. He was a Detective Senior Constable in the Homicide Squad when Melbourne's waterfront war was underway. Alan talks about the role of the Homicide Squad Detective and how they work hard to bring justice to the victim. 

Alan was working when the Painters and Dockers' boss Pat Shannon was murdered at the Druids Hotel in 1973. He and his partner Detective Senior- Sergeant Barrie O'Brien arrested Alfred Connell - one of three crims involved in the shooting - and charged him with murder. 

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 running man”

Senior Constable Alex Prestney knows more than most about road trauma. The Victoria Police officer lost his brother Joshua in the Eastern Freeway crash on the 22nd of April 2020. Joshua was one of four Victoria Police members tragically killed in the accident. 

Alex is articulate, publicly expressing what he's going through. He's even returned to his role in Highway Patrol. I can't even imagine how difficult this trauma has been for him and his family. But he's not one to stand still. Alex is about to run from Mildura to Melbourne, a 560 kilometre run starting on July 31st.  All monies raised will go to road trauma victims and the Amber Community. If you wish to follow Alex click on this link https://run-for-road-trauma.raisely.com/

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. 

”From the vault - Tit for tat; the waterfront wars - part 1”

This week from the vault, part one of a two -part interview from 2003 with former Victoria Police Detective Superintendent Alan Pleitner. Alan was a Detective Senior Constable in the Homicide Squad when Melbourne's waterfront war was exploding. He'd grown up in the country and worked as a young Constable in the inner city.

I interviewed Alan when writing Billy "The Texan" Longley's biography in 2003. Alan was on-call when Painters and Docker's boss, Pat Shannon was murdered at the Druids Hotel on October 17, 1973. He and his partner Detective Senior Sergeant Barrie O'Brien arrested one of the offenders, Alfred Connell - involved in the shooting - and charged him with murder. 

Please note - this recorded interview is 20 years old and sounds it!

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 end of an era -Vale Lilian ”Lil” Irwin -

Former Victoria Police Inspector Lilian Irwin sadly passed away on Saturday night, 17 June 2023. I was lucky to sit with the 96-year-old "Lil" as she was affectionately known, on The Crime Couch, during 2021. This is our interview, republished. 

Lil led the way for women in the police force for nearly three decades. When she joined in 1961, she was only one of four women in her squad. Nick-named “The Queen of Fitzroy” and “Legs 11,” Lil was the only female Inspector when she was promoted in 1977 at a time when policewomen thought they’d be lucky to get to Sergeant! Vale Lilian Irwin, registered number 13868.

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. 

”Colleen Woolley - an arresting woman -

I first met Colleen Woolley at the Retired Police Association (RPA). As a television producer, I'd contact her trying to contact Victoria Police members. The former Senior Sergeant served as a Woman Auxiliary in the South Australian Police Force and represented policewomen in Victoria as the sole Police Association delegate. 

Colleen was the first female RPA Secretary, a founding Committee Member of The Past and Present Women Police Association; a Justice of the Peace and  also an author.

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. 

”I’ve absolutely loved being a copper”

Joy Murphy is the longest serving female police officer in the world. The Victoria Police Detective Senior Sergeant worked in the first Rape Squad, the Dealers and Sexual Offences Squads. 

She has more than 50 years in the job and renowned for her work in sex crime. Joy's changed the way Victoria Police investigate sexual assault and family violence. She coordinated the Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Teams (SOCIT) and was the first female voice to be ever heard on D-24.

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. 

”From the vault - Brian ”The Skull” Murphy - part 2”

This is the last of a two-part interview with Brian "The Skull" Murphy.  I interviewed him when writing Billy "The Texan" Longley's biography in 2004. Murph talks about the Pat Shannon trial, giving evidence against Billy in court and the company they set up called "Industrial Mediation".

The former Victoria Police Detective Sergeant had a fearsome reputation with police and the criminal world. He was the recipient of a Valour Award, charged and acquitted of a homicide and falsely accused of an underworld hit. 

At 90 years of age, Brian sadly passed away on the 25th of April 2023 surrounded by his family who he adored.  Vale Brian "The Skull" Murphy.

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.