The Crime Couch with Rochelle Jackson

Bob Kumar is a former Magistrate who spent nearly 40 years on the bench. He presided over the Broadmeadows Magistrates Court and also appointed as Victoria's Deputy Chief Magistrate.

Bob's been described as a "visionary Magistrate" and "a man of the people". He helped introduce the Koori Court and created the contest mention. A hearing that allows an accused person to understand what sentence they might get in exchange for a guilty plea.

Talking on The Crime Couch in the first of two interviews, Bob recalls sitting on the bench in the Melbourne Magistrates Court when the Russell Street bombing happened and the time controversial rockstar Courtney Love appeared before him.

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.

Glenn "Dutchy" Holland wasn't always a Victoria Police Sergeant. He used to work in the casino industry on a tiny island called Tinian and on international cruise ships. 

Dutchy's been in the job for 21 years starting in Frankston on the van. He's been a detective and currently working as an operational member in Melbourne. His work around mental health and PTSD is significant. And recognised. In 2018, Dutchy was the Blue Ribbon Officer of the Year. He's also been awarded the Chief Commissioner's Health & Safety Award and the recipient of an APM for his mental health work.

He talks on The Crime Couch about his latest campaign, "Run4Blue" and Police Legacy.

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.

Mark “Trigger” Tregellas has broken his spine, knee, shoulder and elbow. He's been shot in the face and battled with cancer.

The former Victoria Police Leading Senior Constable has served 31 years mainly in three remote coastal towns. Like many operational police officers, Trigger's dealt with lunatics, drunks, bizarre situations, neo-Nazis and dead bodies. He's also the recipient of a highly prestigious Clarke Silver medal. 

Trigger's written a book "Backup is three hours away" with Big Sky Publishing. It's a rollicking good read about his life and career and on the shelves in June. 

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.

In the 1990's Deb Keogh was one of the few female detectives "in the job". It was challenging. The former Victoria Police Sergeant worked in traffic operations, accident investigation and as a Detective stationed in the suburbs, including working with my dear father when he was Chief Supt in "E" district (Dandenong).

Deb retired from ill-health after 34 years of service. She's still dealing with PSTD after being shot at with a crossbow during a domestic.

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.

This is the final of a two-part interview with Queensland Police Detective Sonya Leeding. Sonya's husband, Damien - also a Queensland Detective - was shot and killed in May 2011 during a botched armed robbery.

Since that fateful night, Sonya's life has never been the same. The Detective Senior Constable's written a book, Blue Widow by Ocean Reeve Publishing.

Sonya talks on The Crime Couch about her life after the murder of her precious husband; including her failed relationships, wrestle with the booze, how she's coped with the grief - and eventually has come to terms with what happened 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.

The 29th of May 2011 is a date that changed Queensland Police Detective Sonya Leeding's world forever. This was the night her husband, Damien - also a Queensland Detective - was shot and killed during a botched armed robbery.

Since that fateful night, Sonya's life has never been the same. The Detective Senior Constable's written a book, Blue Widow by Ocean Reeve Publishing.

Blue Widow is a ballsy, extremely candid and brilliant read about what Sonya's endured. It includes her failed relationships, wrestle with the booze, how she's coped with the grief - and eventually has come to terms with what happened 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.

Annette in't Hout is one of three fulltime Senior Chaplains working with Victoria Police. There's also about 85 volunteer Chaplains across the state. This year the Victoria Police Chaplaincy commemorates it's 50-year anniversary of making a difference to the men and women in blue.

Annette grew up in Griffith, NSW with Barbara McKay as her Sunday school teacher. She wanted to pursue a career in textile forensics and found herself working in an industrial textiles factory, being a fulltime Mum and running a lingerie party plan scheme! Her calling began in 2008 at a Baptist Church in Geelong and she's been working with Victoria Police for the past 18 months.

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.

Tim Egan is not your average police member. The retired AFP Superintendent has served 34 years in three continents.

Before joining the Northern Territory Police, Tim was a mine worker, timber millhand, builder's laborer and bank clerk. His role "in the job" proved just as varied.

The 85-year-old worked in some of Australia's most remote police stations, as an Alice Springs Prosecutor and an Inspector in Darwin during Cyclone Tracey before joining the Custom Department's Narcotics Bureau and working with Scotland Yard and Victoria Police on joint taskforce investigations. 

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.

Sheree Moore still hears the gunshots from the Queen Street shootings involving killer Frank Vitkovic. It's not something you ever forget, she says.

Sheree was on duty in December 1987 when the Queen Street massacres took place. The former Sergeant and Crime Scene Investigator worked in suburban stations, at Dandenong, and did temp duties at the CIB, AIS and Drug Squad. She set up "Project Clarendon" which was a one stop shop for crime reporting and forensics in property crime. After 37 years "in the job", Sheree has just retired.

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.

Well, it's the end of Season 3 on The Crime Couch. This is a compilation of the 39 episodes during 2023. You'll hear from former Detective Senior Constable Carl Stella, retired members Colleen Woolley, Graeme Simpfendorfer, Val Smith, Highway Patrol Senior Constable Alex Prestney and true crime author Megan Norris. Sadly, this year marked the passing of several retired members like Detective Sergeant Brian "The Skull" Murphy, who you'll also hear from in this episode. 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 real pleasure and privilege to listen and hear your stories. I look forward to you joining me again, next year 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.