Our People in SA
Pete Wirth, Tony Clift, Bryony McNicol & Ben Higgins
DETECTIVE-Superintendent Scott Duval was one of twenty-two employers from across south-eastern Australia to visit their Army Reserve employees in the Solomon Islands in early March.
It was part of Exercise ‘Boss Lift’, a Defence program that flies employers into operational areas to see and experience what their reserve employees are doing.
Scott caught up with Detective Brevet Sergeant Peter Wirth, Senior Constable First Class Tony Clift, and Constables Bryony McNicol and Ben Higgins over his four-day visit.
The four full-time police officers and part-time soldiers were part of the Australian contingent to the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI).
Scott said what the reservists were doing in the Solomon Islands would be beneficial to their police careers.
“What they are doing is community engagement with the people of the Solomon Islands, and community engagement is pretty much what we promote at home,” he said.
“I can go away with a positive view and say that what my police are doing is massively encouraging.”
Peter Wirth, a Detective Brevet Sergeant with Drug Investigation Branch works as the Battle Captain, responsible for incident management and tracking the location and welfare of soldiers operating outside the base.
He said his 11 years policing experience had allowed him to educate the rest of the Combined Task Force (CTF) on how police work tactically and operationally, as well as police culture.
“This has assisted the CTF in forming a good relationship with the Participating Police Force (PPF) and working well together,” he said.
“SAPOL will benefit from my deployment by having an investigator with a broader range of experiences and different perspective to problem solving.
“Within a military context I have had the chance to demonstrate many of the abilities of a SAPOL Senior Sergeant or Inspector.”
In the Solomons Tony Clift of the Operational Safety Training Unit (Driver Training Unit) at the Police Academy, Fort Largs, is the Company Sergeant Major (CSM) of a motorised rifle company.
As a Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2), Tony is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the company which is made up of an Australian platoon, a New Zealand platoon and a PNG platoon.
“This includes accommodation, rations, ammunition, weapons and equipment maintenance and the management of a large fleet of 4x4 and 6x6 vehicles,” he said.
“My nine years of policing has been invaluable in providing guidance to Company Headquarters (CHQ) in planning joint activities and giving insight into the methods police use in their conduct of operations.
“The role I have here is well above my SAPOL rank and many of the functions I perform are similar to those of a senior sergeant and, in some cases, an inspector.”
Tony was invited to provide assistance with PPF members in establishing a Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) Driver Training Unit.
“I have written a course curriculum for a restricted patrol permit style course for the RSIPF Academy,” he said.
Corporal Bryony McNicol is 2IC of the communications detachment, and as a radio operator/communications operator, maintains secure comms back to Australia and to the rifle company.
Bryony, a general duties constable with the East Adelaide Bicycle Patrols, said her police background has assisted her in the Solomon Islands.
“Especially in areas such as dealing with members of the public and using verbal communications in a very multicultural society,” she said.
“I’ve gained more operational safety awareness and a greater confidence in dealing with people who may be doing the wrong thing.
“The deployment has given me a better appreciation of cultural differences and will assist me with dealing with and respecting different members of the community at home.”
Adelaide Patrols General Duties Constable Ben Higgins commands a nine-man section of riflemen on Operation Anode.
As an infantry corporal, Ben is responsible for leading his section on both foot and vehicle patrols in support of the PPF and the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.
He said his police experience had trained him how to deal with people from non-English speaking backgrounds.
“I’ve also learnt how to use different questioning techniques to gain information from people who are sometimes uncooperative,” he said.
“I’ll benefit from this deployment by having a better understanding of how different police forces work.”
The PPF in the Solomon Islands is made up of police force volunteers from around the Pacific region.
The ADF has been in the Solomon Islands at the invitation of the Solomon Islands Government since 2003 to assist with bringing stability to the country.
All reservists are volunteers and have to volunteer again to serve overseas. They can also contribute to security at major events within Australia. Their civilian bosses receive a financial contribution to offset their absence on military duty.
If you want to find out more about Australian Peacekeepers or would like to support the Australian Peacekeeping Memorial Project, please visit the following website: http://www.peacekeepingmemorial.org.au