Retired Queensland Police officer Laurie Pointing publishes historical book series

A Queensland Police family has achieved what will likely never be surpassed, as the eldest surviving member publishes his fifth book detailing extraordinary tales of front-line bravery.

Respected retired assistant commissioner Laurie Pointing, a member of Queensland’s highest-ranking police family and author of the historical ‘Keeping the Peace’ book series documenting front-line policing in Queensland. Picture: Cameron Bates

Retired assistant commissioner Laurie Pointing, a member of Queensland’s highest-ranking police family, becomes emotional as he recalls the shocking shooting of the first officer in the state to be awarded the George Medal for bravery.

The author of the historical ‘Keeping the Peace’ book series documenting front-line policing in Queensland, says the story of Constable First Class Osmond “Ossie” Cislowski in Townsville in 1954 still stands out.

As detailed in the first book of the five-volume series, AC Pointing said CFC Cislowski, then aged 27, was shot three times, including in the chest, but was still able to capture and arrest the burglar responsible.

“He hung between life and death for a long time, but he come back and he went back to work ... a person of lesser stamina would never have come back.”

Remarkably, AC Pointing said Ossie, who passed in 2014, and the man who shot him, Kevin Morris, became “good mates”.

The first volume of the ‘Keeping the Peace’ book series by respected retired assistant commissioner Laurie Pointing documenting front-line policing in Queensland. Picture: Supplied

The fifth and final volume of the ‘Keeping the Peace’ book series by respected retired assistant commissioner Laurie Pointing documenting front-line policing in Queensland. Picture: Supplied

The first two volumes in the ‘Keeping the Peace’ series were first published in 2013 with the help of the Queensland Police Credit Union and Queensland Police Union, with a forward by late president Ian Leavers.

Like volumes one through four before it, the more recently published Volume V not provides first-hand accounts of policing in Queensland, but also turns the spotlight on his own history in the service and that of his family.

Respected retired assistant commissioner Laurie Pointing, a member of Queensland’s highest-ranking police family and author of the historical ‘Keeping the Peace’ book series documenting front-line policing in Queensland. Picture: Cameron Bates

Speaking in a Townsville nursing home, AC Pointing, 89, said there had been a number of families that had contributed up to five officers to Queensland Police.

Writing in his book, the Medal of the Order of Australia (AM) recipient said the Pointing family had a record that would likely “never be surpassed”.

“There are five of us and we all reached the rank of superintendent and above.”

Respected retired assistant commissioner Laurie Pointing, a member of Queensland’s highest-ranking police family and author of the historical ‘Keeping the Peace’ book series documenting front-line policing in Queensland. Picture: QPS

He said older brother Tom, QPM, the patriarch of the family who passed in 1999, retired as a regional superintendent, while sons John, Glen and Brett attained the ranks of detective superintendent, district superintendent and deputy commissioner respectively.

“The five of us all spent years as members of the Criminal Investigation Branch at various locations throughout the state,” he wrote.

Constable First Class Osmond Cislowski, GM, and Police Commissioner Patrick Glynn parading before a Guard of Honour at the Petrie Terrace Police Depot in Brisbane in 1956. CFC Cislowski was the first Queensland police officer to be awarded the George Medal for bravery. Picture: QPS

In typical selfless fashion, AC Pointing said all profits from the sales of the books went to Queensland Police Legacy, a charity that supports the families of officers, including officers who died in the line of duty.

Some 150 QPS members have died in the line of duty during its 160-year history.

Again becoming emotional, AC Pointing said Vol V was dedicated to late Constable Sondra Nicole Lena, the first female officer killed in the line of duty manning a roadblock in the hunt for a prisoner who escaped from the then Rockhampton Correctional Centre in 1992.

Respected retired assistant commissioner Laurie Pointing, a member of Queensland’s highest-ranking police family and author of the historical ‘Keeping the Peace’ book series documenting front-line policing in Queensland. Picture: Cameron Bates

Asked what he believed had changed in policing from his first year of service as a fresh-faced recruit in 1958, AC Pointing said rank-and-file police officers, including younger members, were “today treated like human beings” by their superiors.

“When I first joined there were some old bastards … who treated young police like dirt but that’s gone.”

Respected retired assistant commissioner Laurie Pointing, a member of Queensland’s highest-ranking police family and author of the historical ‘Keeping the Peace’ book series documenting front-line policing in Queensland. Picture: Cameron Bates

He said education standards had also improved considerably.

“When I joined in 1958, I only had a primary school education, there was no emphasis whatsoever placed on education back then,” he said.

“There’s not too many police who started school aged 6.5 who left at 13.5 and retired an assistant commissioner.”

AC Pointing said he believed the volume of books should be read by every serving police officer “to know what it was like and what happened”.

“They should be in every school and read by every high school student.”

Books I through to V can be purchased via Boolarong Press.

Originally published as Retired Queensland Police officer Laurie Pointing publishes historical book series