Beloved detective Stephen Bull honoured with community award
Stephen Bull’s photo is still present on the desks of some of those who worked with him at Fawkner police station. Now a community award will carry the name of the determined detective.
North West
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A quiet man by nature, detective Senior Constable Stephen Bull’s impact on the police around him was so profound, his photo still sits on desks inside Fawkner police station 18 months after his death.
A dogged and determined investigator and a proud family man, Sen-Constable Bull will be
forever honoured when Moreland’s top community policing award is named in his honour.
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Presented by Pascoe Vale Rotary Club since 2011, the award recognises the best community minded Moreland police member, as nominated by senior officers.
Tough and tenacious, with a soft spot for his German shepherd that he walked each morning, Sen-Constable Bull died of a heart attack while mending to his pristine Doreen front yard in September 2017.
Close friend detective Sergeant Paul O’Connell said that while he was never a loud worker, his presence was immediately missed.
Sgt O’Connell said Sen-Constable Bull was hand-picked to lead major tasks, including into organised crime, due to a determined work ethic he held over 23 years in the force, over two stints.
“Sometimes your stars don’t get seen and he was an unseen star,” he said.
“The manner of his investigations and the fact he mentored young detectives to serve the community shows his importance.
“A couple of us still have his photo on our desk and that won’t change any time soon.”
Sgt O’Connell said his former colleague would be immensely proud his legacy was being carried on by his daughter, Senior Constable Julia Peters, who works in the sexual offences and child abuse team at Fawkner.
Her mother Adele was Sen-Constable Bull’s partner of 12 years before his death and said he was drawn to the chase of tracking down criminals and the team environment in the station.
“He was extremely empathetic, smart and a good family man,” she said.
Hume detective Senior Sergeant Ray Freeman was the inaugural winner of the award and said it was a reflection of the work police did every day to keep Moreland safe.
“(Sen-Constable Bull’s) strength was his investigation, he explored all lines of inquiry,” he said.
“When I heard the award was being renamed for Steve it put a smile on my face and it just fit.”
Monty Montgomery was the chairman of the Rotary club’s community branch when the award was created and said it acted as a way to connect the community to Moreland’s finest.
“We all know all police work hard for the community, but some of them go above and beyond,” he said.
“If the people of Moreland knew all they do they would be amazed.”
The Rotary Club of Pascoe Vale Police in the Community Stephen Bull Award will be next awarded in April.
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