Jim Sutherland: Croydon police detective retires after 38 years in force

Whether it’s locking up sex offenders, raiding crop houses, or helping restore order overseas, Jim Sutherland has done it all in his time with Victoria Police. Watch the video.

After almost four decades locking up crooks, bringing down members of the mafia and almost getting killed on overseas missions, Jim Sutherland is ready to take things at a slower pace.

The Croydon detective Senior Sergeant and leader of its divisional response unit has retired from Victoria Police, and had his last day in the office on August 26.

He graduated from the police academy in 1985 and began as a constable in the CBD, based on Russell St.

Since then he’s been a detective at four different ranks and worked in specialised units throughout Melbourne, before spending the last 10 years leading the Croydon squad.

“I’ve loved every minute of it here, and I’ve been able to do heaps of hands on stuff with the guys, going out on search warrants with them and so forth,” Sen-Sgt Sutherland said.

“I think we’ve really made an impact on crime out this way in terms of disrupting the drug traffickers which has been very satisfying, seizing all their property and cars … and getting a

huge amount of drugs, cash and firearms off the streets.”

During his career, Sen-Sgt Sutherland helped in arrests of members of the mafia, known as The Honoured Society.

He also had two deployments in the Pacific with the Australian Federal Police in East Timor and as a United Nations peacekeeper working on a historical murder investigation in the Solomon Islands.

Sen-Sgt Sutherland revealed he almost died on two ”very close encounters” during his stint in East Timor, which was going through significant unrest.

“They had three elections going on when I got there, it was very unstable … the police and the army were at loggerheads and they attacked each other and it was quite lawless.

“But the East Timorese people are wonderful people, and I really enjoyed my time there getting to know the locals and helping to build up their police force again.”

Outside of work, Sen-Sgt Sutherland loves his live music and has seen some of his favourite acts including U2 and members of Pink Floyd overseas.

He has a trip planned to America next year to see a few gigs, and plans to dedicate most of his retirement to helping his family including wife Jenny, son Glenn, daughter Ellie and his grandchildren.

“I’m not leaving because I’m disgruntled or anything like that, I love coming to work, and I’m leaving because I know its my time (to go),” Sen-Sgt Sutherland said.

“I’m super grateful that I’ve been able to be a police officer. I’ve had a ripper time in the police force, and I can leave on my own terms and with no regrets.

“I know there’s a lot of people who can’t do that, so I find myself very fortunate.”