Victoria Police deputy and assistant commissioners are ready to fill the chief’s shoes
DEPUTY and assistant commissioners are training hard to fill in for chief commissioner Graham Ashton, as the countdown to a major fundraising event edges closer.
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EVERY Victoria Police deputy and assistant commissioner is preparing to replace Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton.
All 18 of them are getting ready for the call to step into the top cop’s shoes.
But it will be their walking gear they will be slipping into — not donning the chief’s uniform to head up the force.
Starting on October 1, Mr Ashton and Police Association boss Wayne Gatt will spends 23 days walking 1000km across the state to raise $500,000 to help thousands of former officers with mental health problems.
VICTORIA POLICE WALK FOR FORMER OFFICERS’ MENTAL HEALTH
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By Monday, just seven weeks since the Herald Sun revealed the plan, Mr Ashton and Sgt Gatt had received donations totalling $304,753.
If something major happens that requires Mr Ashton to abandon the walk and come back to Melbourne then one or more of his deputy or assistant commissioners will have to fill in for him.
That’s why the Victoria Police command team members set off for a fitness-boosting training walk along the Yarra on Monday.
Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said he and the command team were passionate about providing more support for retired officers with mental health issues.
“They literally put their lives on the line every day to protect the community and we need to look after them,” he told the Herald Sun.
“There is currently a gap in the support services available and ultimately we would like to see our retired officers receiving similar benefits to what defence force veterans receive.
“Often in the past we have used terms like ex — members, yet we all know language is important.
“We are now referring to members who are not currently serving, as either former members or previous serving members, they are not ex-members because once you have been a member of the police family you are a part of that family for life, you are never ex.
“We still need and want them to be a part of the Victoria Police force and we still need to acknowledge their service and commitment to the community, much like former serving military are acknowledged, and to provide that support to them.
“Post-traumatic stress disorder can affect any current or serving members.
“Some of the hardest men and women who have been in this job and committed many years in some of the toughest, high profile areas and major investigations have been diagnosed with PTSD.
“We need to support them and ensure they have the right support. This walk is one such way we can.”
Details on how to donate to Mr Ashton and Mr Gatt’s 1000km walk are at www.headtoheadwalk.org.au