Ever wondered what the day in the life of a general duties police officer looks like?
Follow First Constables Ash and Chris around on a divisional van shift in Footscray to discover the different and rewarding jobs a day can hold.
Transcript: Get to know Victoria Police - General duties policing
[First Constable Chris voiceover]: Ever since I've joined Victoria Police, it's just been exactly what I thought it would be. I could list a 100 jobs that we could go to.
And if I can help them in any way, shape, or form, to help them sleep a little better at night, or whatever it may be, then that's something that I really strive towards.
[First Constable Ash voiceover]: I like to be outside and outdoors, and I like to be challenged.
[First Constable Chris]: So, we’ve just had an assault in the Footscray CBD with ambulance required. Details are still pretty limited at the moment, so we’ll just go there.
[First Constable Ash]: Put my body-worn [camera] on.
[First Constable Chris]: She tried to grab them (items) and run out, but that’s when the security grabbed her. And that’s when she’s looked back and spat on the security.
[Pharmacist]: So that’s when she snatches it.
[First Constable Chris]: Yeah. All right then. Well, if she does come back or anything, just give us a call. Just let us know, alright? Yeah done, mate.
[First Constable Ash]: Take care.
[First Constable Chris]: All good, mate. Cheers.
[First Constable Ash]: See ya.
[First Constable Chris voiceover]: I think it's just the constant variety and the constant unknown of this job is really what appeals to me.
[First Constable Ash]: Yeah, Footscray 201, can we grab a copy of that warrant on our plate, please? We’ll head there.
[First Constable Chris]: Three in custody. One with the bench warrant, section 81.
[First Constable Ash]: So drugs? I'll just park here.
[First Constable Chris]: Phwoah, it's cold.
[First Constable Ash]: I know.
[First Constable Chris voiceover]: The drug crew out at Werribee, they’ve obviously done a warrant on a premises. They've got three in custody.
[First Constable Chris]: Just watch your head going in, yeah?
[First Constable Chris voiceover]: So we just went there to just help them, give them a chop out, see what they need, try and help each other out where we can.
[First Constable Chris]: Every now and then we like to set up a PBT site, which is preliminary breath testing for alcohol. We tend to finally get drink drivers no matter what hour of the day.
[Driver]: Bit early in the day.
[First Constable Ash]: Yeah, it's true. You be surprised, though.
[First Constable Chris]: So, we’re just going to a job where an offender has stolen a bike from a property in Kingsville. We identified him so we're just heading down there to see if we can pick him up and arrest him.
[First Constable Ash]: Some days you go to jobs where you're not too sure what's going on and then you bounce off your offsider, and their... You know, they'll have some really great input.
[First Constable Chris voiceover]: That’s why a lot of members are really close friends with the people they work with. Things that I'm good at might be different to what Ash's good at.
So we can sort of bounce off each other when we’re working the van with one another, and between the two of us, like, nine times out of ten you can get the job done.
And if you can't, there's always someone else you can lean back on. Whether it be your sergeant or whether it be the other van.
Become a police officer
Are you made for more? No two days are the same when you become a police officer.
General duties policing
Learn more about the life, benefits, and opportunities of a general duties police officer.
Updated