https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-19/emu-the-retired-outback-cop-returns-to-the-service/102620130
ABC Western Qld / By Victoria Pengilley Posted Wed 19 Jul 2023
After a 16-year policing career and an even longer stint as a nurse, David O'Brien had every right to take things easy once he retired.
Instead, he has dusted off his boots and hat and returned to the force in a newly-minted role for recent retirees.
The 61-year-old in Longreach has become Queensland Police's first Special Constable, a role created for retired officers who are still keen to patrol the streets.
"When I retired I still felt fit and active and still wanted to work in the community," he said.
"It was an opportunity I couldn't resist."
The sworn-in role gives the former Senior Constable the same power and authority as a regular officer, allowing him to join day-to-day policing operations in a casual capacity.
More postings are due to be rolled out in coming months.
Assistant Commissioner Kevin Gutteridge said the roles, declared in April, will help boost policing numbers on the frontline.
"This is an opportunity for us to be able to get those people with experience and bring them back in as a surge capacity," Assistant Commissioner Gutteridge said.
Special Constable David O'Brien still had to pass physical tests to return.
The Queensland Police Service has struggled to attract and retain staff in recent years, which some commentators believe is a symptom of the recent challenges faced by the service.
Last year, the QPS cancelled its recruit training periods due to a lack of enrolments.
"It's been no secret that the world at the moment has jobs on offer everywhere," Assistant Commissioner Gutteridge said.
"This [role] was part of a suite of opportunities we had to re-engage people who had the experience, to bring them back into the workforce, and to help fill gaps created by vacancies or people moving on."
Life as an outback cop
Special Constable O'Brien first started with the QPS at the age of 44 after working as a nurse in New Zealand and Australia for more than 20 years.
Special Constable O'Brien said he couldn't resist the opportunity to return to the force. (ABC Western Qld: Victoria Pengilley)
"Emu", as he is affectionately known, spent several years working in stations in Brisbane and Mount Isa before settling into outback cop life at Cloncurry for eight years.
He said he earned the moniker during a hairy foot chase.
"The tall, skinny cop running around town," he said.
"Not long after that I had people coming into the police station asking for Constable Emu, and it's stayed."
Special Constable O'Brien said he had many memorable moments in the force, including the time he helped save a woman's life during a rugby event in Cloncurry.
"I watched this elderly lady walk out of the grounds and she just dropped on the ground. She'd had a massive heart attack," Special Constable O'Brien said.
"We thought she was dead, but she was flown to hospital [for major surgery] and survived.
"The town never forgot about that — which put you in a lot of good stead with the locals."
Retirement age questioned
Despite the drawcard, the new role has drawn criticism from some former officers who believe the mandated retirement age of 60 with the QPS is forcing experience out the door.
Earlier this year, former Detective Inspector Jon Rouse, who dedicated his career to the protection of children, said many retired officers were capable of working past 60 up to the age of 65.
Queensland Police Service has struggled to attract and retain staff. (ABC Western Qld: Victoria Pengilley)
Retired officers can only return as Special Constables, regardless of experience.
"I wouldn't say that I'm not physically capable of performing frontline duties, but I would suggest that my skill set could be better utilised than that," said former Detective Inspector Rouse at the time.
"It's fundamentally discrimination … we're being discriminated against because of our age."
Key points:
- The Special Constable role in Longreach is the first of its kind in Queensland
- The sworn-in role gives officers the same powers and duties as a regular constable
- The Queensland Police Service has a mandatory retirement age of 60
