The Crime Couch with Rochelle Jackson

Doug Cowlishaw had a remarkable 47-year career with Victoria Police. He began his profession honing his investigative skills at a number of C.I.B.'s, the Major Crime Squad and the NCA. Doug's career was spent at the sharp end of policing, specialising in counter-terrorism intelligence, the use of DNA in investigations, handling and working with informants and major investigations. He took part in...

There's not much that Susanna Lobez can't do! She's been a barrister, actor, broadcaster and author. She's been an ABC legal specialist on the Law Report and Law Matters. Susanna's co-authored 14 books with fellow legal eagle James Morton, including best-selling titles Dangerous to Know and Kings of Stings. The dynamic duo are about to publish their next book, Squizzy Taylor's Storied Life - as to...

Artist Pablo Picasso once said, "painting is just another way of keeping a diary". Mark Bagally would agree! Not only did he keep a diary as a Victoria Police Detective Sergeant but the former member is also an excellent Impressionist painter. He started in Uniform at St. Kilda before finding his niche in crime investigation. Mark worked in the Rape, Armed Robbery, Drug and Homicide Squads. But th...

Kate O'Neill began her career in Victoria Police at Broadmeadows before moving into intelligence and investigative policing in the Crime Department. She worked on the Black Saturday bushfires in the Phoenix Taskforce and Clan Labs. She became a detective before going to the Police Academy, working in several other roles before a promotion to the Professional Standards Command. Kate is currently an...

You're dropped at the summit of Mount Kosciusko and mountain bike downhill for 100 k's. You reach the NSW town of Bringenbrong, swapping your bike for a kayak. You then paddle the Murray River Marathon and complete some 2,400's before reaching Goolwa, South Australia. It's not the plot of the latest Bond movie, but the mission Paul Turner is steeling himself to do! The former Leading Senior Consta...

Currently in Australia, there are about 2,800 long-term missing persons. That is, people who've been missing for longer than three months. But what if a person is missing, presumed murdered and someone won't reveal where the body is? The "No Body, No Parole" laws - for those convicted of murder who will not reveal where the body is - don't go far enough and many cases go unresolved adding further...

Bruce "Knighty" Knight is regarded as an expert in tactical policing within Australia. He left as a Superintendent with Victoria Police after 37 years' service, 18 in the SOG or Special Operations Group. Bruce is a Sniper, Senior Bomb Technician and Weapons Instructor. After serving operationally, he was promoted to Inspector when he took charge of the day-to-day SOG operations. His specialist exp...

Imagine being called to a job involving a man who walked into a kindergarten, pulled out a gun and held four children hostage. During the seven-hour siege, he poured petrol over the children, threatening to ignite them.  At the time Bruce "Knighty" Knight was a Senior Sergeant, attached to Victoria Police Special Operations Group. In fact, he still describes this job as "the most stressful day of...

BankVic is a small member-owned bank for police and first responders that's giving the big four Aussie banks a run for their money. CEO Anthony De Fazio is not your average banking executive. He's relaxed, very personable and genuinely listens to anyone he talks with. You get the feeling he'd make a positive difference wherever he'd work. And he does. Anthony is highly qualified and been with Bank...

It's not always easy to have your first crime fiction novel published - but Tara Oldfield has succeeded! Her first book Diamonds, Furs & Murder: The Many Crimes of Mona Hayes has been published by Ginninderra Press and no doubt she's planning her next one. Tara is a PR and communications professional who currently works at the State Archives. She's written for Traces Magazine and Ancestor publ...

John Bodinnar had a brilliant career both inside and outside Victoria Police, retiring after 35 years as a Chief Superintendent. But one case he investigated has remained with him forever. The abduction of 8-year-old Eloise Worledge.  During 1974 as a young Detective, John was transferred to Moorabbin CIB and was the first on the scene at Eloise’s house. He and his partner were initially suspiciou...

John G Bodinnar started as an Albury car salesman before joining Victoria Police. He’s had a stellar career inside and outside “the job” retiring as a Chief Superintendent. John was awarded an Australian Police Medal for services to community policing in developing countries. Initially stationed at South Melbourne, then St Kilda’s Traffic Operations Group before various Crime Car Squads and Moorab...

If you were to commit a crime, Dr Deb Bennett could make an assessment about what sort of a person you are, and what your motivation was without actually meeting you.  The former Victoria Police Detective Senior Sergeant is a clinical Forensic Psychologist and a Behaviour Analyst - or a Profiler. She worked as a specialist investigator in cold case sex crimes and was also an operational police mem...

It's not every day I interview someone who's served in both the Royal Australian Airforce and the Royal Australian Navy; Arthur "Artie" Heather has. He spent 20 years in the RAAF and a further three decades in the RAN; his last twenty years in the Naval Reserve. At the same time, he was employed at the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). Artie's time in the Navy saw him serve on two Speci...

We all recall the first Gulf War, the rescue of British sailor Tony Bullimore in the Southern Ocean, the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race rescue and the disappearance of MH370 Boeing 777. These are some of the major events in Arthur "Artie" Heather's illustrious career.  Artie spent 20 years in the Royal Australian Airforce and a further 30 years in the Royal Australian Navy - his last 20 in the N...

After nearly 43 years of service, former Victoria Police Sergeant Amanda "Mandy" Crowley has finally hung up the reins. Mandy rode horses from the age of 5; so, after graduating from the Police Academy, it made sense that she join the Mounted Branch. Mandy is the longest serving female member of the Mounted Branch and the first in charge of rider and horse training. She's probably worked more demo...

Reverend Dr Drew Mellor has just retired after 6 years with Victoria Police. The former Senior Police Chaplain is highly qualified in the Anglican Diocese having previously been a lead pastor at the Glen Waverly and Deep Creek Anglican Churches. He was the Director of the Centre for Youth and Children's Ministry at Ridley Theological College and worked in the Accident and Emergency Department of B...

It's the end of season 5 on The Crime Couch and what a year it has been! This is a compilation of the 22 episodes during 2025. Every interview has been a revealing insight into the lives of men and women "in the job". And many people outside the job.  I want to thank everyone who joined me this year on The Crime Couch. It continues to be real pleasure and privilege to hear your stories. A special...

This is the second of a two-part interview with Brian Doherty. Brian retired as an Inspector from Victoria Police. He spent 19 years in the CIB, the Consorting Squad, the Major Crime and Drug Squads; he also did a stint in community policing at Broadmeadows.   While some turn to lawn bowls after retirement, Brian certainly doesn't let the grass grow under his feet. He's held managerial roles at th...

There's not too many former Victoria Police Inspectors who've been Managers at the elite Sandringham Club, the Health Workers Union, Geelong Harness Racing Inc, a tropical reef shipyard in Cairns and the magnificent Collingwood Football Club. Brian Doherty has. In fact, Brian's also halfway through a law degree.  He spent 19 years in the job in the CIB, Consorting Squad, the Major Crime Squad and...

Former Superintendent Geoff Tulloch was known in the job for his honesty, meticulous record-keeping and making a difference. He worked in the Mobile Traffic Section, the Second-Hand Dealers Squad, the Crime Cars and the Training Research Section before finishing as a Law Instructor at the Police Academy. When stationed in Bairnsdale, he was the only motorcycle traffic cop in Gippsland. Geoff proud...

This is the second of a two-part interview with former Victoria Police Detective Senior Constable Brendan "Finni" Finn about nabbing crooks.  First there was the Major Crime Squad, then the Fugitive Squad... both Squads tracked down escapees, crooks, murderers, armed robbers, parolees who breached their parole conditions and anyone who didn't want to be found. They also did extraditions where they...

Catching fugitives like the alleged police murderer Dezi Freeman has always been important in Victoria Police. Finding and nabbing crooks is routine for specialist units like the Special Operations Group (SOG) and the Fugitive Squad and former Detective Senior Constable Brendan Finn aka "Finni" was right in the thick of it. Finni was in the Fugitive Squad which is part of the Crime Department. The...

In 1964, Prime Minister Robert Menzies concluded Australia had inadequate defence manpower and wanted to increase our army's strength by introducing national service.  This meant 20-year-old males like Gordon Beach, if selected, were conscripted for a compulsory two years in the army. Gordon was one of 58 Victoria Police members who served in Vietnam in the Military Police or Provo.  Gordon return...

John Van Groningen has over 50 years' experience in the prison and corrections system. He's been a Prison Officer and Commissioner, academic researcher and teacher, bureaucrat, expert commentator and a ministerial and government advisor. John's lectured extensively and worked as a criminal justice consultant in the United States and Australia. He's always been motivated to deliver dramatic change...