Allegedly assaulted. Good morning to you, Chris.

Allegedly assaulted. Good morning to you, Chris.

Good morning Katie, Chris.

Good morning Katie, Chris.

Mate just talked me through.

Mate just talked me through.

So was it your is your daughter one of the officers and your wife is also one of the police officers.

So was it your is your daughter one of the officers and your wife is also one of the police officers.

Yeah, that's correct, Katie. So my wife is a current serving member, she's been on the job for about three years. And my daughter has only just graduated from the police Academy at the end of the month, so she's only about a week and a half into the job.

Yeah, that's correct, Katie. So my wife is a current serving member, she's been on the job for about three years. And my daughter has only just graduated from the police Academy at the end of the month, so she's only about a week and a half into the job.

Mate, When I realized that, look, it horrifies me that any of those off duty officers were assaulted, But when I realized that one of them was actually a brand new recruit, like, it made me feel really upset. I thought, I can't imagine what she must have been feeling like, given the fact that she would have felt the elation of graduating then to have something like this happen.

Mate, When I realized that, look, it horrifies me that any of those off duty officers were assaulted, But when I realized that one of them was actually a brand new recruit, like, it made me feel really upset. I thought, I can't imagine what she must have been feeling like, given the fact that she would have felt the elation of graduating then to have something like this happen.

Yeah, no, that's exactly right. Yah, So Charlie, Charlie graduated. Just Keena's ha been and she's ready. She's ready to go down to Alice Springs and serve the community. Jenny, Jenny drove down to Alice with her from Darwin to settle her in and yeah, this this very very unfortunate events has unfolded. It's not it's not affecting her decision to remain with the Northern Territory Police. She she is absolutely determined to continue her career. But yeah, what a bad start.

Yeah, no, that's exactly right. Yah, So Charlie, Charlie graduated. Just Keena's ha been and she's ready. She's ready to go down to Alice Springs and serve the community. Jenny, Jenny drove down to Alice with her from Darwin to settle her in and yeah, this this very very unfortunate events has unfolded. It's not it's not affecting her decision to remain with the Northern Territory Police. She she is absolutely determined to continue her career. But yeah, what a bad start.

Yeah, do you know what, I'm really pleased to hear that that it's not deterred her. What an absolute little legend she must be, because you know, like honestly, i'd be sort of scratching my head thinking have I made the right decision here?

Yeah, do you know what, I'm really pleased to hear that that it's not deterred her. What an absolute little legend she must be, because you know, like honestly, i'd be sort of scratching my head thinking have I made the right decision here?

Yeah? No, that's and that's that's yeah, you would assume. So okay, do you look? My girls a territory tough. Also, we're a police family. I'm an ex police sergeant from Queensland and my kids and my wife will with me through my service in remote indigenous communities. And and she she's grown up in a police family with her mum and me, So Charlie knows what to expect. They have to say they weren't attacked on the street because they were police. It was an opportunist. It was an opportunist attacked by a bunch of twenty cowards that decided to seriously assault them. Both well speed the graphic details unless you want me to go into it, but Charlie has ongoing injuries, having been stomped on and kicked in the head, so I suspect she's got a broken nose, and she's got a very sore jaw and trouble eating, and obviously there's a sleepless night. So I'm actually flying down to Alice tonight to bring my girl's back just for a bit of a break. And there's a few things that I want to get checked over with Charlie. But I mean Jenny, Jenny didn't escape unscape either. She I'm sorry to be a descriptive caved a. She shared their glasses, punched off her face and threatened the offender that threatened her with her with a rock in his hand, as if to basically bash her heading with a rock. Again, I'm sorry for the description, but this is just what happened, and Charlie's Charlie's come to her mum's aid, as you would have tried to immediately react and grabbed the offender. She was set upon by at least six of them, boil accounts for them from the group that were there, and they've absolutely pummeled her on the ground. They've also continued to assault my wife. There was a male police officer was one of the four there or three females and one mile's he's done a gallant job and tried to assist where he could, and he's gone to my daughter's aid. He ended up catching getting a touch up as well for himself and and I guess once the group had finished, they took off with my wife's handbag in a really nice diamond ring, Charlie's phone and yeah, off went.

Yeah? No, that's and that's that's yeah, you would assume. So okay, do you look? My girls a territory tough. Also, we're a police family. I'm an ex police sergeant from Queensland and my kids and my wife will with me through my service in remote indigenous communities. And and she she's grown up in a police family with her mum and me, So Charlie knows what to expect. They have to say they weren't attacked on the street because they were police. It was an opportunist. It was an opportunist attacked by a bunch of twenty cowards that decided to seriously assault them. Both well speed the graphic details unless you want me to go into it, but Charlie has ongoing injuries, having been stomped on and kicked in the head, so I suspect she's got a broken nose, and she's got a very sore jaw and trouble eating, and obviously there's a sleepless night. So I'm actually flying down to Alice tonight to bring my girl's back just for a bit of a break. And there's a few things that I want to get checked over with Charlie. But I mean Jenny, Jenny didn't escape unscape either. She I'm sorry to be a descriptive caved a. She shared their glasses, punched off her face and threatened the offender that threatened her with her with a rock in his hand, as if to basically bash her heading with a rock. Again, I'm sorry for the description, but this is just what happened, and Charlie's Charlie's come to her mum's aid, as you would have tried to immediately react and grabbed the offender. She was set upon by at least six of them, boil accounts for them from the group that were there, and they've absolutely pummeled her on the ground. They've also continued to assault my wife. There was a male police officer was one of the four there or three females and one mile's he's done a gallant job and tried to assist where he could, and he's gone to my daughter's aid. He ended up catching getting a touch up as well for himself and and I guess once the group had finished, they took off with my wife's handbag in a really nice diamond ring, Charlie's phone and yeah, off went.

Chris.

Chris.

I've got tears in my eyes listening to that for a like, for a whole lot of reasons, like to me, like I cannot believe that they have that they have been subjected to that kind of behavior. And I know, like you've pointed out, they were not targeted because they were police officers. It was an opportunistic thing. But the thing that's always in my mind and is certainly was in my mind when I'd learned what had happened, is I thought to myself, our incredible Northern Territory police officers are actually trained to de escalate situations, and I would imagine that the four of these four would have tried their best to de escalate this situation. But clearly from what I'm hearing, it didn't have a chance.

I've got tears in my eyes listening to that for a like, for a whole lot of reasons, like to me, like I cannot believe that they have that they have been subjected to that kind of behavior. And I know, like you've pointed out, they were not targeted because they were police officers. It was an opportunistic thing. But the thing that's always in my mind and is certainly was in my mind when I'd learned what had happened, is I thought to myself, our incredible Northern Territory police officers are actually trained to de escalate situations, and I would imagine that the four of these four would have tried their best to de escalate this situation. But clearly from what I'm hearing, it didn't have a chance.

No, they didn't have a chance, Katie. So the group of twenty men basically ran straight at them and immediately started to attack my wife with no warning. My wife, she turned to see the group running, didn't have a chance to warn any of the other group, and she was set upon. They initially grabbed her bag in a robbery style, and of course upon them resisting. It's just purely they had to go into into you know, self preservation. These practice well made. It's it could have been. It could have been so much worse. I mean, the weapons, the various weapons that police are encountering down there at the moment, and and you know of past including knives and bars, and it's just they could have been so much worse. And I'm so glad that it's not. But you know, while whilst they were up at up at triage waiting to be seen by the medical staff who were overwhelmed, a lady came and sat next to them. She just had her she just had her arm broken in two places with a baseball bat. Not long after, so the place of the war zone, Katie, it sits it's this Al Springs show has just brought some very very undesirables into the community. I personally don't believe. I have to say, having lived in that community, it is a wonderful community. I do not believe that these that these offenders are locals. I personally don't believe that. And I believe that the Indigenous community down there are just as outraged. Is what is what I am and it just brings shame on the whole community.

No, they didn't have a chance, Katie. So the group of twenty men basically ran straight at them and immediately started to attack my wife with no warning. My wife, she turned to see the group running, didn't have a chance to warn any of the other group, and she was set upon. They initially grabbed her bag in a robbery style, and of course upon them resisting. It's just purely they had to go into into you know, self preservation. These practice well made. It's it could have been. It could have been so much worse. I mean, the weapons, the various weapons that police are encountering down there at the moment, and and you know of past including knives and bars, and it's just they could have been so much worse. And I'm so glad that it's not. But you know, while whilst they were up at up at triage waiting to be seen by the medical staff who were overwhelmed, a lady came and sat next to them. She just had her she just had her arm broken in two places with a baseball bat. Not long after, so the place of the war zone, Katie, it sits it's this Al Springs show has just brought some very very undesirables into the community. I personally don't believe. I have to say, having lived in that community, it is a wonderful community. I do not believe that these that these offenders are locals. I personally don't believe that. And I believe that the Indigenous community down there are just as outraged. Is what is what I am and it just brings shame on the whole community.

Yeah, look, Chris, tell me how how are your girls at the moment.

Yeah, look, Chris, tell me how how are your girls at the moment.

How is Charlie and how's Jenny?

How is Charlie and how's Jenny?

Yeah, look, they're much they're much better now, Thanks for asking. As as I said, Charlie has some some ongoing issues that when I bring the girls back up to darn, I'm going to go and get checked out. You know, they're both they're both still shaken. Nobody's really had much sleep, but you know they're recovering. They're they're territory top. They they are the epitome of what police officers should be. They're they're dedicated, they're kind, they're courteous, they just want to get in and do their job. But you know, I've had the dad conversation with Charlie and also the police sergeant training officer conversation with Charlie, and I've told her in my opinions, you know, she's she's a big girl. She's wearing big boots now, so she'll make a decision for herself. But she is absolutely resound in maintaining her career. She's worked too hard to just to just throw it away. But it's it's just a really good example of that. It can happen to anyone.

Yeah, look, they're much they're much better now, Thanks for asking. As as I said, Charlie has some some ongoing issues that when I bring the girls back up to darn, I'm going to go and get checked out. You know, they're both they're both still shaken. Nobody's really had much sleep, but you know they're recovering. They're they're territory top. They they are the epitome of what police officers should be. They're they're dedicated, they're kind, they're courteous, they just want to get in and do their job. But you know, I've had the dad conversation with Charlie and also the police sergeant training officer conversation with Charlie, and I've told her in my opinions, you know, she's she's a big girl. She's wearing big boots now, so she'll make a decision for herself. But she is absolutely resound in maintaining her career. She's worked too hard to just to just throw it away. But it's it's just a really good example of that. It can happen to anyone.

Yeah, and yeah, look, how are you feeling about them continuing on in those jobs? I know you're you know, you are a tough bloke by the sounds of it, and you've obviously had a long career. You know, after what's happened, how are you feeling about it?

Yeah, and yeah, look, how are you feeling about them continuing on in those jobs? I know you're you know, you are a tough bloke by the sounds of it, and you've obviously had a long career. You know, after what's happened, how are you feeling about it?

I had My initial response was that I wanted to go down and pull Charlie out of the community, and I was going to tell the commissioner. As wonderful as he is, I was going to tell the Commissioner, sorry, mate, I outrank you on this. I'm pulling her out of the community. But now that I've had it, now that I've had a chance to sort of calm down and have a think about it, I don't want to influence Charlie and her decision making with regards to her career, but they are going to come and spend some time up in darn with us and just recover from the injuries and just just have a bit of a break and she can make an informed decision. I've got to say the Northern Turkey Police response, from the executive, from the officer in charge of Olas station to the district commander right through to the commission, They've all spent time with my girls and they have been absolutely brilliant. The police, the Police Association has offered assistance where they need to. Yeah, and look, Katie, we are very fortunate to be part of an organization like that. There's a lot of victims in that community that that don't necessarily have at their fingertips such a wonderful and strong support network. So I can only send my strength and love to the people of the community of Alice Springs for people that are going through what we've been through. Now that I'm no longer on the job, you know, I'm just I'm just the cranky retired barge and that you know on the on the Monday morning quarterback on Police decisions. But you know, I've unfortunately just you know, fallen into now a group of distraught family members that have had this happening. It's a powerless it's a powerless feeling. But I've gone through my angry stage now and sort of getting to the acceptance stage. But what I refuse to accept is that the police are actually appropriately empowered at the moment under the law to deal with the femis in particular juveniles.

I had My initial response was that I wanted to go down and pull Charlie out of the community, and I was going to tell the commissioner. As wonderful as he is, I was going to tell the Commissioner, sorry, mate, I outrank you on this. I'm pulling her out of the community. But now that I've had it, now that I've had a chance to sort of calm down and have a think about it, I don't want to influence Charlie and her decision making with regards to her career, but they are going to come and spend some time up in darn with us and just recover from the injuries and just just have a bit of a break and she can make an informed decision. I've got to say the Northern Turkey Police response, from the executive, from the officer in charge of Olas station to the district commander right through to the commission, They've all spent time with my girls and they have been absolutely brilliant. The police, the Police Association has offered assistance where they need to. Yeah, and look, Katie, we are very fortunate to be part of an organization like that. There's a lot of victims in that community that that don't necessarily have at their fingertips such a wonderful and strong support network. So I can only send my strength and love to the people of the community of Alice Springs for people that are going through what we've been through. Now that I'm no longer on the job, you know, I'm just I'm just the cranky retired barge and that you know on the on the Monday morning quarterback on Police decisions. But you know, I've unfortunately just you know, fallen into now a group of distraught family members that have had this happening. It's a powerless it's a powerless feeling. But I've gone through my angry stage now and sort of getting to the acceptance stage. But what I refuse to accept is that the police are actually appropriately empowered at the moment under the law to deal with the femis in particular juveniles.

What do you think needs to change?

What do you think needs to change?

Oh well, Katie, look, I could talk all day on this. From experience across Australia, they are a very very robust juvenile justice sacked legislation in place across all the states and territories except the Northern Territory. The Northern Territory at the moment, for children above ten to fourteen years old, there is a blanket rule which falls under the Criminal Code excortation called Dolly INCAPACX And what that basically says is that children between a certain age or upper to the age of fourteen aren't capable of knowing that what they did was wrong, so as unfortunately a blanket rule that the police have had enforced upon them that they have a catch and release policy. If they catch a juvenile, then they do. They catch a lot of juveniles, trust me, they literally give them a blue and white taxi home. Okay. Now, in other states and territories, there are many ways to proceed with juveniles. And I'm not talking about locking up kids, Kate. I'm not talking about throng kids in Jahul and talking about formally cautioned and getting them in, getting them in so that they can talk to their victims, you know, receiving a summons if need be, and if the offense is serious enough to actually to actually be taken into custody. Look, Alice has a lot of really really underlying social issues. And I listen intently to Senator just into nampagm for price, and she she's speaking clearly, and she's speaking thoroughly on those issues. And I just really wish that the powers that be, the lawmakers that be, would actually listen to her. And I just really wish that this Northern Territory government empower the commissioner to be able to empower his crew, give him the legislation so that they can take appropriate action, because you know, without the lawmakers giving the police the laws, you know, I mean, they're as busy as one legged soccer players in the Grand Final match at the moment. They are busy, and as far as I'm concerned, Katie, they need to they need to start taking the handcuffs off the police and putting them on offenders. Like I said, it's not about locking up kids, it's about dealing with them appropriately. Because the absolute grubs that assaulted my family, I can guarantee you went through they've probably been through the Dolly incompact rule and have escaped any kind of accountability for their actions and bread it's bread or it's breeding a generation of kids. They just know that they can break the law and get away with it.

Oh well, Katie, look, I could talk all day on this. From experience across Australia, they are a very very robust juvenile justice sacked legislation in place across all the states and territories except the Northern Territory. The Northern Territory at the moment, for children above ten to fourteen years old, there is a blanket rule which falls under the Criminal Code excortation called Dolly INCAPACX And what that basically says is that children between a certain age or upper to the age of fourteen aren't capable of knowing that what they did was wrong, so as unfortunately a blanket rule that the police have had enforced upon them that they have a catch and release policy. If they catch a juvenile, then they do. They catch a lot of juveniles, trust me, they literally give them a blue and white taxi home. Okay. Now, in other states and territories, there are many ways to proceed with juveniles. And I'm not talking about locking up kids, Kate. I'm not talking about throng kids in Jahul and talking about formally cautioned and getting them in, getting them in so that they can talk to their victims, you know, receiving a summons if need be, and if the offense is serious enough to actually to actually be taken into custody. Look, Alice has a lot of really really underlying social issues. And I listen intently to Senator just into nampagm for price, and she she's speaking clearly, and she's speaking thoroughly on those issues. And I just really wish that the powers that be, the lawmakers that be, would actually listen to her. And I just really wish that this Northern Territory government empower the commissioner to be able to empower his crew, give him the legislation so that they can take appropriate action, because you know, without the lawmakers giving the police the laws, you know, I mean, they're as busy as one legged soccer players in the Grand Final match at the moment. They are busy, and as far as I'm concerned, Katie, they need to they need to start taking the handcuffs off the police and putting them on offenders. Like I said, it's not about locking up kids, it's about dealing with them appropriately. Because the absolute grubs that assaulted my family, I can guarantee you went through they've probably been through the Dolly incompact rule and have escaped any kind of accountability for their actions and bread it's bread or it's breeding a generation of kids. They just know that they can break the law and get away with it.

And it's not okay. It is not okay.

And it's not okay. It is not okay.

What happened to your wife, to your daughter, to the other two officers is not okay. Chris, I really thank you for your time this morning. Thank you so much for having a chat with me. But more than anything, please pass on our care and best wishes to your family to those other police officers. I mean, I said the same to Nathan Finn when we had him on earlier in the week. We appreciate the work that our Northern Territory Police do and you know you've already said that your daughter, Charlie is territory tough, but goodness me, she sounds like my kind of girl, getting back out there and still doing that job despite what has gone on. What an absolute legend to all of those offices. But particularly the fact that she has literally just graduated.

What happened to your wife, to your daughter, to the other two officers is not okay. Chris, I really thank you for your time this morning. Thank you so much for having a chat with me. But more than anything, please pass on our care and best wishes to your family to those other police officers. I mean, I said the same to Nathan Finn when we had him on earlier in the week. We appreciate the work that our Northern Territory Police do and you know you've already said that your daughter, Charlie is territory tough, but goodness me, she sounds like my kind of girl, getting back out there and still doing that job despite what has gone on. What an absolute legend to all of those offices. But particularly the fact that she has literally just graduated.

Yeah, absolutely, look, thank you, thank you very much, Katie. I'll definitely pass that on. Yep, she's a tough little nugget. It's not how many times you get knocked down, it's how many times you get back up. And we will we will proceed.

Yeah, absolutely, look, thank you, thank you very much, Katie. I'll definitely pass that on. Yep, she's a tough little nugget. It's not how many times you get knocked down, it's how many times you get back up. And we will we will proceed.

On that absolutely.

On that absolutely.

Chris, thank you, I appreciate your time, and yeah, we'll talk to you again soon.

Chris, thank you, I appreciate your time, and yeah, we'll talk to you again soon.

Absolute pleasure. Thank you for your tom Thank you,

Absolute pleasure. Thank you for your tom Thank you,