2014 THE YEAR THAT WAS
SERGEANT John ‘Blackers’ Blackburn looked back at his last 10 years at the Endeavour Hills Police Station and wondered where they went.
The police veteran has been working at the station since it opened, and in early December he was among many past and present cops from the facility who celebrated its 10th birthday at the Churchill Park Golf Club.
Sgt Blackburn is one of several police officers who have worked at the Endeavour Hills station since it was set up in November 2004, along with Sgt Andrea Winfield, Sgt Mick Sheers and Acting Sgt Greg Pajor.
These are four cops who typify the family-like environment that is palpable among the Endeavour Hills group.
“The area has clearly had an issue with hoon behaviour. We had a lot of trouble with youths and hoon behaviour when we first started, and we’ve clearly reduced that,” Sgt Blackburn said.
“It’s made the streets a lot safer. Areas like the skate park here, the skate park at Doveton, Autumn Place – your strip shopping centres have become a lot safer because of your high density police patrols.”
Senior Sergeant Paul Marshall, a past officer in charge at the station, said Endeavour Hills had “special memories” for him.
“It’s a family within a family. It’s just special. It was my first posting as a senior sergeant,” he said.
“What sets it apart is the culture. The culture of the place is one about teamwork, it’s one about all-inclusiveness.”
