As we celebrate Anzac Day, we could learn much from Senior Sergeant Graham Boyd of the Mount Isa police station, who was deployed to East Timor for eight months.

Senior Sergeant Boyd volunteered for deployment and served under the Fourth Australian Contingent for the United Nations peace-keeping mission from 2007.

Senior Sergeant Boyd first patrolled the Lautem District, and lived in the Village of Lospalos.

``We had no running water or electricity and we had executive police powers,''  Senior Sergeant Boyd said.

He said the contingent - which was made up of Australian police officers - worked with the National Police of East Timor and the Timorese Police in day-to-day police duties.

It was dangerous work for police.

``It was typical policing in a country area, except when tempers flared and we had village wars with darts, arrows and spears - firearms weren't as common in the eastern end of the country,''  Senior Sergeant Boyd said.

Senior Sergeant Boyd said East Timor had a complicated political system, and riots could be triggered over the smallest of reasons.

At least one riot was fought over a chicken.

Sometimes there were warning signs that a riot was imminent.

When boys began to pile rocks it was a sign that violence would break out later that day, Senior Sergeant Boyd said.

Senior Sergeant Boyd also worked with the United Nations Close Security Protection Unit - which protected international dignitaries.

``I protected the United Nations secretary general Ban Ki Moon, the Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd and the Timorese prime minister Xanana Gusmoa,'' he said.

``I was part of the security team during the state of emergency that lasted from February to March 2008, which started after the president Ramos Horta was shot.

``Some days you really earned your pay.''