The officer-in-charge of Cloncurry Stock and Rural Crimes Investigation Squad, Detective Sergeant Bob Guteridge, hoped to find out who stole 400 head of cattle in 2010. But he will have to let go of the case now that he has retired. 

The detective sergeant celebrated 41 years in the Queensland Police Service at his retirement party last Saturday night in Cloncurry, with more than 100 local prominent graziers and police officers attending. 

He moved from Toowoomba Criminal Investigation Branch nine years ago into his role in the stock squad. 

The squad covers an area that is almost a quarter of Queensland, from the Carpentaria Gulf to the South Australian border, mostly dealing with rural crime, trespass on minesites and farms, and the theft of stock.

The difficulty with investigating stock thefts was that they were not often reported until months after they happened.

The former detective sergeant was often dealing with a cold trail. 

“We need that one important break but unfortunately in this case (in 2010) it never came,” Mr Guteridge said. 

He said police often heard rumours of who the cattle rustlers might be. 

“We need harder evidence than that for further investigation,” he said. 

However, the stock squad had its victories. 

A matter involving the theft of 271 head of cattle would be heard in the Cloncurry Magistrates Court in December. 

And a man pleaded guilty to cattle theft recently in the Charleville Magistrates Court and received a suspended jail sentence.

Mr Guteridge said cattle thieves should receive tougher punishment.

“Stock theft does not get as treated as seriously as it should,” he said. 

“We are talking seven-year crime, which is equivalent to serious burglary. 

“Generally the value of the stock in the case in 2010 ... [we were) looking at over half a million dollars.” 

Mr Guteridge retired when he turned 60, as part of Queensland Police Service policy. However, his retirement plan would not involve fishing on a beach somewhere. 

His wife Julie is a Cloncurry librarian and she also wishes to remain in the area. 

“The retirement plan for me is working in the grazing industry around here,” he said. Mr Guteridge is also a keen clay target shooter.