“They are not bored they just want to do it. It’s a game, and there’s a lot of these boys that think they are heroes running around,” he said in one section of the interview. 

He explains the importance of liaison officers and some of the challenges  that they can have in their role. 

How long have you been a police liaison officer, and why did you choose to become one?

I have been a police liaison officer (PLO) for the last seven to eight months. I joined the PLOs of the Mount Isa police force just because I want to help the community.

I was born and raised here in the community and I want to put back what I’ve got out of it, which is respect. What everyone needs around here is respect. With the young kids these days we’re trying to get them to learn the respect with the community, within the community. 

What do you do as a PLO?

I am based out of the Pioneer beat. I am the only PLO over there at the moment. I want to go over there because we need someone over there to engage with the people in that area, which is our main area.

With the police I usually go in and I talk to the people first before, (and) make them understand why they are there and what they have got to say and what not to say. 

Can it be a challenge?

It is a challenge and I take my hat off to the police force and the liaison officers that have been in situations.

Respect is the main thing out here and it’s not happening, but the people in the community, they need the PLOs and the police need the PLOs to communicate.

That’s the biggest idea, to communicate with the police, the people in the area and the kids. 

Does the community look at you differently when you wear the blue, positively or negatively? 

Definitely. A lot of people, before I approach, I tell them I am a Kalkadoon elder.

I approach by saying, “I would like to listen, I’m a Kalkadoon elder, respect what I say.” 

A lot of people they respect that then. You get some, not a lot – one or two and mainly because they’re drunk –  and you can’t get through to them, and that’s the biggest issue here is the alcohol.

...It’s the grog and that’s the worst thing down there. 

Does the community have any misconceptions when it comes to issues? 

Definitely. The people in the community, a lot of them are sick and tired of a lot of issues with the youths breaking and entering.

You get a lot of people working hard for their money, and these kids have just got no respect for that.

I know a lot of bad boys and I try to tell them, and explain to them what they are doing to people in the community, and not just people in the community. Themselves, the indigenous people and people around them.

It’s all about respect. That’s what we’re trying to get into these kids. It’s very hard.

I believe everything went out when they took discipline away, it gave all the opportunities to the kids. Kids, they have got the rights for everything.

There is discipline,  and over-discipline. 

Why do you think troubled youth do what they do? 

Look, everyone keeps saying these kids are bored. It’s not boredom. They want to do it. if you want to do something, you’ll do it.

There’s a lot of agencies around here that cater to kids these days...and these kids don’t want to participate.

You have got to want to participate to make it happen.

It’s like i said, they are not bored they just want to do it. It’s a game, and there’s a lot of these boys that think they are heroes running around.

It’s all adrenaline rush.

That’s all I can see out of it all, it’s not because they are bored...some of the parents have to start stepping up. 

How do PLOs speak to kids that love that adrenaline? 

That’s a very tough question. It’s trying to get them to respect what you’re saying.

I give them tough love. I won’t, I WON’T, tell them what they are doing is good or...I give them tough love, I’ll get up (them) and then I would say “give us a hug” and they’ll respect what I’m saying.

Like I say, a lot of kids when they do something they get down themselves, ‘aw, what am I doing down here?’ and then I go down and visit them. And say….”this has got to stop.” 

I try to keep in contact with them and tell them all the time what they are doing wrong, but it’s very hard.

Once they get around in the middle of a gang it’s very hard. The gangs are the main things. Once you are in that gang you do everything, they go and break and enter in cars.

It’s very hard. The only way we can do it is with the whole community stepping up and saying “look enough is enough.” ...We need the elders around the place to step up. 

Hasn’t the community already done that? 

No, no, no.

In the community, there are good kids and bad kids and kids start to get into that break and enter. And it’s hard to say….how to stop them now from getting any further.