NORTH West dry community Doomadgee is changing – for the better.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The police, with the full co-operation of the wider community, is getting somewhere in the battle against a drug and alcohol culture that has a sad history.
And yesterday, police said they were winning the battle against drug and alcohol-related offences as they reflected on an operation at the end of last month.
The drug and alcohol operation ended with more than 35 people been charged on 54 liquor, drug, public order and traffic charges.
In what was a united approach, Doomadgee Police, Mount Isa Tactical Crime Squad, traffic branch officers and dog squad officers worked together with the Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council and the local community to target and address drug and alcohol-related offences.
Doomadgee Police Station Officer in Charge Senior Sergeant Matt Campbell said it was a combined effort of top policing and community assistance.
“Over my four years stationed at Doomadgee, I can say this is one of the most successful operations we have had and I believe this is due to the support of council, particularly Mayor Frederick O’Keefe, and the local community being aware and supportive of addressing these issues,” he said.
“Information provided to the police by the public had a tremendous impact on the positive results of this operation, including a 100 per cent strike rate on raids that were conducted,” he said.
Doomadgee Sergeant Greg Fredericksen said the community’s philosophy on alcohol and drug-fuelled behaviour was turning for the better.
“There is a willingness to provide info and timely intel to allow police to get results,” he said.
Sgt Fredericksen said there was “very little, if any” negativity to the operation, which was a drastic change to previous blitzes.
“The community is turning,” he said.
“They are fed up with alcohol-fuelled violence and the partying and the noise,” he said.
Among the items seized by police was a large quantity of alcohol, eight cannabis plants, plus other drugs and drug paraphernalia. Around 160 Random Breath Tests were performed, with the highest reading 0.215 BAC. There were also a number of Traffic Infringement Notices (TINs) issued, including one for speeding at 152km in a 100km zone.
Other notable offences included a 19-year-old Doomadgee man charged with one count of assault occasioning bodily harm on August 27 who will appear in the Doomadgee Magistrates Court on September 9. A 20-year-old Pioneer man was charged with one count of assaulting police on August 28 and is expected to appear in the Doomadgee Magistrates Court on September 9.