Episode 139 - Part 2 - Interview with Roger Mayer APM - Policing the Territory in the late 70's

Welcome back to Part Two with Roger Mayer APM. In Episode 139, Roger takes us back to what it was really like joining the Northern Territory Police in the late 1970s and early ’80s — a very different era of policing. It was a wild show back then. Communications were limited, backup wasn’t always available, and officers often had to think on their feet. When you were out there on your own, the power of speech could be your most important tool. Roger shares stories from his time working in Gove, dealing with everything from crocodiles and fishermen to illegal fishing operations. There wasn’t always a policy or procedure to fall back on — sometimes you had to trust your gut, use your experience and police by the seat of your pants. It’s a fascinating look at an era when policing in the Territory meant independence, adaptability and making decisions with whatever you had in front of you. A must-listen episode for anyone interested in what life and policing were really like in the old NT.