My life as a police officer by Constable Connor Bramich
I grew up…
On the North West Coast of Tasmania on a small farm property with my mother and grandparents. Most of my immediate family were close which made gatherings a regular occurrence. My childhood revolved around playing sport and travelling around the state to do so.
My first job…
Was as a builder’s labourer for a local company in my hometown.
I left school…
After completing year 11 and 12 boarding at Launceston Church Grammar School. I returned to my hometown on the North West Coast to have a gap year before joining the Army.
I knew I wanted to be a police officer…
After having discussions with several of my friends who had previously been in the Military and were now in various police jurisdictions around Australia. Hearing about their experiences made me extremely interested in the job and the opportunity to constantly challenge myself.
The night before I started my Academy training…
I didn’t really know what to expect. I was slightly nervous but tried not to think too much about what might happen. My advice to anyone starting at the Academy is to take a breath and take everything as it comes.
On my first day as a police officer…
I was delayed a week after having flu like symptoms as COVID-19 had just taken hold. My house mate and I both were forced to self-isolate and our first day was delayed until we recovered. My first shift in Burnie I was a bit nervous, especially because I was starting a week later than my graduating course. The team was very welcoming, and I really enjoyed the day.
My service history so far…
I graduated from the Academy in early March 2020 and was posted to Shift 5 in Burnie. The first three months of my career have been fantastic. Policing is a job that constantly requires you to deal with dynamic situations that challenge you physically and mentally.
I currently…
Work in Burnie Uniform Division and am constantly learning new things. As a Probationary Constable, I am fortunate to work alongside several experienced officers who are fantastic mentors and provide me with guidance.
My typical day…
Starts with coffee, caffeine is the best way to start the day. Once work starts, I grab my gear out from the armoury, check my emails and head into the muster room for readout which is usually presented by my Sergeant. Any tasks that come from the readout are divided between the team and we seek to complete them before the end of shift. We head out on patrol and respond to any jobs that come in over the radio. As the shift comes to an end we’ll tidy up any paperwork.
Where I see myself going…
At the moment I’m quite happy and am in no hurry to change roles. I am interested in a secondary role, possibly Search and Rescue (SAR). I will have to wait until I finish my probation and then I will look at becoming a training member of the SAR team.
A memorable moment in Tasmania Police…
My short career in Tasmania Police has already brought a lot of memorable moments, but one that sticks out was when a Staffy and large Rottweiler got involved as I was making an arrest. I had been trained to deal with all sorts of situations at the academy, but having a 55kg dog barking in my face and threatening to bite my arm was new. Luckily the dogs decided not to bite, and the incident was resolved safely. Now I always check the house/backyard for dogs.
My colleagues in the Tasmania Police Service…
Are great. Particularly my shift at Burnie, we are a very tight-knit team. We look after each other and there is always someone that you can turn to for advice or help.
Most difficult part of the job…
So far for me is seeing young children in difficult circumstances. The potential psychological damage that some children are subject to is tough to deal with. As a police officer I find it extremely important to try and have the most positive interaction with them as possible, so they can understand that they shouldn’t be scared of police and we are here if they need us.
Best part of the job…
You never know what is going to happen when you get to work. You might not get called to many jobs for the whole shift, or the world might seem to erupt, and you are run off your feet trying to respond to numerous jobs. Everyday there are new situations that you have to deal with, and I love challenging myself.
Outside of being a police officer, I…
Love to play sport. Mostly footy and cricket but I play golf socially with mates which I find to be a great way to unwind from work on days off.
My family…
Is quite close and I often travel to see them on my days off as they are only an hour away.
Being a police officer has helped me…
Learn to communicate with a wide range of different people and appreciate things in my life more than I did before.
Biggest success…
Graduating from the Tasmania Police Academy.
I am inspired by…
The people that I work with and the professionalism that is constantly displayed.
An obstacle I’ve had to overcome…
Paperwork. There was a point during the Academy that I was second guessing my decision to change job roles from Defence to Police, but now that I am actually in the job, I am extremely glad I did. The paperwork can be quite daunting at times and I did struggle initially but I soon realised that there is always someone who is willing to answer a question or assist me with my paperwork if I need it.
A virtue/quote to live by…
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall” – Confucius.
The best advice I can give to a potential recruit thinking they want to join…
Do it. The skillset that you learn as a police officer will help you in all areas of life. The Academy will be a challenging time for you, and you should expect to be put out of your comfort zone. But at the end of the day it will also help you grow as a person and leave you in good stead to start your career as a police officer.