Former members of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) have rejoined as Reserves to help provide operational support during the pandemic and Operation Ironside, the biggest organised crime operation in the AFP’s history.
AFP Reserve Inspector Jo Brown said that since the Reserve program’s launch in April last year reserves had undertaken duties such as supporting national and ACT investigations; assisting with selection, training of and planning for police and Protection Services Officers recruits; intelligence support; emergency management and major events planning; and governance, policy and project work.
“The Reserves program has brought former members with significant knowledge and experience back into the workforce to help support and deliver key organisational priorities,’’ Inspector Brown said.
“We currently have more than 70 Reserves in the AFP Reserve pool, with 29 currently placed across various Commands within the AFP,” she said.
“The program provides an opportunity for former members to re-engage with the AFP, and existing AFP appointees seeking to transition to retirement, to continue fulfilling their sense of public duty and commitment to the Australian community.”
Inspector Brown said the AFP had a proud history and former members often wanted to continue contributing to the community and law enforcement efforts.
She said the AFP aimed to reach a pool of 200 AFP Reserves.
Former AFP Superintendent Constantine Coutsolitis, who retired in 2014 after 36 years of service, said he rejoined in May 2020 to be a part of the AFP Reserve implementation team.
“It was a great honour to have been asked to help implement the AFP Reserve program, working alongside (now retired) Assistant Commissioner Wayne Buchhorn and his team,” Mr Coutsolitis said.
“It was a very exciting time as it offered retired members an avenue of re-engaging with the AFP, breaking the adage of there is ‘nothing more ex than an ex-police officer’,” he said.
