It is Science Week 2020, and to celebrate we are featuring some of the staff in the Queensland Police Service (QPS) Forensic Services Group.
Meet one of our team who specialises in weapons…
Name: Peta Radnidge
Rank: Senior Constable
Branch: Forensic Services Group, Ballistics Unit
Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Science (Biology)
- Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours) (Chemistry)
- Doctor of Philosophy (Chemical Engineering)
- Bachelor of Policing
- Diploma of Public Safety (Forensic Investigation)
Year joined QPS: 2007
Meet Senior Constable Peta Radnidge from the Ballistics Unit
What is the most interesting part of your job?
I love the opportunity to determine how homemade weapons have been designed and how they work.
We get some very interesting exhibits… some could almost have been made by MacGyver (think a homemade walking stick shotgun!).
What is the most challenging part of your job?
We have to categorise a huge variety of weapons – everything from tiny handguns to large rifles, knives to swords, and even items you might only see in the movies like knuckle-dusters and nunchaku.
In order to keep across the diverse range of weapons, we have to complete an extensive training program, all the while also attending the scenes of shootings and categorising weapons in our workshop.
Because of the variety of work we do and the training required, time management is a daily challenge.
What is your most memorable moment in this role?
In one case, some unusual ammunition had been used in a shooting.
I tracked down the source of the ammunition and managed to link the initial case to a number of other shooting incidents through the type of ammunition used.
Finding that missing link is always incredibly satisfying!
We will continue to showcase unique science-oriented roles within the QPS Forensic Services Group throughout the week.
For information about how to join the Queensland Police Service, visit the recruiting website: policerecruit.com.au
