Paul Simmons

In 1986, I was a 19 year old policeman fresh out of the Academy, when a woman pretending to be a victim of crime ambushed my partner and I with the intent to murder us with a handgun she had hidden in her oversized handbag. After a life and death struggle, I managed to get control of the murderous offenders gun and saved our lives.

I was given a few beers as "treatment" for my post traumatic stress and told to put the events behind me.

A twenty year veteran with Victoria Police followed that incident in which time I was bashed and had threats made against my life; witnessed horrible trauma inflicted on innocent people and often dealt with violent death.

Many police veterans suffer post traumatic stress in silence. Police Veterans Victoria are there to support veterans and get them the help they need.

I now offer to speak on behalf of Police Veterans Victoria and discuss post traumatic stress suffered by police veterans .