Frequently Asked Questions...

Who runs the Forum?.....

The R.M.U WA POL Forum, is not run by the WA Police Department, or the WA Police Union, but by a group of Retired Medically Unfit, W.A. Police Officers, who saw a need to reach out to other Medically Retired Officers, who may be in the same or a worse situation than themselves, through no fault of their own.

What does W.A mean and where is it? .....

WA means Western Australia, its capital city is called Perth.   WA is the largest state in Australia.  Presently, the state is in a boom and all government departments are having problems finding workers.  The WA Police are having a similar problem, except in their case, they are also having a problem retaining workers, as a lot of officers are very unhappy and are leaving.  The WA Police Services has been described as a leaking bucket, and has been drawn with so many holes they can't stop it from leaking.  Recently they started recruiting from overseas.  If you would like to see a map that shows where Perth, Western Australian is, click here.

How sick are these Retired Medically Unfit W.A. Police Officers?.....

Mental illness caused by Police work is a major problem that gets very little promotion. Many RMU WA Police Officers have psychological, psychiatric, neurological, nervous system illnesses and injuries, many believe their injuries/illnesses were caused as a direct result of them doing their duty whilst protecting our community.

Many RMU's have severe physical injuries, from vehicle accidents, assaults, etc, the list is endless.

Others have life shortening illness/injuries that may be linked to other hazards in the police work place.

Many RMU's live like hermits in our community, with severe symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Some RMU's are so sick, they find it too hard to be involved in our forum.  Just thinking about the past is to upsetting for them.

Surely the W.A. Police are looking after their sick and injured retired officers?.....

Very few people know that the Western Australian Police Department has never provided its sworn Police Officers with any kind of workers compensation cover.   So there is no money for these officers when they are forcefully retired.  A lot of them are in their early 20's & 30's and have young families.  A lot of them have to go to Centrelink and beg for money once they have been "exited" from the Service.  Most will live in pain & poverty for the rest of their lives.   A very sorry ending, for so many of our seriously wounded "Soldiers in Blue".

What is the Forum's view of the Police Union & the WA Police Department?.....

Most RMU's on the Forum, are honorary members of the WA Police Union.  Most fully support their Police Union and it's efforts to bring the RMU problem to a conclusion.  Most lay the blame with the WA Government for not listening or acting. 

To see the WA Police Union's web site. Click Here.

The views of our forum's members towards the W.A. Police Department is mixed.  Most feel they have been treated very poorly, however a small percentage feel they were treated quite well, but can see others who did not get treated the same.  To see the WA Police's website. Click Here.

The WA Police has also got a separate website solely for attracting & recruiting new members.  It is all part of their ongoing "Step Forward" recruitment campaign, which also involves intensive and ongoing high profile newspaper and television advertising.  Sadly, because there is never any mention about there being no workers compensation and after service benefits, most people don't ask about them before they join.  

Most serving WA Police Officers only find out themselves, that there is nothing in place, when they are sick or injured, but by then it  is to late.  To see the WA Police's "Step Forward" website. Click Here.

The RMU members on the forum would advise anyone thinking about joining  the WA Police to ask lots and lots of questions, about the issues mentioned on our site, before they commit themselves to join.    To contact and ask the WA Police recruitment team a question. Click Here.

What about the recently announced Medical Benefits Legislation?.....

Yes, that has been promised, but that has taken over a decade to get this far.  We applaud any efforts to help, but  these benefits should have been provided decades ago. Retired Medically Unfit W.A. Police Officers, should not have to beg for proper benefits.  A lot of RMU's are totally and permanently incapacitated and will never work again. 

Medical Benefits don't feed your family, pay your mortgage, take your family on holidays or send your children to a nice school.  These things that many officers had rightly aspired to do for their family, are no longer achievable.   Retired officers' children are also victims of a very bad system.   There should be proper financial benefits for all RMU Police Officers, not just charity for some lucky few.

These retired WA Police must feel really bad?.....

A lot of WA Police Officers believe their profession is more than just a job, but a calling for life.  To be a Police Officer in today's society, one must truly believe in what you are doing.  Most join because they want to help people in their time of need and protect our society from people who are really bad.

Many RMU's can't believe they have been treated so badly.  Most were under the impression, that if anything happened to them while they were protecting our community, that themselves and their families would be truly looked after, for life.

A lot of RMU's feel betrayed, abandoned and feel their life long sacrifices have been for nothing.   Most always knew that casualties do happen working on the "Front Line" and accept their injuries/illness.  Most never talk about how sick or injured they are, except to express how angry they are to highlight how badly they were treated.

Why hasn't the law been changed to stop this problem from happening?.....

Only the politicians know that answer.   A lot of our RMU members believe it is to do with saving our great state money.

It seems, retiring a hurt or ill WA Police Officer can be done very cheaply.  Most get told they are getting forcefully retired, then just get paid their unused holidays and long service.  They are then told in many impersonal ways that their employment has been terminated at midnight. eg. a message left on a answering machine.  That's right not even a "Thankyou"

They are then soon replaced by a fresh young recruit. It is easy to picture a merry-go-round that never stops, with just the "unlucky" ones falling off............... but.....into a life of suffering & poverty.

I see WA Police recruitment adverts, are new recruits told about this problem?.....

We don't know what is happening there, you would have to ask the WA Police, but RMU's on the forum are all very worried.

What can the R.M.U Forum do to help?.....

The Primary purpose of the R.M.U. Forum is to offer a hand of friendship to our fellow Retired Medically Unfit "Soldiers in Blue". 

Our Plan is to reach out to each other, help & understand our past, move forward together and help each other to create a better RMU future.

What happens then?.....

Once we have regrouped, we are going to see how big & bad this R.M.U. problem really is.  Because no one seems to want to know.   We will then "Seek Justice" if it is still required.

What do you mean by "Seek Justice"?.....

Our members' concerns are also raised, when we see politicians patting each other on the back, talking up how much they are going to support us, and then do the bear minimum or on most occasions, nothing.

Some say it appears that both the Government and the WA Police are proceeding as if our problem doesn't exist, as it is rarely ever talked about publicly. 

Some RMU's think it isn't about us, they think, it is just about doing business and about saving money.

For this to happen the WA Government / WA Police would have to launch a special enquiry, which few can ever see happening.  Because of this, nobody will ever know how big this problem really is.

The RMU Forum's membership is very unique.  All our members are professional evidence takers, givers & obtainers.  We have inquiry officers, detectives, prosecutors, surveillance officers, and our people have a lot of other very special skills.  

If this problem is not taken seriously very soon, our RMU members will investigate themselves and do their own professional type, special inquiry.  There are several other topics that also need looking at, a lot more closely.  We will investigate those as well, and publish our inquiry here, on the internet, to a world wide audience.

If the WA Police doesn't quickly fix this problem, we will do their work for them.  We will hang their dirty washing out, for everyone to see.  If that doesn't work, we have plenty of other very good ideas.

That is what we would call "Seeking Justice" and we are all looking forward to making it happen.   Retired Medically Unfit W.A. Police  have been carrying the burden of this SHAME for too long.  The SHAME needs to be moved back to where it belongs.  If it is not taken back, we will give it back.

So if you are an injured or ill, Retired Medically Unfit, WA Police Officer and you would like to join our group, please contact us on the details below.  You will be made Very Welcome.