I’ve met some cold-hearted killers, but most crooks are ordinary and often quite pathetic

September 28, 2026 — 7:00pm

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In about AD 175, Roman emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius wrote of his day ahead: “I will encounter busybodies, ingrates, egomaniacs, liars, the jealous and cranks.” He could have been a police officer. Marcus was a keen observer of life, and as a police officer myself, I always sought to be the same. If there’s one thing I learnt, there is always a lot more going on under the surface than first appears. Oh, and that people can do remarkable things: good, bad and stupid.

I’ve dealt with plenty of criminals. Mostly the bad ones because they’re easier to catch. People might be surprised how common criminality is; many crooks actually have regular day jobs to pay the bills. I had to laugh at the burglar brought into the station one night who pleaded to be let out in the morning, as he was expected on the worksite to resume his career as a tradie. Admirable dedication, I guess. Of course many crooks are engaged in white-collar crime, hiding behind their computers. It’s sobering to realise that criminals walk among us. It’s just that most don’t recognise them.

There are cold-hearted killers out there, and I’ve met some of them, but most crooks are decidedly ordinary and often quite pathetic. One serious offender came into the cells yelling abuse........

© Brisbane Times