VK5COP

This is a secondary call that is allocated to me.

I use this callsign to promote the Police. I was a member of the South Australia Police for over 43 years. I retired in January 2026.

Police are called "cops" primarily because it's a shortened version of "copper," which came from the verb "to cop," meaning to catch or seize, evolving from an old English word for capture (caper/capere), with the term “copper” (one who cops) emerging in slang by the 1840s, eventually shortening back to "cop".

QSL CARD.

The photographs that appear on the QSL card are courtesy of the South Australia Police.

THE ROLE OF POLICE IN AUSTRALIA.

Police in Australia have a broad range of duties. They include:

preventing crime
investigating crime
enforcing traffic laws
arresting offenders
responding to emergencies
resolving disputes
attending sudden deaths
managing crime scenes
delivering death notices
locating missing persons
engaging with the community
participating in community events
specialist roles - many and varied, but include Detectives, counter terrorism, forensics, PolAir

DONUTS.

The association between police officers and donuts, while often portrayed humorously, has roots in historical and practical factors, particularly in the United States. Donut shops, often being one of the few establishments open late at night or early in the morning, became convenient locations for police officers to grab a quick, affordable meal and a place to do paperwork.

Blue Donut Week is celebrated during National Police Week, with bakeries and supermarkets across South Australia selling blue donuts, with proceeds going towards Police Legacy (providing support to families of police officers who have suffered a loss).