Graham Maranda has years of experience to bring to his regular column for crime and mystery authors, with advice about police procedure and an insider's view of criminal activity. When you read the following, about his life in the police service, you'll see that he should be able to point you in the right direction no matter what skullduggery your characters are involved in!

As a young police officer, Graham spent eight years performing front-line uniformed duties. This concluded with a stint in the Divisional Traffic Office and then 18 months as the Divisional Education Officer, before he moved to being an adjudicator in the Traffic Laws Unit.

After two years with the Highway Patrol Response Group (a high profile traffic enforcement group), Graham's era as a criminal investigator started with seven years' service in the District Anti Theft Squad, during which time he was promoted to Sergeant and given leadership of this unit.

His group of 9 were formally commended for outstanding results (1,171 offenders arrested with 2,895 charges laid and $6,115,800 worth of drugs, cash & stolen property seized.)  They had executed 132 search warrants.  A long term friend from those days recently told Graham, "That was the closest to Hollywood policing anyone will get". 

He then served four years as a Detective Sergeant at the Mascot Patrol, which included Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport.  This period included Strike Force Bagnara, investigating serial bank robberies throughout metropolitan Sydney. 
 
Graham's next duty was secondment to the State's prisons, where he investigated allegations against prison officers. 

Finally, achieving a long held goal, he served at the State Crime Command with the Robbery & Serious Crime Squad.  He found it stimulating to respond to major robberies, kidnappings & extortions in company with teams of highly talented investigators.

Six years ago he was promoted to Detective Inspector and moved across to the Firearms (Trafficking) Crime Squad.  He co-ordinated teams, providing strategic and tactical advice (physical & technical).

In April 2008, responding to signs that he needed to slow down and smell the roses, Graham exited his 33 years' career.  He remains living in Sydney's Inner West with his wife and their two unmarried adult children - and is now delighted to be able to use his years of experience to help writers get it right!