Ian’s case study set to close

By Callan Date
IAN Wilcox’s 38-year career in the Victorian Police force has enabled him to see some of the best and worst aspects of human behaviour.
The veteran detective will call it a day tomorrow (Friday) after being in charge of the Narre Warren Police Station’s Criminal Investigation Unit (CIU) for the past nine years.
Before that the detective senior sergeant spent time at Mount Waverley, Hawthorn, Oakleigh and Springvale Police Stations.
The veteran investigator’s career in blue started as a fresh-faced teenager directing traffic in Melbourne’s CBD.
Almost 40 years on and Det Sen Sgt Wilcox, 55, could write a book about the various crimes he has worked hard to solve and the touching stories of human nature he has seen.
“I have come across some really good human stories and some really horrific stories,” he said during his last week on the job.
“There are some nasty people out there but there are plenty of nice, genuine people.”
Det Sen Sgt Wilcox said he had a close affiliation with the City of Casey, having lived in the area for more than 30 years.
“You form a lot of friendships with people from organisations like council, government bodies and different sides of life.
“It makes you realise that there are a lot of good people out there.”
Det Sen Sgt Wilcox said he realised he wanted to become a detective early on in his time with Victoria Police.
“I really enjoy the investigating side of it, working on the serious crimes and serious incidents. I decided I would get more job satisfaction out of solving some of the mores serious cases.”
One of those was a lengthy rape investigation that eventually sent three bikie gang members behind bars for more than 12 years each.
“The victims were reluctant to pursue the matter and we spent a lot of time with them. We eventually did a raid on the clubhouse.”
He said he would miss the laughter between fellow detectives every Monday morning as they all caught up with each other.
“You get more laughs out of that chat then you normally do out of the whole day.
“I still go on an annual fishing trip with a lot of the close friends I have made through the job and, hopefully, when I’m retired I will be able to get a bit more fishing in and just relax.”
Det Sen Sgt Wilcox said he wished Narre Warren’s new top detective all the best – saying it was now a younger man’s role.
“The accountability is huge these day, especially in the role of detective senior sergeant out this way.”