By CASEY NEILL
AN APEX gang member has allegedly threatened to shoot a Greater Dandenong detective, approaching her in a cafe while she ate lunch with her partner.
A poster displayed inside Dandenong Police Station warned officers that the teen or his partners, linked to a string of aggravated armed burglaries and car thefts, could launch an attack on the building.
But Victoria Police Southern Metropolitan Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill told 3AW on Friday 11 March that he did not believe an attack would occur.
“I don’t think the circular is an accurate reflection of what we’re facing here,” he said.
“I do not think the perpetrator actually said that he would enter the police station.
“He knows where the member works and that’s the extent of it.”
Asst Comm Hill said “an individual” had been arrested and was in custody, charged with aggravated burglary.
The threatened officer’s father, Patrick Rampal, said she was on leave and had been diagnosed with anxiety and stress.
“She was in the taskforce investigating that group and she has made several arrests and probably charged over 20 of them,” he said.
The former policeman said the incident happened about 10 weeks ago and involved two men of African descent.
He said they spotted and approached his daughter, made a phone call and “a car load of about eight African men pulled up outside”.
At that point, the officer and her partner left.
“My daughter asked to be transferred to a different area completely away from Dandenong,” Mr Rampal said.
“That was refused by the superintendent in Dandenong.
“She wants to go back to work. My daughter’s a fourth generation police officer.
“If she’s in danger in Dandenong, move her away from the area. That’s all you’ve got to do.”
Asst Comm Hill said Victoria Police was working with her to “return her to the workforce at a location where we can mitigate risk”.
