Applying for a Transfer

In this episode of Loose Units Busted, host Paul Verhoeven and his father, former Sydney police officer John Verhoeven, revisit a pivotal moment in John's early policing career: his application for a transfer just four months after becoming a probationary constable in 1982. The episode centers on a confidential Work Performance Appraisal Form that reveals John's desire to move from general duties—whom he describes as a 'sausage factory'—toward more specialized, intellectually stimulating work. His stated interests include scientific criminal investigation, particularly the fingerprint section, which he saw as a path to day shift work and a way to avoid working alongside his then-partner, Christine, due to the risks and complications of romantic involvement in high-stress policing environments. The form also uncovers quirky personal details, like his claim to 'can successfully pick locks,' and reveals that his appraiser, Ivor Pedersen—a respected colleague and friend—was the one who evaluated his transfer request, lending a layer of personal endorsement to the decision. The episode also reflects on John’s troubled school years, where he was labeled a 'rat bag' despite excelling in advanced science, and shares humorous, self-aware anecdotes about his childhood pranks, including trapping flies in hair and crushing slaters in classmates’ notebooks. These stories serve as a backdrop to the larger theme of how early perceptions—both in school and in policing—can misrepresent a person’s true potential and passions.