A Bridgewater detective whose team has spent the past year seizing illegal firearms, from stolen guns to homemade weapons, has been named Tasmania Police Investigator of the Year.
Detective Sergeant Sam Storer, from the Bridgewater Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) in Hobart’s northern suburbs, co-ordinated more than 30 firearms investigations in southern Tasmania over the past 12 months.
Assistant Commissioner Rob Blackwood said those investigations involved firearm discharges, wounding incidents, unlawful possession, trafficking and theft of firearms.
Some of the weapons seized were laid out on a table at the award announcement.
“His work has contributed to the apprehension and prosecution of offenders while removing multiple firearms from criminal circulation,” Blackwood said.
He also described a case in which Storer, while off duty, followed up information in a closed police file about a suspicious person in New South Wales.
“It triggered something for him off duty, then looks a few things up, makes phone calls, gets people involved,” Blackwood said.
“That leads to a six-kilogram drug seizure at the Hobart Airport that day.”
“He’s one of those people that if your home’s broken into or you’re a victim of crime, Sam’s turning up, you’re gonna feel relieved and know that it’ll probably get solved,” he said.
Storer said the award belonged to his colleagues.
“No investigation is a solo effort, so this recognition really belongs to the great team that I work alongside with at Bridgewater CIB,” he said.
“If policing has taught me anything, it’s that one person might make an arrest, but it takes a whole team to make a case.”
According to Storer, police are seizing everything from guns stolen from lawful owners to homemade weapons.
He said officers were seeing more 3D-printed firearms being made and used by criminals.
“Firearms in the wrong hands have the potential to turn almost any criminal situation into a tragedy,” he said.
“Fortunately, Tasmania remains a relatively safe place, but we can’t afford to be complacent.”
Blackwood said 3D-printed firearms were “a real concern” for Tasmania Police and a concern for law enforcement across the country.
“We are seeing technology advance and these firearms becoming more proficient. They can do more damage and cause more harm,” he said.
Asked whether Tasmania needed stricter gun laws, Blackwood said firearms legislation was before parliament. “We’ll see what comes from that,” he said.
Storer joined Tasmania Police in 2015. He said his focus now was developing the next generation of detectives.
He is the fourth recipient of the award, after Detective Sergeant Paul Turner, Detective Sergeant Nathan Hartnett and Detective Senior Constable Melanie Nichols.
