"The blind man said 'I see' but he couldn't see at all”

THEM.Investigation

Tibballs' Books: The 'eyes wide shut' guides

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Introduction

A lot has been written, and a lot has been said about Tom Chandler in the media, mostly slanderous, for example how he "hit" Debbie and he was a "slime".
Despite media distortions, a television station and indeed producer-sponsored book should logically be accurate. However, both Tibball's The Bill: The complete low-down on 20 years at Sun Hill and The Bill - The Official History of Sun Hill poorly represents, often distorting events and characters, even to the point of bias in some circumstances, particularly regarding episodes during 2000 and 2001- the "Longer" Chandler.

This report will outline where these incidents, supporting instances with evidence.

Definitions

Attitude: A belief in a certain issue

CCTV cameras: A type of video monitoring camera system including a camera connected to a monitor and usually a recording device

Chandler: The Bill's Superintendent Tom Chandler

Incompetency: an inability to complete a job through self-fault

Mental Stability: The ability to accept responsibility for actions and act abiding to society's laws and rules according to accepted social norms

Morality: a personal acceptance and abidance of social norms

Longer Chandler: Events, actions and circumstances of The Bill's Tom Chandler during 2000 and 2001 episodes

Latter Chandler: Events, actions and circumstances of The Bill's Tom Chandler during 2002 episodes, particularly beyond 001

Perception: The ability to recognise and understand the importance and/or consequences of an issue or situation

References to the "Text": The books themselves, The Bill: The Complete Low-Down on 20 Years at Sun Hill and The Bill - The Official History of Sun Hill

Contents

Biographical details of the books

* Australian edition. British edition identical

1. Chandler

I) Morality

Page 17

“He’s [Okaro] an intensely moral officer- the complete opposite to his predecessor, Tom Chandler…I said, “He’s got no moral backbone.” The guy at the top has to set the standards…”

Tom Chandler's instincts may have been at odds with station command at times, but Chief Superintendent Brownlow, Chandler's predecessor, barely made appearances with anyone outside Chief Inspector Derek Conway and Inspector Andrew Monroe. Browlow more heavily valued community policing. The Longer Chandler has dealt with and emphasises resolution of community issues, particularly as far as firearms were concerned.

Chandler hated "guns". In Gun Crazy [part 1] he empathised with a woman who had been held at gunpoint in a bottle shop, explaining he was the Duty Inspector on a relief when a young PC was shot and this had affected him deeply. In this way he displayed empathy for community concerns regarding guns, and also a victim of crime in Sun Hill's vicinity.

Ms Andrea Roper: do you mind if I asked, why are you so involved in this?
Chandler: Well, as I said I dislike firearms. When I was a Duty Inspector, a young PC was shot and killed on my relief. I had to tell his wife, she was expecting his first child. I'd sent him to make the arrest, there was a rumour the villain was carrying a gun. It was only a rumour but if perhaps if I'd've taken it seriously..

Because Chandler had empathised with what he perceived the victim was going through, his instincts on her intentions had been compromised- he had opened up emotionally.

Chandler: I can't believe I didn't spot her, I can spot a hack a mile off.

From this, he was upset when she returned and denied false pretences.

Chandler: ...I do have something to say about you duplicity.
Roper: I was not duplicitious.
Chandler: Which may have compromised our inquiries.
Roper: Bullshit, wounded pride...
Chandler: You obtained information under false pretences.
Roper: I didn't didn't tell you I was a reporter, you didn't ask.
Chandler: Don't be disinjenious.
Roper: I wasn't disinjenious...
Chandler: What about all that sobbing, was that genuine?
Roper: Oh now that's low, I was in shock, I had just been threatened at gunpoint.
Chandler: When we make an arrest, Ms Roper, you will be informed via proper channels.

Chandler's use of vocabulary is distinct from usual word using- when angry, the Longer Chandler's words are short and sharp- for example, a section from Tolerance, Chandler talking to Sergent Bob Cryer:

Chandler: Doesn't look like an accident.
Cryer: No.
Chandler: Could it be connected to their protests?
Cryer: Well, it's possible.
Chandler: Well, possible that's not very helpful, Bob, you've been working here. If you can't come up with any likely suspects then what the hell've you been doing for the last two days?
...
Chandler: Bob!
Cryer: Sir?
Chandler: You were lucky. The last thing you need is a murder right now.
Cryer: What?!

His demands are clear- he speaks in rhetoric and conjectured implications of 'worse case scenario'. In the other situation, Chandler seems to be just 'dealing' with the matter at hand, what Ms Roper said and did not say. Being the reserved person Chandler is with his feelings and his animosity toward being in the situation he found himself in, these situations indicate the contrast between Tom Chandler angry and him upset, betrayed and going to far as saying hurt from the Ms Roper's reservation of information. There is a difference in social standing with the two people he is unhappy with in the examples, however, he would be even less likely to open up in the same way to an officer on his relief because of his role as Superintendent, unless he was positive he could trust them and had built this up overtime, as is discussed further on with regard to Kate Spears. Through this sensitivity toward Ms Roper's situation and unusual reaction, he demonstrated a strong moral objection to firearms.

Chandler also found Roz Clarke looking up suspects late night in Temptation, and told her to go home. He also later followed this up with mentioning it to Sergeant Ackland that he wanted young officers to have a life "outside the job".

Chandler: Are you on overtime?
Clarke: Yes Sir.
Chandler: Not anymore you're not, get yourself home, gets some rest.
Clarke: I've been dong the intelligence report...
Chandler: Good but you are on your probationers.
Clarke: I did a computer course at Hendon.
Chandler: Home, now. And get yourself a life, madame.

Chandler: Morning June.
Ackland: Morning Sir.
Chandler: I'm not trying to tell you how to do your job or anything, but I'd to consider giving the probationers A little less overtime? It's more than they're used to.
Ackland: Which one?
Chandler: Roz Clarke. I just think they should be living a life at that age, not just doing police work.

Adam Okaro is no more moral than the Chandler that set foot in Sun Hill in On The Hook. In 2003 episodes, Okaro and Chief Inspector Gina Gold snuck away from their offices during shifts into a room being renovated, in order to watch the male locker rooms through hidden CCTV cameras, the rest of the station (apparently) unaware of this.

Morality is a difficult value to measure, but the examples demonstrate Chandler was not lacking in community conviction and sensitivity.

Page 134

“While the adrenaline of power fuelled his Clintonesque weakness around women.”

(William) Bill Clinton was the president of the US 1992-2000, this quote referring to his brief affair with White House Intern Monica Lewinski.

Tom Chandler worked with many female officers, and listing every single officer he worked with would be futile as he had no interest in any of them while Richard Handford was sole Executive Producer, except one, being DC Kate Spears.

Tom Chandler was interested in Spears since his first episode, On the Hook, although he denied it. In subsequent cases, Chandler took an interest in Spears' work, not her personal life- Chandler had little time for Mickey Webb and the goings on between Webb and Spears, which were the main highlight of Spears' short career at the station (aside from what went on between Spears and Chandler). Crush and its second part Liquid City were Chandler's first personal moves on Spears. Up until Crush, Chandler had not defied senior officers requests for what Spears should be working on, and even this was to catch a gang of masked bandits through gaining intelligence. Since the situation was delicate, Chandler did not alert Cullen to her presence in the investigation.
Furthermore, Chandler did not indicate any personal interest in Spears until ten months after his arrival. There is no evidence to suggest he resented Spears' methods or work- he was not 'favouring' an inept officer. During episode Real Crime Chandler sternly told Spears to go back to the report he requested her to do, after she challenged his decision to focus on Lisa Hayes' husband while her interest lay in Ms Hayes.

Chandler: Come in. Hi Kate.
Spears: I'm not very happy with the way we're treating Lisa Hayes. I was under the impression domestic violence was a priority.
Chandler: And what makes you think it isn't?
Spears: Us setting her abusive husband free an her having to hide in the refuge.
Chandler: Lisa Hayes is one woman, one victim, this gang could attack more people.
Spears: How do we get people to take domestic violence more seriously if we back off at the first hurdle?
Chandler: I'm not backing off. How are you getting on with that briefing paper?
Spears: I've been busy with Lisa, Sir.
Chandler: Well I suggest you defocus on the specifics of the Lisa Hayes case, and get on with the bigger task that I gave you.

Chandler was not married, nor in a relationship (as was presented on-screen). Any reference to the 'thing' going on between the two of them during episodes Crush and Liquid City was at most only jokingly referred to as 'affair', this term usually reserved for relationships contrary to marriage (adultery). Perhaps relationships within the MET are frowned upon, particularly involving senior officers, but one must note that a lot of this kind of activity had damaged Sun Hill's reputation in the past, worse than Chandler's interest in a "pretty, young DC"- Polly Page and Dave Qunnin's relationship ended up costing Quinnin, Jenny his ex-wife, and PC George Garfield in collateral fall-out; Sergeant Matt Boyden was living with PC Viccy Hagen for a period; and who could forget DS Claire Stanton and DS John Boulton- perhaps had Claire not been caught up with Boulton, who was caught up with Beech, she would not have compromised her job as CIB mole against Beech, and Boulton may not have met Beech at that building site the night he was murdered.

The relationship was not purely one-sided- Spears demonstrated her trust in Chandler, respecting him; in Eye of the Lens she told Sergeant June Ackland, telling her if she didn't like her borrowing PC Jim Calver to to visit a shopping mall regarding CCTV camera vandalism, she could:

"...take it up with Mr Chandler..."

Spears also considered Chandler a capable colleague of whom she had a good working relationship with.

"We [Chandler and I] think alike".

During Crush Spears also told Cullen that it was Chandler's orders she be working on Police Cadet recruitment in schools program rather than the mountain of unfinished paperwork assigned to her.

Chandler's eyes certainly did not fall on McAllister. Demonstrated in the Jamie Ross saga of 2000-2001 and Britanniamania episodes, Chandler had little patience for the self-serving DS. He, the Longer Chandler, displayed no interest in her physically between 2000 and 2001.

II) Attitudes

Page 79, 80

“…roving eye…”

Tom Chandler was described twice within the book as having a "roving eye" to describe the relationship between him and female colleagues.

The word, and its stem, has been defined below. To ensure impartially, several definitions have been referenced.

Roving:
Source: The Macquarie Pocket dictionary, 1982
rove v.,roved, roving. v.i. 1. to wander. v.t. 2. to wander over or through; traverse: to ~ the world

Source: The Australian Oxford Pocket Dictionary, eighth edition 1992
rove v. (-ing) 1 wander without settling; roam, ramble. 2 (of eyes) look about 3 act as a rover (sense 2). [probably Scandinavian]

Source: http://dictionary.reference.com/
rove v. roved, rov·ing, roves
v. intr. To wander about at random, especially over a wide area; roam.
v. tr. To roam or wander around, over, or through. See Synonyms at wander.
n. An act of wandering about, over, around, or through.

Source: Heinemann Australian dictionary 1995
rove (1) verb
to wander freely or aimlessly
Word Family: rove, noun

The closest definition probably intended to that in the book is the Australian Oxford Pocket Dictionary definition "2".

Since a dictionary cannot imply colloquial usage in every given sentence, in this instance the term shall be defined as, that Tom Chandler promoted a string of non-committal relationships, using his authority as a police MET Superintendent to get his own way and end relationships at whim.

This description touches on morality, already discussed above, and incompetency (he was more interested in gender than productivity).

This is not the case. As described above, Tom Chandler had a sustained interest in Kate Spears over ten months and in that time displayed no in-station interest for any other officer during the time Richard Handford was sole Executive Producer, and did not act on this interest for personal reasons for ten months displayed in the episodes Crush and Liquid City.

Page 94

“Realising she had been little more than Chandler’s plaything…”

Although describing the feelings of Kate Spears, this quote implies certain attitudes and immorality of Tom Chandler.

The Latter Chandler had a relationship spanning eight on-screen episodes. However, the Longer had a sustained a professional interest in her for over ten months, working with her in only eight cases, and did not act on this interest personally until episodes Crush and Liquid City.

There were never any personal indication of his reasons for personal interest in her, but since he remained restrained and respected her work it is fair to say that he had some respect for her. There is no evidence to back up Des Taviner's claims that Chandler only wanted a fling with Spears, this kind of attitude toward women ringing consistently with Taviner's attitude for his job as an officer in the MET.

"Youwha? Course he is...I know Chandler. If she's offerin' it on a plate, he'll take it. I know I would."

Most likely, Taviner had most likely not changed in those near twenty years since Hendon, and he makes assumptions in the above quote from Crush that neither had Chandler.

Drawing on the wide berth between Chandler and Taviner in the MET, and the unlikelihood they associated with each other at Hendon (discussed further in Section 4.II ([Image Description]Page 78)) it is fair to say Taviner does not know Chandler nor his pattern of relationships in the past twenty years to make a reliable assessment as to Chandler's intentions in a relationship with a female officer, nor understand the long-standing working relationship between the two, and of whom Taviner didn't know personally particularly well.

Although Cullen expressed objections to the relationship, Chandler had been stepping on his toes and giving Spears intelligence-gathering information that could compromise officers at the station if it were too public. Cullen's objections were likely to be work-related- in Crush Chandler praised Spears for working on a junior recruitment drive he assigned her to away from Cullen's assigned paperwork, while Cullen was penalised for not capturing those responsible for the spate of burglaries piling up. His excuse that it would compromise his chances at Borough Commander promotion a political manuver rather than personally motivated, despite Cullen's personal reservations at the idea- "...but what happens if she wants to get serious...".

However, Chandler bristled when forced into a corner about the future of a relationship between them, as in the quote from Liquid City below.

Cullen: If she's up for a bit on the side, fine. Then a hint that she's getting serious an' you better put a stop to it, right now.
Chandler: Now wait a minute, Alex...
...
Chandler: ...at least he recognises rank when he sees it.
Cullen: Sir.

Chandler does not like being told what to do, but the fact that he didn't openly agree with Cullen indicates he was open-minded- he had been thinking the situation between him and Spears through, considering options, and he resented those being limited by Cullen's stubbornness, implying the Longer Chandler had different intentions from the values that drove the Latter into a purely sexual relationship.

III) Mental stability

Page 91

“At every turn he saw people plotting against him, mainly because he had so much to hide- including what was by now a full-blown affair with Kate Spears. Intent on monitoring his officers’ every move, his control freakery was further fuelled by talk of right-wing extremist marching through Sun Hill.”

During the final episodes up to the explosion, 001-008, the Latter Chandler was under enormous pressure. However, the only outward characteristic of paranoia was his argument with DCI Jack Meadows in 002, and the instigation of a visible presence around the march area, overruling the whims of other officers.
The people who he was concern about were DC Mickey Webb, who barged in on a meeting between him and Spears' in 007, and Meadows because he disagreed with Chandler's restrictive hierarchy. However, he was not "intent on monitoring his officers' every move" between 001 and 008, and neither displayed forms of "control-freakery" in this period.

IV) Perception

page 95

“When he expressed interest…”

This quote refers to the memorial service in 012 for the officers killed in 008 and Derek Conway, killed in 005, and having sex with DS Debbie McAllister in the disabled toilet.

McAllister had expressed interest in Chandler throughout 009, 010 and 011, "consoling" and "praising" his efforts at bringing the station together.
In 012 McAllister asked to talk to Chandler, then lead him to a disabled toilet, using body language to indicate what she was after.
McAllister made the first move, expressing interest first- Chandler didn't "prey" on her.

V) Incompetency

Page 134

“…but his gung-ho pursuit of high profile policies threatened to undermine others’ good work…”

More often than not Chandler did not compromise the station's "good" work.

Table 1- Chandler's influence on cases

Figures for the two officers closest to his era, Brownlow and Okaro, are unavailable. However, Chandler prided himself on initiative and improvement, not preservation. Because of this his presence in cases and unfamiliarity of some officers, he tended to allocate work to DI Alex Cullen rather than DCI Jack Meadows, which in situations caused Meadows to compromise cases through disobeying Chandler's directives, such as in Team Colours.

2. Other characters

I) Cullen

page 79

“… Chandler’s self appointed yes-man....”

DI Alex Cullen was not a "yes-man". Driven by the job and the function of his team, his association with Chandler was a previous working relationship and perhaps, to some degree, a friendship. But if Chandler and Cullen were friends, it was a friendship dominated by station politics and ultimately, "the job", the core focus in their lives.

Cullen was not alien to defying Chandler. In the episode Long Shadows [part 2], Cullen warned DCI Meadows from believing George Stubbs' allegation that Chandler had taken bribes while a DC at Parkrise station, then went back to check up on why Meadows' informant would have reason to give Meadows this information. Had Cullen been a "yes-man" he would have let Meadows suffer the fallout, and then gloated in Chandler's "victory".

In Come Away with Me, Cullen started a working relationship with an National Crime Squad officer, contrary to Chandler's orders, and supplied the NCS with information Chandler wanted to keep with the station, then lied to Chandler about doing so. Had Cullen been a "yes-man" be would never have sided with the NCS, would have passed on information to Chandler if he had, and never lied to Chandler about his actions or the NCS's intentions.

In Liquid City, Cullen openly resented Chandler's interference with Spears' work, and said to Spears' face that he did not like all the time Chandler and her were spending together.

Cullen: If she's up for a bit on the side, fine. Then a hint that she's getting serious an' you better put a stop to it, right now.
Chandler: Now wait a minute, Alex...
...
Chandler: ...at least he recognises rank when he sees it.
Cullen: Sir.

This bristling off, and indication Chandler would not act on Cullen's whim, culminated to make Cullen angry enough to take a final, unrestrained personally-motivated swipe at Chandler to sever the relationship:

"I supposed this changes things with Kate Spears. If you're trying to impress at Borough Commander level, you can't be seen chasing 'round after pretty young DCs, can you?"

Cullen was very much his own person- independent and reserved judgment before having the facts laid out in front of him. Had he been a "yes-man", he would not have made the particular decisions or said what he has said.

Page 100

“Knowing the Chandler of old…”

There is no record of how long DI Alex Cullen knew Chandler. They had worked together in the West End, but beyond that, there is little to suggest the 2000-2001 Cullen knew the Longer Chandler during this period. Chandler and Cullen did not attend Hendon together, and unless the Latter Chandler was subsequently violent with women after Hendon while working with Cullen, Cullen would be in no position to make a valid judgment on Chandler's "anti-social tendencies".

II) Meadows

Page 79

“…Possibility of skeleton’s in Chandler’s closet.”

There is absolutely no evidence that the DCI Jack Meadows, prior to 2002, thought Chandler had "skeleton's" in his "closet". He did not discuss these suspicions with any other officers, or his wife, or anyone else for that matter during 2000-2001. Furthermore in the episode Long Shadows [Parts 1 & 2] when Meadows had suspicions of shady past dealings, he came later to the conclusion of the exact opposite- that Chandler reversed the corruption he came into contact with, not reinforced it. As such this would be completely out of context to put Meadow's attitude in particular sections of a single two-part episode, as the matter was resolved with a positive outcome, Meadows drawing other such conclusions.

III) Spears

Page 153

"First impressions suggested that Kate Spears was an airhead who would have been more suited to a nightclub that a police station."

Spears barely appeared in On The Hook. These appearances were little to do with her work, her first real case being Behind Enemy Lines, three episodes after On the Hook [part 2]. She was competent and level-headed in dealing with a hostage situation in Behind Enemy Lines, leaving no impression of being an "airhead".

Her appearances in On The Hook were mostly with DC Mickey Webb, and if the rest of the relief labeled her an "airhead", they certainly weren’t saying it out loud. In this episode her work included door knocking and passing on income information to Meadows, which could hardly render Spears incapable.

"Her looks did not go unnoticed by Chandler..."

What Tom Chandler saw in Kate Spears can be speculated upon, and, depending on what angle one takes and evidence supplied, a whole range of different conclusions can be drawn.

This quote refers to her appearance, and assumes that he was only interested in her facade. This is false. Had he, the Longer Chandler, been only interested in that he would have not been interested in her casework, rather, just had her sit in his office on his desk, possibly as an oversized paperweight (this is another matter for speculation). Or maybe he could have given her overtime to be his secretary, because he had frequent contact with them and took little interest in a personal relationship.

He did indirectly indicate to Cullen in On the Hook that he was interested, and Cullen subtly accused him of being attracted to her physically. However, she earned his respect in Behind Enemy Lines. Had she been a physically-attracted fling for him he would not have waited ten months, case after case, initiative after initiative, and certainly not until Guy Mannion was seeking a new Borough Commander. He had to be sure she was interested in return, or he had the courage to admit he was, then he made his move, which was reciprocated.

A conversation between Cullen and Chandler from Liquid City:

Cullen: Are you serious about Kate Spears?
Chandler: Why?
Cullen: If she's up for a bit on the side, fine. Then a hint that she's getting serious an' you better put a stop to it, right now.
Chandler: Now wait a minute, Alex...
Cullen: You mess her around, she's gonna be trouble.
Chandler: Make your point.
Cullen: I don't want emotional casualties on my team.
Chandler: But it's not your team though, is it? Jack Meadows is the DCI.
Cullen: Oh, that's good coming from you. As if you have any respect for the man.
Chandler: Well he might be old school but at least he recognises rank when he sees it.
Cullen: Sir.

Chandler seemed to resent having his options limited by Cullen, and given the ten months from when he first denied interest, to the above quoted conversation, it was quite likely Chandler would have given the situation some thought. It is possible that it was purely a power game- Chandler wanted to be in control of what he could and couldn't do with his personal life. This was not a case of a vendetta against Cullen- it just happened to be Cullen against the relationship or conditions of their working relationship time and time again.

Therefore, either Chandler wanted options or he wasn't sure of what Spears thought their options as partners were, because arguably the Longer Chandler did not use Spears- he didn't lie to her, but then again, he didn't tell her quite his circumstances; but as he took her to a MET function. He was not ashamed of her public presence with him, as the Latter Chandler was, who deliberately hid their "relationship" from the station.

Chandler therefore did not want Spears in a personal relationship just physically, he wanted her wholly.

3. Plot Inaccuracies

I) Crush/Liquid City

Page 79

“Hearing this, Cullen decided to act”

Cullen knew of Chandler's affection for Spears beforehand and had plenty of opportunity to do so. Furthermore Cullen apt at making decisions based in insider knowledge, not office speculation. Chandler had defied his command throughout Crush. Cullen warned Chandler for personal reasons as much as professional- morale was at risk especially when Spears didn't bother to attend Duncan's birthday drink with her CID colleagues, they inturn hedging bets as to when she would sleep with Chandler. Cullen decided to act when Chandler defied him several times and also after Webb told him Chandler was about to "make a dick of himself".

"...going so far as to discuss one case over dinner."

Chandler and Spears did discuss the "case" over a meal-

Chandler: So do you think this cadet promotion will bring difference?
Spears: Do you mean...in terms of cadets or you talking about the wider issues, Sir?
Chandler: Well obviously I'm concerned about the cadets, but my main concern at the moment are the more immediate gains.
Spears: Well it serves every chance, I think I'm starting to make some headway already.
Chandler: Good, well I wanna hear about it. Look...I skipped lunch today and I'm absolutely starving, any chance of talking over a bite to eat?
Spears: Great.

Looking through the windows behind Spears it was very light outside, indicating that whatever meal they dined, was probably not a "dinner", and the discussion was on a core issue Sun Hill was struggling to deal with rather than a "case"; neither treated the occasion as decisively as it was exemplified in the text. Although it would be an unlikely occurrence Chandler would share a meal with a colleague, it can be queried how different this meeting was than officers sharing an alcoholic beverage, probably in a senior officer's office, in celebration of "cracking" a case.

The major difference with this scenario is that the case was solved; Spears and Chandler were working toward resolution in the example in Crush.

Detail left out

There was more than just Chandler and Spears' relationship that was significant in Liquid City.
On the advice of PC Des Taviner, PC Reg Hollis was caught using the PNC to look up a woman's address with her car registration number. Taviner confronted Chandler in his office, recalling some history dating back to their days at Hendon Police colleague.

Taviner: "But hearing that did remind me of something, when you an' me were at Hendon. Julie Cooper. 'Cause you made a right mess of her really didn't ya. Proposin' to her one minute, droppin' her the next...I heard she left the job three weeks after she got onto division"
Chandler: "It was nothing to do with me, she was clinically depressed."

Who was Julie Cooper? The Latter Chandler knows of DAC Gordon Cooper, who he attended Hendon with, and whom also allegedly held down Louise Marsden while Chandler allegedly raped her. There was little mention of her beyond this episode, probably because of Chandler's warning to Taviner.

"Forget Hendon, forget Julie Cooper, take me on an' I'll bury you."

Julie Cooper was significant in Chandler's time in Hendon- important enough for Chandler to move swiftly to stop Taviner from spreading the information. His actions on this information was the greatest back-door dealing the Longer Chandler did in his career at Sun Hill.

Since Taviner indicated he knew about Chandler's history at Hendon, and "what happened"- there is no direct evidence that Taviner knew about Louise. He was not in Chandler's inner circle of friends, nor Sergeant Dave Gilbert's or DAC Coopers'.
With this in mind, and Taviner saying directly that he did know about Hendon and then threatening to reveal Julie Cooper, logic would indicate that this was the "Hendon secret".

II) 008

Page 94

“Now that their secret was out, Chandler didn’t want to know.”

Throughout 008 Chandler was busied with organising the relief to maximise presence in the area, and making sure race tensions didn't escalate into full-scale race war. It wasn't surprising that the most senior officer of police station was busy trying to keep the peace rather than fulfil Spears' demands for attention during a trying time.

This does not mean he ignored her- he said at the end of the episode, "...we'd talk tomorrow", which means he had intentions of working through their problems, or at least coming up with a form of solution.

III) 053

Page 103(a

“… Chandler suddenly pulled a gun…”

The traditional meaning of "pulling a gun" in television means virtually revealing a firearm with threatening gestures and/or threat to use the weapon.

The Latter Chandler did not "suddenly pull a gun". The revolver from the "river murders", loaded with four bullets, was tucked away in his desk draw. He opened the drawer, removing the firearm, and placing it on his desk.

Chandler: You're my wife Debbie, don’t forget that. Now are you for me, or against me.
McAllister: Look, I’ve been thinking, I really thing you should give yourself up, pled guilty, get yourself a lighter sentence.
Chandler: Are you mad, I can't go to prison.
McAllister : You have no choice.
Chandler: Really? [removes firearm from draw and places on desk] Well we'll see about that. Would you lock the door please? Would you lock the door please! Is there nobody here capable of carrying out a simple order!
[McAllister locks it] Thankyou! Could I have the key please? [throws keys to him]
...
Chandler: You say I don't have a choice but you're wrong because I'm going to sort out all our problems once and for all.
McAllister : *shaking head* Tom...

The term "pull a gun" is usually associated with those who take hostages in a relatively calm situation and is connected to a lack of planning causing mayhem by the "pull" of the "gun". Chandler calmly had gone and retrieved a gun from the evidence shelves, indicating some form of planning when taking McAllister and Meadows at gunpoint.

Page 103(b

“Instead the disgraced superintendent blew his own brains out.”

There is no physical evidence Chandler shot himself, or indeed shot himself in the head.
The investigation "dead?" explored the circumstances of Chandler's death an inadequacy of official explanations. Simplified, the visual and/or ordinary evidence of the shooting and circumstances was the firearm being loaded, the firearm being cocked, the firearm being discharged. But there was no evidence in what direction, and with enough clearance in the vicinity of 10cm of the camera, more to have a clear shot of the weapon- that is, it was not pressed against a body part with no shot of the "body". There is only hearsay to attest circumstance by a now dead Sun Hill officer, PC Cass Rickman, her description no indication as to where the bullet was fire into, the "body" being removed in a covered body bag by unidentified men, and no mention of an autopsy or funeral.
What can be established is that a firearm was discharged, but there was no visual indication as to where or into what the bullet finished its course.

4. Other

I) Colloquial politics inaccuracies

"Sun Hill's New Broom" [Okaro]

Superintendent Adam Okaro is described as Sun Hill's "new broom"- the officer that would sweep away the preverbial cobwebs.

Nowhere in the book has Chandler been referred to as Sun Hill's "new broom", but during 2000-2001 episodes Chandler was referred by senior officers, including Derek Conway, as the "new broom".

The Longer Chandler has cemented this position by reinforcing the separation of Sun Hill from Don Beech, specifically in the episode Long Shadows [part 1], reenforcing the idea all cases Beech worked on, or even gave evidence to, be dropped and the parties involved be allowed to challenge the conviction unopposed.

Lisa Hawke: ...The courts are taking a very hard line on this.
Meadows: Well let them, we can take a hard line back.
Chandler: No, we want a clean sweep, no ghosts.
Meadows: There are no ghosts.
Chandler: Not this way no.
Meadows: Cases like this are good arrests.
Chandler: The legal advice is to drop them and that way we exorcise DS Beech. And that's what we all want, isn't it Jack?
Meadows: Yes Sir.

II) Bias

Book jacket, left flap

"...and of course the dark days of Supt. Tom Chandler."

The charismatic Tom Chandler took centre stage in his first episode in On The Hook. Over the 2000-2001 season, the Latter Chandler reformed Sun Hill and dealt with social problems such as gangs on the Larkmead estate, severed race relations, thereby shining light into the dark corners of Sun Hill to expose shadows left by the late DS Don Beech.

During this period, as indicated in Table 1, Chandler did not cause a lower rate of case turnovers, and his increased involvement with the relief meant sometimes he had to take risks, the payoff being increased social awareness of the MET's presence and dedication to day-to-day policing.

Most of the problems stemmed from before Chandler joined the station. The major issue was PC Polly Page and PC Dave Quinnin, Quinnin suffering a fallout from a failed marriage and a youth bashing on the job several years prior. Chandler did attempt to remedy the situation, in Home and Away taking Quinnin aside and talking about his empathy for the particular difficulties Quinnin faced. Throughout this saga, it was other officers, such as Sergeant Matt Boyden, that purposely paired the rowing Page and PC Viccy Hagen together on the Area Car and PC Tony Stamp with Quinnin, Stamp being fond of Page and angry at Dave, doing this most likely for sheer spectacle.

It was a fact that Meadows and Chandler didn't get on personally. Meadows was Old School and Chandler was a reformist, Meadows wished to be left alone to running CID while Chandler believed in an "hands on" approach. Despite this, the situation at the station cannot be merited purely from Meadows' perspective- Meadows may have seen the period of time as "dark", but there was plenty of camaraderie within CID that kept the station cheery.

If some officers were less than others, it was, for the most part, not due to Chandler- the only station Chandler evidently supported in transfer to the station during 2000-2001 was Gilmore, first indirectly mentioned in The Leopard to PC Dale Smith.

Chandler: So you wouldn't have any problem working under a gay officer for example?
Smith: No Sir.
Chandler: Would you still call him a bleeding queer in the locker room with your mates?
Smith: I'd like to think I'm more mature than that.
Chandler: So would I.

This later comment was made to Cullen after her expressed reservations to Chandler's glowing recommendations.

Chandler:...Just the most convenient way of getting rid of him. He's much too dangerous to have around here.

This suggests that Chandler could have approved Smith's transfer because he may have resented having a homosexual boss- probably Gilmore.

In Tolerance, Chandler makes a comment to Inspector Andrew Monroe about Gilmore.

Chandler: I have to be honest with you, there's a young Sergeant I know who wants a transfer. He's young smart, ambitions, going places. I want him to go via Sun Hill.

Chandler was instrumental in the transfer of Gilmore, but, he was not in the transfer of other officers, notably Des Taviner in A Week of Nights [Part 1].

Chandler: So out of all the stations in the MET, you had to get posted to mine.

The mix of officers Sun Hill was given was not, for the most part, the responsibility of Chandler, most quarrels were baited before Chandler even arrived, and his hands-on approach was an encouragement for the relief that management wasn't shut away up stairs.

Because of this desire to improve the station and clear out the stench of corruption, if there was gloom at the station it was by and large contained to officers that had been in their situation before he arrived, and, others whose personalities clashed with Chandler.

[Image description] Page 78

"Tom Chandler and Des Taviner catch up on old times."

Tom Chandler and PC Des Taviner had no association prior to Sun Hill other than both attending Hendon Police Colleague at the same time. It is assumed this is what the quote refers to.

In A Week of Nights [part 2] Taviner and Chandler had a short discussion on the subject:

Chandler: You'll go blind, Des.
Taviner: Sorry Governor, you on first dibs?
Chandler: So out of all the stations in the MET, you had to get posted to mine.
Taviner: You right, you sure you haven't...
Chandler: I know it's hard for you, but it's, "Are you sure you haven't, Sir".
Taviner: There was a time when you used to have my sloppy seconds, Sir.
Chandler: Yeah, hurry up and do something stupid so I can get you transferred.
Taviner: Your secrets are safe with me.
Chandler: So how you settling in?
Taviner: Why don't you tell me? I'm sure you've got your spies hard at it.
Chandler: Maybe we should have a drink some time.
Taviner: Yeah.
Chandler: Look forward to it.
Taviner: [mutters to self out of earshot] Prat.

There was no direct mention of Hendon but there was implication of it- Taviner's mumble, "Prat", implies he didn't like Chandler, indicating a reason why it was very likely they disassociated with one another after Hendon.
There the key mention of "secrets" though- "Your secrets are safe with me". Although plural (more than one secret), given Taviner's record on "truth-bending" to his own advantage, specifically coming to Chandler with the threat of revealing the secret of Julie Cooper to the relief in Liquid City, it is likely Taviner would have seized the situation.
In order to continue his practice of personal use of the PNC, Taviner would have had to get both him and Hollis off reprimand for whatever misdemeanours committed. His tactlessness- lack of political sense, and lack of consequence- obvious when he didn't anticipate Chandler refocusing the inquiry on himself- meant he would have used the most power "secret" in order to exercise control over the situation. The fact too that PC Taviner was that- a PC, and had been in the MET since 1985, same as Chandler, not gaining promotion in all that time, suggests contempt on his part to the system of MET command Chandler valued, and contempt strong enough to use whatever was in his means to gag Chandler; by using the biggest and ugliest "secret" first.

In Crush, the relief asked Taviner about Chandler while he attended training at Hendon in the cafeteria while speculating over Chandler and DC Kate Spears' close working relationship, Taviner answering if Chandler and Spears were in a personal relationship:

"Youwha? Course he is...I know Chandler. If she's offerin' it on a plate, he'll take it. I know I would."

The last discussion about Hendon between the Longer Chandler and Taviner occurred in Liquid City,

Taviner: Listen I was about thinking, about the PNC, it's not really worth all that fuss is it?
Chandler: Well it's clear abuse of the system, and worth quite a lot of fuss actually.
Taviner: You're the boss.
Chandler: You're right there.
Taviner: Fair enough, poor ol' Reg ay. Oh 'em, there is one other thing...
Chandler: Yes?
Taviner: People talking about you and Kate Spears.
Chandler: Are they? And what have they been saying.
Taviner: The usual crap, don't worry about it, just thought you'd wanna know.
Chandler: Good, thanks for the tip-off.
Taviner: But hearing that did remind me of something, when you an' me were at Hendon. Julie Cooper. 'Cause you made a right mess of her really, didn't ya. Proposin' to her one minute, droppin' her the next. I heard she left the job three weeks after she got onto division.
Chandler: It was nothing to do with me, she was clinically depressed.
Taviner: Yeah but its, a funny thing though, once these stories get out an' about, they can twist around, then where are ya?
Chandler: Oh you really do like living dangerously, don't you.
Taviner: Well you know me. Have think about Reg though ay. I'll see ya later [makes clicking sound with tongue] me ol' mugger.

And Liquid City was the last time Hendon was discussed between Taviner and Chandler, Chandler ending the "catching up":

"Forget Julie Cooper, forget Hendon...you take me on an' I'll bury you."

With these instances in mind, it is safe to conclude Chandler and Taviner did not "catch up on old times" regularly, if barely ever. There was certainly no formal on-screen discussion between Longer Chandler and Taviner about any history at the college.
Drawing on this, the caption is inaccurate and unnecessary and even as far as to say Longer Chandler and Taviner were not discussing Hendon, or the past, in this scene. Tom Chandler was wearing that particular tie, shirt, jacket and coat in the episode A Week of Nights [Part 2] but during their short discussion they were at the top of a staircase, not in the place pictured in the text- there was no extruding wall with a chart on it, no water cooler, all the pin boards were blue so the pin board behind them (if it is one) is not the one pictured, and there were no paintings on the wall beside the staircases' landing- there was a blue pin board. Given the layout of Sun Hill at the time, this photo is far more likely to have been taken in CID than on that landing. A Week of Nights was also the only episode Chandler wore this precise clothing combination. This discussion was the only exterior discussion of "old times" besides the middle of Liquid City when Chandler was in uniform in his office, and when Taviner and Chandler were on the other staircase, also in uniform.

This first image in the chapter titled "The Chandler Years" was one of Taviner and Chandler "discussing" Hendon. Okaro’s page lacks a first picture but is depicted on the text's cover, and the first pace on his term at Sun Hill is headed "The New Broom", when in Section 4I ("Sun Hill's New Broom"[Okaro]) established Chandler was Sun Hill's first "new broom", which was not mentioned.
The fact that Chandler and Taviner were pictured together and alleged had been catching up on "old times" immediately ties Chandler and the later Hendon allegations, more specifically the Louise Marsden allegations (that only arose post 001), because the Julie Cooper allegations made by Des Taviner are not mentioned within the text (discussion on Cooper in Section 3.III). It can be therefore concluded the caption is not referring to those "old times" at Hendon.

Page 79

“ Chandler asked her to work on a series of important initiatives and began to show an unnatural interest in her workload…”

What is "unnatural interest"?

The text failed to mention Chandler’s comment to Cullen in On the Hook [part 1]:

Chandler: What about Spears?
Cullen: Seems keen.
Chandler: I like the look of her record.
Cullen: Is that all?
Chandler: [pauses, then laughs off] Goodnight Alex.

Chandler's response suggests that he was perhaps less interested with her work than Spears herself; in what capacity though remains undefined, but cannot be automatically assumed as sexual. After this conversation, Chandler then works with her for ten months before even asking her out to lunch.
Spears was also a diligent and efficient officer, defusing a hostage situation in Behind Enemy Lines and solving a complicated arson case with DC Mickey Webb in Two Way Burn. Given opportunities, Spears was successful and gained results.
It just so happened the majority of cases given to Spears between 2000 and September 2001 were from Chandler himself- Spears had to ask to be included on the case in Two Way Burn- Meadows did not approach her for assistance.

Therefore Chandler's reasons for placing her on important initiatives may not be absolutely clear, but the evidence says a very good reason was her under-utilised skills and experience (working with Stanford Bridge CSU and the Flying Squad before Sun Hill) and her ignored capability.

This still does not address the definition of "unnatural", consequently why the quote is in the "bias" section.
As the text further alleges the Longer Chandlers' only motives for not starting a relationship with Spears in Liquid City was purely because he valued her career before personal relationships, the only interest that Chandler could, by this text's logic have, would be of a sexual nature, completely separate from work. But on the contrary, someone who has only for the physical side of colleague their junior, will not delegate high priority work to them; as more often than not in situations of exclusively physical attraction, the person in the lower position could quite possibly, and most likely be inept.

[Image Description] Page 91

“It should have been Chandler.”

In 005 Chandler was to go to a race relations meeting, but decided to spend the afternoon with DC Kate Spears and asked Chief Inspector Derek Conway to fill in for him. The image pictured was the burning fire-balled car Conway was in, as motorcyclists hurled a petrol-bomb into the (fully) open car window.

The image description sounds remarkably like what DC Mickey Webb would have said or indeed, has said, and begs the question: why should either of those men been in that car? Wasn't the fact that one would have been lost tragic in itself? Surely if PC Des Taviner and PC Reg Hollis had been escorting the car, rather than chasing Des's new "hotrod" that had been stolen and joy-ridden, the car carrying the Sun Hill representative to the meeting would never have been petrol bombed, yet this fact is not mentioned in the text. Also, the night looked very dark and cold, leaving speculation as to why someone with any sense have their window full down, especially in a time of tense race relations?

It should not have been Conway in the petrol-bombed car. It should not have been Chandler, either. It should not have been anyone, and had certain members of the relief, and aspects of MET procedure, been properly followed then nobody would have suffered dire consequences.

III) Miscellaneous

Page 103

“DCC Cooper”

DAC Gordon Cooper is written as "DCC Cooper" on page 103 whereas as DAC Cooper on 102. DAC stands for Deputy Assistant Commissioner, and is 3 ranks above Superintendent (Chief Superintendent, Commander).

Conclusion

As evidence attests, the Longer Chandler was not lacking in morality, did not have a bad attitude, was mentally stable, had apt perception, and was not incompetent. His attitudes towards Kate Spears were defined more through working with her for ten months and being incensed when challenged of a right to have a long-term relationship with her. The officers that worked with him regarded him differently than implied in the text, some historical and plot inaccuracies evident when the actual events are exemplified.

The distinctions in time period, "Longer" and "Latter", are core to the report- and apart from a spelling error and an issue with plot, the biggest issues with the text are inaccuracies with 2000 to 2001 plot, a majority to do with the Superintendent Tom Chandler and in connection with him. However, some historical and plot inaccuracies have been perpetuated concerning fellow officers too- Spears, Cullen, and Meadows. Speculation cannot take the place of facts, but reasoning backed up with evidence is far closer to a truth than generalisations and conjecture (an example in 2.II).

The word "Bias" is a strong word with equally severe incinerations, however, the text has made abundantly clear in its stance and interpretation of certain situations, it inconsistently presents events and leaves others out as if they never happened- for example, Julie Cooper at Hendon. This makes it suffice to say, that because Superintendent Okaro has a photo on the front cover of the text, the image of PC Des Taviner and Chandler in page 76 inadequately depicts the leadership and Sun Hill under the Longer Superintendent Tom Chandler.

Superintendent Tom Chandler's days were not "dark", but an important part of Sun Hill's long history. Chandler's leadership spanned only two years, while Brownlow had many times this number in order to establish common ground with the community. But the time came for a more responsive leader. The era between 2000 to 2001 in which Chandler was Superintendent at Sun Hill has been distorted historically- as this report has demonstrated, he was a very different man during the period between 2000-2001, and for the sake of the integrity of those involved, as the Latter Chandler would have done, proactive action is needed to remedy this.

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Last Updated: Thursday, 31 January, 2008 1:31 AM