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[oval stamp, upper left margin] INSPECTOR OF POLICE TOWNSVILLE 20. 8. 10 / 2130
[rectangular stamp] COMMISSIONER OF POLICE QUEENSLAND
4985 25 AUG. 1910
Townsville District
Police Station Bowen
17th August 1910
Relative to a request to ascertain if there is any Departmental objection to my being further promoted
Sir /
I beg to report that I feel anxious to know the reason why I have been overlooked in the past promotions from the rank of Sergeant to that of Senior Sergeant. In many if not all the promotions made the men promoted are juniors to myself. I joined the Service on the 26th June 1878; in that year I was transferred from Brisbane to Thornborough, from there to Port Douglas and then to Cooktown. From Cooktown I was transferred to Palmerville, at that Station I was transferred to Cannibal Creek and from there to the Normanby where I was promoted Senior Constable on the 1st October 1886. I have since been Stationed at the Morsby [sic] River, Stewarts Creek in the Johnstone River N. M. Police Camps where owing to fever I was compelled to leave.
Inspector Galbraith
Townsville
[left margin]
Commissioner of Police Forwarded [signed] P. Galbraith 22. 8. 10
[written in red ink] Sergt Keane has a good record but he is over the age for promotion Promotions are not made after as a rule after a member has attained the age of 55. There are however essentials other than seniority. [initialled] [?] 26/8/10
[stamp] ADVISE INSPECTOR.
[written under that] Accdly.
[stamp] AUG 30 1910
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leave. Since then I have been stationed at Ravenswood Junction, South Townsville, and Ravenswood; from that station I was transferred to Bowen where I have now been eleven years. In November 1899, prior to my leaving Ravenswood I was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. At the time of my being transferred from Cooktown to Palmerville in 1882 I was sent there as the Officer in Charge and have been in charge of all stations that I have been in since. That in itself proves conclusively that the Department have had confidence in me. My Inspector can see that I have served the whole of my service in the Cook and Townsville Districts, wherein I had to perform many strenuous duties, such as Gold Escorts Native Police Patrols etc, that in themselves should be worthy of some consideration, dating as they do back to the year 1880. I can consciously say that I have performed the duties asked of my service honestly and to the best of my knowledge, and the Officers under whom I served were satisfied with the duties performed by me.
I have served under the undermentioned Officers, Ex Inspectors Isley, Fitzgerald, Murray, Douglas, Driscoll, Baldwin, Graham, Lamond, and Inspector Galbraith. I can, I believe, with confidence refer to any of the above mentioned Officers for a character. On the 4th March 1901, I was complimented by Acting Commissioner Douglas & Mr Justice Chubb for the manner in which I prepared the case & gave my evidence in the Murder Case Rex V Beckman who was afterwards executed.
[signed] Denis Keane
Sergt 41