Police from across the Moreton Bay District have come together to say goodbye and good luck as District Duty Officer (DDO) Senior Sergeant Don Schouten retires after 42-years of service to the Queensland Police Service.
A passion for policing, a commitment to community safety and a determination to share his knowledge have defined Senior Sergeant Don Schouten’s career.
After joining as a cadet in 1985, Senior Sergeant Schouten was sworn into the Service in 1986, and began his career at Slacks Creek in Beenleigh, an area once considered regional policing that has since grown into the busy Logan policing District.
After spending time at City Station, he moved to Red Hill Station, working across Brisbane’s suburban stations, including The Gap and Indooroopilly.
While his foundations were firmly in general duties policing, he worked closely with the Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), gathering intelligence, managing informants and participating in operational raids.
In 1998, he was promoted to sergeant at Fortitude Valley, where he spent the next nine years general duties team leader.
In 2006, Senior Sergeant Schouten moved to Pine Rivers District as one of the Service’s inaugural District Duty Officers (DDOs), a role he would dedicate the next 20 years to, as the district evolved into what is now Moreton Bay District.
The position brought together many of the aspects of policing he enjoyed most: leadership, critical decision-making, incident management and working through complex, high-risk situations.
For Senior Sergeant Schouten, it was the opportunity to make a difference when it mattered most.
One of his proudest contributions, however, was recognising that the knowledge and experience gained through the role needed to be shared.
Shortly after becoming a DDO, he worked alongside another officer to establish a dedicated DDO training course, bringing together experienced specialists from across policing and emergency services to prepare officers stepping into the demanding position.
Drawing on expertise from areas including the Dog Squad, Public Safety Response Team, SERT, Queensland Fire Department, Polair, Negotiations and Queensland Ambulance Service, the course provided acting and relieving sergeants with the practical knowledge and confidence needed to make critical decisions in the field.
What began as an initiative by two officers has continued for 20 years, helping prepare generations of DDOs for the challenges of the role.
Senior Sergeant Schouten said sharing knowledge was essential to developing capable and confident leaders.
He believed that if officers were going to be responsible for making important decisions in complex and high-pressure situations, they needed to have access to the best possible knowledge and experience.
Senior Sergeant Schouten reflecting on what kept him around for 42-years, explained that commitment to developing others reflects what has driven his career from the beginning, a genuine desire to help people and keep the community safe.
“My father was a police officer, so the career has always felt inevitable, I briefly thought about career in carpentry, and soon realised that nothing compared to policing,” Senior Sergeant Schouten said.
“The appeal was always the opportunity to serve the community, take on challenges and work alongside people committed to making a difference.
As he reflects on his retirement, his career is a reminder of the impact one officer can have, not only through the work they do each day, but through the people they inspire, support and equip along the way.
“For anyone considering a career with the QPS, I think my journey demonstrates that policing offers far more than one pathway, spanning from general duties and intelligence to operational leadership and specialist roles, a career in policing can evolve in countless directions.
“For those with a passion for helping others, the ability to think clearly under pressure and the drive to lead, it can be one of the most rewarding careers imaginable.
Senior Sergeant Schouten has more than four decades of service under his belt, countless contributions to community safety and a legacy that will continue through the officers he has mentored and trained.
