I Catch Killers by Gary Jubelin
Genre: Biography, True Crime
Read: 19th May 2022
Published: 1st August 2020
★★★★★ 5 stars
DESCRIPTION:
THE #1 TRUE CRIME BESTSELLER. Serial killings, child abductions, organised crime hits and domestic murders. This is the memoir of a homicide detective.
WINNER OF 2021 DANGER PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION
Here I am: tall and broad, shaved head, had my nose broken three times fighting. Black suit, white shirt, the big city homicide detective. I've led investigations into serial killings, child abductions, organised crime hits and domestic murders. But beneath the suit, I've got an Om symbol in the shape of a Buddha tattooed on my right bicep. It balances the tattoo on my left ribs: Better to die on your feet than live on your knees. That's how I choose to live my life.
As a cop, I got paid to catch killers and I learned what doing it can cost you. It cost me marriages and friendships. It cost me my reputation. They tell you not to let a case get personal, but I think it has to. Each one has taken a piece out of me and added a piece, until there's only pieces.
I catch killers - it's what I do. It's who I am.
Gary Jubelin was one of Australia's most celebrated detectives, leading investigations into the disappearance of preschooler William Tyrrell, the serial killing of three Aboriginal children in Bowraville and the brutal gangland murder of Terry Falconer. During his 34-year career, Detective Chief Inspector Jubelin also ran the crime scene following the Lindt Cafe siege, investigated the death of Caroline Byrne and recovered the body of Matthew Leveson. Jubelin retired from the force in 2019. This is his story.
MY THOUGHTS:
"I catch Killers — it’s what I do. It’s who I am."
I have always admired Gary Jubelin and his dogged determination to uncover the truth and seek justice for victims and their families. When he was called out and charged over "illegal recordings" of a suspect in the William Tyrrell investigation, I was both shocked and appalled. Not by his actions but by those of the NSW Police Force who should have protected one of their own instead of backing him into a corner and essentially silencing him.
If it wasn't for Gary Jubelin, many cases may not have been solved. If it wasn't for Gary Jubelin, Matthew Levenson's body may never have been recovered and thus giving his parents closure and to be able to bring their son home. If it wasn't for Gary Jubelin, the families of the Bowraville murders would have been ignored for three decades with no one fighting in their corner. He may not have solved the Bowraville murders nor uncovered the truth behind William Tyrrell's disappearance...but Gary Jubelin made a difference. He was there for the victims' families and stood beside them when no one else would. He was a voice for the victims. And I wish he was still able to be...because if anyone could get to the bottom of William Tyrrell's disappearance and bring the culprit to justice...it would be Gary Jubelin.
Leading us through his early years as constable through to detective, Jubelin identifies the change that came to the NSW Police Force after the Wood Royal Commission into police corruption. How many big names of those once looked up to became criminals themselves. Still idealistic, when asked by a lawyer if Roger Rogerson (corrupt copper from the 80s now serving a sentence for murder) was his hero, Jubelin states simply..."Look, I know who Roger Rogerson is. I haven't worked with him. As for a hero, I don't think so." Jubelin is honest and dogged. He works for the victims and their families, for truth and justice. Nothing more, nothing less.
I CATCH KILLERS may not be a perfectly styled story. It may be uneven in its pace. It may not have the depth of a fictionalised tale or the grammar of a seasoned writer. But what it does have is a completely raw and honest look at the life of a homicide detective beginning as naive constable fresh out of the academy peppered with tales from his youth. It is not a sensationalised story or glamourised in any way. Gary Jubelin is not a writer. He was a detective...and a bloody good one. And yes, he made a difference.
I loved reading Gary's story from his childhood to his surfing to his marriage to his joining the police force. His young naive idealism is probably the same for almost every copper that steps out of the academy and into real life as a probationary constable. They want to make a difference. But those early years are spent learning on the job and slowly but surely making his way through the ranks from general duties into the Armed Hold Up Squad, the Tactical Response Group and various others until he landed his dream job in homicide. For almost two decades Gary Jubelin was there for a victims' family's darkest days. He was taught not to get involved with the families as it would make investigating the cases harder...but he learnt that you HAD to become involved with them. Because they needed to know that someone was on their side fighting for their loved one in bringing them justice. And in becoming involved with the families made him fight that little bit harder. It became personal. And that made him a good copper. A great detective. And the best man for the job.
Which is why the police force turning their backs on him during one of those most famous and sensationalised investigations, rankles. If it rankles with me, I cannot imagine what it did to him. I doubt the families of the Bowraville victims will get justice for their murdered children now because Gary Jubelin was the only one willing to fight for them...really fight for them. And I find it unlikely we'll ever know what happened to William Tyrrell because Gary Jubelin knew that case better than anyone. To oust him on the basis of illegal recordings without listening or taking into account why, is appalling.
Gary Jubelin is one of those detectives who you would have been lucky to have to fight in your corner. He pulls no punches; he tells it how it is; but he would go above and beyond the call of duty to get you justice...even to the detriment of his own personal life. He is not perfect and I doubt I could have suffered being married to him. Yes, he can come across as arrogant and single-minded but he is someone I would trust to fight in my corner, had I needed him. The end result for Jubelin is both shocking and appalling. On one side I can see the legality but on the other I can also see why. It was a fine line he walked...and sadly he did not come unscathed. And even more shocking is the way he was treated and basically ignored by "the powers that be" who thought only of statistics and results instead of truth and justice.
Jubelin's story is at times heartbreaking but his resilience shines through. Despite all that was thrown at him, he still stands...and he has moved on. But one thing is for sure...
Gary Jubelin made a difference. It's what he set out to do...and it's what he did.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
He retired in 2019 with the rank of Detective Chief Inspector after a 34-year career with the NSW Police Force.
During a career which earned him high commendations for policing, he performed duties from covering generalist detective duties to major crime.
These included experience in the Armed Hold-Up Squad, Organised Crime Squad, Gangs Squad, Unsolved Homicide and Homicide Squad. He specialised in the field of homicide investigation for 25 years up until his retirement.
As a homicide detective, Gary Jubelin led some of the largest, most complex, high-profile investigations in New South Wales.
The direction of the investigations, operational decisions, community safety, the arrest and conviction offenders were his mainstream responsibilities.
These included gang land killings, serial murderers, sexually motivated murders, domestic murders, child killers, revenge murders, murderers who tortured their victims, random murders, police shootings, abductions and serial rapists.
Gary Jubelin has been a key figure in solving major crimes for the past three decades gathering a mountain of information based on the methodical and successful processes he employed as a crime investigator.
Gary's greatest regret on leaving the NSW Police Force is those cases where he has been unable to tell grieving families what happened to their loved ones.
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