- Published:
- Friday 27 February 2026 at 9:00 am
| No two days are the same for Armed Crime Squad detectives like Matt Flemming. |
Detective Acting Sergeant Matt Flemming
Graduated: 2013
Work unit: Armed Crime Squad
Why did you join Victoria Police?
I had mentioned to family and friends that I wanted to become a police officer when I was a little kid.
A couple of years after starting a career as a personal trainer, I finally decided to apply for Victoria Police and haven’t looked back since.
From the outside, policing looked like an exciting and fulfilling career, and it hasn’t disappointed.
Tell us a bit about your career history at Victoria Police.
I grew up in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne so I started my career out that way, Boronia as my training station then onto Camberwell and Boroondara. Boroondara was where I got the first taste of detective temporary duties and thought that could be a path I’d enjoy.
Once I moved to the north of the city, the detective path started mapping out for me. I worked for a short time at Reservoir Uniform before temporary duties at Mill Park Divisional Response Unit and finally landed my first detective position at Darebin Crime Investigation Unit.
From there I performed more temporary detective duties at North West Metro Regional Crime Squad where I got to work alongside members from the Armed Crime Squad on some high profile shooting investigations.
From there I managed to land a spot at the Armed Crime Squad where I have been for three years now.
What's the best thing about working at the Armed Crime Squad?
The investigations are always interesting and dynamic, and no two investigations have been the same since I’ve worked here.
We get to work alongside some of the specialist units such as the Special Operations Group, the State Surveillance Unit and the Technical Support Unit on a regular basis and it is amazing to see how they operate and the services they can deliver. My crew make everyday a pleasure to come to work as well.
How does your role as a detective differ from uniform roles?
I would say in a detective role, especially at the office I’m working at, you’re dealing with a greater volume of high-profile jobs where every avenue of enquiry needs to be covered off to ensure a full and comprehensive investigation.
You also get more time to conduct those inquiries, and I enjoy the longer investigations that can take time to solve.
What's your advice for anyone thinking about a career in policing?
I honestly couldn’t recommend policing as a career highly enough to anyone considering it.
I’ve enjoyed every step from working the van up to working on high profile investigations at the Armed Crime Squad.
It can be tough at times, but I’ve always found it to be a rewarding career.
To find out more visit police careers.
Editorial Cassandra Stanghi
Photography Jesse Wray-McCann
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