When Bob Marmion joined the police force as a fresh-faced 18-year-old, he had no idea he would be discharged as medically unfit and leave a completely broken man 15 years later.
Eager to serve and help the community, Mr Marmion was exposed to multiple traumatic experiences that led to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a breakdown in his marriage and drug and alcohol addiction mixed with suicidal thoughts.
Mr Marmion, from Ocean Grove, said “adventure, mateship, secure career and being able to help the public” were the reasons he joined the force.
“PTSD and serious injury or possibly death did not enter my mind,” he said.
The result is a 256-page autobiographical account of his time as a Victoria Police officer titled ‘The Price We Pay’.
“PTSD never fully goes away,” Mr Marmion said.
“Even when I’m feeling better, I still have the nightmares each night and the heightened awareness. I can be high functioning for long periods, even years then something may happen which triggers the PTSD and all the signs and symptoms return with a vengeance.
“Even so, things are much better nowadays compared to 30 years ago.”
Writing the book proved somewhat cathartic.
“It forced me to sit down and look at the issues and try to make peace with them,” Mr Marmion said.
“Prior to my PTSD diagnosis in 2013, I had been unsuccessfully pushing the demons and physical problems to the back of my mind rather than dealing with them.”
Despite the horrors, Mr Marmion said it taught him resilience.
“No matter how hard it gets, don’t give up,” he said.
Early feedback has been very encouraging.
“One ex-policeman contacted me to say that I had managed to put into words what he had had been struggling to say about his experiences and PTSD for many years,” Mr Marmion said.
“He gave it to his wife, who simply said, ‘now I understand’. That is what the book is all about.”
‘The Price We Pay’, published by Shawline Publishing, is available online and in bookshops.
