DODGING petrol bombs, airborne house bricks and railway detonators was all part of the job for police on top of Mount Panorama during the infamous 81 and 83 riots, and our region's newly appointed Superintendent, Peter O'Brien was right in the firing line.
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Back in 1981, there was no tactical response group, no riot squad, and police at the time didn't have so much as a shield to protect themselves against the attacks leveled at them.
Supt O'Brien said both riots were "pretty bad".
"I think 1981 was the worst, they were all pretty bad, But in that one they threw Molotov cocktails at us, and railway detonators, one officer had his toes blown off as a result," he said.
Another weapon used against the officers were sliced open beer cans, crushed then skimmed along the road, slicing open the legs of any officer unfortunate enough to come into contact with it.
Back then Supt O'Brien said there was no protective equipment for officers as they tried to restore order to the Mount.
"We shoved Sydney Morning Herald's down our socks for protection.
"That's all we had, there were no shields, no helmets," he said.
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In the 83 riot the crowd pulled down a whole toilet block and used the bricks from the toilet block to throw at the officers.
Later that night a crowd of 2,000 descended on the police fort on top of the Mount, with petrol soaked toilet rolls and Molotov cocktails to pelt at police.
"A lot of people were injured, a lot of people were arrested," he said, adding it wasn't only the bikers causing havoc.
Shockingly among those taken into custody were professionals, teachers and even nurses up on the Mount, who seemingly got caught up in the pack mentality crowd behaviour.
He said a lot was taken away from the riots; effectively the NSW Police Tactical Response Group was formed as a result, and parts of the NSW Criminal Code were re-written.
"Often if something bad like the riots happen, then something good comes out of it," he said.
Now back in Bathurst on a permanent basis following his appointment as commander to Chifley Police District, he said he is looking forward to continuing his relationships with the city and the people who live here. Having started the job last month, he's already met most of the officers who work under his command.
Supt. O'Brien said when the chance came up to move to Bathurst it caught his eye, and he always had fond memories of the city.
"I'm familiar with the area, I've worked up here on operational jobs dozens of times, I know the town and I know the people," he said.
