Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton and a team from the Police Association of Victoria will each walk 500 kilometres from opposite ends of the state, aiming to raise at least $500,000 for the Retired Peer Support Officer program.

The “head to head” walk will finish in Wangaratta on October 23.

Chief Commissioner Ashton said mental health had been a key focus since he took the top job and he was determined to find ways to support police when they retire.

“People call police when they are at the most vulnerable times of their life,” he said.

“Police go there and are trained to try and bring the situation to order.

“They do so confidently, but they are also human beings. They are often confronting those same dramatic, graphic and terrible scenes as the victim and that takes its toll, despite the best training.”

Officers in Wangaratta understand the devastating consequences of mental health issues all too well – Leading Senior Constable Gavin Frew’s death last year came as a shock to colleagues.

He was one of many officers who suffered post-traumatic stress disorder.

Wangaratta Senior Sergeant Lance Werner said he was pleased to see the walk finish in the city.

While the awareness campaign was about helping retired police officers, serving police in the North East also regularly took leave from the job to deal with the impacts of what they had seen.

“At any given time there’s generally someone who’s suffering,” Senior Sergeant Werner said.

“it does impact us."

Chief Commissioner Ashton said he would like to see money raised during the head to head walk used for a dedicated inpatient mental health facility as well as a benefits card for direct access to specialist health care services.

“Police often leave the job experiencing mental health issues and although we are funded to support current employees, we don’t look after our retired officers - that is a clear gap,” he said. 

“I can’t turn back the clock, but I can try to do something going forward to tackle the issue.”

He has called on retired police officers to receive similar benefits to those from the Defence Force.

More information on the community event to be held when the walk finishes in Wangaratta will be released closer to the date.

To donate money or to find out more, visit www.headtoheadwalk.org.au.