THE western region has welcomed 10 new probationary constables to its ranks.
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The new recruits are part of the class of 304 probationary constables who graduated from the NSW Police Force Academy in Goulburn last week.
Oxley and New England local area commands (LAC) welcomed three new constables yesterday, and four are beginning their induction at Barwon LAC today.
New England Superintendent Bruce Lyons welcomed the new arrivals and said the officers would face a challenging but satisfying career.
“I am very pleased to welcome these new recruits to New England Local Area Command and look forward to overseeing their future development,” Superintendent Lyons said.
“By passing the course at the NSW Police Force Academy, each officer has demonstrated their dedication and commitment to becoming a police officer and serving the community.”
Superintendent Lyons said their arrival was great news for New England North West communities and a welcome boost to policing resources in the area.
Two of the New England LAC constables will be stationed at Armidale, with one in Inverell, while two of the Oxley LAC constables will remain at Tamworth, with one stationed in Gunnedah.
Twenty-year-old Jamie-Lee Higham is one of the new Tamworth officers and said she was looking forward to getting out in the community.
Originally from Scone, Ms Higham said she became attracted to the police force by studying criminology at university and that she would be interested in training further to become a detective.
“Tamworth was my first preference and I’m lucky to be stationed here,” Ms Higham said.
She has joined 21-year-old Chloe O’Grady from Macksville and 31-year-old Daniel Rankin from Sydney in doing their induction yesterday at Tamworth.
The officers will be paired up with senior officers and will spend their first few weeks shadowing their more experienced partners, before launching into frontline duties.
Oxley LAC education officer Sergeant Shayne Lee said the officers would continue their studies with Charles Sturt University while they learnt on the job.
“It’s straight into it for our new probationary constables. During the course of their normal police work they will be putting their studies into practice,” he said.
Superintendent Lyons said the officers and their families should be very proud of reaching their first policing career milestone.
The officers will become fully fledged constables after they graduate in December next year.
