THE WHITSUNDAYS has welcomed three new police officers as part of the Queensland Government’s ‘Delivering Safer Communities’ strategy.
In total, 55 new officers have been deployed across the state, in regional areas, from this week.
In the Whitsundays, this has translated into one new officer at the Proserpine Police
Station and two new officers at the Whitsunday Police Station, in Cannonvale.
The cohort of new recruits have graduated from their training program, which included a unique deployment to flood-affected Townsville, where the officers-in-training assisted with clean-up efforts.
After being officially sworn in at the Townsville ceremony, last week, officers have joined frontline police this week in stations across the state including Cairns, Townsville, Ingham, Kirwan, Gladstone and the Whitsundays.
The 55 officers are ‘just the start of the pipeline’ that will see hundreds more recruits reinforce the police frontline across Queensland this year, delivering on the Crisafulli Government’s commitment to make the community safe.
The Crisafulli Government will deliver officers the support they need to do their job properly in the Making Queensland Safer Laws and investing $13.5m to bolster the police mental health framework.
Minister for Police Dan Purdie said being a police officer was a challenging but rewarding career, and thanked recruits for their commitment to serve and protect their community.
“I was a police officer for more than 25 years and, during that time, I saw the worst of the worst and the best of the best, sometimes in the same day,” Minister Purdie said.
“My message to our newest officers is that you will be rewarded with mateship and gain a unique perspective on the value of service to your community.
“We will continue to give police the laws and resources they need to make the community and officers safe. We will always have your back.”
Commissioner of Police Steve Gollschewski APM congratulated the newest officers and acknowledged the significance of their deployment.
“Investing in regional Queensland means investing in the people who understand these communities best,” Commissioner Gollschewski said.
“Many of these new officers will serve in their hometowns, where they have strong ties and knowledge that will help create safer, resilient communities and an understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities of policing in regional Queensland.”
