BY JEM ANSHAW
The Hunter Valley Local Area Command recently welcomed six new probationary constables to the ranks.
Two will be stationed in Cessnock and Singleton, with Muswellbrook and Scone getting one each, in what education officer Senior Constable Gabe Ballard said is a real boost to numbers.
“We’ve been trying to recruit hard to get probationers to our area, and we hope to continue to do so,” he said.
“We have the Be A Cop In Your Hometown campaign, we ran a day only a month ago down at the PCYC here and we’ve managed to snag two police officers from our area so it’ll be good to have some locals with some local knowledge in town.”
Starting in December means they will be thrown in the deep end with the traditionally busy Christmas and New Years period as they ger their first taste of the job.
“They will ride alongside with our training officers, some senior police that will guide them through their first 12 months on the job,” Senior Constable Ballard said.
“We’ll get them all out there doing some breath testing, you might get to meet some of the new friendly faces across the district.”
Senior Constable Ballard also took the chance to reiterate the importance of being safe on the roads this festive season.
“Given our last couple of weeks in the Hunter Valley, it’s very important that people take extra care on the roads,” he said.
“Stick to the speed limits, stay off your phones, don’t drink and drive, make sure you’re wearing your seat belts, and stop, revive, survive.”
