CHIFLEY local area command has a new superintendent tasked with leading the command into a new era of policing.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Superintendent Paul McDonald took up duties in Chifley LAC earlier this month after two years as commander at Barwon.
He originally trained as a printer but after eight years saw the light and followed his father, also a police officer, into the service.
He began his career in Bondi walking the beat as a general duties officer but made his way through the ranks in criminal investigation, including major crime investigation.
Supt McDonald then spent 10 years in metropolitan Sydney including North Sydney, The Rocks and Kings Cross before his promotion to commander at Barwon. He and his wife moved to Bathurst this month.
He has taken over the reins just weeks out from a command restructure that will see Chifley absorb Cowra and Canowindra as part of a new policing model announced by Police Commissioner Mick Fuller last year.
As part of the re-engineering, the state’s 34 local area commands in regional NSW are being replaced by 26 police districts.
Supt McDonald said he was looking forward to the opportunities re-engineering would offer, as well as any challenges would bring.
But he expected the transition to be smooth thanks to the support of Chifley’s senior management team, which he said the command was fortunate to have.
“Senior management is a very cohesive, committed group of officers,” he said.
“I’m really looking forward to working with the people here and getting the district moving forward.”
With the re-engineering just around the corner, Supt McDonald said it was important everyone was on the same page, but he had every confidence in his team.
“It’s not difficult but there is a change coming,” he said.
He reassured the community the change would allow police to better serve them with the command picking up an addition four positions in December.
He said he was also happy with the city’s crime statistics and the fact major crime categories were on the decline.
“The crime stats are good, from what I’ve looked at before I came here,” he said.
“[That’s thanks to] the work of our frontline police as well as back of house officers including detectives, TAG [Target Action Group] and proactive teams across the whole district.”
However, high rural road trauma figures do concern him and he will work with Traffic and Highway Patrol to bring the stats down.
Related
