Meet Kingaroy, Nanango and Murgon’s newest cops on the beat

There are some new faces on the beat in Kingaroy, Nanango and Murgon with the arrival of three first-year constables who say they’re eager to serve the community. Meet the recruits:

Three South Burnett police stations will each welcome a new first-year constable to their beat as the latest round of recruits are deployed across the state.

Constables Kristoffer Joven, Josh Dodt, and Michael Freeleagus will undertake their “mentor phase” alongside some of the region’s most experienced police officers over the next eight weeks.

Officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant David Tierney said the constables would gain experience in all different areas, including drugs, traffic and general duties, before taking on relieving duties at the end of their stint.

Constable Joven will be the latest addition to Nanango Police Station after packing up his life in Brisbane to fight crime in rural Queensland.

Inspired by his parents’ life-changing move from the Philippines to Australia, the new constable said he always wanted to give back to the community.

Joining the boys in blue was always on the cards for Constable Dodt, who has been surrounded by cops within his own friendship circle and family.

Settling into the Kingaroy station will be a homecoming for the former builder, who went to school in Nanango and Yarraman.

A last-minute change brought Constable Freeleagus to Murgon Station, with the former self-employed subcontractor originally headed to Cairns district.

“Joining the police force has been a goal for many years,” he said.

“It’s going to be challenging but at the same time, getting out there and serving the community can be very rewarding.”

Constable Freeleagus said the opportunity for growth in the police force was also a major drawcard, with so many career pathways options.

The region’s newest cops were among the largest number of police recruits in a decade were sworn in at the Queensland Police Academy at Oxley, with 129 first year constables donned in blue last month.