‘True professional and gentleman’: Farewell to long-serving sergeant David Longfield

He’s been described as a “true professional and gentleman”, and now one of the Northern Rivers’ most highly respected police officers has decided to call time on his distinguished career.

Reitiring Sergeant David Longfield say his work as a Police Association of NSW chairman was some of his proudest achievements.

After 24 years and eight months of triumphs and traversing the sometimes difficult balance between community needs and law enforcement, highly respected Northern Rivers Sergeant David Longfield is hanging up the familiar navy hat.

The sergeant at Ballina Police Station retired on Thursday, August 5 after a distinguished and dedicated career in the NSW Police Service.

The former British soldier joined NSW Police in 1996, starting out in the Sydney suburb of Kogarah before moving on to roles in Newtown and as a weapons instructor in the NSW Police Force Academy.

Sgt Longfield joined Richmond Police District in 2009, bringing with him the wisdom of a man who had deftly acted as a team leader in the 2005 Cronulla Riots.

Still, nothing could prepare him for the unique aspects of being a regional police officer.

“Metro policing completely different to regional policing,” he said.

“Certainly, as a supervisor, you have a finger in a lot more pies.

“You definitely have to be a one-stop shop in a regional area.”

Over the years, Sgt Longfield had his fair share of rough days at work, including navigating the coal seam gas explorations and logging protests throughout the Northern Rivers.

“It was a difficult balancing act, balancing the needs of the police, and needs of the community as well,” he said.
“It is one of my proudest achievements really. It is important in a free and democratic society we allow (residents) to protest about what they not happy with.”

He also helped supervise MardiGrass for the last 12 years, working with festival organisers to transform it into the acclaimed festival it is today.

However, there is one role that sticks in Sgt Longfield’s mind ‒ his work as a chairman of the Lismore and Ballina branches of Police Association of New South Wales and as a Police Union Welfare Officer.

“In the last 12 years, we managed to increase the authorised strength of Ballina Police Station by four people,” he said.

“That was the first increase, in 2019, to police strength since 1989.

“That was a proud moment.”

His colleagues would also be what he would miss most about the job.

“You can’t get on all the time with all your colleagues but I respect them,” he said.

“They get up in the morning, throw on a suit of blue and do the things no one else wants to do.

“That can be difficult but it is a noble cause.”

His farewell will leave a hole in the community, according to many residents who admired him, including Ballina resident Rick Beddoes who calls him a “true professional and gentleman in every aspect of the word”.

“The loss for the community is enormous,” he said.

“Dave ruled with an iron fist but did it all wearing a velvet glove, but if that glove had to come off, Dave would always be the winner.

“Whilst I know many officers are thankful for his guidance and experience over the years, I know that so are others in the community that came to his notice for the wrong thing that have since turned his life around.”