Union demands police hierachy fills 34 highway patrol trainer vacancies

At a time when cops are being criticised for having less highway patrol cars on the streets than ever, it’s absurd to prevent police officers from moving into 34 key leadership positions, says the police union.

The NSW Association of NSW is currently in a stoush with the NSW Police Force about the alleged failure to advertise vacancies for 24 leadership positions within the highway patrol command Photo: NSW Police

Highway patrol officers are furious NSW Police is refusing to advertise vacancies for 34 leadership positions, despite there being less cop cars on the road than ever before.

The “Leading Senior Constable” positions need to be filled and are instrumental in training the next generation of highway patrol officers, sources told the Daily Telegraph.

The Police Association of NSW (PANSW) is currently in a stoush with NSW Police at the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) about the failure to advertise the vacancies.

NSW Police is arguing there is not an operational need to have those positions filled. The PANSW and its members of the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command “strongly dispute this rationale” at a time when the police are operating at its lowest operational capacity ever, one source said.

The union representing highway patrol officers is urging the NSW Police Force to fill vacancies for trainers who mentor less experienced officers. Picture: NSW Police

“With more than seven years’ experience required, these officers in Leading Senior Constable roles are responsible for operational duties along with maintaining relationship and engagement with the community through driver engagement programs and more,” another source said.

“Crucially, the rank is responsible for training and mentoring those less experienced officers.

The source said at a time when the focus on recruitment and retention was at an all time high, the Force had just this year advertised over 340 trainee opportunities to encourage officers to transfer to the highway patrol command to fill the gap but are arguing that the 34 leadership positions that would train these officers do not need to be filled.

“The hierarchy of the NSWPF is showing that they don’t value their senior officers by preventing experienced cops from taking on these leadership positions that are key to training up officers and showing well needed leadership to Traffic and Highway,” he said.

“Without these leadership positions, currently serving cops who might consider filling the trainee vacancies in Traffic and Highway, and get more cars on the road, won’t move to these commands.

“We are constantly hearing criticism from the public and the media that there are less highway patrol cars on the streets than ever. It’s absurd to prevent police officers from moving into these key leadership positions.”

Highway patrol officers at the scene of an accident on Alfords Point Rd, Menai. Union sources say they need more experienced officers to train the troops on the road. Picture: John Appleyard

“We are constantly hearing criticism from the public and the media that there are less highway patrol cars on the streets than ever, it’s absurd to prevent police officers from moving into these key leadership positions.

“At a time when recruitment and retention is meant to be the focus and the workload pressure is at breaking point, it is counter to everything that we are supposed to be working towards.”

NSW Police said they could not comment because the matter was before the Industrial Relations Commission.

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