Townsville school’s new ‘adopted’ cop aims to drive down crime

The first of many police liaison officers has been deployed to a Townsville school. It’s the first recommendation from the report into youth crime to be delivered by the Queensland Police Service.

South Townsville State School students Ryder Hayes 10 and Tahden Ryan 9 with the school's new Police Liaison Officer Deb Pardon.

THE first of many police liaison officers has been deployed to a Townsville school.

It’s the first recommendation from Major-General (retired) Stuart Smith’s report into youth crime to be delivered by the Queensland Police Service.

One of the 20 recommendations from the report, handed down late last year, was to review and develop procedures for the deployment of police liaison officers in Townsville to provide support to primary schools.

Yesterday senior police liaison officer Deb Pardon was sworn in at Townsville South State School as part of the ​​Adopt-a-PLO (Police Liason Officer) program. Ms Pardon has a special connection with the school, having taught Prep and Year 1 in 2016 for six weeks while completing her education degree.

“It (the role) is really important because police liaison officer is that one in between and sometimes some students, or people in the community, are scared of police at times and police are very busy in their role,” she said.

“But as police liaison officer we can have that time to actually talk. We can talk a little bit about why police are doing their role, and why it’s important for police liaison officers, as well as police, to keep our community safe.”

The program is a rapport-building and educational role that is touted as benefiting the safety and wellbeing of children by encouraging law-abiding behaviour and positive attitudes by children towards police and the community.

Cross cultural liaison officer Senior Sergeant Steve Batterham said there were 11 liaison officers in Townsville, with each to be allocated two schools to start with, with the potential to grow.

Sen-Sgt Batterham said the role was focused on establishing and maintaining a positive rapport between diverse community groups and members.

Police liaison officers will be rolled out across schools in the coming months.

Originally published as Townsville school’s new ‘adopted’ cop aims to drive down crime