Superintendent David Swilks piped out for final time
WITH a final salute and a rousing round of applause Superintendent Dave Swilks was formally relieved of duty today after 44 years with NSW Police.
Central Coast
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WITH a final salute and a rousing round of applause Superintendent Dave Swilks was formally relieved of duty today after 44 years with NSW Police.
The morning started with a phone call from NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipioni who thanked Supt Swilks for his long and dedicated service to the community and apologised that he could not be there to see the decorated officer off personally.
However, many of the force’s top brass were in attendance along with more than 100 past and present officers, friends and Supt Swilks’ wife Trish and the couple’s two girls, Bethanee and Hannah.
Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie (APM), a former Superintendent of the Brisbane Water Command, described Supt Swilks as a remarkable leader who had an everyman quality and was a “people person”.
Looking around the room Asst Comm McKechnie said he would encourage some of the younger officers to try and emulate the way Supt Swilks dealt with people and his leadership style.
Supt Swilks was presented a number of gifts including a didgeridoo for his work with indigenous groups on the Coast and his original cadet’s jacket mounted in a frame.
“I’m going to keep this short because I had a bit of fear about talking today,” Supt Swilks said.
“I’m going to struggle.”
Asking his wife and daughters to join him, Supt Swilks thanked them and many others.
“I would not have got where I did without her full support,” he said.
“I didn’t want to come to the Central Coast, I always had a bad perception of the area, but it’s been the best Command I have ever worked at.
“Tuggerah Lakes, I can’t think of a better way to finish up.”
Having started as a cadet in 1972 as a 16-year-old the now 61-year-old was led out of Wyong police station by a police bagpiper.
His colleagues formed a guard of honour before Asst Comm McKechnie gave him his final salute and relieved him of his duty.
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