Three new police officers to be stationed in Dubbo and Gilgandra

The Orana Mid-Western Police District has bolstered its ranks with three new recruits in Dubbo and Gilgandra - and one of them’s a local.

Keeping the region’s roads safer is the ultimate mission of new police recruit Tiffany Handley; one of three new frontline police to join the Orana Mid-Western Police District this week.

Born and bred in Dubbo, Probationary Constable Handley said she was thrilled to finally realise her goal of joining the force at a meet and greet with media at Dubbo Police Station on Monday.

“It’s always been a dream for me to become a highway patrol (officer),” she said. “I want to help keep the roads safe.”

Tiffany Handley at Dubbo Police Station reporting for duty on Monday. Picture: Aymon Bertah

Joining Constable Handley in working out of Dubbo Police Station is 20-year-old Sol Brownlow, who has moved from Sydney to regional NSW for the role.

“I’m pretty young, I have a few years ahead of me, but I just wanted to get in early and it means I can stay in for longer,” he said.

“The whole thing really intrigued me and it sounded like a new challenge so I wanted to give it a crack.

“I do like the idea of some sort of rural crime prevention or something along those lines but that’s a way away into the future.”

Sol Brownlow at Dubbo Police Station.

Constable Brownlow cited a study done by the Centre for Rural Criminology at the University of New England, where four in five farmers reported having been a victim of some type of farm crime.

While farmers were often reluctant to report these crimes, he said he wanted more people to understand the gravity of the issue in regional communities.

“Big jobs (with) cattle and farming equipment and stuff, it gets stolen and I think especially being from the city, I know a lot of people don’t realise it’s a big part of policing out here,” he said.

“I think it’s really important because a lot of towns, cities and communities out this way rely on farming, it’s a big part of who they are and what they do.”

Rounding out the new recruits is Stephen Selby who will be based at Gilgandra Police Station. He will make the move from the Central Coast and is keen to get the ball rolling in his new position.

Stephen Selby at Dubbo Police Station. He will be stationed in Gilgandra. Picture: Aymon Bertah

“I want to make a difference, I want to get involved and a bit of job satisfaction,” he said.

“I haven’t spent much time out here (in Gilgandra), it’s going to be a bit of a seachange for me, a new experience.

“It looks like a nice little community town (so) it should be fun.”

The trio were among 202 new officers sworn in at last Friday’s attestation ceremony in Goulburn.

Orana Mid-Western Police District Acting Superintendent Mark Fehon said he was delighted to gain the new probationary officers, who will complete a year of on-the-job training and an Associate Degree in Policing Practice with Charles Sturt University before being confirmed to the rank of constable.

“It’s good for the district, it’s good for the allocation and we welcome them here to the area,” he said.

The new recruits are part of the NSW Government’s commitment in 2019 to delivering 1500 additional officers over a four-year period.