Darrin Batchelor: Hills Police new commander reveals priorities

Criminals are using the metro to descend on the Hills to commit their crimes. It is one of a number of priorities the area’s new top cop has vowed to tackle. Read his first interview.

The police officer who oversaw the investigation into one of the most horrific domestic violence murders in living memory has promised more officers focussing on preventing DV cases.

Superintendent Darrin Batchelor made the pledge as he announced his priorities after taking over as Commander of the Hills Police Area Command.

He has been in the position for two months but this week sat down with the Times to discuss his priorities.

He has more than 25 years of experience in the force and has done everything from working in a special unit targeting drug importation from South East Asia to solving the horrific murder of Rachelle Yeo in 2012 as a Detective on the northern beaches.

Supt Batchelor helped lock up Paul Mulvihill who was convicted and sentenced to 29 years over Rachelle’s murder.

Still today Supt Batchelor said he’s in touch with her parents and said a friendship came out of an awful situation.

“It would be that investigation, and him (Mulvihill) being found guilty of the DV related murder, that made me passionate about helping DV victims,” he said.

New Hills commander superintendent Darrin Batchelor. Picture: Nicole Pierre

While there are currently two DV officers in the command, he said he will soon increase the team to five.

Supt Batchelor said the decision was not necessarily based on the number of DV offences in the area but was a “preventive” measure.

The new commander also proposed a possible new “cop shop” in Rouse Hill.

While it’s a work in progress, he said a police presence would help meet the needs of a booming population particularly in Kellyville and Box Hill areas and allow better response times.

“The population is growing and is estimated to be 100,000 in the next 10 years in the area,” he said.

Supt Batchelor locked up Paul Mulvihill who was convicted and sentenced to 29 years in jail over the 2012 murder of Rachelle Yeo (pictured)

Supt Batchelor said stealing from vehicles was one of the biggest crimes at the moment.

“It’s opportunistic. People stealing items like phones and laptops from motor vehicles.

“But it’s a preventable crime. People need to lock their cars.”

He said Hills Police and the Police Transport Command were also working “collaboratively” to prevent crime along the northwest metro line.

“We’ve got six stations in the command and we’re mindful of people from other areas taking the metro to offend,” he said.

With the ongoing lockdown, he said he was looking at getting a specialised nurse to join police when called to mental health incidences.

“When police get a call the PACER (Police, Ambulance, Clinical, Early Response) nurse would attend with cops.

“Having a nurse removes that trauma for the individual … it’s about getting that early intervention and support.”

Castle Hill Police station. Picture: Google

As an ambulance officer in a previous life, Supt Batchelor knows the importance of early intervention.

While he said the work was important, he said the job stopped when the patient was dropped at hospital.

“You were with the patient and then sent them to hospital and it stopped there. You don’t follow up or know what happened to them.”

He said what appealed to him about being a cop was the “diversity” in the job and the ability to do that follow-up.

As a final message to the community doing it tough with lockdown he said as a father with young daughters he knows “isolation is hard.”

Yet he reminded everyone to stay in contact with their family and friends during this time.

He also said there was “no shame” for those needing mental health help and urged them to reach out to the several support services available.

Lifeline

13 11 14

Kids Helpline

1800 551 800

Beyond Blue coronavirus wellbeing support service

1800 512 348

Domestic Violence Line

1800 656 463