New NT Police Deputy Commissioner Murray Smalpage to focus on morale, remote policing

MORALE and remote policing will be a focus for Murray Smalpage – the Territory’s newest senior cop

Murray Smalpage from Western Australia is the new NT Deputy Police Commissioner. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

MORALE and remote policing will be a focus for Murray Smalpage – the Territory’s newest senior cop.

The NT Police Deputy Commissioner joins from Western Australia on a four-year contract.

Mr Smalpage has had a long policing career in WA where he rose through the ranks to become the Assistant Commissioner of Regional Western Australia.

Early on in his career while working in Kununurra he was a special constable, which gave him the authority to help out NT cops across the border.

MORE

Murray Smalpage appointed as new NT Police Deputy Commissioner

New Territory Police Commissioner revealed

‘No, I wasn’t aware’: Ministers caught off guard by Kershaw exit

He was also a detective with the stock squad.

“We used to have a stock squad chasing cattle thieves and I did a number of complex and large-scale theft investigations that brought me through the NT,” he said.

He was previously district supervisor in the Pilbara and the Kimberley before becoming the commander of regional WA.

Mr Smalpage said he was passionate about remote policing and hoped to encourage more people to try it out.

“That exposure has always given me a yearning for the bush and remote policing and dealing with Aboriginal and indigenous issues has been a passion of mine,” he said.

“I hope that I can make a significant difference for the people of the Northern Territory.”

Mr Smalpage said he was on board with Commissioner Jamie Chalker’s view that all police officers – both new and existing – will have to work in remote centres.

“Remote service is a function that we have to perform and every police officer has a role to play in that and I think the Commissioner has made his position very clear,” he said.

AMAZING NT News subscription offer: Only $1 for first 28 days

Mr Smalpage said he would work to improve the force’s poor morale, a concern raised repeatedly by the NT Police Association.

“I care about the police officers and their families who live and work in remote Australia and I have a real desire to make a difference in their lives to make it better,” he said

Originally published as New NT Police Deputy Commissioner Murray Smalpage to focus on morale, remote policing