Sergeant Matthew Pegg: Leading Townsville’s Water Police through challenges and rescues
From intensive sea rescues to remote river missions, a day in the life of a Townsville Water Police officer is often anything but ordinary. Here’s a behind the scenes look at what it’s like.
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From intensive sea rescues to remote river missions, a day in the life of a Townsville Water Police officer is often anything but ordinary.
But Sergeant Matthew Pegg says the diverse and dynamic nature of this type of policing is all a part of the appeal.
As the officer in charge of Townsville Water Police, he manages a tight-knit squad of four and tackles a wide range of tasks across a vast geographical area.
“A standard week for us can be anything from vessel maintenance to co-ordinating and responding to search and rescue operations offshore, as well as in inland and coastal environments,” Sergeant Pegg said..
He said one of his most memorable experiences in the job had to be the gruelling 2019 floods.
“As a unit, we did not stop for over a week — we were rescuing people from houses and the tops of cars. That went on for all hours of the day and night,” he recounted
Another recent standout rescue for them involved finding a missing elderly man in the Burdekin.
“He was found safe and well in a drain next to the water, in a really difficult spot to find,” Sergeant Pegg said.
“That was particularly rewarding because it was fantastic to reunite that man with his family.”
He said these experiences underscore the challenging yet rewarding nature of water policing and now, the public has a chance to see it all up close.
This Saturday, the Townsville Police Academy will host an Open Day from 9am to 2pm, offering a glimpse into the exciting career paths within the Queensland Police Service (QPS).
The event will feature live demonstrations and informative sessions from various specialist units, including the stock squad, forensic services group, and, of course, the water police.
QPS offers recruits enticing benefits like free accommodation in Townsville during academy training, $20,000 towards select HECS-HELP debt, $20,000 for relocation costs, and higher pay for experienced recruits.
Visit policerecruit.com.au to find more information.
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Originally published as Sergeant Matthew Pegg: Leading Townsville’s Water Police through challenges and rescues
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