New police officers join Rockhampton, Yeppoon police stations

12 new first year constables have joined the beat in Rockhampton where they’ll learn what it means to be a police officer and get a taste of all aspects of the job.

12 new first year constables have had their first day on the beat and will be stationed across Rockhampton and Yeppoon.

Twelve new police officers had their first day on the Rockhampton beat on Monday where, over the next year, they’ll get a taste of all aspects of being in the force.

The new First Year Constables recently graduated from the Police Academy and will be stationed at South Rockhampton, North Rockhampton and Yeppoon.

Coming from all walks of life, the new officers will join Rockhampton’s police in their critical role of keeping the community safe and preventing crime.

The new officers were all welcomed on their first day by Rockhampton MP Barry O’Rourke and Keppel MP Brittany Lauga.

First Year Constable Luke Atkinson was previously in the air force as an aircraft technician but chose to become a police officer for a new challenge.

First Year Constable Luke Atkinson will be stationed at the South Rockhampton Police Station.

He said being able to work in the community and the mateship you get in the police force was what attracted him to become an officer.

“It’s been eight months of training at the Brisbane Academy for all of us that have been posted to Rocky, it’s been pretty intensive but exciting and we’re looking forward to getting on the job,” he said.

“We (the group) have been together for eight and a half months already and it’s exciting to have so many of my colleagues here at one time.

“We’re looking forward to learning what it means to be a police officer.”

Capricornia District Officer Superintendent Glen Pointing said the new officers would “assist greatly” in their response to a number things such as youth crime and domestic violence.

Capricornia District Officer Superintendent Glen Pointing.

“Community safety is very important and these numbers will assist us to no end in achieving that goal,” he said.

“We’ve got three (officers) going to North Rockhampton, eight to Rockhampton and one to Yeppoon but in that 12 month period, which is a probationary period, they move around and experience various different areas.

“They will also be trained and get exposed to criminal investigation, to duties at the watch house, the courts and all aspects of policing.”

Superintendent Pointing said officer numbers in Rockhampton were “very good” and applications for joining the police force were increasing.

“These are growth positions, so they’re on top of our normal policing growth,” he said.

“In addition to that we’ve got new positions in the CIB, child protection investigation unit and also forensic crash unit and scenes of crime unit.

“We can expect more growth positions, so additional numbers, in the next financial year and that’s going to leave the district well place to handle issues such as youth crime and domestic violence and community safety in general.”

Originally published as New police officers join Rockhampton, Yeppoon police stations