Probationary constables (from left) Laura Kamprath, Daniel Harry, Daniel Karooz and Shameel Ali on their first day. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
Murrumbidgee Police District has welcomed four recruits who say they’ll benefit from the work variety and lifestyle offered in this region.
Probationary constables Daniel Harry (from Yanco), Laura Kamprath (Narrandera), Daniel Karooz (Goulburn) and Shameel Ali (Liverpool) began their duties and induction at Griffith Police Station on Monday (9 December).
“They’ve been allocated field training officers to get them to speed for their first six weeks … they’ll work with two constables all the time,” District Inspector Glenn Smith said.
“The guys get a lot more variety in a regional area. They’ve done a lot more different things that their counterparts in the city haven’t had a chance to do.
“You can’t beat the regional lifestyle. You quickly realise the traffic is nothing like Sydney. Everything is close, there’s few traffic lights and there’s no real peak hour.”
Constables Ali and Karooz were inspired to join the force through a family connection.
“Although my uncle wasn’t a cop, he was a Vietnam vet who then returned to Australia and became a firefighter, then a teacher,” Constable Ali said. ”I found his years of dedication to the service were phenomenal and I wanted to be like him.”
Constable Karooz said: “I have a father in the police force who’s been in it for 37 years, based in Goulburn, so I’m following in his footsteps.”
Constable Kamprath is originally from Germany and previously worked in the force in her country of birth.
“Over here, we’re going to be doing things that are community-related and you are known by the community, so it’s different from a metropolitan area,” she said.
Griffith police often visit schools in town. Photo: Supplied.
She explained the process the recruits must go through.
“We do 16 weeks online first up where they teach you all the laws and rules,” she said.
”You then do four shifts at a police station to see what the work is like, then do 16 weeks of training in the Goulburn Police Academy.”
Region asked whether their training experience was anything like the 1980s Policy Academy movies, but none of the four recruits had seen the films.
District Inspector Smith, though, said he had been influenced by popular TV cop shows.
“I grew up watching shows like CHiPs and TJ Hooker and here I am, 29 years later,” he said.
Constable Harry said he also had wanted to be a police officer ever since he was a child.
Inspector Smith is pleased to see him and Constable Kamprath in the force, as they’re both from the Riverina.
“Having local knowledge and knowing the area is a real benefit to us,” he said.
NSW Police has launched a campaign, ‘‘You Should Be A Cop In Your Hometown’’, to encourage more locals to join the force. Griffith is one of its priority areas.
“It’s attracted a lot of older candidates who already have family or financial responsibilities,” Constable Karooz said. ”It makes it easier when you’re in your home town.”
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