Probationary constables Peter Violi and Keely Martin on their first day on the job. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
Murrumbidgee Police District has welcomed two hometown recruits to its ranks, as its campaign to attract more locals to the force reaps dividends.
Peter Violi, 34, and Keely Martin, 25, commenced their duties as probationary constables at Griffith Police Station on Monday (15 December) after completing 16 weeks of intense training at the Goulburn Police Academy.
Constable Violi grew up in Leeton and previously worked as mechanic, while Griffith-raised Constable Martin was a bartender at the Area Hotel.
“Back when I was at the pub, I’d get clients who’d become too intoxicated and you’d have to remove them,” Const Martin said.
“Being able to have a conversation with people can change how the situation evolves.”
Const Violi did an apprenticeship straight out of school and worked at Owen Toyota for 15 years.
“I progressed through to workshop manager and did some service managing. It was sad to leave but they supported my career change.”
District Inspector Glenn Smith is also happy about having this skill in the team.
“We use our trucks to take our prisoners to Junee, Wagga and Albury when they don’t get bail. The trucks do a lot of kilometres so there’s a lot of wear and tear, it’s good to have a mechanic in the ranks.
“Nothing beats local knowledge too, so we really appreciate both Peter and Keely.”
For the past year, NSW Police has been running a campaign “You should be a cop in your hometown”. It aims to attract new police officers to take up a position in the area they already live in, so they can stay close to family and their friends.
When an applicant joins the force, they are asked to identify the locations in which they would like to work. New recruits are generally placed in their hometown if that’s their preference and it suits operational requirements.
Const Martin will remain close to family, which is fitting given a relative provided the inspiration for her to join the force.
“I always thought it was a really interesting job but thought I’d never be able to do it,” she said.
“My uncle was a detective in Kempsey. I went and had Christmas with that side of my family and got talking about it. So I did the online application and here I am.”
The two new probationary constables start their careers at a confronting time for NSW Police, just a day after officers were injured stopping a gunman who opened fire on a crowded Bondi Beach.
“It’s a reminder of the challenges and the dangers that police can face in the job. Our thoughts go out to those impacted by this tragedy,” Insp Smith said.
The news has been brighter in the Murrumbidgee, where official statistics suggest violent crime has declined substantially over the past year.
“I’m struggling to find enough crime news to send to you journalists,” Insp Smith said.
“At the moment, a few of our repeat customers are in custody. We are doing a lot of proactive works, like bail and AVO compliance checks. Let’s hope it stays that way.”
More information on how to become a police officer in your hometown can be found on the NSW Police website.
