New constables bring local Command to full strength

Five new probationary constables who joined the New England Local Area Command this week will be stationed at Armidale, Glen Innes and Inverell.
After graduating from the Goulburn Police Academy on Friday, they began duty on Monday morning meeting local political leaders Richard Torbay MP and Mayor Cr Peter Ducat.
Mr Torbay told the group they were fortunate to come to the Command at a time when there was a new police station in Armidale and significant upgrades had been undertaken in Glen Innes and Inverell.
“As a result there are much better work conditions for police stationed here than there were 10 years ago,” he said.
The MP welcomed the appointment of the new constables who bring the Command to just above authorised strength.
The newcomers include Andrew Greenup, 20, from Tweed Heads; Tony Sozou 21 from Armidale, Peter Michael,35, from Inverell, Kirstie Delany, 24, from Dubbo and Dean Shiner,22, from Campbelltown.
Cst Sozou will be stationed at Inverell and Cst Delany will work at Glen Innes.
Cst Michael who comes to the new job as a mature age recruit formerly worked as a hair dresser and as supervisor of the Inverell RSM Club.
Before joining the force Cst Shiner completed his apprenticeship as a fitter and turner.
At this week’s welcome Inspector Matt Lynch told the rookie recruits they would work under a buddy system for their first six weeks and then be assigned to operational units.
“Working in a Command like this will gives new police a much more diverse experience than they would have in the metropolitan cities,” he said.