This allows the Detective Chief Inspector to concentrate solely on crime management in the Edward River and Murray River council regions.
The return to being based primarily at his ‘home’ station at Deniliquin has come in a milestone year for Det Chief Insp Brown.
This month marks 25 years since he was first assigned to policing in Deniliquin, and 31 years as a police officer.
“I came to Deniliquin as a Senior Constable on March 11, 2001, and it’s here that I have climbed the ranks to be where I am today,” he said.
“Deniliquin is also where my wife Robyn and I chose to start and raise our family.
“While we’ve never left Deniliquin, the past three years has seen me away from home often.
“I am very happy to be back and re-engaging with the community, and continuing to build those relationships I have forged over many years.
“I am proud to be a police officer in this town.”
Since March 2023, Det Chief Insp Brown has been crime manager for the entire Murray River Police District.
It has meant spending a fair bit of time at other district stations, specifically Albury.
During this period, he was responsible for all major investigations across the district, including homicides, serious assaults and domestic violence situations, and in charge of all detectives across the district.
The professional and personal development he’s gained in that time will be brought back to the western sector.
Det Chief Insp Brown said a key crime management area of concern right now is the impact of the fuel crisis, and other cost of living pressures, on the community.
“Because of the war in the Middle East, and the impact it is having on fuel prices and availability, we ask people to be vigilant with their security.
“This includes farmers with fuel on their property, work sites and service stations.
“People are getting desperate, and we’re already seeing an increase in fuel thefts in Albury.
“My focus is disrupting crime here in the western sector - to protect our community and to make sure they can rely on police when they’re needed.”
Det Chief Insp Brown said more work would be done in coming months to bolster police numbers across the western sector, starting with Moama and followed by Deniliquin “in the near future”.
He said this will be in addition to two new probationary constables starting at Deniliquin this May.
He said he hopes the new officers find as much satisfaction in being a part of the Deniliquin community as he has.
“I have built some really great professional and personal relationships here in my time.”
Det Chief Insp Brown said choosing to come back to come back as officer in charge, and remaining in Deniliquin for the last 25 years, was simple.
He and wife Robyn, who retired as a police officer after 30 years on the force, plan to stay put for some time yet, despite both their children spreading their wings to Melbourne for university and to forge their own futures.
“Deniliquin is a good country town where people are generally pro-police,” he said.
“It’s also a great place to raise kids, and the education opportunities our children had was adequate.
“We don’t have the shopping centres and all the flashing lights, but all the services you need are right here.
“We’ve also got some great parks and gardens thanks to Edward River Council, and the river is a fantastic asset for locals and visitors alike.
“You just get that really good country vibe.
“I have built some great professional and personal relationships here over the last 25 years.
“I look forward to seeing many of you when I’m getting about around town, and I encourage you to contact me if you have any crime issues we need to be aware of.”
To engage with local police, drop into the Deniliquin Police Station in Charlotte St or call 5881 9299. In an emergency, call 000.
