New Victoria Police reservist Simon Dowling with former reservist Frank Eyre and Victoria Police Local Area Commander Inspector Cameron Sanderson at Shepparton Police Station.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Out with the old, in with the old.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Shepparton police welcomed returning Victoria Police officer Simon Dowling to their team as the first of eight reservists who will be employed at the station by December.
Victoria Police recently received Victorian Government funding for 200 full-time reservist positions, with an aim to free frontline police up from some of their administrative duties.
Former senior constable Mr Dowling left the force around 20 years ago before returning as a property officer earlier this year.
This is the first time he’s worked for Victoria Police in Shepparton, having served most of his time in Wangaratta, but had made Shepparton his home since hanging up his holster.
New Victoria Police reservist Simon Dowling has been deployed to Shepparton Police Station.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
“Everyone has been really welcoming; it’s been really good appreciating the fact that we’ll be coming on board,” he said.
Local Area Commander Cameron Sanderson said the eight reservists who will be based in Shepparton would significantly lighten the load for police to conduct more proactive patrols and respond more swiftly to calls for service.
“We’ll free up around 320 hours to get back out from behind the desk and back on the road per week,” Inspector Sanderson said.
Former Shepparton reservist Frank Eyre, who spent 50 years working for the force, including 29 behind the counter in Shepparton, was at Shepparton Police Station on August 12 to welcome Mr Dowling to the role.
“I obviously enjoyed what I did, otherwise I wouldn’t have stayed that long,” Mr Eyre said.
“I think the general public deserves someone who they can talk to, and it opens up the opportunity for operational measures, which is very important.”
Fifty former officers have so far completed their week-long bespoke training at the Victoria Police Academy, and will be deployed to 26 stations across the state, which amounts to around 1360 policing hours, or 170 shifts each week.
Between them, they have an average 21 years’ prior policing experience, with 17 serving from 30 to 45 years each and eight clocking up more than 40 years as police officers.
Post locations have been selected based on areas with the busiest stations and where reservists live.
Victoria Police said the response to the initiative had been “extraordinary”, with more than 500 applications received so far.
7°C