March 29, 2020
Murgon and Kingaroy police stations will be getting two new police recruits each following the fast-tracking of the latest QPS graduations due to the COVID-19 crisis.
On Friday, Police Minister Mark Ryan and Deputy Commissioner Doug Smith congratulated the latest round of 78 police recruits to graduate from the academy as First Year constables.
This is the second round of QPS recruits to have their graduation fast-tracked in the past week.
“I want to thank these new officers for their co-operation during the current circumstances, as they join their new colleagues across Queensland ahead of schedule,” Minister Ryan said.
“It is crucial that our communities feel safe, now more than ever.
“That is why the latest round of First Year Constables will be expected to uphold the high expectations of the service from the moment they step foot in their new stations.”
Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said the fast-tracking of recruits achieved two objectives.
It will reduce the risk of the transmission of COVID-19 inside the academies, which house more than 750 recruits, in-service course participants and training staff across three campuses.
Secondly, it will immediately support the number of front-line police officers.
Commissioner Carroll said the decision was sensible and in the best interests of the community.
“These decisions have not been taken lightly by the leadership of the Queensland Police Service, however they achieve two key objectives – they remove a significant number of people out of the academy thus removing some of the risks,” she said.
Opposition Leader and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington welcomed the new First Year constables.
“I welcome the assignment of new police recruits to the South Burnett as our police will be busier than ever with the enforcement of new rules under the COVID-19 restrictions,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“However, in light of the fact that I have been calling on the Labor Government to provide more policing resources for our region for some time now, I would hope that we are able to retain these extra officers into the future to help with crime issues we have been facing.”
[UPDATED]
