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A Day in the Life 7
New officer-in-charge at Kyneton Police Station
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ROM being a handler at the dog squad, to working with the Sexual Offences and Child Abuse unit, the new officerin-charge at Kyneton certainly has a diverse background in policing.
Taking on the lead role at the 36-officer station, Senior Sergeant Tim Douglas is also responsible for a cluster of stations in the Kyneton response area including Malmsbury, Lancefield and Romsey. And having been in the job for just 10 weeks so far, the Kyneton post is proving as diverse as his extensive background. “We’re a general duties station, so I’m doing everything from road policing to crime investigation; a lot of our work is tied up dealing with issues around family violence, mental health, and the ongoing challenges and issues in relation to illicit drug use and the effects it has not only on those involved, but on the wider community,” Snr Sgt Douglas said. “It’s busier than I thought it would be.” It is also a welcome home, with the father-of-four living in the area. “It was something I wanted to do, transfer up here, I live in the Macedon Ranges and I’m very passionate about it - I obviously have a vested interest in the local community.” Never working too far from his home area, Snr Sgt Douglas’ career has been in the western and northern suburbs of Melbourne – but it has also taken in some tough roles. Along with having worked in traffic operations on motorcycle duties, Snr Sgt Douglas put in several years with the Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Unit, and more than five years as a handler with the Dog Squad, taking a promotion and working at Sunbury before beginning the Kyneton post. “I miss working with the Dog Squad, but it’s a very demanding job working with the armed offenders and siege situations…it’s very physically demanding. I was in my early thirties, and it was a young man’s job. “I’ve fortunately had a very diverse and exciting career, which has spanned across road policing, critical incident management, emergency management… it’s all transferable into the role as officer-in-charge at Kyneton.” Already a member of the local safety committee, Snr Sgt Douglas’ door is always open to the community. “At Victoria Police we rely a lot on community involvement and interaction to get the job done, and I really want to get involved with the community in tackling the issues around family violence and also illicit drug use, particularly how it affects families – as well as apprehending offenders, and dealing with the aftermath and how it destroys families in the community. “I really look forward to the opportunity to have some say and direction in how we approach safety in the local community. I have the Macedon Ranges at heart.”
“I’ve fortunately had a very diverse and exciting career, which has spanned across road policing, critical incident management, emergency management…" - Snr Sgt Tim Douglas
Words: Kate Taylor | Image: David White
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