This week, after attesting on the NSW Police Academy Parade Ground on Friday, they take up duty at stations around the state.

None of the 257 probationary constables from this class has been assigned to Goulburn. The vast majority have been assigned to the greater Sydney region.

This attestation on Friday recognised the 10th anniversary of the Indigenous Police Recruitment Our Way Delivery Program (IPROWD), a specialist program supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People to gain entry into the NSW Police Academy and subsequently a career with the NSW Police Force.

His Excellency the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d) Governor of NSW addressed the parade and recounted his days as a platoon commander at Kapooka with the Army recruit training program. He used to call their march out parade day: “It’s a Bloody Miracle Day”. This he said was the same for Class 335.

“The best moment on this parade is when you reveal the blue and white check around your hat, it is always emotional,” His Excellency said.

“It symbolises who you were and what you are now – a police officer. The front line in our community that allows us to sleep safely at night, to go about our work, to be the nation we are and to express ourselves the way we do.

“The other thing you did is take an oath or affirmation. Don’t take it lightly,  When I was 18, I took an oath to the Queen to serve her when I joined the Australian Army and I am still bound by that oath nearly 50 years on.  It separates you now from others in the community and it says I have made a very public commitment to serve the people of this state. It is now in your DNA you are a different person. Thank you for making this decision you have and thank you to the families who have supported you.”

Chief Superintendent Rod Smith, Principal NSW Police Academy thanked the families of the probationary constables for their support and emphasised the importance of continuing support throughout an officer’s career. He said that a family’s role was critical. He reminded them that every action, on and off duty, as individuals would reflect on the way the community views the NSW Police Force.

Four police officers who have given nearly 50 year’s of service to the NSW community were honoured by being marched off the parade ground behind the police banner. These officers have had long and distinguished careers with the police and this final march out signified the esteem in which they are held. 

These officers were Detective Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis APM, Chief Inspector Wayne Hoffman, Chief Inspector Trent Le-Merton and Detective Senior Sergeant Stephen Horn.

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