Wagga Police Superintendent Bob Noble has admitted the proposed changes to the local police commands will bring “some discomfort” but will ultimately provide a better police service for the community.
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“Just the fact that there’s a change and there’s a lot of work to be done; that disrupts our day-to-day routine. That’s always a bit uncomfortable but that’s fine, that’s what life’s all about,” Superintendent Noble said.
This week, NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller announced Cootamundra Local Area Command will be divided, and then merged with Wagga LAC, and Goulburn’s Hume LAC.
The restructure will see the current 34 commands replaced by 26 police districts with one Superintendent for each police district and one “Officer-in-Charge” for each of the district’s police stations. One of the first casualties will be the loss of either Cootamundra Superintendent Chris Schult or Wagga Superintendent Bob Noble.
“At the end of the day, there will be a displaced superintendent, the crime manager role will go, and the local area manager role will go as part of the flattening of structures,” Superintendent Chris Schult.
“I’m not keen to move on but if I get my marching orders, I’ll march,” Superintendent Noble said.
Superintendent Noble however was quick to scuttle suggestions that Wagga’s Crime Manager Detective Inspector Darren Cloake would have to battle it out with his Cootamundra counterpart, Scott Wilkinson.
“Talk of Darren or anyone else competing for a job is premature,” Superintendent Noble said.
The same goes for Wagga’s Inspectors, however plans for each police station to have an officer in charge is expected to see some Inspectors relocated to smaller stations which would be a win for smaller communities.
Superintendent Schult said the result is designed to give communities more customised policing.
“The rationale is putting cops where they’re needed,” Superintendent Schult said.
While the question of the moves being financially driven have been denied by police management, who say it’s rather a genuine move to bring the service into the 21st Century, Wagga residents will see changes as early as before Christmas.
“The work really will start in earnest now,” Superintendent Bob Noble said.
“It is prudent to have obviously the persons who are going to make up the senior management team decided fairly quickly, I think you will find that will happen.”
