The NSW Police Force has farewelled Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie APM, who marked his final day of operational service today after 33 years of distinguished service.
Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys joined officers and staff from Western Region at Dubbo for a COVID-Safe celebration of the career of Assistant Commissioner McKechnie today (Thursday 23 September 2021).
After a final message to staff over Police Radio and signing off for the last time as 'Western One', Assistant Commissioner McKechnie marched out of Dubbo Police Station and performed a final salute.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said Assistant Commissioner Geoff Mckechnie retires after dedicating 33 years to serving the community.
"Geoff has been a journeyman in protecting the people of NSW, particularly our rural areas," Commissioner Fuller said.
"He will be dearly missed; however, we wish him, his wife Jan, and the family a happy retirement."
Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott paid tribute to Assistant Commissioner McKechnie's three decades of service, especially to the people of rural NSW.
"Geoff McKechnie is everything that is good about country policing: a passionate leader who embedded himself in his community, the people and the land," Mr Elliott said.
"He is a professional officer, who started and ended his career in rural NSW, and lists amongst his proudest achievements the establishment a world-class rural crime investigation team.
"Geoff leaves the NSW Police Force with the best wishes and grateful thanks of the people of NSW," Mr Elliott said.
Growing up in Mendooran, Assistant Commissioner McKechnie joined the force in 1988, spending the early part of his career undertaking both general and investigative duties at a number of commands across Western Region.
He was designated as a detective in 1993, before rising through the ranks and working at several commands including Orana District, Barrier Local Area Command (LAC), Canobolas LAC, Tuggerah Lakes LAC and Brisbane Water LAC.
In December 2001, he was promoted to the rank of Superintendent as the Barrier Local Area Commander before moving and commanding the Canobolas, Tuggerah Lakes and Brisbane Water Local Area Commands.
He returned to his home turf on promotion to Assistant Commissioner as the Western Region Commander in 2012, where he finishes his career after more than three decades of service.
During his time as Western Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner McKechnie led the successful re-engineering of 11 Local Area Commands into seven Police Districts with an officer-in-charge model implemented throughout the districts.
This model sees each regional police station have a senior officer in charge of operations to work closely with and be part of that community.
He was also instrumental in the expansion of rural crime investigation capabilities and the formation of the Rural Crime Prevention Team within the NSW Police Force, which now operates across all of regional and remote NSW and dedicated to preventing, disrupting and responding to rural crime.
Assistant Commissioner McKechnie's service has not gone unrecognised; he has been awarded the Australian Police Medal (APM), the NSW Police Service Medal, the National Police Service Medal, and clasps to the NSW Police and National Service medals.
For Mr McKechnie, retirement means spending more time with family and friends, working on his small farm and travelling internationally once borders re-open.
