Crisafulli Government delivers largest police graduation in 33 years
- Crisafulli Government delivers 155 new officers in the largest police graduation in 33 years.
- Graduates supported the frontline response to ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred in South East Queensland.
- More than 750 recruits currently training at Queensland Police academies and more than 2,100 applicants in the recruiting pipeline.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering a significant milestone today, welcoming 155 new police officers into the ranks in the State's largest graduation ceremony in 33 years.
The cohort includes previous law students, business owners and security officers, as well as former police officers from New Zealand, the UK, and South Africa.
The graduates have already started serving the community, door-knocking hundreds of residents and assisting with evacuations due to ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
The 155 new officers are just some of the hundreds in the pipeline to bolster police ranks across Queensland this year, as part of the Crisafulli Government's plan to restore safety to your community.
Officers will join frontline police from tomorrow in stations across Queensland including, Brisbane, the Far North, Mt Isa, Townsville, Rockhampton and Toowoomba.
Under the former Labor Government, police officers were quitting the job in droves, citing burnout and mounting frustration that serious repeat offenders weren't being held to account.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering a fresh start for Queensland, boosting the number of officers on the ground and using its Making Queensland Safer Laws to equip police with the extra support they need.
Already this month, $31.1 million in new funding has been delivered by the Crisafulli Government to boost high visibility patrols in crime hotspots.
Premier of Queensland David Crisafulli said the Government was providing police with every avenue of support needed to slam the brakes on Labor's Youth Crime Crisis.
"Our Government promised we would put more officers on the ground, and every day we are making sure that the police frontline is stronger," Premier Crisafulli said.
"These new recruits will be deployed right across Queensland, from the Far North to the New South Wales border, helping to drive down crime and restore safety to our communities."
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie met the recruits during last week's deployment to thank them for their efforts.
"They have already demonstrated they have what it takes to wear the uniform and are ready to serve and protect Queenslanders," Minister Purdie said.
"It's incredible to see so many new recruits willing to step up. It will help to bolster the frontline and keep communities safe.
"The previous Labor Government oversaw record attrition rates with hundreds of police leaving the job each year due to burnout and lack of support.
"The Crisafulli Government is committed to giving police the laws and the resources they need to do their jobs."
Acting Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy expressed his pride in the new officers and the number of community members who have chosen to dedicate themselves to a policing career.
"This is a milestone achievement for not only the QPS in welcoming our largest recruit intake in 33 years, but for each and every one of our graduating officers today," Acting Commissioner Chelepy said.
"Even before graduation, these officers demonstrated their dedication to communities across South East Queensland, stepping up to assist people to prepare for Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
"Their efforts in the past week have been invaluable, showing exactly the kind of commitment and community spirit that define the Queensland Police Service."
Former lawyer, Constable Paloma Oliviera, has had an interest in law enforcement since she was young.
"I can't think of many careers like it. It gives you the ability to make a positive impact on the community on a daily basis," Constable Oliviera said.
After running a business in Noosa for 18 years, Constable Dan Rudledge was motivated to apply for the Queensland Police Service when his oldest son was accepted into the academy.
"I had talked about joining for a long time and it was my wife who finally pushed me to join – now that I'm here, I have no regrets," Constable Rudledge said.
"I am originally from Noosa, and am getting deployed out to St George in South West Queensland.
"Both my wife and I are looking forward to it and see it as a great chance to experience the outback now that all our kids are grown up."
