The NSW Police Force will welcome 257 new probationary constables to its ranks at the Police Academy in Goulburn today (Friday 7 December 2018), NSW Police say.
‘Class 335’ includes 168 policemen and 89 policewomen, who will complete 12 months on-the-job training and study of the Associate Degree in Policing Practice by distance education with Charles Sturt University, before being confirmed to the rank of constable.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller APM will be joined by the Governor of NSW, His Excellency General, The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d) and Minister for Police and Emergency Services, The Honourable Troy Grant MP, to inspect the new recruits on the parade ground.
Commissioner Fuller said today is a huge milestone for the recruits who have worked extremely hard over the past eight months.
"Today we welcome more than 250 new recruits to the ranks of the NSW Police Force, where they will be tested with new challenges every day," Commissioner Fuller said.
"They have already proven themselves physically and academically to reach this point and from Monday they will experience the reward of serving the community as a police officer.
"For the next 12 months they will continue to study and learn what it truly means to wear the uniform at Police Area Commands and Police Districts across the state," Commissioner Fuller said.
The students will attest with the rank of probationary constable and report to their new stations for work on Monday (10 December 2018).
The ceremony will also see retiring officers Detective Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis APM, Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Hoffman, Chief Inspector Trent Le-Merton and Detective Senior Sergeant Stephen Horn, farewelled after 161 years combined service with the NSW Police Force.
RETIRING OFFICERS BIO
Detective Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis APM
38 years of distinguished service
Detective Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis APM joined the NSW Police Force in 1980. He commenced as a detective in 1985 and worked at Darlinghurst, Waverley, Bondi, Fraud Squad, Internal Affairs and Bankstown, before being promoted to Crime Manager at Marrickville and Flemington Local Area Commands.
He performed the role of Chief of Staff for Deputy Commissioner Moroney, before taking up his position as Local Area Commander at Gladesville, Leichhardt and Burwood. While at Burwood, he was selected to lead Strike Force Ennogera, a high-profile investigation into the reprisal attacks emanating from the Cronulla riots.
Superintendent Katsogiannis has extensive operational experience and throughout his career also served as Commander at the Firearms and Organised Crime Squad and Gangs Squad, before his current position as the inaugural Commander of the Cyber Crime Squad.
Throughout his distinguished career, Superintendent Katsogiannis was awarded the NSW Police Medal, NSW Police Medal 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Clasp, National Medal, National Medal 1st and 2nd Clasp, National Police Service Medal, and Australian Police Medal.
Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Hoffman
36 years of distinguished service
Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Hoffman joined the NSW Police Force as a probationary constable in 1983 and was assigned No. 19 division at Bass Hill. Two years later he commenced duties at the Crime Scene Unit, before moving to the Forensic Ballistics Investigation section in 1986.
Between 1992 and 1997 he was promoted from Detective Senior Constable, to Detective Sergeant and then to Detective Senior Sergeant, before being appointed to the commissioned rank of Inspector as the Manager of the Forensic Ballistics Investigation Section in 2003.
During his career, Chief Inspector Hoffman has been involved in some of the highest-profile ballistics investigations from the Family Law Court bombings in the 1980s, to the backpacker murders in the 1990s.
Throughout his distinguished career Chief Inspector Hoffman was awarded the National Medal, COP Olympic Citation, NSW Police Medal, NSW Police Medal 2nd and 3rd Clasp, National Medal 1st Clasp, AFP Operations Medal (Cawdor), COP Sesquincentary Citation, National Police Service Medal, Australian Defence Medal and Region Commander Citation.
Chief Inspector Trent Le-Merton
37 years of distinguished service
Chief Inspector Trent Le-Merton joined the NSW Police Force in 1981 as a Trainee at the Redfern Police Academy. He attested as a Probationary Constable and was attached to No. 34 Division at Fairfield where he performed general duties until 1983.
He then commenced duties with the Highway Patrol until 1986 when he became an Accident Investigator. In 1989 he was transferred to Dubbo where he performed duties in the Accident Investigation Squad and Highway Patrol, until his promotion in 1994 to Sergeant at the Traffic Services Branch in the Metropolitan area.
In 2000, he was transferred to Wetherill Park Highway Patrol as Team Leader before being promoted to Chief Inspector and Duty Officer at Mount Druitt LAC. In 2013 he returned to the Traffic & Highway Patrol Command, serving as the Northern Region Traffic Tactician until his retirement in July 2018.
During his distinguished service Chief Inspector Le-Merton was awarded the NSW Police Medal, NSW Police Medal 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Clasp, National Police Service Medal and was a recipient of a Commissioners Unit Citation award.
Detective Senior Sergeant Stephen Horn
50 years of distinguished service
Detective Senior Sergeant Stephen Horn joined the NSW Police Force as a Trainee in 1968 and was confirmed a Constable in 1969 whilst performing general duties at No. 26 Division at Merrylands and Fairfield.
In 1974 he joined the Scientific Investigations Section where he was designated as a Detective in 1977. Between 1974 and 2012 he performed scientific and forensic duties at numerous locations throughout the Sydney Metropolitan area and was promoted to the rank of Senior Sergeant in 1993.
During his 40 years of policing service in the forensic field, Senior Sergeant Horn has performed duties at some of Australia’s worst disasters, including the Granville train disaster in 1977, the Sylvania Heights Nursing Home fire in 1981 and the Clybucca bus disaster in 1989.
In 1991 he was seconded to the Australian War Crimes Prosecution Support unit where he was recognised for his efforts through a letter of commendation, and in 1994 he led a team of officers investigating the origin and cause of some 800 bushfires throughout NSW.
From 2008 to 2012 Senior Sergeant Horn worked on the DNA Cold Case Justice Project which assisted investigators in identifying 27 individuals who were charged with sexual assaults from the 1980s to late 1990s.
During his distinguished service Detective Senior Sergeant Horn was awarded the Australian Police Medal, National Medal, National Medal 1st, 2nd and 3rd Clasp, NSW Police Medal, NSW Police Medal 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Clasp, National Police Service Medal and COP Sesquicentenary Citation.
FACTS AND FIGURES ABOUT ‘CLASS 335’
A total of 257 new recruits are being sworn in today.
The class comprises of 168 policemen and 89 policewomen.
They will then complete 12 months on-the-job training and study by distance education with Charles Sturt University. They officially graduate with an Associate Degree in Policing Practice once they have passed all academic and operation standards. The officers will then be confirmed to the rank of constable.
Of the probationary constables attesting today, 237 were born in Australia and 20 were born overseas. Their countries of origin include Wales, Afghanistan, Czech Republic, New Zealand, Lebanon, India, Russia, Zimbabwe, Fiji, South Korea and Iraq.
The recruits age statistics include:
- 36 are aged 19-20
- 136 are aged 21-25
- 66 are aged 26-30
- 11 are aged 31-35
- Six are aged 36-40
- Two are aged 40+
For interviews with recruits going to specific areas, please contact the relevant Police Area Command or Police District on Monday 10 December 2018.
