SWAN Hill Police officers settled in front of La Mangia Cafe at Campbell Street on a cold Friday morning to catch up with potential colleagues.
People passing by were welcome to ask the officers general questions at the Coffee with a Cop session, but more importantly the string of sessions over the weekend was part of Victoria Police’s big recruitment drive across north-west Victoria.
Swan Hill Senior Constable and crime prevention officer Tanya Peters said she hoped to get more people interested in being recruited as a a police officer, protective services officer, police custody officer, and Victorian Public Service employee locally.
“We are looking to recruit more people in the Swan Hill area as our numbers aren’t as high,” she said.
One of the hopeful recruits was 21-year-old Max Martinez, who also attended a recruitment webinar last Wednesday.
“The webinar was very informative because it covered the basics of being a police officer in the countryside,” Mr Martinez said.
“It also covered how country policing is unique.
“The thing is with small-town police officers, they can arrest a criminal and then pass them in the street once they finish their shift.”
“They also said in the webinar that if you treat people with respect, the criminals and perpetrators will also treat you back with respect.”
Mr Martnez grew up in Swan Hill and said he saw becoming a police officer as a way to contribute to the community.
“I want to come back and play a big role in community engagement and also follow the footsteps of Andrew Downs and leave a legacy just like him,” he said.
Mr Martinez said his experience volunteering for the Mallee Deceased Transport Team helped him gain some insight into police operations relating to deceased people.
“I’ve been picking up deceased bodies that require autopsies, including missing persons that require the coroner’s attention,” he said.
“So it won’t completely be a shock to the system for me, and I’ve had some insight into what the police do, so it might come as a benefit to me.”
Swan Hill Police also held Coffee with a Cop recruitment sessions at the Swan Hill Roadshow on Friday and Kerang Football Club on Saturday.
