THERE will be a changing of the guard in Halls Gap on Friday, as Wimmera Police Superintendent Paul Margetts steps down from his role after nearly five years.
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Supt Margetts, born in Horsham and a member of Victoria Police for 30 years, is preparing to start a year-long secondment to the Australian Federal Police in Sydney.
"I'll be working from the Australian Institute of Police Management, and involved in the delivery of professional development programs for senior managers for police jurisdictions across Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Thailand," he said.
His last day as commander of of police's division four in the Western region was on Thursday.
"I think the opportunities I've had to lead and manage a team of more than 220 police, delivering regional operations to a variety of communities, has prepared me for this new role," he said.
"Tailoring the services across all of those communities and matching service delivery to the risks that exist - whether that comes from crime, public order, road policing or emergency response.
Supt Margetts said there had been a number of significant additions to Wimmera police's capability since he took over in April 2015.
"That includes the construction of new police stations and deployment of specialist police investigators in family violence, sex offender management," he said.
"We've also rolled out significant training for our members in terms of emergency management, and along the way we've developed some fantastic partnerships with the community and other emergency services."
Supt Margetts will hand over the reigns to Acting Superintendent Paul Bertoncello at Halls Gap Police Station at 8am on Friday.
"The position will be advertised and filled through the regular Victoria Police selection process. Generally that can be a couple of months," he said.
"I'll remain connected (to the Wimmera) and involved in my activities with the Blue Ribbon Foundation, and in my role as an honorary board member of Grampians Community Health."
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