The Wimmera-Grampians regional has a new Superintendent at the reins after Paul Milner was appointed Divisional Commander in May.
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The Western Region Division 4 Superintendent said his immediate focus was on continuing the good work of his predecessor.
"I follow on from Paul Margetts, who is a huge identity in the region," he said.
"He left some big shoes to fill."
Horsham's Paul Margetts held the position for almost five years before retiring from the police force to pursue a career in the private sector.
"I look forward to connecting with the community to really understand their needs and concerns," Supt Milner said.
"Hopefully, they can assist us to provide better policing services that will suit the community.
"I also want to encourage police members to provide more feedback to community members when they pass on information."
Supt Milner, a 32-year veteran of the police force, has a diverse career, ranging task forces to counter-terrorism.
He said from a policing perspective, he wants to focus on reducing high harm and high impact crimes.
"We will target crimes such as aggravated assault, burglary and sexual assault," he said.
"We also want to reduce the incidence of family violence.
"Road trauma will be a strong focus, especially on the Western Hwy, which has a large volume of trucks travelling on it each day.
Supt Milner said starting the new role during the COVID-19 pandemic had its own issues.
"Coming into this position at the height of the pandemic has been a challenge; fortunately, we have seen a reduction in some crimes," he said.
"We have had to reconfigure how we deliver services and introduce new roles within the division.
"As restrictions ease, Victoria police will still have a role in ensuring everyone complies with the law."
Western Region Division 4 covers six local government areas and employs more than 200 police officers.
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