While in Mulwala, from 1989 to 1994, he also covered Oaklands and Urana; was the driving force behind the introduction of rugby to town. The sport no longer existed in Mulwala upon his departure.
Commander Smith commenced duty as the Commander on January 20, 2020. “I have friends and family across the district and in some respects consider this move as returning home,” he told the Yarrawonga Chronicle/The Free Press.
“I look forward to police, community and government working together for safer communities across the Murray River PD.”
“I have spent a large amount of both my younger years and working life within the Southern Region only venturing away to the Western Region for a couple of tours. This commenced at Albury in 1987 when I was posted as a Probationary Constable out of the Police Academy.”
Commander Smith’s General Duties career then flowed down stream on the Murray to Mulwala then Dareton before a move into Criminal Investigations took him to Hay and Deniliquin.
In 2004 he was promoted to Inspector at Broken Hill and then took up the role as Crime Manager for Barrier Local Area Command. In 2009 he transferred to Griffith Local Area Command conducting Crime Manager duties along the Murrumbidgee for six years.
“During this period our Command was involved in numerous Organised Crime Investigations including the disruption of the drug trade with the seizure of large commercial cannabis crops,” Commander Smith said.
In 2015 he was appointed as the Commander of the Barrier Local Area Command, later evolving into the Barrier Police District. Barrier PD is the largest geographical Police District in the State bordering the States of Queensland, South Australia and Victoria.
Barrier Police District also neighbours Murray River Police District to the East at Tooleybuc. “During my time in Barrier I found cross-border policing arrangements critical to our capability developing close working relations with our neighbouring interstate Commands with the vision of ‘no borders’,” Commander Smith said.
“Some major achievements in emergency management, road safety, interstate drug trafficking and general community safety have been recognised as a result.” Commander Smith has sat in on the monthly meetings of several Local Government Councils in his division, and has given a short address on his background and how he sees his new role. He addressed Federation Council’s monthly meeting on February 18.
At that meeting, he said his focus was on safety in communities, with local and state governments playing a big part in information sharing, and having quarterly meetings.
“It’s absolutely fantastic you came to address us and we wish you and your family all the best in your new role,” Federation Council Mayor Pat Bourke told Commander Smith. “Collaboration between us is such an important service.”
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