Probationary constables McKelvie and Ison have been placed in the Orana Local Area Command and had their first day on the job on Monday.

Their first phase of training began on January 21 and finished last week when they graduated from the Goulburn Police Academy.

For 24-year-old Probationary Constable Ison, donning her police uniform was the realisation of a lifelong dream.

“I’ve always wanted to be a police officer,” she said.

She enrolled in the police academy as soon as circumstances allowed her and the

first day at the station was “unreal”.

The probationary constable, who has lived in Bathurst most of her life, said it was good to be in Dubbo.

“Dubbo will be a lot busier than Bathurst,” she said.

Probationary Constable Ison was vying with Probationary Constable McKelvie for the first call-out.

He is originally from Perth and did a lot of travel when he was in the army.

Doing policing in the defence force and the prospect of a stable income had led to his interest

in joining the police force, he said.

Acting crime manager Richard Morley welcomed the two new recruits to Orana Local Area Command.

It was important that the command continually received probationary constables, Acting Inspector Morley said.

“It gives fresh blood to the command and the ongoing personnel to continually train,” he said.

A big benefit of receiving probationary constables was the “crosstraining” it allowed.

“They bring their training, they teach us as much as we teach them,” Acting Inspector Morley said.

In addition to their training on the beat, probationary constables have 12 months of further study as part of the probationary program.

faye.wheeler@ruralpress.com