Our new boys (and girls) in blue
SIX new police officers will strengthen the ranks of five Ipswich police stations this week, but the new State Government has promised that they are just the tip of the iceberg.
Prior to the March election, now-Premier Campbell Newman pledged an additional 1100 front line police over the next four years, bettering the former Labor goverment's recruitment numbers by 300.
Despite the early hiccup, in which the man originally appointed as police minister, David Gibson, was forced to resign over charges of unlicensed driving, new Minister Jack Dempsey has promised to get on with the job of strengthening the state's police force.
Having graduated from the Oxley police academy last Thursday, the officers began their induction at Yamanto station on Monday.
Two were assigned to Karana Downs while the remaining four were sent to Goodna, Booval, Ipswich and Springfield.
Each officer completed their first shift on Thursday.
The Queensland Police Service is undergoing a recruitment drive as part of the Government's election commitment.
Mr Dempsey said enhancing frontline services was a key priority, with additional officers to start training on June 25.
"The Labor Government promised to deliver 800 extra police officers. We are delivering 1100 police officers over the next four years and we will redeploy 200 police officers from behind the desk back onto the beat," he said.
Mr Dempsey said he could not comment on how many of the new police would be sent to Ipswich, as that was an operational decision for the QPS based on need.
"Ipswich and the surrounding region will certainly benefit from the police recruiting surge over the next four years," he said.
