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More than 100 new officers will join the ranks of the NSW Police Force today.

The 105 recruits will be sworn in at an attestation parade at the NSW Police Force Academy in Goulburn later this morning (Friday 11 December 2015).

They will begin work in their local area commands as probationary constables from next Monday (14 December 2015).

The officers will then complete 12 months’ on-the-job training and study by distance education with Charles Sturt University before they officially graduate with an Associate Degree in Policing Practice, and be confirmed in the rank of constable.

NSW Police Force Commissioner Andrew Scipione said he could not be more proud of the
82 men and 23 women who attested today.

“It is no small feat to have met the requirements of the police training program; it is physically, mentally and emotionally demanding,” Commissioner Scipione said.

“With that behind them, the new officers are about to embark on a career that will be filled with challenges and rewards.

“I am confident they will approach their new roles with dedication, enthusiasm and professionalism,” he said.

The students of “Class 326” hail from a diverse range of countries, including not only Australia, but also Brazil, England, Italy, Malaysia, South Africa and Venezuela.

Seven of the new recruits identify as being from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background.

They are diverse in other ways, too: the youngest officer who attested today is aged 20; the eldest is 39. For some, it’s their first job; others have come to policing from an earlier career. Many come from Sydney, but there are also recruits who grew up on the South Coast Coast, Northern Tablelands, Blue Mountains, Canberra, Goulburn and Wagga Wagga.

FACTS AND FIGURES ABOUT “CLASS 326”

A total of 105 new recruits will be sworn in today.

The class comprises 82 policeman and 23 policewomen.

Of the probationary constables who will attest today, 90 were born in Australia and 14 were born overseas. Their countries of origin include the Brazil, England, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Italy, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Venezuela and Wales.

Among those attesting today, seven probationary constables identify as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island background.

The two youngest recruits are aged 20 and the oldest is 39. Other age statistics:

4 are aged 18-20

48 are aged 21-25

30 are aged 26-30

18 are aged 31-35

5 are aged 36-40

A man has been charged over multiple serious alleged domestic violence offences, including shooting a woman with an air rifle, injuring her with a knife, and sexually assaulting her.

The alleged offences occurred between 2004 and 2015, with the majority occurring while the couple resided in Wagga Wagga; and some allegedly occurring in Ballina this year.

The allegations were reported for the first time in September this year and officers from Richmond Local Area Command immediately commenced inquiries under Strike Force Boat.

As a result of investigations, about 11am yesterday (Thursday 10 December 2015), a search warrant was executed at an address in West Ballina, where police seized computers, tattoo guns, compound bows and other items.

About 2 pm, police arrested a 41-year-old man at a work site in Moree.

He was taken to Moree Police Station, where he was charged with shoot with intent cause grievous bodily harm, four counts of sexual intercourse without consent, three counts of grievous bodily harm with intent, and prohibition of female genitalia mutilation.

The man was refused bail, to appear before Moree Local Court today (Friday 11 December 2015).

NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione has officially dedicated a Memorial Rose Garden at the Police Academy in Goulburn this morning, in honour of Mrs Beverley Ann Moroney.

The Commissioner was joined by former NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney, AO, APM, MA (Rtd), members of the Moroney family, friends, and colleagues, for the dedication in Goulburn today (Thursday 10 December 2015).

Mrs Beverley Ann Moroney, wife of former NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney, passed away on Sunday 24 May 2015, aged 70, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Her unwavering support of her husband and care for their family during their various country postings, early in his policing career and later as Commissioner of Police, was always evident.

During his tenure as Police Commissioner, Mrs Moroney often travelled with her husband, where she visited many regional towns and small country police stations, always making an effort to check on the welfare of police officers’ families.

Mrs Moroney began work with a number of others to create the NSW Police Memorial Rose Garden on the grounds of the NSW Police Academy in 1987, when the former Commissioner was the Director of Training in Goulburn.

Her knowledge and passion for flowers, and roses in particular, encouraged the design of the garden, which was officially dedicated in February 1997.

Commissioner Scipione said the Memorial Rose Gardens are the perfect way to honour Mrs Moroney’s memory and her intrinsic connection to the NSW Police Force.

“Beverley Moroney was a much admired, widely respected and cherished member of the police family,” Commissioner Scipione said.

“She was known as a woman of warmth, grace and dignity, who genuinely cared for the many police families across the state.

“The Beverley Ann Moroney Memorial Rose Gardens will forever serve as a reminder of the devotion, sacrifice, and support family members offer our police, so they may continue to serve our community,” Commissioner Scipione said.

“I’m honoured to dedicate the gardens here today in recognition of Beverley’s service – her memory will live on in the grounds of the Police Academy.”

Following the dedication ceremony, Commissioner Scipione was joined by Education & Training Commander, Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy, and Commander of the Aviation Support Branch, Superintendent Mark Noakes, to unveil the PolAir 1 display, at the entrance to the NSW Police Academy.

PolAir1 was the first police helicopter to operate in Australia; it was considered state-of-the-art at the time of its official launch and its use, highly innovative.

The helicopter operated as part of the Aviation Support Branch from 1979, and was officially decommissioned in 2006.

PolAir1 was a key specialist resource utilised during several policing events including the Milperra shooting in 1984, Belanglo homicide investigations in the 1990s and Sydney Olympics in 2000.

“PolAir1 represents a significant milestone for the Aviation Support Branch, being the first owned and operated NSW Police aircraft in its history,” Commissioner Scipione said.

“Since its inception, PolAir1 provided invaluable policing support through search and rescue operations, drug eradication programs and investigative support via intelligence gathering. The permanent display at the Police Academy honours this contribution.

“The Aviation Support Branch continues to be an integral part of the arsenal of tools used in the fight against crime – providing a highly visible presence designed to prevent and detect offences and allow for a safe and secure New South Wales.”

Police are appealing for information into the whereabouts of a man wanted on several outstanding warrants.

Steven James Babic, 32, is wanted by virtue of outstanding warrants relating to break and enter offences.

He is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 170-180cm tall, a muscular build with short brown hair. He has a number of tattoos on his arms and shoulders.

He is known to frequent areas in the Australian Capital Territory and the Belconnen area.

Police warn the public that Mr Babic should not be approached.

Anyone who sees Steven James Babic or knows his current whereabouts is urged not to approach him but instead contact Triple Zero (000) immediately.

Police have suspended a woman from driving for six months after she was allegedly detected exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h on the Hume Highway, Jugiong with unrestrained children in the car.

About 4.45pm (Sunday 6 December 2015), police from the Gundagai Highway Patrol were conducting stationary speed enforcement on the Hume Highway at Jugiong when they detected a silver Kia Sportage allegedly travelling at 163km/h in a 110km/h zone.

Police stopped the vehicle and spoke to the 25-year-old female driver. The officers noticed two girls, aged eight and nine, in the back seat attempting to fasten their seat belts. They also saw a boy aged seven in the front seat without a seat belt.

The woman was breath-tested and returned a negative result.

Police issued a speed infringement notice and an infringement notice for each unrestrained child.

Police continue to appeal to all road users to obey basic road rules to avoid tragic consequences.

“The alleged irresponsible actions of this driver are exactly what we continue to warn against,” Assistant Commissioner John Hartley of the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command said.

“This could have ended in tragic circumstances in a split second. Speeding and having children unrestrained in a vehicle is completely unacceptable. The driver should have acted as a role model to the children she was driving but instead, she put them in harm’s way,” Assistant Commissioner Hartley said.

NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione will officially dedicate a Memorial Rose Garden at the Police Academy in Goulburn this week, in honour of Mrs Beverley Ann Moroney.

The Commissioner will be joined by former NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney, members of the Moroney family, friends, and colleagues, for the dedication ceremony on Thursday morning (10 December 2015).

Following the dedication, Education & Training Commander, Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy, and Commander of the Aviation Support Branch, Superintendent Mark Noakes, will join Commissioner Scipione to unveil the PolAir 1 display, at the entrance to the academy.