Harper Sercombe
Epping Senior Sergeant and Station Commander Paul Mellick has retired from the force after 45 years of service.
He said now is the right time to move on to the next stage of life.
“I’m not leaving bitter, twisted and broken, I’m leaving fulfilled and content,” he said.
“You just know when the right time to retire is, when you know you’re happy with what you’ve achieved.”
The 63-year-old was made a constable in 1978 and has been Station Commander at Epping since 2008.
Senior Sergeant Mellick has had a decorated career including, a United Nations deployment to East Timor, travelling to the Solomon Islands with the federal police and awarded the Australia Police Medal.
However, he says he is most proud of his work as Station Commander for the last 15 years.
“I’ve seen a lot of leadership development in those years that will hopefully become a legacy,” he said.
He said this role has allowed him to utilise community engagement, something that he says is key to the work police do.
“[I’ve enjoyed the] people engagement, working with really high calibre people, with a strong sense of wanting to provide community safety,” he said.
“And working with high functioning teams.”
Senior Sergeant Mellick is also proud of the Australia Police Medal he was awarded in 2015 for leadership.
Something that he described as a “humbling honour.”
When awarded the medal he told Star Weekly it took more than just him.
“It’s a tremendous honour, but this is something that’s bigger than one person,” he said.
“Everyone in this workplace is worthy of the recognition. It is in many ways a team award.”
Senior Sergeant Mellick said there will not be much to miss about life on the force as his fulfilment in what he has achieved over 45 years leaves him satisfied in retirement.
