It was a changing of the guard last Friday when Whittlesea’s outgoing police inspector Bob Dykstra welcomed to the role.
Inspector Dykstra has managed the Whittlesea police service area for four years and will move across to Diamond Creek police station in a project officer role, still encompassing the Banyule, Nillumbik and Whittlesea areas.
He said Victoria Police encouraged movement after three or four years in a role, and last month marked four years since he took up the position of inspector.
Inspector Dykstra said in this time he had negotiated to introduce a dedicated family violence unit and overcome countless challenges as the area expanded rapidly.
“I’m confident the people and processes we have in place will continue to provide an effective policing service to the community,” he said.
He predicted the biggest challenges for Inspector Tysoe, who has served as the Nillumbik inspector for the past two years, would be overseeing the opening and resourcing of Mernda’s new police station, which was allocated $15 million in last week’s 2015-16 state budget.
“Also, ongoing high levels of family violence and the impact of crystal methamphetamine,” Inspector Dykstra said.
The inspector is a Doreen resident and has lived and worked in the Whittlesea area for 30 years. He said family violence remained Victoria Police’s main priority.
“We have a very simple philosophy that everyone has a right to feel safe in their own home.”
Inspector Tysoe said staffing issues, including manning the future Mernda police station, were being discussed “at the highest levels”.
