A crowd of about 400 people has sent a clear message to the State Labor Government about Whittle-sea Police staff levels.
The meeting, held on Wednesday night (Sep. 13) at the Whittlesea Activity Centre, determined to continue pressure on the Andrews Government to maintain or increase staff levels at the Church St station.
Superintendent Mick Sheehan pledged to deliver a clear message back to Police Command that the public wanted more local officers, that there was a lack of confidence, that people felt unsafe, and that the community was looking for more.
Whittlesea Police Station has 15 gazetted staff numbers, but actual member levels were as low as six, the meeting was told.
Meeting Chairman, Pastor Steve Lepp, said these were the same levels set in 1990, when the township was much smaller.
Cr Ricky Kirkham, Mayor of the City of Whittlesea, said local people felt unsafe in their own homes, and many were touched by crime.
He said the meeting was the biggest in Whittlesea since the Black Saturday fires in 2009.
Sen. Sgt. Glenn Parker, Officer-in-Charge of Whittlesea Police Station, and his staff (many who attended in plain clothes), received a strong round of applause for their efforts in the community.
Sgt. Wayne Gatt, Secretary of the Police Association, said pressure on the Police Executive, had resulted in two vacant positions becoming available again.
Other police to attend the meeting were Inspector Andrew Falconer, Sen. Sgt. Wayne Cully and Sgt. Jason Gatt.
Apologies for inability to attend were received from Police Minister Lisa Neville, Labor MLC Jacqueline Symes, Federal MHR Rob Mitchell (in
Canberra)and Cr Emilia Sterjova.