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Superintendent Kim Travers outlines priorities as Great Southern’s new top cop

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Great Southern Police District Supt Kim Travers.
Camera IconGreat Southern Police District Supt Kim Travers. Credit: Laurie Benson

After a busy start to her tenure as the Great Southern Police District’s top cop, Supt Kim Travers has outlined her aims for the region.

Supt Travers spent her first days in the role travelling to 24 police stations across the district, also taking the chance to meet with local government leaders.

The main message she received on her travels was the importance of engaging with youth.

“The one message I have heard clearly is the agreement to focus on engaging with young people, along with the WA Police Force priority areas road policing, family violence and drug distribution,” Supt Travers said.

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“Driving around the Great Southern district enabled me to experience the geographic spread of the area, and to appreciate where our resources are placed.

“I’ve also been able to have discussions with my officers on the policing priorities for their communities. The police officers in the various stations are passionate about the delivery of policing services and are engaged in community through local emergency management, clubs, sport and schools.”

Born and raised in Merredin, Supt Travers has come to the Great Southern after 32 years with WA Police, including regional and remote postings to the Pilbara, Kimberley and Mid West Gascoyne districts.

A former WA tactical group commander and chief investigator under the United Nations in East Timor, she brings a wealth of experience to the role, replacing former Great Southern Supt Ian Clarke.

Supt Travers identified four key focus areas in the district — building intelligence to disrupt drug supply; working with partner agencies to reduce family violence and youth crime; reducing the number of serious vehicle crashes; and delivering the Indigenous reconciliation action plan.

“The fundamentals in policing of our community are legitimacy and maintaining the public trust. We do this through our standards and in the consistency in delivering police services to the community,” she said.

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