Sean Anderson now overseeing Narrabri station as new sergeant

After shifting careers from the agriculture industry to policing, Sean Anderson hasn’t looked back.

Now, the Narrabri-based police officer has been promoted to sergeant and oversees the Narrabri Police Station.

Sergeant Anderson was 42-years-old when he attested from the academy in 2012.

“I had an opportunity to change careers and I chose policing,” he said.

He initially served in Tamworth on general duties before moving to Narrabri with his family in 2018.

It was a return to home for Anderson who was born in Wee Waa and completed his schooling in the town before moving away at the age of 25.

More recently, Anderson has been relieving as the acting sergeant at the Narrabri Police Station prior to his promotion this year.

While acknowledging policing can be challenging, Sergeant Anderson said it is made a lot easier by being in a good rural town like Narrabri.

“There aren’t too many major problems here,” Sgt Anderson told The Courier.

“That’s also to do with the way we address crime.”

As reported by The Courier in recent months, Narrabri Shire has the lowest level of crime when compared to neighbouring shires of a similar size.

Data from BOCSAR also showed crime as being on the decline across many categories while areas including Moree and Gunnedah continued to grapple with higher crime numbers.

“We’ve got a good, young team here,” Sgt Anderson said of the officers based at stations across the shire.

“It’s a great mix of people. There’s a good future for many in this organisation.

“We have police officers coming here for the long term.”

Reflecting on his own return home to the shire, Sgt Anderson said he and his wife Rachael had settled into Narrabri well.

The community, and what it has to offer, has been a great fit for his family.

Officer-in-charge of the Narrabri sector Chief Inspector Robert Dunn described Sgt Anderson’s increase in rank as a stringent process.

In NSW, promotion to Sergeant in the police force is merit-based, requiring a minimum of period of service as well as successful completion of pre-qualification assessments.

“Sergeants are the right and left arms of the officer-in-charge,” Chief Insp Dunn said.

“I can attest to the arduous process to get promoted.

“The high standards of that process reflect on the character of Sgt Anderson.”

Sgt Anderson will officially receive a warrant of appointment signed by the Commissioner at a ceremony at a later date.