From polar bear keeper to barista, the new Tasmania Police recruits will bring many skills to their new career.

The induction and swearing-in ceremony for 20 new Tasmania Police recruits will be held today at 2pm at the Tasmania Police Academy.

The new recruits are embarking on a 28-week training course which includes theoretical and practical assessment in operational policing. Amongst many elements, the training includes the study of law, public order, road policing and criminal investigation.

In addition to the course run in partnership with the University of Tasmania, the recruits will be working in the front-line, gaining operational experience at stations around the State.

“Policing is a career that is both rewarding and challenging, and the course is designed to provide recruits the best preparation for delivering a high standard of policing services to Tasmanians,” said the Commissioner of Police, Darren Hine.

“They will not only learn the vital operational skills required for policing but they will learn to embrace and uphold the values of integrity, equity and accountability.

“I congratulate the recruits on achieving this first stage of becoming police officers. Now the hard work begins.”

The course comprises 11 men and nine women. Three are from Tasmania Police’s Western District, four from the Northern District, 11 from Southern District and two from interstate.

The recruits come from a diverse range of backgrounds including:

• Nikki MacKintosh (29yrs) – recently moved from Queensland where she was a senior polar bear keeper at a theme park;
• Kate Loane (30yrs) – former managing director of a dairy farm in Wesley Vale; and
• Caleb Wilson (27yrs) of Kingston – a barista and father of a four-week-old baby.

Upon graduation in December it is anticipated that the 20 new recruits could bring the total number of Tasmania Police members to 1140, working towards the Government’s pledge to achieve a total of 1228 officers over four years.  However, natural attrition of serving members will affect this total.