Recruit likes country life

Katanning Police Station’s newest recruit, Cameron Johnson, is fresh from the academy and excited about a career in regional country policing.

The New South Welshman said he moved to WA looking for more opportunities in regional towns and is settling in to the Katanning lifestyle well.

“I’m originally from the Penrith area near Sydney; I was here for a holiday when I was about 20 and fell in love with the place,” he said.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to move to WA.”

Constable Johnson said he wanted to get a country posting because it was the type of policing he was passionate about.

“I’m looking to mainly work rural, which is one of the other reasons I came to WA — to be able to live and work in the country regions,” he said.

“Being from Sydney, I’m sick of living in the city and being near the city.

“The first country position that came up was Katanning but I only had a few days to get my application in.

“I didn’t have time to come down and see the place so I Googled it a little bit and it looked nice, and I was lucky enough to get the job down here.”

Const. Johnson said he was loving Katanning so far.

“Everyone is super friendly and introduces themselves and I really like that small-town feel.

“Not as many people are interested in country policing because they don’t see it as a massive career move but I really like to be able to engage with the community, I think that is a real priority for police.

“Getting a 100kg of drugs off the street is excellent but (so is) getting in there and engaging with people and letting them know that police aren’t the bad guys.”

Const. Johnson has already been out among the community, playing basketball with students before his interview with theGreat Southern Herald .

“I love that stuff, the kids were all asking questions and getting to know the police and realising that we are just normal people too,” he said. While training at the academy Const. Johnson was disappointed that he lived beside The Vines golf course but didn’t have any opportunity to play; something he is looking to rectify during his time in Katanning.