Community
12 April, 2024
New face at Lismore station
LISMORE has recently welcomed a new police officer into the town, with residents already beginning to feel safer.
Senior Constable Mitch Prewett started at the Lismore police station on Monday, with community members already speaking positively about the recruit.
“I think the town will be happier with a policeman in the area,” Gail Baldock said.
“It’ll be safer with a policeman.
“He turned up in town and he looked happy to be here.”
Her husband Stephen Baldock agreed.
“He strikes me as a can-do, ‘I’ll sort it out’ kind of man,” he said.
“He’s a ‘don’t worry, I’ve got it’ kind of guy.”
Snr Cons Prewett has been with Victoria Police for 11 years, spending most of that time conducting general policing duties in regional areas.
He said he also has four years of experience prosecuting in courts.
“I’m from north of Shepparton – that’s where I grew up. I finished high school, took a gap year, and then went to the academy,” Snr Const Prewett said.
“I did my eight months at the academy, then back to Shepparton and did three years at the Shepparton Police Station.
“I then did three years at the Ocean Grove police station. That was quite a change, being by the sea instead of being amongst fiberglass cows.
“From Ocean Grove I went into prosecutions (for four years). From there, I went to Smythesdale and did about seven months.”
Snr Const Prewett and his wife, Martha, are from Tungumah in Victoria’s north, and he initially applied to work in that area.
He said he wanted to ‘one-man’ a police station.
“I didn’t get that, and then my wife got a job with Triple Zero Victoria in Ballarat,” Snr Cons Prewett said.
“Lismore came up, and that was close enough to Ballarat for her, so it sounded perfect.”
Lismore Police Snr Const Mitch Prewett said the community has been welcoming of his arrival.
“I’ve spoken with many community members, and they’ve all been very positive about me being here,” he said.
Snr Const Prewett said he was looking forward to achieving two key goals.
“Just being part of the community; I think that’s the main thing,” he said.
“And supporting the community to be the best it can be.”
Snr Const Prewett said anyone in need of assistance for non-urgent matters could ring him on 0427 449 784, but encouraged residents to ring Triple Zero (000) for emergencies.