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New cop happy to join team

Tari JeffersManjimup-Bridgetown Times
Pemberton police officer-in-charge Sgt Gavin Barke looks forward to interacting with the community.
Camera IconPemberton police officer-in-charge Sgt Gavin Barke looks forward to interacting with the community. Credit: Manjimup-Bridgetown Times

Pemberton police have welcomed a new team member at the station with a new officer-in-charge taking the helm.

Sgt Gavin Barke started at the station a week ago after spending nine months in Collie.

A police officer for almost 25 years, Sgt Barke’s career has spanned from the Kimberley to metropolitan policing.

Sgt Barke had been looking for an OIC position and was pleased when he found out about the Pemberton position.

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“I always had the intention to come back regional,” he said.

“I like Pemberton and I love the community.”

A fan of hiking and camping, Sgt Barke said the region suited him well.

“I’m looking forward to the challenges of the job, including being more involved with the emergency management side of incidents,” he said. “I look forward to getting right into the community work.

“The constables have the local knowledge which I will be utilising and I like when people come up and talk to us.”

Sgt Barke said he would have a focus on cracking down on illicit drugs, which would then have a reduction on other crimes, and a focus on road traffic policing.

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