There's a familiar face as the Port's newest police commander with Acting Superintendent Wayne Humphrey returning to his old stomping ground.
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The long-time police officer with 37 years experience got his start in Penrith after being sworn in 1981 but has spent plenty of time policing and living the Port.
He replaced Superintendent Chris Craner, who has taken on the role of Chief of Staff to the NSW Police Commissioner, at the end of April.
And while taking on the role of the area’s most senior officer comes with it's fair share of challenges, any obstacles are set to be met with the perspective of someone who has not only policed the area - but has lived in it as well.
Acting Supt Humphrey moved to Nelson Bay to live in 1986 while working in Newcastle and Raymond Terrace and has since worked his way up the ladder via a multitude of commands and positions.
”When I first moved up I lived in Nelson Bay, I worked at Newcastle for six months then got a start in Raymond Terrace,” he said.
“I worked here [Raymond Terrace] in uniform and plain clothes then went to Nelson Bay in 1988 and worked in [general duties] and Water police.”
He was one of two detectives originally stationed at Nelson Bay and served as the sole detective for a couple of years before returning to Maitland.
Taking a sabbatical from plain clothes work he then served as the lock-up keeper at Dungog in the late 90s.
By 2001, Acting Supt Humphrey was promoted to detective sergeant and worked on Strike Force Sibret – the investigation into motorcycle gangs which is credited for severely depleting the methamphetamine trade between Newcastle and the Gold Coast.
By 2002 he was promoted to Inspector duty officer of Newcastle, by 2003 he was promoted to Chief Inspector duty officer at Lower Hunter Command, which at the time took in Port Stephens.
The career trajectory has continued ever since with positions of crime manager, operations manager and Chief of Staff for the Region Commander.
In case there’s still any doubt as to his qualifications for leading the Port LAC he’s also served as relieving commander at Quakers Hill, Blue Mountains, Manning Great Lakes, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Maitland.
“It’s really good to come home, what I consider home,” Acting Supt Humphrey said.
“I’ve got a lot of memories of policing in this area.
“I was in charge of the Seaview air crash investigation on the plane that [left Williamtown and] went down on the way to Lord Howe Island [in 1994].
“I was actually the detective at Nelson Bay when it had it’s first armed robbery at the golf club… and I’m intricately linked with the community here.”
Addressing concerns about the fact that he’s the sixth commander in nine years, Acting Supt Humphrey said the quality of policing in the community wouldn’t be affected.
“I suppose there some commands that have substantive commanders in place for a long time, then there’s commands like Port Stephens which change commanders and that’s the nature of business,” he said.
“It doesn’t mean you’re not getting a good a policing service.
“The policing service Port Stephens got under Mr Craner is the policing service Port Stephens will receive under my command.
“It doesn’t mean you haven’t got keen people in charge that are leading police it just means you haven’t got one commander in place for five or six years.
“And well, there’s pros and cons for both approaches there.”
When it comes to targeting specific crimes he said he’d continue to drive areas that Supt Craner identified, such as domestic violence, while bringing his own approach to the command.
He listed “disrupting drug supply and activities” as one such priority.
“I too want a very productive and stable workplace, I’m very driven in relation to domestic violence and I also pick up the region’s domestic violence sponsorship role.
“[Supt Craner] started so many good things here, it’s a great pleasure to take in such a well-run command.”
Acting Supt Humphrey said part of his focus would involve ensuring police lead by example within the community.
“I’ve lived in the area, I’ve [been here] for the Christmas holidays and am very attuned as to what occurs over the holiday breaks and how the demographic of who visits the area has changed over the years.
“We’ve got a changing demographic community wise as well so there’s some policing challenges.”