THE Port police command's latest additions are still settling in to their new beat, but appear to be enthusiastic about the change of pace after patrolling Sydney's streets.
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The Port Stephens Local Area Command has welcomed eight new officers since the beginning of the year as part of Police Minister Mike Gallacher's promise in November to assign 12 to 15 more officers to the area.
Five officers have transferred to the Port, including four from the Sydney area - Constable Michael Fortier, Senior Constable Dave Maione, Constable Krystle Wilcox and Senior Constable Brearne Callaghan.
All four officers said they felt lucky to be picked for the Port command, with 60 applicants from around NSW vying for the transfers.
Constable Wilcox transferred from Sydney City Local Area Command to the Port on March 3.
A police officer for three-and-a-half years, she said she put in a transfer application because she wanted to move closer to family.
Like her fellow transfers, she has already noticed a difference in what to expect when she shows up to work.
"[There are] very different incidents here to what Sydney had," she said.
"There was a lot of alcohol-fuelled violence in Sydney."
Constable Wilcox said in Sydney she was used to covering a three-kilometre radius.
Now in Port Stephens, she covers a 300-kilometre radius.
She said the larger area meant there was more diversity in incidents.
"I'm enjoying it here," she said.
Senior Constable Callaghan, an officer for six years who transferred from Chatswood, on Sydney's North Shore, in February, echoed Constable Wilcox's comments.
"It's a totally different style of incidents you have to go to up here," she said.
Constable Fortier, who transferred from Sydney's Northern Beaches, started in Port Stephens on March 16 and said he could see himself staying "forever".
"I'm loving it," he said.
"I see myself being here forever.
"There were 60 applicants for this job and they only took five.
"I feel lucky to be here."
The Port's police commander, Superintendent Craig Rae, said the additional officers provided an instant boost to tackling crime in the Port Stephens area and would help the command to be more proactive.