• Probationary Constable Taylor Jones starts first policing job in Wagga Wagga after graduating from Charles Sturt’s Associate Degree in Policing Practice

Probationary Constable Taylor Jones knew from a young age she would follow in her father’s footsteps and become a police officer.

Growing up in Sydney, Pro Cst Jones took some time after graduating from high school, worked to gain experience, and completed a Bachelor of Criminal Intelligence and Community Justice.

Pro Cst Jones completed the University Certificate in Workforce Essentials online in 2019 and began Charles Sturt University’s Associate Degree in Policing Practice through the NSW Police Academy in Goulburn in 2020.

She is one of seven new NSW Police Force probationary constables assigned to the Riverina Police District in December 2020.

“I had always wanted to become a police officer,” Pro Cst Jones said.

“My father was a police officer, so from quite a young age I decided it is what I wanted to do and I am proud to now follow in his footsteps.”

Pro Cst Jones has had eight weeks on the job and said no two days are the same.

“I enjoy that every day is different as there is such a variety of jobs and people that you come into contact with,” she said.

“I find the most rewarding part of the job is being the point of call for members of the community who need assistance and being able to make a difference in their day.”

There were 189 recruits sworn in as part of Class 344, Pro Cst Jones’s class, seven of whom were assigned to the Riverina.

Recruits will complete 12 months on-the-job training and study online with Charles Sturt University.

Head of the Charles Sturt School of Policing Studies Associate Professor Ken Probert said he was incredibly proud to work with a team that enabled more than 1,000 students to complete their first 32 weeks of studies during a challenging 2020.

“This has been achieved during a particularly challenging period,” Professor Probert said.

“Many changes had to be made to both the delivery mode and intake structure of the course to meet the demands of an increase in 1,500 additional NSW Police Officers, as well as the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“All this was achieved with minimum disruption to the quality of the delivery of the students’ study program.”