More stations in next reservist wave

A further 75 reservists are being deployed to stations from this week as the rollout of former officers to free up serving police continues. The initiative has so far returned more than 1500 policing shifts to the frontline. Seven stations are receiving reservists for the first time: Broadmeadows, Fawkner, Keilor Downs, Preston, Sunshine, Morwell and Swan Hill. It takes the total number of stations with reservists to 48 statewide. A total of 175 former members have now come back to take up the newly-created frontline support officer role. Victoria Police has received funding for 400 reservist positions, double the original allocation of 200. Reservists work at police station public counters and perform back-of-house duties so serving officers can be released into the community. With the recent doubling in reservist positions Victoria Police is reminding former members about the newly-created frontline support officer role. A key focus of the rollout is having reservists support police investigations. This includes reviewing incoming crime reports and identifying potential lines of inquiry for detectives. Reservists receive a full-time salary of $86,188 a year and nine weeks of paid leave. They can work full time or part time and do not work nights or weekends. The latest wave of 75 reservists will be deployed between 21 September and 11 October. Further details on the program are available at https://www.police.vic.gov.au/reservist . Quotes attributable to Supt John Kearney: "Reservists free up serving officers to do the job they signed up for: fighting crime in the community, not sitting behind a desk. "Already these former members have returned more than 1500 policing shifts to the frontline. "That's 1500 shifts responding to calls for service, providing a visible presence and preventing crime before it happens. "We urge any former members out there to consider a return as the rollout of this initiative continues. "We're especially keen to hear from former police interested in supporting crime investigations. "This behind-the-scenes work helps detectives progress investigations faster and provide answers for victims sooner." Stations with reservists (deployments up to w/c 5 October): Altona Ballarat Bendigo Box Hill Broadmeadows Caulfield Corio Cranbourne Dandenong Doncaster Echuca Fawkner Frankston Geelong Glen Waverley Heidelberg Horsham Keilor Downs Knox Lilydale Melbourne East Melbourne West Melton Mildura Moonee Ponds Moorabbin Morwell Narre Warren Oakleigh Pakenham Prahran Preston Richmond Ringwood Rosebud Sale Seymour Shepparton Sunshine Swan Hill Traralgon Wallan Wangaratta Warragul Warrnambool Werribee Wodonga Wonthaggi Media Unit 143273