More than 40 new Queensland Police Service (QPS) officers were sworn in during a twilight ceremony at the QPS Academy this evening.
Nearly all recruits who graduated from this cohort will be deployed outside Brisbane to support regional communities.
The Commissioner of Police, Steve Gollschewski APM, said it was an honour to welcome the new officers into the Service.
“The 44 new officers sworn in today will enhance community safety, especially in regional Queensland,” Commissioner Gollschewski said.
“I wish each of our new first-year constables the best, and thank them for the commitment they have made to keeping the people, places and communities of Queensland safe.”
Aged between 19 and 40, these officers are a result of QPS’s record-breaking global recruitment drive, which has attracted applicants for this cohort from as far away as the United Kingdom.
Constable Andrew Lovelock, who will be deployed to the Far Northern Region, brings to QPS 19 years of specialist policing experience in the United Kingdom, including fresh international perspectives and knowledge.
“I wanted a more fulfilling life for my family, and despite not visiting Australia before, a QPS recruiting ad sparked a journey that saw us sell everything we owned and move our children and our dog to Queensland,” Constable Lovelock said.
“I’m excited to start policing in a new environment, with new challenges, and in a career that could take me to work in communities anywhere across an area seven times the size of the UK.”
Constable Lovelock received the Leadership Award at this evening’s ceremony, which recognises his leadership qualities for inspiring others, and for his commitment to the QPS values of integrity, respect and courage.
Interest in joining the QPS is stronger than ever, with more than 2,200 applicants in the pipeline – a 56 per cent increase on applications from November 2023.
The QPS currently has some of the highest numbers of recruits in training, with 644 recruits at academies in Brisbane and Townsville.
This intake of first-year constables will be deployed throughout Queensland in the following stations:
| Region | District | Station | Total |
| Brisbane (2) | North Brisbane (1) | Hendra | 1 |
| South Brisbane (1) | Upper Mt Gravatt | 1 | |
| Central Region (6) | Mackay (5) | Mackay | 2 |
| Mackay North Beaches | 1 | ||
| Moranbah | 1 | ||
| Sarina | 1 | ||
| Wide Bay Burnett (1) | Bundaberg | 1 | |
| Far Northern (10) | Far North (10) | Cairns | 4 |
| Edmonton | 4 | ||
| Mission Beach | 1 | ||
| Mossman | 1 | ||
| North Coast (8) | Wide Bay Burnett (8) | Bundaberg | 5 |
| Hervey Bay | 2 | ||
| Maryborough | 1 | ||
| Northern (12) | Mt Isa (3) | Mt Isa | 3 |
| Townsville (9) | Ingham | 2 | |
| Kirwan | 2 | ||
| Mundingburra | 2 | ||
| Townsville | 3 | ||
| Southern (6) | Southwest (6) | Chinchilla | 1 |
| Dalby | 2 | ||
| Goondiwindi | 1 | ||
| Miles | 1 | ||
| Warwick | 1 |
