Experienced former detective Carlos Correia starts as Albany officer-in-charge after stint in Katanning

Experienced WA police officer Carlos Correia is excited by his new challenge, starting as Albany’s new officer-in-charge earlier this month. Senior Sergeant Correia is a veteran of the force, having served for 40 years and been involved in some of WA’s most high-profile cases. He comes to Albany after a three-year stint as Katanning OIC and replaces Hugh LeTessier, who joined the Albany station in July 2021. After eight years in the major crime squad, Sen. Sgt Correia was the head detective in Mandurah before taking on a four-year stint in the detectives office in Karratha. He said his time in Katanning back in uniform had been refreshing and he was looking forward to working in a bigger regional station. “I love it (Katanning), the whole place is fantastic with a great community and great people,” Sen. Sgt Correira said. “Coming from Karratha detectives, it was a learning experience for me and the uniform side of this is about being proactive rather than that environment of being reactive. “Albany gives two aspects for me. “Workwise, it is a bigger place and a bigger challenge and I’m dealing with a lot more people. “I’m ready to enjoy the change of looking after a bigger office, getting out and speaking to the community groups and see what is working and what isn’t. “Socially it’s Albany and you can’t get a more beautiful place than here. “Speaking to my wife, it is always about us enjoying life and Albany is part of that.” Det. Sen. Sgt LeTessier has been promoted to officer-in-charge of the transnational serious and organised crime squad. A focus for Sen. Sgt Correira will be continuing the work that his predecessor did. “I haven’t been brought here to make drastic changes, Hugh left a good ship,” he said. “It’s a case of me getting to know people, working with the sergeants who run the teams operationally and if there are shortfalls, work with others to fix them up and give us more coverage and capability.” “There are always going to be challenges and communication plays a big part, and I’m big on keeping everyone informed in processes which goes a long way to having a smoother office and a smooth operation. “The want is always there to lock up those who are causing mayhem out there, we don’t want them, the community doesn’t want them, so they need to be behind bars.”