Sergeant Steve Page takes role as Walpole officer-in-charge after stint in WA’s remote outback

Sgt Steve Page has traded the red dirt and searing heat of the remote outback for the lush surrounds of Walpole, moving to the south coast to take on the role of the town’s new top cop. Sgt Page, who has 32 years experience on the WA Police Force, is the new officer-in-charge at Walpole police station. Thirty of his years with WA Police have been spent in regional WA, including stints as officer-in-charge at Wongan Hills, Dalwallinu and Blackstone. “As a farm boy growing up in Narrogin, I never did warm to the city life-style,” Sgt Page said. “I have always wanted to remain in country policing, as the lifestyle and policing suits my personality.” Sgt Page and wife Mel have moved to Walpole after spending just under three years living and working in the remote Aboriginal community of Blackstone. He said living and working on the Lands was both challenging and highly rewarding, with a responsibility to balance local “lore” and the “law”. Sgt Page said working in smaller regional areas gave him the opportunity to build strong connections with the community, providing a level of service not necessarily available in the more populous centres. He said he wanted to encourage a traditional country policing philosophy of being known and accessible to the community. “Country policing is not just about law enforcement,” he said. “We need to maintain the mutual support and respect between the police and the community.” He is adjusting well to the climate in Walpole after leaving the outback, where the temperature reached 50.2C on Christmas Day. “I do not miss the red dirt at all,” he said. “My wife and I have both found that the coastline and our local forest and wilderness area are an amazing part of the world. “We both cannot wait to explore everything this area has to offer.” After many regional postings, Sgt Page said he had noticed a common theme. “The one issue that keeps popping up is that just because we are in a small isolated area, it is easy and tempting for some to take a more relaxed attitude to what we know is right or wrong,” he said. “I know this does not apply to all members of the community, but we all have to be mindful of each other and understand that the community as a whole expect others to do what they know is right.”