IN the early days of Trevor O’Shanassy’s police career, the western suburbs were a very different place.
O’Shanassy started off directing traffic before spending most of his career at western suburbs police stations.
Last Friday, the 59-year-old was among 40 police officers presented with awards by Superintendent Rick Nugent for outstanding, distinguished and ethical service.
O’Shanassy got his medal for 40 years of service.
The senior sergeant, who lives locally, says he loves working in Brimbank.
“It has changed so much over the past two decades and grown bigger and bigger,” he says.
“It was not so long ago there wasn’t Sydenham or Hillside and there are so many newer communities.”
Senior Sergeant O’Shanassy spent eight years in Footscray before being promoted to a role at Maidstone, where he worked from 1980-90. He started at Keilor Downs in 1993.
He describes the area as a challenging place to work because of its socio-economic problems.
“You have a lot of working-class, low-income people who can sometimes commit crimes just to survive,” he says.
“There are also integration problems with new migrants. But it’s a rewarding place to work and there’s a great bunch of people out there.”
Senior Sergeant O’Shanassy says he’s witnessed many changes in the police force.
“The increased use of computers changed policing completely because it’s all intelligence-based now and everything is done with a flick of the switch,” he says.
“When I graduated from the police academy there was not one female in our squad. It’s also now a more multicultural police force.”
One of the most rewarding aspects of his career has been mentoring young officers.
“I’ve lost count of the number of young people under me who have been promoted to sergeant and progressed through the force,” Senior Sergeant O’Shanassy says.
Other commendations were presented in recognition of outstanding police work, community engagement and devotion to duty.
Keilor Downs’s Leading Senior Constable Gerard Dickinson was presented with a divisional commendation for his commitment to the local community and youth in his role as a community liaison officer from 2008-10. Leading Senior Constable Dickinson is this year’s Brimbank citizen of the year.
