The Cowra branch for the NSW Police Association remain unsatisfied despite NSW Police making two offers in response to the branch’s calls for more staff.
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The second offer to take on three probationary constables was rejected on a unanimous vote yesterday.
The original offer was two probationary constables from the upcoming August class and taking on Eugowra as another outstation.
Senior Constable Andrew Buchtmann, chair of the Cowra branch for the NSW Police Association, said the offers make “no sense”.
He said if a solution isn’t reached by Tuesday the branch will look to take further industrial action.
Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie is expected to meet with the branch on Tuesday to discuss alternatives.
“Depending on the response we get will look to take further industrial action as of next Tuesday,” Mr Buchtmann said.
“If we take industrial action, we will still obviously respond to jobs and try to meet the community’s needs. At no point will we leave anyone’s safety at danger or anyone at risk.”
Mr Buchtmann explained that taking on more probationary constables wouldn’t be fair on the new officers.
He said the amount of staff at Cowra wouldn’t match the amount of training they’d require.
“We obviously welcome any kind of resources but in Cowra; given the work load and how far we are from any other major station, probationary constables just aren’t suitable here. That’s been recognised by our region in previous years,” he said.
“That’s a major factor as why we haven’t had probationers in the last four or five years. Due to the workload it wasn’t suitable.”
The Cowra branch is calling for two constables immediately and a further two by March next year, along with another sergeant.
