QPS welcomes 27 new Senior Protective Services Officers
Twenty-seven new Senior Protective Services Officers graduated on 30 October and will be deployed across South East Queensland, Cairns and Rockhampton.
Queensland Police Service (QPS) has welcomed 27 new Senior Protective Services Officers (SPSOs) to the frontline of the Protective Services Group (PSG), following their graduation on 30 October.
The graduates completed an intensive seven-week training program covering the communication and operational skills needed to respond to security incidents and work alongside police.
They will be deployed across South East Queensland, including the Brisbane Greater Region, Ipswich, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, providing high-visibility protective support and protecting critical infrastructure and government assets. Two officers will also go to Cairns and one to Rockhampton, boosting PSG capability in regional Queensland.
Assistant Commissioner Katherine Innes commended the cohort on their dedication. "Protective Services Officers play a crucial role in enhancing Queensland Police Service’s capability to protect our communities, and we are proud to welcome 27 new Senior Protective Services Officers to our frontline," she said.
The cohort includes former police officers and people from corrections, private security, administration, hospitality, retail and support work. Members come from India, Pakistan, South Korea, South Africa, Germany, Colombia, Iran, Fiji and New Zealand.
SPSO Joel Bowen, previously a constable based in Moorooka, received the Leadership Award from Assistant Commissioner Innes for outstanding leadership and embodiment of QPS values during training. "I am excited to have the opportunity to step into this new role within the QPS, which allows me to transfer the knowledge and skills I gained from policing and continuing to keep the community safe," he said.
SPSO Grace Shah, who brings 18 years of public safety experience in corrections and aviation protection across Australia and New Zealand, said: "It is an honour to work in law enforcement, act as a positive role model and make a difference in public safety."
Information on a career with the QPS is available through the Queensland Police recruitment website.
This report is based on information released by Queensland Police Service.