Blue Mountains’ newest cop on the beat is Probationary Constable Lawson Kennett-Tribe.
Raised in Lapstone and attending Lapstone Public and Blaxland High, Const Kennett-Tribe knows the Mountains well.
He joins the force at 25, after five years working in child care with children aged under five.
“I want to make a difference,” Const Kennett-Tribe said.
“I couldn’t help them [children] any more when they were out of care. I can give a lot of help in this line of work [policing].”
Const Kennett-Tribe said he’s particularly drawn to youth liaison and also police rescue. “We’ll see how my fear of heights goes with that,” he said with a laugh.
“I’ll go out and experience the community. I want to be approachable,” Const Kennett-Tribe said.
“I’m excited to be starting my career.”
He will be based between Springwood and Katoomba stations.
Const Kennett-Tribe was one of 199 new probationary constables welcomed at the Police Academy in Goulburn on December 8.
The ‘class 332’ includes 150 policemen and 49 policewomen who will complete 12 months on-the-job training and study of the Associate Degree in Policing Practice by distance education with Charles Sturt University before being confirmed to the rank of constable.