While many of his positions have been based in Metropolitan areas, he is looking forward to having a direct relationship with the community he is both living and working in.

"It is really exciting to be based here in Griffith," he said.

"I'm not zipping in and out, I am living and working here, and while that may pose some challenges, overall it will be the advantages that weigh out for both myself and the community."

He described his approach to leadership as being personable, easy-going and fair, with a dedicated focus on prevention and disruption.

"I would like to see police working with the community, with local police collaborating with local people to addressing any issues as they arise. Our job as police revolves around prevention, disruption and response.

"Of these elements, I would like to see an emphasis on prevention. Once we are disrupting or responding to criminal behaviour, we already have victims. Prevention is the key, and this involves more than just high visibility policing. It is also about working closely with young people and engaging with kids that are at risk of going down the wrong path.

"I want to see kids making the right choices and developing into great people. This means steering clear of drugs and anti-social behaviour."

Joining the force in March 1988, a little over 31 years ago, he worked as a street level uniformed general duties cop in southern Sydney for the first 12 years before transferring to the Georges River Target Action Group, based in Bankstown and Hurstville.

Most of this work involved targeting street level drug dealing and property crime. From there he took on a management role at the Dog Squad, before moving to Projects and Planning with South West Metropolitan Region.

He was promoted to Inspector in 2009 and moved to Wagga Wagga as a Duty Officer, where he served for three years.

OTHER HEADLINES:

A stand-out moment for him was his heavy involvement in the evacuation of 650 people from North Wagga during the 2010 floods.

In recent times he has relieved extensively as Commander of Cabramatta, Camden, Haweksbury, Macquarie Fields, Campbelltown, Fairfield, Murrumbidgee and Lake Illawarra.

Superintendent Ireland takes over from acting commander Detective Superintendent Peter O'Brien.

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