Friday, 2 May 2025
NSW Police Academy, Goulburn
Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales

Thank you, Chief Superintendent¹,

I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land and pay my respects to their Elders, past, present, and emerging; I extend that respect also to all the Elders of all parts of our State from which you travel.

Premier²; Minister³; Member for Goulburn⁴; Mayor⁵; Commissioner and ⁶; Deputy Commissioners⁷, officers, friends, family, and, most importantly, the 302 attesting members of Class 365…

The solemn oaths or affirmations of office that you, our newest members of the NSW Police Force, have just taken are required by the Police Act 1990.⁸ Distilled within those words are the principles by which your conduct—across every day of your service—should always be guided.

They are words as old as the NSW Police Force itself, instituted through the Police Regulation Act of 1862⁹. Neither the oath nor affirmation, nor the words themselves, are tokenistic. And for good reason. As police officers you are entrusted with responsibilities—and are required to act in ways—not found in any other profession or calling: You serve in and for community, you protect and enforce the laws that keep us safe. At every turn, in circumstances that are often challenging and dangerous, you will be called upon to act with diligence, integrity, and respect, “faithfully according to law”.¹⁰

That is a huge commitment and your willingness to embrace the full meaning of the promise you have just made—not just in word but in action—speaks volumes for the character of each and every one of you. 

We know you have a deeply imbued sense of service… otherwise you would not have applied to enter the Academy

We know you are talented, determined, and well-trained… otherwise you would not be attesting today.

Everyone here—your Premier, your Minister, your Commissioner… your fellow officers, family, and friends—are immensely proud of your achievements. As importantly, we know we can remain proud, knowing that you will uphold the principles, ethics and ethos of a New South Wales police officer in the years ahead.

You know, as you were told during your time at the Academy and as is reinforced today, not every day is full of light. There are dark times, hard times, confronting times.

You know of the courageous acts of police officers … far more than is generally known in the wider community. You also know of the support officers give to each other and to the victims of crime and their families. You know of the seemingly more mundane things that police officers do in their daily duties, I say seemingly because they too are important—they keep the Police Force functioning smoothly.

All of these are in the best traditions of the NSW Police Force: Vigilance in the prevention of crime, courage in responding to it, compassion in its aftermath, routine checks and police patrols. That is what policing ‘in and for’ the community means. It is a legacy built over 163 years by the NSW Police Force, and one we are so grateful for. You are now part of this proud legacy.

And for that, we say thank you. You have our warmest and most heartfelt gratitude.

As your new chapter opens, another closes. Almost 40 years ago to the day¹¹, Detective Chief Inspector Rodney Grant stood on this parade ground and made the same vow you have just made. Last October, he retired after 39 years of dedicated, diligent, and ethical service, including in the Child Abuse Squad, State Crime Command.

To him, I offer congratulations, and also the deepest thanks.

Class 365, in preparing for the next step in your policing career, and through the many years ahead, remember always the pride you feel today, the solemn vow you have just made, and the trust we now place in you.

And look forward to marching off this parade ground in 20- or 30- or 40-years’ time with pride, just as Detective Chief Inspector Rodney Grant will do today. As he will tell you, that time will go quickly and you and your families and friends will again feel that pride you feel today.

Congratulations.

[1] Chief Superintendent John Klepczarek APM, Principal & Commander, Organisational Development Command, NSW Police Academy

[2] The Hon. Christopher Minns MP, Premier of NSW

[3] The Hon. Yasmin Catley MP, Minister for Police & Counter Terrorism

[4] Mrs Wendy Tuckerman MP, Member for Goulburn

[5] Mrs Nina Dillon, Mayor of Goulburn Mulwaree Council

[6] Commissioner Karen Webb APM, Commissioner, NSW Police Force

[7] Deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell APM, NSW Police Force; Deputy Commissioner Paul Pisanos APM, NSW Police Force; and Deputy Commissioner Dean Smith APM, NSW Police Force

[8] “Before a person exercises any of the functions of a police officer, the person must take the oath or make the affirmation of office as a police officer in accordance with the regulations”: Police Act 1990 no 47 s13 (1), available here

[9] “No person appointed to be Inspector General Superintendent Inspector or Sub-Inspector nor any Sergeant or Constable shall be capable of holding such office or of acting in any way therein until he shall have taken and subscribed the following: oath — ‘I, _____, do swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lady the Queen in the office of Inspector General of Police, Superintendent, Inspector, Sub-Inspector, Sergeant, Officer, or Constable (as the case may be) without favour or affection malice or ill-will for the period of from this date and until I am legally discharged that I will see and cause Her Majesty’s peace to be kept and preserved and that I will prevent, to the best of my power all offences against the same and that while I shall continue to hold the said office I will to the best of my skill and knowledge discharge all the duties thereof faithfully according to law… So help me God’ […]”: Police Regulation Act 1862 no 16 s10, available here

[10] Police Regulation 2015 s7, available here

[11] Rodney Grant attested on the 21 June 1985: information provided by NSW Police.