Ballarat police are set to be led by a woman for the first time after more than six months of uncertainty surrounding the appointment of the city’s new top cop.
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It’s understood veteran detective Jenny Wilson got the tap on Tuesday afternoon following a competitive selection process for the position of superintendent, which oversees all of Ballarat’s policing divisions.
Ballarat’s former superintendent, Andrew Allen, had been in the job for 10 years when he took ongoing leave in May last year to care for his terminally-ill wife.
The veteran of 43 years with Victoria Police will remain attached to the Western Region in a non-operational position.
Senior officers such as Graham Banks and Trevor Cornwill had acted in the role for the past six months before this week’s talk of a permanent replacement.
Ms Wilson, who would become the first woman to be in charge of Ballarat police, has served in Victoria Police for more than 28 years.
She was most recently based at the crime department in Melbourne and has listed the investigation of sexual assault and victim management as strong interests.
Ms Wilson has also headed up a Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team in Footscray.
A spokeswoman for Victoria Police said Ms Wilson could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.
It’s believed she will take up the role in March.
It comes just weeks after the release of a groundbreaking Victoria Police survey, which collected the views of more than 2740 residents in Ballarat.
Drug abuse and youth offending ranked as the biggest crime concerns, but most residents thought Ballarat was a safe city to live in.
In response, police confirmed increased bike and foot patrols throughout the CBD would extend into the coming months after first starting in December.
The thinking behind these patrols is what members call proactive policing, which involves strategies to prevent offending before it happens.
“The purpose of these patrols is to make the community feel safe,” Senior Sergeant Stacey Glenister said in December.
“They will focus on areas such as Bridge Mall, Central Square, Stockland – all the main shopping hubs.”
Meanwhile, a busy few months lie ahead for the force after it was revealed the air wing and dog squad would have an increased presence in Ballarat, assisting the city’s frontline police during search operations.
