Meet Ballan's new police sergeant

Sergeant Euan Jackson took up the role at the 16-hour police station in June. A frontline police officer of 15 years, he has worked mostly in western Victoria and in Melbourne's western suburbs.

After two years in Mildura, he worked in Victoria Police's public order response team for the last six years, though he was seconded to both Geelong and Bacchus Marsh during that period.

When he saw the Sergeant position advertised in Ballan, he was keen to apply.

"What I enjoy about Ballan is the community and the country feel. People talk to us here and are willing to help us," he said.

It is something he wants to expand on.

"What we really want to do here is get the community involved again," Sergeant Jackson said.

"We are not a 24-hour station so we rely strongly on the community to help us so we can help them.

"We have four sets of eyes and ears here but there are more than 3000 in the community. They are the best resource we have."

While much of the community engagement work which had been planned for this year has been impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, it hasn't stopped Sergeant Jackson and the three other police officers currently working at the station from taking a stroll through the township every Tuesday.

"We try to walk up the main street every Tuesday and chat with the locals," he said.

Going forward there will be more collaboration with other stations, such as with the nearby eight-hour Gordon Police Station.

While face-to-face connections are limited at the moment, Ballan police are planning more engagement for when restrictions ease.

This will include attending games when community sport returns - not only in Ballan but also in surrounding Gordon, Springbank and Bungaree as a way to connect with the community and learn about any concerns they might have.

Sergeant Jackson is also planning on setting individual weekly targets for police to focus on.

One week might be targeting drink driving while the next might be warrants, while other focuses could be disenfranchised youth or antisocial behaviour at the train station.

And with the Western Freeway close by and the C141, linking Geelong to Daylesford, intersecting the town, road trauma will be another focus.

With a background in emergency management, Sergeant Jackson is also keen to create more connections with other emergency services in the area and perhaps undertake training together so the region and its services can be best prepared in case of an emergency incident.

While the police station is closed to the public due to COVID-19 restrictions, police are still stationed in the town and contactable on the phone.

"If anyone has an issue, come and speak to us. We are here when they need. We are always available on the phone to help out," Sergeant Jackson said.

"Don't be afraid to wave or to stop us in the street to have a chat when we are walking because we want to help."

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