Acting Superintendent Evan Quarmby, 46, is working in the role formerly held by Superintendent Beth Stirton.

He took the position of Albury Local Area Commander in January after working throughout NSW in areas including Macquarie Fields, Parkes, Forbes, Goulburn and Lake Cargelligo.

Acting Superintendent Quarmby wants police to engage with the community and believes education is key to tackling issues like drugs and domestic violence.

“I have a very strong focus on community engagement,” he said.

“In county areas, police live in the community, they work in the community, their kids go to school in the community and they’re members of sporting teams.

“By virtue of that we should engage the community professionally.

“I look to police to talk to communities about what’s going on.

“It works in country areas.”

The father of two has spent much of his career working in road policing.

He said ice was a growing concern statewide and in the Albury region. 

“It’s something that country communities are no longer immune to,” Acting Superintendent Quarmby said. 

“Every community in NSW is feeling the effects of ice in some way, shape or form. 

“Those effects are devastating on families. 

“The first and foremost way to go about sorting out those problems is education. 

“We want parents to have meaningful conversations with their kids or their relatives about what ice is, how to recognise it and where to get help in the early stages. 

“The second is enforcement. 

“We will not take a backwards step in regards to dealing with drugs in our community and in particular offenders who sell drugs to our kids and families.” 

Supporting the victims of domestic violence is also high on his list of priorities along with liquor licensing matters, he said. 

Superintendent Stirton joined the Albury station in 2011.