Southern Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Joe Cassar and Superintendent Smith took command of district on Monday.

The move is a full circle for the Superintendent who joined NSW Police in 1987 and was initially stationed in Albury performing general duties.

His career in general duties flowed downstream on the Murray to Mulwala and then Dareton, before he made a move into criminal investigations in Hay and Deniliquin.

"I have friends and family across the district and in some respects consider this move as returning home," he said.

"I look forward to police, community and government working together for safer communities across the Murray River PD."

IN OTHER NEWS:

In 2004, Superintendent Smith was promoted to Inspector at Broken Hill, before taking on the Crime Manager role at Barrier Local Area Command.

Superintendent Smith transferred to Griffith Local Area Command in 2009, where he conducted crime manager duties along the Murrumbidgee for six years.

During this time, the command was involved in numerous organised crime investigations, including the disruption of the drug trade with the seizure of several large commercial cannabis crops, some hidden among the vineyards.

In 2005, Superintendent Smith was appointed as commander of the Barrier Local Area Command, which later merged to become what is now known as Barrier Police District.

It was in Barrier that Superintendent Smith was exposed to cross-border policing across three states; Queensland, South Australia and Victoria.

"During my time there I found cross-border policing arrangements critical to our capability, developing close working relations with our neighbouring interstate commands," he said.

"By working with the vision of 'no borders', we made some major achievements in emergency management, road safety, interstate drug trafficking and general community safety.