By JOLENE OGLE
SENIOR Constable Jason Pinnell has made the ultimate sea change from the bright city lights of Brisbane to Hastings Street as the new Noosa Heads Police Beat officer.
Sen Const Pinnell grew up in Noosa when his family moved to the region in 1978, and recalls spending most afternoons playing with friends on Noosa Main Beach.
“It’s great to be back. This feels like coming home,” he said.
“When I was a little kid I would always come down to the beach, and Hey Bill was there way back then. There’s a lot of faces I recognise, so this is like coming home.”
After travelling the world and joining the Police academy in 2004, Sen Const Pinnell spent 11 years patrolling Fortitude Valley’s 865 licenced premises, and while he’s used to a chaotic nightlight, he said he was looking forward to the change.
Noosa Heads Officer-in-Charge Senior Sergeant Steve McReight said it was great to have an officer with Sen Const Pinnell’s experience on the beat.
“He joins us with 11 years’ experience in Brisbane’s Valley. It’s great to have someone with expertise such as his on the Hastings Street beat,” he said.
Now, with a young family, Sen Const Pinnell tried for five years to be transferred to a much sought-after Sunshine Coast or Noosa posting to be closer to his extended family.
“Now that we’re back, our family loves having us close by,” he said.
Sen Const Pinnell has replaced former Hastings Street Police Beat officer, Sen Const Pierre Senekal, who is now stationed in Kenilworth.
As the new friendly face on the Hastings Street beat, Snr Const Pinnell will patrol the entire precinct from the shops to Main Beach.
“I will be regularly patrolling the shops and the beachfront, and if I’m not doing that I will be back (in the Police Beat office),” he said.
“If there is a serious concern, the community can phone triple-zero and they will be able to raise me on the radio no matter where I am.”
The Noosa Heads Police Beat is located at the start of Hastings Street and is open Monday to Friday, with Noosa Heads police station officers patrolling the precinct throughout the evenings and on weekends.
