Tag: Officers from the Mount Isa District Cross Cultural Unit attended Mornington Island to deliver initial training to their new Community Police Officers on Tuesday

Left in the dark

A remote Indigenous council in the Gulf of Carpentaria, in Queensland says the community’s safety is in jeopardy and local police cannot perform their job properly as most of the town of about 1,000 residents has been without street lights for approximately 15 months.

The Mornington Shire Council said a significant number of street lights on Mornington Island, which are owned by the council, were damaged by lightning in February 2017.

Chief executive Frank Mills said the council had been trying to get the lights fixed by Ergon Energy ever since to protect the safety of the community.

New police officers for Wellesley Islands

Officers from the Mount Isa District Cross Cultural Unit attended Mornington Island to deliver initial training to their new Community Police Officers on Tuesday, March 20.

The Community Police Officers work hand-in-hand with Queensland Police Service (QPS) officers and Police Liaison Officers.

Cross Cultural Liaison Officer Sergeant Chris Mitchell said the Community Police Officers played an important role.

“The Community Police Officers will be assisting police with all facets of proactive community engagement focusing on youth culturally specific topics, assisting council and police in operational duties, and engagement through PCYC,” Serg Mitchell said.

“These in turn all benefit the Mornington Island community.”

Police Officers Basil Gangala and Lester Langley were congratulated

There are four positions in total leaving two positions waiting to be filled.

Anyone wishing to apply for the role can apply through Mornington Island Shire Council.

The positions are in partnership with Prime Minister and Cabinet.