NEW IN THE JOB: Inspector Chris Sammut. lm070912lasammut
THERE’S a new boss at the helm at the Lithgow police station — and he’s a local.
Inspector Chris Sammut has been a resident of Hartley for more than 10 years and for the past three years has been commuting to his position as Inspector at Dubbo.
Prior to that there had been several years of commuting to Katoomba or Parramatta.
Now the trip to work each day is just a short drive from home.
Inspector Sammut has replaced Inspector Richard Maddox who has taken a position with the Highway Patrol State Command at Blacktown.
Our new police chief has a career spanning 23 years, with his first appointment at Darling Harbour.
After stints at Redfern, Katoomba, Parramatta, then back to Katoomba he was promoted as Inspector at Dubbo three years ago.
While at Parramatta he was attached to a close security motorcycle escort unit protecting VIPs.
He also served 11 years with the Blue Mountains Police Rescue Squad and earlier this year he and fellow Katoomba officers received bravery awards for their roles in arresting a man involved in a siege situation at Wentworth Falls.
The man was armed with a machete and claimed to have hostages he intended to kill one by one.
Inspector Sammut said his predecessor, Inspector Maddox, had left the station ‘in great shape’ and he was looking forward to working with the team of local police and the local community.
He said community involvement with the police was all important in maintaining a safe and secure community.
“Residents are our eyes and ears and we urge residents to come to us in confidence if they are aware of or suspect criminal activity taking place at any level,” he said.
“In recent times there has been a spike in acts of malicious damage in and around Lithgow and this is one area where members of the public can assist us by quickly passing on any observations,” he said.