The 23-year-old probationary constable joined Chifley command’s Cowra station on Monday morning.

“I’ve wanted to be a police officer for a very long time, I’m looking forward to learning the ropes,” he said.

Mr Hutchinson, who grew up in Lithgow and previously worked in hospitality said his main goal was to get through his first day.

He’s one of 234 probationary constables to graduate from Class 333 from the Police Academy at Goulburn. He’s the only one stationed to Chifley Area Command.

He’ll complete 12 months of on-the-job training and study of the Associate Degree in Policing Practice before being confirmed to the rank of constable. Sergeant Rod Buhr of Cowra Police said learning the craft of policing in the bush was a great opportunity.

“Probationers that come to smaller towns are actually exposed to a lot more day-to-day policing activities,” Sergeant Buhr said.

“The regional commander earmarked him for Cowra. We’re a station here that has a great depth of experience, most of our officers here have been in the job for more than 10 years, some 20 years so we’ll be able to impart that on him.”

Inspector Adam Beard of Cowra Police hopes to see more new recruits begin their careers at Cowra.

“We welcome the addition of Constable Hutchinson to Cowra. We hope that Cowra continues in the future to be a place for deployment for probationary constables as we see this as a way of boosting staff numbers,” he said.

“He’ll be exposed to a variety of policing experiences here at Cowra. We look to the community to make him feel welcome and we hope he experiences the rewarding experience of policing in a country community.”

Mr Hutchinson lives at Blayney and his main interest outside work is martial arts.