THERE’S a new face at Booval Police Beat but he may not be a stranger to you. Senior Constable Adrian Solah has been appointed officer in charge but he was at Ipswich station for three years.
In fact, his career has seen him go back and forth from city to country. He started his career in Cambooweal, which is right out in the bush in north Queensland before moving to Ipswich. Then he spent a couple of years at Esk, which offered a very different kind of policing.
But that experience as a community copper will serve him well in Booval. Although he’s based in the shopping centre, with the closure of Booval station, he’s the face of the police in the suburb. And that means he’s part of the broader community.
Snr Const Solah said, “We’re another resource for the community. A huge part of my job is collaboration, whether it’s with the internal stakeholders here or more widely in the community.”
You won’t always find Snr Const Solah at his shopfront because he’s so often seen out and about. But there’s always someone there. He has support from an officer from Ipswich and from long-serving admin officer Jenny. They’re open 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday.
And they’re not just there for the nasty things. They do get a fair bit of property crime, with stealing from shops as you’d expect, especially the big anchor tenants at Booval Fair. But they also have people come in with found property. And if you’re in need of help, Snr Const Solah is never turning you away.
“It’s very busy here in Booval,” said Snr Const Solah. “But it’s a part of our job to be the face of the police service here. We’ve always got time for you.”
Snr Const Solah’s 10th anniversary as a copper will be coming soon but he’s not expecting a fuss. “A piece of paper might turn up in the mail,” he said. He’s not too concerned though. Like most public servants, he’s not doing the job for a fanfare but because he loves being part of the community.
