LIAM Keady enjoyed his days as a student at St Edmunds College in Ipswich, particularly the times when he took part in the school’s many community activities.
That sense of giving back prompted him to look for a job opportunity where he could continue to help others.
He decided to become a police officer and after completing a degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice with Griffith University he successfully applied to undertake a seven-month officer’s course at the Queensland Police Academy.
Last week his parents and younger brother watched him graduate and almost at the same time they wished him farewell.
Twenty-five-year-old Liam is saying goodbye to Ipswich for the next three years and is now in Ayr in Far North Queensland.
Liam said he was under no obligation to do a degree before joining the force, but he has already found it beneficial during his training at the academy.
“It has given me a better understanding of policing and the reasons behind offending from many sides,” he said.
“The police are now offering potential recruits a payment towards their HEX fees if they do degrees, unfortunately they decided that after I graduated.”
Liam was shopping in downtown Ayr when Local Ipswich News spoke to him at the weekend.
His partner has joined him on his first posting which after a year in Ayr will see him move around the large FNQ police district.
He had yet to pop in to meet the station officer in charge, he was still setting up his new home in a town that has just gone up by two to 8740 residents.
