Newly-appointed Detective Sergeant Hill (41) expects her new position to be one of her toughest yet, but she is enjoying the challenge so far.
Starting work in Oamaru in April, she was initially relieving in the role after Detective Sergeant Dan Keno's departure, but decided to apply for the permanent position.
''Oamaru's my home town; I recruited [to the police force] from here in 1996 and when the opportunity came up to relieve up here, I decided to take it,'' she said.
''Spending those three months up here, I really enjoyed my time - so here I am.''
Det Sgt Hill spent her first 10 years in the police force on the front line before shifting to crime work and was then appointed as the inquest officer in Dunedin.
She also spent 18 months in Christchurch working in the communications centre.
Joining the CIB in 2006, she has worked in various detective roles, most recently in the Organised Crime Squad.
''I do enjoy working in the CIB and I really enjoyed my time working within the Organised Crime Squad in Dunedin ...
[in] the investigation of drugs and organised crime groups.''
Det Sgt Hill, who attended Waitaki Girls' High School, left Oamaru aged about age 18, to travel.
When she returned to New Zealand, she was briefly based in Oamaru again before joining the police.
''I just always had an interest in joining the police - there is nothing more than that really,'' she said.
''I had always been interested in working in the investigative side, so I always wanted to join the CIB and always take the opportunities to try new things.''
She never thought she would have the chance to return to Oamaru with the police - and when she was younger, never thought she would actually want to come back.
Det Sgt Hill praised her predecessor Det Sgt Keno, who had been very community-minded and had left behind a very strong office.
''I'm really enjoying working with the team up here. Coming to a smaller station you get to know people really well,'' she said.
''I'm very, very keen to meet the community and get involved where I can.''
Policing in a small town was a lot different than in larger centres, she said.
In her new role, she has the responsibility of managing criminal investigations in the near 7151sq km that constitutes the Waitaki district.
''Because of the small nature of the station you have more responsibilities and a wider job base - that's where it differs [from Dunedin] where you can be in more specialised areas,'' she said.
Still based in Dunedin, Det Sgt Hill travels to Oamaru for the job, spending the working week in Waitaki.
Outside work, she spends time at Dog Rescue Dunedin, helping to foster and rehome dogs that have been left at the Dunedin City Council pound. She is also involved in various sporting codes.
