Senior Sergeant Alan Grindell (51) will transfer from Dunedin Central to take up the new position of Wanaka sub-area supervisor from January 27.
Southern District commander Superintendent Bob Burns said Snr Sgt Grindell would bring a wealth of experience to the position and was well-suited to lead the Wanaka sub-area through a period of rapid growth.
Snr Sgt Grindell joined the police in 1976 and has worked in Dunedin and Wellington Central.
He has been tactical co-ordinator in Dunedin Central for the past four years and hasworked regularly in Wanaka during the busy Christmas and New Year holiday period.
Snr Sgt Grindell will report to the newly-created Waitaki-Lakes Area commander position. The role is vacant, with the replacement of the former Otago rural commander, Inspector Phil Jones, of Queenstown still to be named.
Snr Sgt Grindell takes over the top police job in Wanaka from Sergeant Aaron Nicholson, who will lead the resort's new community policing team.
Sgt Nicholson will continue his co-ordination role with Wanaka Search and Rescue.
Wanaka police station will retain its existing sergeant's position, which will be advertised soon.
Snr Sgt Grindell said applicants were being sought for the three community constable roles of youth officer, rural liaison officer, and community officer.
The four community policing positions were extra to Wanaka's existing nine front-line officer staff.
Snr Sgt Grindell hoped to see the new constables appointed by next month and in place by February.
"I'm feeling very positive about the new positions and their focus on community issues," he said.
Snr Sgt Grindell was looking forward to the challenges involved in an area, and police station, which was undergoing a lot of growth.
A new Wanaka police station is planned to replace the existing overcrowded building.
Snr Sgt Grindell said he would carry on the good work already put in by Sgt Nicholson and Snr Sgt Colin Blackie, of Alexandra, who had sent preliminary plans for the new station to police headquarters in Wellington.
