General News
13 March, 2026
First years beat it
THREE fresh-faced first-year constables have hit the ground running at Innisfail Police station, joining the ranks after graduating from the Brisbane police academy.
For the next 12 months, while working in general duties, Constables Robin Melancon, Callum McGregor and Kylie McAdam will tackle the challenges of ‘real world’ policing.
During their eight months of intense training at the QPS Academy, recruits covered driver training, firearms, computers, domestic violence, mental health, arrests, drink driving, tasers, traffic crashes, physical skills, scenario-based assessments, as well as legislation.
While at the academy, recruits got their first taste of police life when they had two weeks of station duty.
The trio were initially part of the same intake but in different squads. For eight weeks, experienced Field Training Officers, Constables Andrew Marr, Jenna Conway and Renee Szaak collaborated with the new constables and mentored them in community policing.
The officers have worked both day and night shifts, rotations, as well as in specialist sections, such as Child Protection Investigation Unit, Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), scenes of crime, custody, a variety of criminal offences and community engagement.
Constable McGregor, aged 21, grew up in rural Victoria. Before entering the police service, he worked in cattle farming, then as a labourer when he moved to Brisbane a year ago.
He decided to try policing as he wanted a job where you can make an impact. He would like to work in SERT (Special Emergency Response Team) or as a major organised crime detective.
Constable Melancon aged 20 previously lived in Brisbane and Bundaberg and before entering the QPS, he worked in airport catering. He was a semi-professional soccer player and had serious thoughts about a policing career since he was in high school.
Constable McAdam from New South Wales, aged 36, who previously lived in Victoria, attained a Certificate III in Individual Support and worked in disability/aged care and dairy farming, as well as a custody officer for Victoria Police and a prison officer in a high security prison.
For those considering going into the police force, the three new constables said, “give it a shot”, prepare to be challenged in a diverse and rewarding career.
When not policing, the trio is looking forward to experiencing what the Cassowary Coast has to offer and as well as bushwalking, hiking, soccer and gym.
Read More: Innisfail