Recruits who were once landscapers and retail workers are among the new faces set to catch crooks and protect people in the Dubbo region.
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Five probationary constables started their new jobs as police officers in the city on Monday and for one of them, the occasion doubled as a homecoming of sorts.
Constable Ben O'Mally was born in Narromine and grew up there before he moved to Cairns.
"I have a lot of family here and wanted to move back down," he told Australian Community Media.
Like many of his colleagues, Constable O'Mally has family members working as police officers and says their work was part of his motivation for joining the force.
"Its been kind-of a dream of mine," he said.
After he finished school Constable O'Mally said he worked as a landscaper because he thought he was "a bit too young" to become a cop and "needed more life experience".
Like Constable O'Mally, Constable Lauren Brown is another recruit who has worked in a completely different sector.
"I worked in retail... I had a few family members in the police and I needed a change and challenge," the former Penrith resident said.
Constable Brown is one of two new recruits who will be based in Dubbo, while Constable O'Mally will be based at Wellington. Coonamble and Warren will also be home to new officers.
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The Orana Mid-Western Police District's education development officer Sergeant Justin Falkiner said while training might have been tough for the new recruits, the hardest parts of the job await them on the frontline.
While being a cop could be challenging, Sergeant Falkiner said the job offered many unique career development opportunities for new recruits.
"They could move to criminal investigations, prosecutors, highway patrol or a specialist unit like the dog unit," he said.
