The NSW Police Force has farewelled Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie APM, who marked his final day of operational service yesterday (Thursday 23 September) after 33 years of distinguished service.

Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys joined officers and staff from Western Region at Dubbo for a COVID-Safe celebration of the career of Assistant Commissioner McKechnie on his final day.

After a final message to staff over Police Radio and signing off for the last time as ‘Western One’, Assistant Commissioner McKechnie marched out of Dubbo Police Station and performed a final salute.

Assistant Commissioner McKechnie was a community voice right to the end of his time with NSW Police, being a regular spokesperson during the daily WNSWLHD COVID-19 updates.

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie acknowledged his impressive record of service.

“Geoff has been a journeyman in protecting the people of NSW, particularly our rural areas,” Commissioner Fuller said.

“He will be dearly missed; however, we wish him, his wife Jan, and the family a happy retirement.”

Barwon MP and former police staffer Roy Butler paid tribute to Assistant Commissioner McKechnie's dedication to his work and especially to the western region.

"I worked with Geoff for seven years," Mr Butler said. "He was a great manager. He was always unflustered, always calm and always reassuring."

"He was a Mendooran boy, which is also my home town," he said. "In the police service he started as an apprentice, became a journeyman and finally a master - he understood his trade and what was important."

"He was incredibly good to work with and will be a sad loss for the western region."

 Assistant Commissioner McKechnie joined the force in 1988, spending the early part of his career undertaking both general and investigative duties at a number of commands across Western Region.

He was designated as a detective in 1993, before rising through the ranks and working at several commands including Orana District, Barrier Local Area Command (LAC), Canobolas LAC, Tuggerah Lakes LAC and Brisbane Water LAC.

In December 2001, he was promoted to the rank of Superintendent as the Barrier Local Area Commander before moving and commanding the Canobolas, Tuggerah Lakes and Brisbane Water Local Area Commands.

He returned to his home turf on promotion to Assistant Commissioner as the Western Region Commander in 2012, where he finishes his career after more than three decades of service.

In 2018 Assistant Commissioner McKechnie led the successful transition from 11 Local Area Commands into seven Police Districts with an officer-in-charge model implemented throughout the districts.

The new structure saw each regional police station have a senior officer in charge of operations to work closely with and be part of that community.

He was also instrumental in the expansion of rural crime investigation capabilities and the formation of the Rural Crime Prevention Team within the NSW Police Force, which now operates across all of regional and remote NSW and dedicated to preventing, disrupting and responding to rural crime.

Assistant Commissioner McKechnie’s service has not gone unrecognised; he has been awarded the Australian Police Medal (APM), the NSW Police Service Medal, the National Police Service Medal, and clasps to the NSW Police and National Service medals.

"Although we are sad to see him go I'm sure his successor Brett Greentree will do a great job as well," said Roy Butler.

"He's been working in the region, including time in Bourke, now with the covid outbreak he's been very involved."

"Brett also has a level head and is a safe set of hands," he said. "I've found both Geoff and Brett to be incredibly responsive and dedicated to what they do."

For Mr McKechnie, retirement means spending more time with family and friends, working on his small farm and travelling internationally once borders re-open.