Sergeant is farewelled

Jurien Bay Police Station staff farewelled officer-in-charge Sergeant Mark Marriott on Friday before he took up his next post at Karratha Police Station.

Sgt Marriott transferred to Jurien Bay in 2014.

He said reducing crime in the area by 48 per cent and working closely with the community were his proudest achievements.

“The most rewarding aspect was the community’s assistance with what it was that I wanted to achieve, which was dealing with the drug problem within Jurien Bay and Cervantes,” Sgt Marriott said. “As soon as the community realised what I was about and what I wanted to achieve for them, they came through with all the information and together with them we’ve seen a significant reduction in both crime and drug use within Jurien Bay.”

Sgt Marriott said he was looking forward to working as a shift Sergeant in Karratha, where he will be joined by his wife and two children.

“I’ve never worked in the Pilbara before, so I’m looking forward to a different challenge. It’s a bigger, busier police station,” he said.

Sgt Marriott said there were many serious incidents during his stint at Jurien Bay, including when residents had to be evacuated during an out-of-control bushfire in January 2016.

He said the funniest thing that happened was when officers bogged a police vehicle on a beach while searching for a man missing from Lancelin in June last year.

At a ceremony at Geraldton Police Station on Friday, Midwest-Gascoyne District Superintendent Mike Bell presented Sgt Marriott with a certificate of appreciation for his service.

Supt Bell described Sgt Marriott as a “brilliant leader”.

Sgt Drew Taylor will replace Sgt Marriott as officer-in-charge at Jurien Bay Police Station.