Meet the new Mid West - Gascoyne superintendent

The new Mid West-Gascoyne superintendent has been in Geraldton about a month but hasn’t moved his furniture here yet, or his wife.

“Moved up here with a bed, fridge, washing machine, surf board and a carton of Emu Export,” Roger Beer chuckled.

“I’m sort of here but not here.”

Supt Beer landed his role in late December after the departure of his predecessor Mike Bell.

He was formerly in command of the Tactical Response Group, spent 20 years as a detective and served a handful of portfolios including drugs and organised crime, intelligence and State operations.

His career kicked off in February, 1985.

“I grew up on a wheat and sheep farm,” the 55-year-old explained.

“My father didn’t want me to be a farmer, he thought life on the land was difficult and he didn’t want me to go through the challenges he had faced.

“So I was sent off to uni and because of things like beer and girls and me being 18, I probably wasn’t focused on what I should have been focused on.

“So I decided to go travelling and went and bought a motorbike, much to the disgust of my parents.

“But before I left, I had a conversation with a local sergeant who noticed I was a bit wayward and he suggested I join the police, so I applied.

“I basically joined thinking Dad would ask me to come back to the farm but he never did, so I’m still here.”

When Supt Beer isn’t policing, he leads a fairly active lifestyle that includes walking his dog Layla, hitting the gym and surfing “really badly”.

Though the superintendent has roots in the bush, overseeing the Mid West and Gascoyne region will be his first country posting for WA Police.

However he’s visited Geraldton a handful of times before, to see his son.

“Jack was an occupational therapist at Geraldton Hospital until October,” Supt Beer said.

“He also used to play for Towns Football Club before he left.

“I’m a bit annoyed I won’t get to see him play footy now that I’m here and he’s gone.”

The superintendent will shortly be rejoined by family when his wife relocates to Geraldton.

He is most excited to find a good surf spot and explore the coastal and inland attractions.

*Priorities for Mid West and Gascoyne Police under Superintendent Roger Beer will be family and domestic violence, meth, youth crime and indigenous health and wellbeing. Supt. Beer said while the police will strive to meet key performance indicators, there will be an emphasis on improving the quality of community health, investigations and other police activity, rather than measuring the amount of arrests or penalties.