From left to right
P/c Dan TENNANT, P/c Bob STENSON, S/c Nate ELEY, P/c Josh MELONCELLI, P/c Dara KEADY, CSO Donnelle BREDENKAMP, CSO Cath STANDING, Sgt Alan DEAN, S/c Dean WINTER, S/c Levi BATEMAN.
What does the Margaret River Police Station do for our community?
At the heart of it, the team is here to keep everyone safe and make sure things run smoothly across the district. They’re also a big part of local emergency response — helping out with bushfires, searches on land and sea, and even cave rescues.
What kinds of things do police get called to most often?
It’s a real mix. There are serious callouts like family violence, theft, car crashes and assaults. But the team is also regularly asked to help with everyday issues like noise complaints, neighbour disagreements, and illegal camping
How do police work with other local services?
The team works closely with South West Mental Health and the Margaret River Hospital — especially when someone is going through a mental health crisis and may be unsafe.
Police can help get the person to the hospital for assessment and stay to support staff if things escalate.
If someone needs to go to Bunbury for more specialised care, St John usually handles the transport, with police providing support to keep everyone safe.
Police also team up with other emergency services during incidents, stepping in wherever they’re needed most.
What community‑focused work happens behind the scenes?
Quite a bit! Officers visit local schools to build positive relationships with young people.
They also quietly gather information about people who might pose risks to the community, including drug‑related activity.
And they regularly work with pubs and restaurants to reduce alcohol‑related harm.
What makes policing in a regional town challenging?
One of the toughest parts is the idea that police “aren’t doing enough.” With a small team, they can’t be everywhere at once — but they really do care deeply about the wellbeing and safety of the community.
Anything coming up that the community should know?
School holidays tend to get busy, and the police are encouraging everyone to be patient with visitors.
While not all travellers have perfect habits, responding with anger or damaging property doesn’t help anyone.
A little communication and cooperation go a long way — and our community depends on both tourists and overseas workers.
Any final message for the community?
Police work is about far more than making arrests (although the team does that well when needed!).
They’re a group of people who care deeply about Margaret River. The work can be tough and isn’t always pleasant, but they do it because they want this community to be the best it can be.
Mind-Ed is a community-led initiative that empowers individuals through early intervention and prevention education, promoting mental wellbeing and building a resilient, informed community.
