![Inspector Matt Hinton (left) has been appointed as the officer in charge at Goulburn. He was pictured with Sergeant Jeff Morgan on Wednesday. Photo: Louise Thrower. Inspector Matt Hinton (left) has been appointed as the officer in charge at Goulburn. He was pictured with Sergeant Jeff Morgan on Wednesday. Photo: Louise Thrower.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/FkT3ZusFw5YrTvZCipmLUF/ffc9fe4e-494d-443f-aefc-516e6072e9e8.JPG/r0_0_4288_2848_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
It wasn't long after university that Matt Hinton realised a desk job wasn't for him.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Despite securing a Bachelor of Commerce from Newcastle University, he decided to take a different path and join the NSW Police Force. He was partly inspired by his uncle, who had also been an officer.
"I wanted to be out and about. I had also been a surf lifesaver for a number of years so was used to emergency situations," he explained.
In 2003 he graduated from the NSW Police Academy and a steady rise through the ranks across several commands followed. Now he's back in Goulburn as officer in charge.
"It feels quite bizarre," he told The Post.
Inspector Hinton replaces Chief Inspector John Sheehan who left last month for a Batemans Bay posting.
More recently, Inspector Hinton was the officer in charge at Yass.
Growing up in a small country town south of Port Macquarie, he said he was motivated by the influence high visibility policing had on reducing crime and creating a community feeling of safety and security.
"It drove me down this path and I always had a great deal of respect for police," he said.
Since 2003, Inspector Hinton has worked in busy metropolitan stations, at Bourke, the north coast, including six years at Taree, and at Yass. They're experiences he describes as an adventure.
Now he says he's relishing the opportunity and challenge of managing a 24-hour station, working with everything from the Proactive Crime Unit, Police Rescue, Highway Patrol, detectives and general duties officers. On top of that, Goulburn has a major jail in its midst.
Inspector Hinton cited road safety as a major priority. It came into full focus last weekend with the death of four children in Sydney, killed as a result of an allegedly drunk driver.
"That is unimaginable grief for the family and our thoughts are with them and the emergency services personnel who dealt with it," he said.
"For 40 years we've been talking about drink driving and we've regularly put out messages about the impact of drivers impaired by alcohol, drugs and mobile phone use. We put it into the media and we have enforcement but the fact it's still happening says we have work to do."
After attending numerous fatal and serious crashes over the years, Inspector Hinton said it was upsetting to talk to family and friends afterwards and see the effect firsthand. So how does he cope?
"You need good support at home," he said.
"My wife doesn't work in policing so I can debrief. But you also have to recognise that sometimes you have to step back and reassess."
![SENIOR ROLE: Inspector Matt Hinton says he's reslishing the opportunities that come with managing a 24-hour station. Photo: Louise Thrower. SENIOR ROLE: Inspector Matt Hinton says he's reslishing the opportunities that come with managing a 24-hour station. Photo: Louise Thrower.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/FkT3ZusFw5YrTvZCipmLUF/9b737b85-634c-4764-a914-d525c6be4cea.JPG/r0_0_4288_2848_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Community involvement will also remain a big focus, including continued close liaison with agencies such as Mission Australia, PCYC and others to address social isolation and youth disengagement.
Inspector Hinton speaks highly of PCYC's Fit for Life and employment training programs as a motivator for youth who have walked away from education and other opportunities.
"It's about getting them engaged and not going down the path of crime," he said.
ALSO READ: Matthews voices vision for radio station
Likewise, he's impressed by the police relationship with the council, particularly through the Local Emergency Management Committee.
He's also thankful for the vast range of experience at the Goulburn station, whom he praises as "great crew."
Inspector Hinton will move to Goulburn with his wife and young son and daughter by the end of the week.
"There are a lot of good community facilities available to us as a family and we're happy to be here," he said.
While you're with us...
Did you know the Goulburn Post is now offering breaking news alerts and a weekly email newsletter? Keep up-to-date with all the local news: sign up here.