TO say Greater Shepparton’s new Local Area Commander, Inspector Cameron Sanderson, brings extensive experience to the role would be an understatement.
With 36 years in policing behind him, Inspector Sanderson’s career has spanned frontline general duties, specialist investigative units, prosecution, major collision investigations and leadership roles across Victoria, the Northern Territory and with the Australian Federal Police.
Beginning his career after graduating from the police academy in 1989, he served at Flemington before postings at Preston, Thomastown, Epping and Collingwood, before taking on roles in plain clothes drug units, liquor licensing and road policing.
In 2008, he joined Northern Territory Police, serving in Palmerston, the Tiwi Islands and remote Arnhem Land communities. Working on child abuse intervention initiatives during the Howard years, he later helped establish the Major Collision Investigation Unit in Alice Springs, where he was promoted to Detective Sergeant.
Following a secondment with the Australian Federal Police, he returned to Victoria, taking on roles in transit policing, the Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit investigating match-fixing, Professional Standards Command and as Officer in Charge at Lilydale.
Before stepping into an acting role as Area Commander in Brimbank, Inspector Sanderson later worked with the Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team and has contributed across several other areas along with undertaking extensive work in adult education and training.
Beginning his leadership role in Shepparton in May, Inspector Sanderson said he was immediately impressed by the city’s cleanliness and sense of safety, particularly the low level of graffiti.
Despite the positive, however, he is clear about the ongoing challenges for the region.
Retail crime, family violence, youth disengagement, homelessness, motor vehicle theft and road trauma remain key focus areas. While noting early results through initiatives such as Operation Securus, he said more work is needed to ensure the community feels safe, particularly in public and retail spaces.
“Retail crime is a challenge not just in Shepparton, but across Victoria and Australia. People don’t come to work to be abused or exposed to violence.”
He also identified homelessness as a significant local issue, alongside anti-social behaviour and youth-related matters, particularly in relation to social media as well as ensuring safety in and around licensed premises. He was equally firm on the importance of strengthening community partnerships, particularly around early intervention programs and victim support.
“That’s one of our main priorities — to ensure, in the last month, I’ve been out meeting stakeholders at Greater Shepparton City Council, the Department of Justice, Rumbalara — all the different stakeholders we’ll be working with. Building those relationships is vital so that we’re all on the same page and have the same goals, because you can’t do it on your own; policing is just one part of it.”
“We need those partnerships to support victims, ensure offenders receive the right treatment and drive behaviour change.”
While highlighting the drop in Greater Shepparton’s crime rate by five per cent over the 12 months to May this year, Inspector Sanderson said police resourcing — while not unique to the region — remains a challenge, though effective management is key.
“Resourcing is an issue not just for Victoria, but worldwide. It’s not just about numbers, but how you use them — making sure officers are in the right place at the right time.
“We are short, but it’s about managing what we have effectively.”
Only 18 when he entered the Police Academy and hitting the streets in uniform at 19, Inspector Sanderson said:
“I thought I’d stay for five and keep my options open.
“Did five years and anyway, 36 years later — it’s not bad. That 36 years has gone quickly, so I must have enjoyed it.”
