Mandurah Police Station’s returning Officer-in-charge senior sergeant Dean Snashall.
Camera IconMandurah Police Station’s returning Officer-in-charge senior sergeant Dean Snashall. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Fishing, footy the great escapes for Mandurah’s top cop

Victoria RificiMandurah Coastal Times

MANDURAH Police’s returning Officer in Charge Senior Sergeant Dean Snashall has said when he’s not policing, he would sometimes watch up to eight footy games over the weekend.

The West Coast Eagles supporter has been with the WA Police force for 25 years, stationed in various regional towns throughout his career including Kalgoorlie, Norseman, Exmouth and Mandurah.

“Regional policing for me is something I’ve enjoyed and you get to know the community better and your family gets embedded in the community,” Sen Sgt Snashall said.

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The father of two said he started his first OIC position at Norseman Police station in 2007.

He also holds a Masters degree in leadership management from Charles Sturt University.

“For the past 11 years, bar 18 months, I’ve been in charge of a police station or business unit,” he said.

“I also ran a firearm’s branch which wasn’t a police station for six months in 2011.

“My role as OIC is very community orientated so you have to be able to communicate with external partners and human resources.”

The Halls Head resident said he was Mandurah Police Station’s OIC from 2014 to 2015 until he moved to South Hedland at the end of 2015 to take on the same role for another two years.

“I was previously at the State Control Centre, working as a Duty Patrol Commander in Perth for the past eight to nine months before I applied for, and picked up my current position,” he said.

Sen Sgt Snashall said he decided to move back to the Peel Region with his wife and two daughters because it’s a good place to raise kids.

“It’s great to come back and police in an area that I’ve invested interest in,” he said.

“I love the estuary, coastal life, boats, fishing and everything about living close to the beach.”

When he’s not working, Sen Sgt Snashall said he liked to fish and stay active.

“As long as I get a couple of fishing trips in a year, gym four times a week and a run every second day I’m happy,” he said.

When asked what he loved most about his job, he said it was immersing himself within the community.

“It’s not just about working with the people here at the station,” he said.

“I’ve already gone down to Smart Street Mall and introduced myself to some of the shop owners.”

Sen Sgt Snashall said he hoped his team would see a further reduction in crime.

“Crime compared to last year is well down in all areas in Mandurah which is a good thing,” he said.

“Stephen Thompson has left Mandurah in good shape.

“Over the next two or three months, I’ll be reacquainting with local business and stakeholders in town.”

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