Top cop Taplin bids Margaret River fond farewell amid new police posting

Margaret River police Sergeant Simone Taplin has saluted the community as she departed from the role of top cop, which she held for more than three years. The local station officer in charge relocated to Perth with her family to take up a new policing role, paving the way for her replacement who is expected to start next month. Sgt Taplin moved to the region in June 2021 and quickly made a name for herself as an approachable, no-nonsense officer with a firm grasp on community policing. She and the team she led deepened police engagement with young people as well as a variety of community groups. Sgt Taplin was praised by colleagues for “leading from the front” during her tenure, which was backed up by a WA Police Excellence award last year. The officer was recognised for “operational excellence” in managing her team and interactions with the community during tragic incidents. Sgt Taplin initially came to the region after a stint as a detective based in Esperance — part of a career she acknowledged had spanned the entire State. In speaking to the Times after her farewell, the Sgt Taplin said she would remain “a mighty Hawk at heart”. “Since arriving in Margaret River in June 2021, this community has been nothing but supportive to me and my family,” she said. “There is a genuine feeling of care and support among agencies, which has resulted in awesome collaboration achieving great results. “We will miss this place we have called home for over three years and the relationships we have built. We have some amazing memories and will always be back to visit.” Sgt Taplin encouraged residents to continue their open dialogue with authorities, believing community policing was served best when trust allowed for local solutions to protect residents from harm. In her departure, she lauded her station crew who she said would continue to build on their existing work with the incoming chief. A WA Police spokesperson confirmed Collie-based Sergeant Alan Dean would take the helm in coming weeks.