Fighting crime in Bunbury a family affair

Crime fighting is a family affair at Bunbury police station.

Bunbury officer-in-charge Sen. Sgt Peter Jenal and his wife Sandy — a customer service officer — are one of the 11 family units who work together at the station.

“It is above average to have 11 family units working out of the one station,” Sen. Sgt Jenal said.

He said for the married couples, there was a pretty even split of those who met on the job or beforehand.

“Sandy and I met prior to the job and moving to Bunbury,” he said.

Sen. Sgt Jenal said it was good to be able to go home at the end of the day and share the highs and lows of the job.

Sen. Const. Bob Hislop and his wife Rhonda — also a CSO — have been married 43 years and were together before either entered the police.

“We’ve been with the Bunbury police for 20 years now, we were transferred here from Wagin,” Mrs Hislop said.

CSO Tania Cockinos said she and her husband, 1st Class Const. Nick Cockinos, had no issues working together.

“Because he’s on shift work, we don’t see each other often, but we’ll high-five if we pass each other in the hallway,” she said.

Cadet Mark Starkie said working with his mother Mandy — an auxiliary officer — did not bother him because they were both there to get on with their own jobs