Senior Sergeant First Class Peter Sims in his new role as officer in charge at the Waikerie Police Station.

Back on the Beat in Waikerie
BY JOHN PICK
It’s been 25 years since Peter Sims was last on the beat in the Riverland West, but now he’s back as the Senior Sergeant First Class, in charge of the local area.
But for Peter Sims and his family, Waikerie has been somewhat of a second home as his wife Rosey is a former Waikerie girl, the second daughter of Ian and Dorothy Law of Holder. Rosie worked at the Waikerie Hospital when she left and remains working in the medical profession today. In an interview with Peter this week he recalled how it has been just over 25 years since he was stationed at Waikerie where he served under Sergeant Reo Humphries and also on staff at the time was another well known policeman, Tom Adams, now retired.
After leaving Waikerie Peter served at Meningie, Brinkworth, Port Augusta, Ceduna and Kadina. His last posting was at Kadina where he and his family spent nearly nine years and became entrenched in the lifestyle of the Copper Coast.
The promotion to the rank of Senior Sergeant First Class has prompted the move back to the Riverland, but Peter and Rosie and their two children still have very strong ties with their home town of Wallaroo and the greater Copper Coast.
Peter and Rosie have two adult children a son 21 and daughter 19. “The lad is in the Navy and graduates as an officer in December and my daughter is a trainee in a nursing home,” he said.
His move to Kadina as a sergeant was a time when his children were going through high school.
“I didn’t want to uproot them and move around, so that was pretty important.” Peter was heavily involved in building the flotilla of the SA Sea Rescue at Wallaroo and it was reported he was heavily involved in winning the 2006-07 Kalori Shield for the most efficient flotilla in the State.
“That’s going ahead in leaps and bounds now,” said Peter proudly.
Very much a community minded man, Peter was a past chairman and board member of the Kalori Catholic School in Wallaroo and is well recognised as a driving force of many of the school’s improvements.
Peter is also a councillor with the District Council of the Copper Coast and is currently on leave of absence from that position.
Since taking up his role as officer in charge at Waikerie, Peter has had a chance to catch up with a lot of old friends.
“I’ve run into a lot of people I knew back then and there are still a lot more to catch up with.”
Asked if he had noticed many changes around Waikerie since taking up his role on August 21, Peter said, “The worst thing I have seen is the drought affected orchards. It’s shocking and it really hits home when you see it other than just reading about it.”
Having Peter Sis as officer in charge at Waikerie will see Waikerie station with a full