SHE may not have a shieldlike-shaped badge, wide-brimmed hat and craving for doughnuts, but Senior Constable Justine Housego is adored as the “Sheriff of Newtown”.

The popular police officer started her first shift at the Newtown Local Area Command on Anzac Day in 1992, and it was a shift like no other — not that she knew that at the time.

The young officer, then aged 24, and her partner were called to attend an armed robbery in progress at the Shakespeare Hotel (now Coopers Hotel) in King St.

“My partner and I went into the hotel and the offenders opened fire at my partner, so I shot back,” Sen-Const Housego said.

“Three offenders ran and we chased them. This is what I thought police work would be like. However, I have never needed to use my police firearm again.”

media_camera Leading Senior Constable Justine Housego, aka The Sheriff of Newtown, has left Newtown LAC after 25 years. Picture: Danny Aarons

Sen-Const Housego was awarded the Commissioner’s Commendation for Bravery during this incident.

“Life continued on, but in 1992, King St barely had a Thai restaurant on it,” Sen-Const Housego, 49, who joined the police force in 1990, said.

“Most of the shops were vacant or rundown. The Newtown population seemed to be university students, dropout university students, punks, gothics, and everything in between, which I had never been exposed to before.

“At first I wasn’t sure of these groups but as I stayed on in Newtown, and was exposed to so many diverse groups, I grew to appreciate the diversity.”

media_camera Leading Senior Constable Justine Housego worked at Newtown LAC for more than 25 years. Picture: Danny Aarons

Apart from being responsible for keeping the peace and enforcing the law, the bubbly woman in blue quickly became a quick-thinking and friendly identity in the Newtown community with residents constantly asking her colleagues if “Housego was working”.

On January 1, 1998, she helped deliver a baby on the corner of King and Enmore roads.

The same year, she received a letter of appreciation from Tempe High School for being a positive role model and creating the Breakfast Club, which assisted in feeding students before school.

In 2004, she was first on scene to assist with a dog impaled on a fence, and in 2005, she received a Royal Life Saving Society award for assisting in CPR on a man who had collapsed on a footpath.

media_camera The Sheriff of Newtown on her last shift.

In 2007, she received the Most Outstanding Practitioner award from the Australasian Council of Women and Policing, and in 2008, she received the gold award, presented by Commissioner Andrew Scipione, for continued commitment to general duties from 1991-2008.

In 2011, she was awarded the Australian Police Medal for distinguished service in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Sen-Const Housego, who was the longest serving officer at Newtown, did her last shift at the station on February 11.

She now works as a Senior Constable on trains at Parramatta.

“Over the 26 years, it was the interaction with the public that I enjoyed most,” Sen-Const. Housego said.

“I meet some interesting people and had a few favourite colourful characters I would wave to as I drive past in the police car.

“Some I have watched over generations by seeing them and their kids and even their grandkids live and grow in Newtown.

“I still feel like Newtown is a country town because I would walk down the street and know every second person, which made me feel like the ‘Sheriff of Newtown’.

“I have collected a number of awards along the way, but the most rewarding part of my journey was meeting the residents and making a positive impact on their lives in their hours of need.”

media_camera On the beat on King Street, Newtown.

The Newtown community fell in love with Sen-Const Housego as much as she fell in love with it.

In her spare time, she volunteered at the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre, teaching gentle exercise.

She filmed documentaries with the groups and submitted one in the Newtown Festival and won first prize.

Crime prevention officer Senior Constable John Tikisci said Sen-Const Housego was part of the fabric of Newtown.

“Over the years, she has not only earned the respect of her police colleagues, but just as importantly, she has earned the respect of the colourful locals that she has had to arrest and charge, some, many times over,” Sen-Const Tikisci said.

AWARD WINNER

1993 — Commissioner’s Commendation for Bravery

1988 — helps deliver a baby on the corner of King and Enmore roads; letter of appreciation from Tempe High School

2005 — Royal Life Saving Society award

2007 — Most Outstanding Practitioner award

2008 — Gold award for continued commitment

2011 — Australian Police Medal