Meet Bairnsdale’s new Tasking and Coordination manager for East Gippsland and Wellington, Inspector Carlee Botefuhr.
Inspector Carlee Botefuhr has had a diverse and impactful career that led her to join the Bairnsdale Police Station.
Carlee moved to Bairnsdale three years ago, where her partner had been working since 2020.
Since she was still working in Melbourne, Carlee frequently made the trip to work via VLine.
She has now been working at Bairnsdale Police Station for three weeks and hasn’t looked back.
Since coming to Bairnsdale, Carlee said there are a variety of differences compared to working in Melbourne.
“The connection to community groups is a lot stronger and more organic in Bairnsdale compared to Melbourne,” Carlee said.
“The people here are also really positive and passionate about working together.
“The area that I’m working is also much larger, and there is a variety of different policing skills.”
Before entering policing, she spent 12 years in the insurance industry, managing a large team across multiple locations and focusing on training and development.
Drawing from this experience, she transitioned her skill set to policing, emphasising the importance of managing priorities, people, and data.
Carlee said the career change came from wanting to make an impact in the community.
“I just wanted to do something real, and make a difference in the community, no matter how small,” she said.
“It’s a great job, it’s the best thing I ever did.”
Carlee’s unwavering dedication to giving back to the community is evident through her extensive volunteer work with organisations like St. Vincent De Paul, RSPCA, and the SES.
This dedication carried over into her policing career, where she embraced diverse roles, each contributing to her versatile skill set.
From her early days at Broadmeadows working on the van and front counter duties to working in prosecutions at Heidelberg, Carlee’s journey through various stations and divisions reflects her adaptability and willingness to learn.
Throughout her career, Carlee has shown a dedication to diversity and inclusion, particularly in her work with the LGBTIQA+ and Aboriginal communities.
She has been heavily involved in initiatives promoting human rights and community engagement.
As she takes on her role as Tasking and Coordination Manager for the Bairnsdale Division (ED6), Carlee will be responsible for a range of different areas, including Highway Patrol, Proactive Policing Unit, Divisional Intelligence Unit and Crime Scene Services.
Highway Patrol and crime prevention demonstrates her proactive approach to ensuring road safety and minimising risk.
Her dedication to engaging with the community and implementing effective crime prevention strategies underscores her belief in collaborative, community-oriented policing.
Additionally, she is passionate about using her previous experience to support different community groups, including multicultural groups, LGBTIQA+ communities and the Aboriginal community.
While in Bairnsdale, Carlee hopes to focus on working on engaging with local schools, driver distraction, drivers giving way to other vehicles and drink driving, particularly around sporting arenas.
To further engage with the Bairnsdale community, Carlee hopes to run the Latte with an LGBTIQA+ Liaison Officer (LLO) program.
Latte with an LLO is an initiative which models the traditional “Coffee with a Cop” but with a spin for LGBTIQA+ communities.
It’s an opportunity for LGBTIQA+ communities to engage with LLO’s and respond to specific issues relating to them.
Carlee’s experience and passion for community engagement make her a valuable asset to the Bairnsdale Division (ED6).
Her proactive approach to crime prevention and engagement with the community reflect her commitment to creating a safer and more inclusive environment for the community.
IMAGE: Inspector Carlee Botefuhr is Bairnsdale’s new Tasking and Coordination manager for East Gippsland and Wellington, and will be responsible for a range of different areas, including Highway Patrol, Proactive Policing Unit, Divisional Intelligence Unit and Crime Scene Services.
