Sergeant farewelled after 40 years in blue
AFTER spending more of his life in the police force than out of it, Sergeant Greg Caletti is preparing to hang up his hat and enjoy preretirement bliss.
The community celebrated and thanked Sergeant Caletti for his 40 years of service and management of the PCYC Maranoa last Friday.
“It was a fantastic day,” he said.
“The best part was seeing the community members that showed up and support the day.”
Sergeant Caletti said it has been a privilege to have spent a lot of his working career in small communities.
“I’ve been all around the place doing various policing duties, but most of them were rural and out in the country,” he said.
“Being a country police officer is very beneficial and I’ve really enjoyed being involved in the small communities – you make a big impact.
“For example, if you’re an officer in Brisbane working in the traffic branch, they do their eight hours, but when you’re in a small community station, you become involved in everything.
“When I was in Injune, I was president of the swimming club, a coach and opened up the youth group, so you become very involved in the kids’ lives, and their parents’, and the wider community – that’s satisfaction.”
After joining the force at the age of 19, Sergeant Caletti has worked across the state over the past four decades.
“I was sworn-in in 1981 in Oxley and from there I ended up in the Gold Coast for a short period of time before heading into country areas,” he said.
“I was in Duaringa for three years, then went to the Atherton Tablelands, Mareeba, Mount Garnet then back down to Wowan.
“I was also the officer in charge of a one-officer station, then went to Rockhampton, Biloela, Injune and from there I joined PCYC in 2013.”
He said working at the PCYC was like working with family.
“The role at PCYC is very different to your role as a police officer at a station,” Sergeant Caletti said.
“PCYC is like one big family – when you can work alongside your wife and daughter and everyone else, you become very attached to everyone.
“And the best part is, everyone is driving to achieve something for the community.
“But the bond I made with fellow police officers, especially in smaller stations where officers rely on one another, and the friendships I formed was a big highlight of my career.
“The friends I made with officers in Taroom and Wandoan – it’s that sort of bond and friendship you make which is so special and we’re still friends today.”
For now, Sergeant Caletti’s wife, Melissa, has written a big to-do list for his spare time.
“I’ve applied for assistant manager at BCF, just for something different but if I don’t get that role, I’ll be the housemaid,” he joked.
“I might also volunteer at Fernvale PCYC with Melissa.
“But besides that there’s a lot of things around the house that I’ve got to do.
“I officially retire in March next year and that’s when I think it will kick in and I’ll realise I’m no longer a police officer.”