It has been two months since Richmond District Police new Superintendent (Supt) Scott Tanner took over the role. The Lismore App thought it a good time to spend a morning riding along with the man who is in charge of all policing in the Northern Rivers.

In his Sunday Profile on August 9 (SUNDAY PROFILE: New Police Superintendent Scott Tanner) Supt Tanner said "I want police to be approachable and for the community to have faith and trust in them". A tall order for a police department that we haven't seen walking the beat in the CBD much especially in the late afternoon when that sense of feeling safe disappears for some members of our community.

A short ride out to Nimbin and a walk up and down Cullen Street chatting to the locals soon gives you some perspective as to how Supt Tanner's old school philosophy can achieve his goals.

Of course, you had some begrudging hello's and some complaining about the price of tobacco but for the most part the people of Nimbin were warm and welcoming to the big boss.

On our drive in we saw the paddy wagon on its way into Lismore, when asked what was going on, the reply was "probably drugs."

Nimbin, the home of protests for the legalisation of marijuana in NSW and where you have more variety when buying a smoking implement than you do toilet paper.

But it's not about destroying the towns persona and character by stopping a few people drinking out of brown paper bags at 11am on a Monday morning or looking out for casual smokers, it's about finding and arresting the big guys, the large suppliers to the region.

"Commonsense policing" is the term used by Supt Tanner. This is a term that has gone missing from our society including the police. I heard a story this week where a male was in a coffee shop complaining the police pulled him over for going too fast through a round-a-bout. Did they give him a ticket? No, he got a warning. Commonsense policing in action.

The morning started, as you may have read in an earlier story (Meet the new local police recruits ) meeting and talking to the six new Probationary Constables that have joined the Richmond District Police for General Duties (GD) for the next three years. When discussion moved to what policing jobs they would like to have in 5 years, quite a few answered that they want to get the GD done then decide but at this time they want to help people and the community.

Hopefully, you will see their new smiling faces walking around the CBD block talking to people and businesses. Say g'day when you do.

A trip to the PCYC, next door to Trinity College gives credence to the 'support the people and the community' statement.

Acting Sergeant Clare Beek is part of the Youth and Crime Prevention Command, an arm of the police that works closely with the PCYC team, which is a separate non-police organisation. Clare works with young offenders and youth at risk as well as young people in general. In some cases these are the kids that you and I look at and wonder why they are on the street bothering people.

The Police Commissioner wanted to create creating pathways for young people to get an education, employment and good health. To achieve these pathways NSW Police have established a number of 'Fit For' programs, there is Fit For Work, Fit For Change, Fit For Stride, Fit Together, Fit For Home (domestic violence) and Fit For Service. A group of boys from Lismore High has just finished the Fit For Service program, where they were introduced to the Emergency Services. Each program is tailor made for different issues.

When asked what success looks like for these programs, I received an honest and straight forward answer.

"It depends what you class as success", Supt Tanner said, "is success getting a youth to school one day a week? To me, it is. Is it cutting his offending rate from 20 cases per month down to ten? Again, to me, it is."

"People like the Hollywood story where the bad kid comes good and becomes President of the United States but that's not reality."

"We start with keeping kids alive and out of jail, whatever flows from that is all positive."

Clare added "we want to see these young people contributing to society and being a good human being."

There are so many elements to policing that we, as the public, just don't see.

Police officers picking up a child and taking them to school or to work, paying for a new pair of shoes or paying for a program because they can't afford to do it through their family.

It sounds like all police in the Northern Rivers are angels, no that's not the case, but this story is about highlighting the good that police do to help people and the community not to highlight the few bad eggs that exist in all walks of life.

What is the largest impact on a police officer in today's world?

PTSD, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

You can imagine being the first officer to respond to a tragic car accident, we have had two 17 year olds killed in the last four weeks. Imagine attending a domestic violence situation that has gone wrong? Imagine someone pulling a weapon on you and threatening your life?

The NSW Police Department has professional counsellors as part of the team to work with an increasing demand of PTSD sufferers. The worst part is not knowing how long it will take for someone to be fit again for active duty. In one example, a female officer was assaulted. It was six months before that particular officer went back into active duty.

You might be interested to learn that are over 300 different jobs within the police force now. What we see on a daily basis only scratches the surface in what is a very complex and deep structure.

When you ride with the top dog for only a few hours, you get a glimpse of the size and scale of the role that Supt Scott Tanner plays in running the Richmond Police District.

Is he successful in executing his desired outcomes yet? No, it is too early to tell, but he is not only 'talking the talk' he is 'walking the walk'. So, it appears Supt Scott Tanner has started his new role strongly and is already making a difference in our community.

Read more: SUNDAY PROFILE: New Police Superintendent Scott Tanner