He's been the face of policing in Lake Macquarie for the past four years, but district commander Superintendent Danny Sullivan is now leaving the region for a new posting out west.
Superintendent Sullivan finished up at Lake Macquarie on Friday ready to start in the role of commander of the Orana Mid-Western Police District on Monday. Superintendent Rashelle Conroy, who has been working in police forensics, will take over as commander of the Lake district.
Joining the force in 1989, Superintendent Sullivan has worked all over NSW but spent the past 25 years in the Northern Region.
His roles have included police prosecutor; team leader Sergeant, duty officer and crime manager in the Hunter Valley; Target Action Group Sergeant in Newcastle; and most recently commander of Brisbane Water and Lake Macquarie.
The police boss mentioned Strike Force Arapaima, which was established in April 2019 to re-examine the unsolved disappearances of Robyn Hickie, Amanda Robinson and Gordana Kotevski, as an initiative he was particularly proud of during his time in the district.
"I've actually been working on that case for many, many years and I'm so proud of the people working on that case," he said.
"I'm looking forward to seeing the outcome of that investigation."
More than investigations though, Superintendent Sullivan said it was the people who had made his time at the Lake memorable, and felt "very sad" to be leaving.
"I've spent my whole adult life in Lake Macquarie, it's a part of who I am and what I believe in and it will certainly be a place that's close to my heart," he said.
But he said it was time to look at new opportunities.
"The Orana Mid-Western region became available and it was certainly an opportunity that was touted to me and it was one I accepted," he said.
As well as being a leader of police, Superintendent Sullivan is also a national crossfit champion and plans to continue his fitness passion out west.
He spent his final day talking to local influencers he had worked with, including Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper, who posted a moving farewell to Superintendent Sullivan on social media. He mentioned street crime reduction in Cardiff, the relocation of the highway patrol to Morisset and greater police numbers as achievements Superintendent Sullivan had spearheaded.
"He is a great friend and I know he will always be a great friend of Lake Macquarie," the post said.
"Thanks for all that you have done to keep our community safe, Danny. You leave us in a better position than you found us in."
