Aretired frontline police officer has stated the prevalence of the illicit drug known as ice has created unpredictable behaviour among offenders and made policing more difficult.


Carol Grimes believes ice has changed the community and removed the level of predictability for many police taskings.


“Communication is my greatest tool but not with people affected by this drug,” she said.


The popular Millicent resident was the first guest speaker in 2024 for the Millicent-based South East Family History Group.


Her address to the February monthly meeting was appreciated by the 30 in attendance with many joining in a question-and-answer session.


Ms Grimes left a 30-year career as a police officer in 2023 and now works as a domestic violence counsellor.


Originally from Adelaide, her first career was as a Physical Education teacher for six years.


Metropolitan and country postings as a patrol officer followed graduation from the Fort Largs Police Academy as well as a stint in the Adelaide-based Family Violence Unit.


By the time the Grimes family arrived in Millicent in 2005, it comprised Carol, her husband and fellow police officer Rick and their sons Finn and Jonah.


“I feel blessed to have worked in Millicent for 18.5 years and I am the station’s longest serving female officer,” she said.


“I was never really interested in promotions. I have a passion for the community and I like to help people like vulnerable children who have been abused.


“In Millicent, we have mainly dealt with low level crime and anti-social behaviour.


“The station is manned by a senior sergeant, a sergeant and eight senior constables and constables.


“We lost our detective about five years ago and so Millicent has missed out on that expertise.


“Situations now fall back on officers on general policing duties.


“Peter Brown was awesome as a senior sergeant while retired office manager Margaret Hamilton has become one of my best friends.”


Ms Grimes paid a warm tribute to late Lucindale police officer Jason Doig who was killed while on active duty near Bordertown in 2023.


“Jason was a long-term colleague and a wonderful person,” she sid.


After 30 years in uniform, Ms Grimes decided the time had come for her to leave the police force.


“The excitement of policing had worn thin,” she said.


“I was just glad to get home at the end of each shift.”


It is the belief of Ms Grimes the increased level of danger facing police has affected recruitment.


Her solution for attracting police to work in country areas is for the State Government to provide a better standard of housing.


Among the lighter moments in three decades of policing was seeing her patrol partner being chased by the resident Beachport seal.


Away from work, Ms Grimes has been involved in the coaching, playing and administration of the Millicent Netball Club as well as the management committee of the Noorla Yo-Long youth camp at Rendelsham and the Millicent Catholic Parish Pastoral Council.


The Grimes family are set to remain a part of the local community well into the future as they own a block of land at Southend.


“We feel really connected to the community,” she said.