Cavan Garda Supt takes up new role

Former Cavan Garda Superintendent Padraic Jones began his new job yesterday (Monday), October 17, as chief superintendent assigned to lead the Garda National Community Engagement Bureau. The role, developing and implementing strategies around community policing, both urban and rural, will see him based out of Harcourt Square on the city’s Northside.

Speaking to the Celt following his promotion, Chief Supt Jones reflected on his time locally.

Originally from Dromard, Co Longford, he previously served as Sergeant in Bailieborough. He returned to the county to replace the retiring Supt James Coen in December 2020 having also worked in Roscommon and at Garda Headquarters in Dublin’s Phoenix Park.

His arrival to Cavan came at a time when the country was still reeling from the impact of Covid. “It was tricky. It impacted a lot of what we would have liked to get done, where our focus really was on policing through a pandemic. But it is great to have gotten through to the other side, and like that, great to be able to get back out into the community and meet with people face to face.”

He praised the people in Cavan for their support of the force. “They’ve been a fantastic source of assistance to us. I’ll go back to that whole thing about policing with consent, and policing with communities rather than of them.”

Those principles are the cornerstones of the broad remit that Chief Supt Jones has inherited within the GNCEB.

The multi-faceted department has overseen the production of a large number of policing policy documents and initiatives, from the Crime Prevention and Reduction Strategy 2021 to 2024 to supporting the Safer Internet Day and the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau, as well as taking the lead in attempts to tackle the rise in hate crime in Ireland.

“I was delighted in my time to broaden the footprint of community policing in Cavan and I believe it will serve everyone well. Covid gave everyone a sense check, and a reality check, about what the important things were. I think An Garda Síochána has taken a lot of learnings from that, and that’s why we’ve looked to increase our input into community policing so that we’re getting into all of our communities, especially those that have challenges.”

Chief Supt Jones concluded by accepting that An Garda Síochána is “not an island” in terms of the force's attempts to impact positively in communities.

“Some of the partnerships we’ve developed, particularly the local authorities, or some of the NGOs, has really been of great assistance to us. That partnership approach is the future.”

Chief Supt Jones will be replaced in his Cavan role by Garda Inspector Shaun Grant, who currently serves at Buncrana Garda Station in Donegal. The Clonmany native takes up his new role at Cavan Garda District later this week on October 20.