FEMALE CHIEF TAKES ON DRUG TRADE

THE state's second-highest ranking female police officer has been put
in charge of the Riverland area. And Chief Inspector Bronwyn Killmier
said one of her first challenges was to stamp out drug cultivation,
which is a major problem in the region.

Daughter of former deputy commissioner Ray Killmier, she began the
first day in her new job yesterday.

She replaces Superintendent Tom Rieniets who, after three years in the
Riverland, is now in charge of the Special Tactical and Response Group.

Chief Inspector Killmier, 44, said tackling the drug problem in the
area was a high priority.

"The climate is ideal for growing and there is also the easy
availability of water (Murray River)," she said.

"But there are already things in place addressing the
problem.

"The number of fatal road accidents on the Barrier Hwy in the
Riverland is also an issue I want to look at.

"But I'm not rushing into anything. First, I'll see if any changes are
needed."

Although born in Waikerie, Chief Inspector Killmier has never worked
in the country.

She follows in the footsteps of retired chief inspector Kathryn
Finnigan who was the first woman in charge of a police division when
she took over the Yorke Peninsula area in 1989.

"It's quite different and will be a steep learning curve," Chief
Inspector Killmier said.

"I'll be talking to the community first to finding out the challenges
ahead.

"My first priority will be to meet all the police officers in the
Riverland area."

Chief Inspector Killmier said she had made several trips to the area
before deciding to accept the job.

"I also spoke to lots of people because I wanted to be sure this is
the job I wanted. I'm a little nervous starting out but I know I've
made the right decision."

The Riverland police area, which is based in Berri, also includes
Loxton, Barmera, Renmark, Waikerie, Blanchetown, Morgan, Swan Reach,
Lameroo and Pinnaroo. About 80 police officers work in the area.

Chief Inspector Killmier previously held the position of Operations
Inspector in the Adelaide Local Service area. In 1991, she went to the
United States to study profiling - the specialised technique of
detecting criminals as featured in the TV series Profiler.

Profiling is the science of establishing a psychological profile of an
offender, taking into account weapons used, the scene of the crime and
all other available evidence.

She returned to Canberra a year later and established the Australian
Violent Crime Analysis Centre.

At the same time she taught profiling techniques to five police
students around Australia and continues to do so.