Senior Constable Simon Shilton's career within Queensland Police Service (QPS) is anything but ordinary, having spent the majority of his policing experience combining his love of horses with his deep commitment to community.
Now, Senior Constable Shilton is celebrating his 20th year as a Mounted Unit officer.
Shaped by the time spent on his family's farm when he was growing up, and an unwavering love of the outdoors, Senior Constable Shilton's career within the Mounted Unit was always meant to be.
Graduating as a sworn officer in 2000, Shilton spent the first five years of his policing career stationed at Logan Central.
During this time, he became a part-time member of the Mounted Unit, attending ceremonial events including Governor's Escorts and ANZAC Day commemorations.
Despite initial dreams of a career in investigations, he found his true calling when a full-time position within the Mounted Unit became available.
Looking back on his time in the QPS, the connection formed with his very first police mount, JJ, remains a highlight of Shilton's career to date.
"JJ was my first and longest serving police horse and we formed an incredible bond, starting when I was a part-time Mountie," Senior Constable Shilton said.
"Now 27, JJ lives with my wife and I alongside our other horses, it's an honour to give him a good retirement.
"JJ is such a character, and I will never forget the way he would get to a certain time through the shift and suddenly decide it was time to pack up and go home.
"He would shake his head, make a squeal and start heading back to the float, telling me it was time to wrap things up.
"If he could have formed a police horse union, I'm sure he would have!"
The Mounted Unit has evolved significantly during Senior Constable Shilton's time, maintaining a primary focus on operational capability as state-wide needs continue to grow.
"We've always been operationally focused, conducting high visibility mounted enforcement patrols, search and rescue, crowd management and community engagement," he said.
"Our goal is to direct our mounted resources to crime hotspots and areas where we can best support frontline police to target crime to keep the community safe."
Senior Constable Shilton has excelled throughout his career and is one of only nine QPS officers who perform operational police work from horseback.
Despite the difficulties of his role, in particular travelling long distances with the horses and the added layer of complexity involved with incorporating evolving policing methods into a mounted unit capacity, Shilton continues to find the utmost satisfaction in his role as he breaks down barriers with community members.
"Working with the horses and the experience of being able to positively engage with the community, all the while maintaining a strong crime prevention and deterring presence, has been an incredibly rewarding part of my policing career," he said.
"One of the best aspects of this role is how horses break down barriers and allow us to engage with individuals who might not typically approach police officers.
"We are able to engage with vulnerable community members who may feel more comfortable speaking with us because of the calming presence of the horses."
Fellow Mounted Unit officer, Sergeant Lisa Shilton, has been uniquely placed to observe Simon's career, not only as his colleague, but also his wife.
"This year is a milestone that not only reflects Simon's time in the Queensland Police Mounted Police Unit, but the depth of skill, knowledge and care he brings to every part of his role," Senior Sergeant Shilton said.
"Simon has a quiet way with horses and a natural intuition that simply can't be taught.
"As both Simon's colleague and wife, I'm incredibly proud of the legacy he continues to build on beyond his two decades of dedication, humility and quiet leadership."
Reflecting on his 20 years within the Mounted Unit, Senior Constable Shilton encourages everyone considering a policing career to make the leap, citing it one of the most fulfilling things he's ever done.
"Joining the Queensland Police Service is an incredibly rewarding career that offers the opportunity to make a real difference in the community," he said.
"For those interested in the Mounted Unit, I would say that it is one of the most unique and fulfilling roles in the QPS.
"The role is physically demanding. requiring a strong foundation in horsemanship as well as frontline policing experience, however the rewards are immense.
"The Mounted Unit allows for strong community engagement, the ability to patrol areas inaccessible to other police, and a chance to develop deep partnerships with our horses.
"If you have a passion for horses, enjoy working as part of a team, and are committed to maintaining high standards in both policing and equestrian skills, the Mounted Unit is an incredibly fulfilling career path."
A career within the Queensland Police Service is like no other. From protecting, responding, and investigating, to supporting, rescuing and learning – the sheer variety of roles make it both a challenging and rewarding career.
As a police officer, you can have one career that has endless possibilities. Now really is the best time to join.
Visit PoliceRecruit.qld.gov.au to kickstart your policing career and make a positive impact in your community.
