Jeff Huddlestone
Family involvement in policing has inspired Campbell Hill to also become a police officer.
His father was in the force and there is lineage in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Watching his cousin graduate from Fort Largs police academy in Adelaide was the decisive point for applying to the South Australian police (SAPOL) and commencing his own career in 2002.
After leaving school, the Adelaide born and raised Campbell gained valuable life experience, holding a number of hospitality jobs, presenting on community radio Fresh FM and being heavily involved in the surf life saving movement.
He also studied a Bachelor of Arts degree at university.
Now 39, with already 20 years of vast and diverse experience in SAPOL, he is Superintendent Hill, the officer in charge of the Limestone Coast local service area (LSA), covering the entire South East region from Mount Gambier.
“I love what I do. It is rare to find a day that is hard work.
“Even on some of the days that are more challenging and I have a bit more demand, ultimately I am happy to wake up the next day and come back to work,” he said.
The LSA spans a large area, from Port MacDonnell to Mount Gambier, through to Keith and Bordertown, over to Kingston and then to Robe, Beachport and Millicent.
There are around 100 employed by SAPOL in the LSA.
Campbell expects the region’s population to swell by about 10,000 over the summer holiday period, due to flooding in the Riverland and visitation from Victoria.
He said the local service area is ready and prepared for the influx throughout January and will focus on the fatal five.
“There will be a lot of high visibility, driver, drug and alcohol testing. People will know we are out and about, reinforcing the message of using common sense because we know it saves lives,” Mr Hill said.
Attention will also be paid to speeding, mobile phones and other driver distractions.
Policing is very much part of his own family.
Campbell’s wife, Sergeant Jade Hill, is in charge of the criminal investigations section at the local service area headquarters on Bay Road.
The couple has three children and the Hills are actively involved in numerous sporting activities across the city.
Supt Hill’s appointment has involved some succession planning.
He was promoted to the top job in July 2021, following the retirement of Supt Phil Hoff, and after two years as operations inspector in this local service area.
Campbell Hill’s comparatively rapid rise through SAPOL includes the uniform patrol, statewide tactical work on crime types, a detective with the CIB, and an inspector with major crime.
He was also head of the major crash unit, staff officer to a deputy commissioner and officer in charge of the police communications unit.
At each stage, he was the youngest to be promoted to new roles.
“My colleagues affectionately called me Thyf, the young fellow. It was all in good fun,” he said.
Generally, Campbell’s fellow senior workers were aged from the mid-40s to their mid–50s.
Demonstrably, Mr Hill is very well equipped to be the officer in charge of the Limestone Coast local service area. He is proud of his troops and their commitment to their work and the region.
“It is not just a job. It is really part of who they are.
“Just the passion they have for keeping the community safe. It also translates to private interactions, when walking through the isle at the supermarket,” he said.
The LSA is facing challenges, including drug use and online cyber crime, but even those statistics are below the national averages.
“We are acutely aware of the major challenges and we are actively working every single day to reduce these behaviours and the more illicit aspects in the community.
“There is a lot of really good engagement that we are having and the feedback from the community is really encouraging as well,” Supt Hill said.
Believing the community is generally onside, he was asked what he thought the best thing is about his job.
“The satisfaction of bringing good results to people.
“I just cannot go past the ultimate aim of making the community safe,” Mr Hill responded.
What does he say to other “young fellows” contemplating a career in policing.
“I absolutely recommend it.
“We are really needing the young people to get on board and come and help us as the next IT wave.
“You will not look back after this,” Supt Hill said.
