- Published:
- Tuesday 19 May 2026 at 4:00 pm
| Senior Constable Paul Santuccione became a member of Northern Grampians Highway Patrol in 2021. |
Senior Constable Paul Santuccione
Graduated: 2016
Work unit: Northern Grampians Highway Patrol
Why did you join Victoria Police?
I joined for the job diversity.
Before starting with Victoria Police, I worked in a family furniture transport business, going to and from depots in Geelong and Melbourne, all the way down the surf coast. And after quite a few years doing transport, I decided it was time for a change.
Policing wasn’t something I always wanted to do, as in, I didn’t think I’d become a police officer when I was growing up. But I always had an interest in highway patrol, like most kids interested in cars. So I decided to give policing a go.
Now, I get to do something different every day and get paid to do something I love to do, whilst doing my part to help keep Victorians safe – especially on the roads.
Tell us about your career with the force so far.
I started at the Academy in 2015, graduated in 2016 and started at Waurn Pounds, where I worked for a bit before heading over to Werribee. I stayed there for about a year and a half working in a uniform position, but also had the opportunity to be involved in tasking units.
I then took the opportunity to take a special category position at a regional station in country Victoria.
I had looked at a couple of the areas with positions on offer to find the best place to set up the family, but when a friend said to me ‘Why don’t you try Stawell?’ that’s where we landed.
What do you love about policing in Victoria’s west?
We said we’d stay in Stawell for 18 months, but we’ve been here in the Grampians region for about eight years now.
Working in Werribee was a great way to start out in the job, because you get a lot of exposure and experience, but it’s a different way of policing.
Working up here in Stawell and Ararat, you’re still busy, but you’ve got a bit more time to delve into your work.
The lifestyle is also great. You have much better work-life balance living in the country, and it doesn’t take you 45 minutes to travel 5km, because you’re not fighting city traffic.
Both Stawell and Ararat are surrounded by picturesque scenery too, so you really couldn’t ask for better workplaces.
You’re now a member of Northern Grampians Highway Patrol. Why did you decide to get into road policing?
I always wanted to end up in highway patrol. It was the ultimate goal and my plan from the beginning. So when the Northern Grampians Highway Patrol position came up in 2021, I took the opportunity and applied.
I’ve always had a passion for cars and anything with wheels. Back in the day, my dad and uncle built race engines for Ford when their Falcon GTHOs raced at Bathurst, so it’s my blood.
How does your knowledge of cars help in your role?
My old man taught me everything I know about vehicles, servicing and maintenance, so I’ve got a good understanding of all things mechanical, which has been great knowledge to have working in highway patrol and road policing.
We’ll pull over people who have done modifications, and if they’re done properly, I’ll admire the car and they can go on their way. But if they’re not, I’ll make sure they have the information and understanding they need to make things right.
The mechanical background definitely helps. Because if anyone tries to pull the wool over your eyes, you can stop them in their tracks by rattling off the guidelines, the components and how they work, and they’ll know that you know what you’re talking about.
What does a shift out on patrol look like?
Every day is different when you head out but, ultimately, our aim is to help keep road users safe by holding dangerous drivers to account for their behaviour – especially when it’s reckless and deliberate.
Our patch is over 300km long, and we’ve got quite a few highways to cover. So, if we’re not assisting with a specific road policing operation, we’re generally tasked with patrolling high-risk areas.
But sometimes, we could turn out of the station and, within 30 seconds, be pulling someone over to do a drug test. So, each shift, we head out and deal with whatever comes our way.
The ultimate goal is to remain highly visible wherever we are, with the aim of deterring reckless behaviour.
What driving behaviours do you consider reckless?
Impaired driving, speeding, dangerous overtaking and driving distracted are some of the worst, and we have zero tolerance for these.
In western Victoria, we also see a lot of trucks, and the potential harm caused by reckless driving is amplified in heavy vehicles. So it’s really important that all drivers, including truck drivers, do the right thing and drive safely.
Fatigue is another one to watch out for, because people up here are often travelling long distances from Melbourne or South Australia at the end of a long day.
If you’re not well rested, you’re not alert, and you could fall asleep at the wheel with catastrophic consequences. Sadly, up here, we see it all too often.
This week is National Road Safety Week. What is your message to Victorians?
Please drive safely, avoid distractions and be aware of your surroundings, because accidents don’t just happen, they are caused.
The most precious things to you are the people in the car with you, so drive safely to protect them.
Editorial Lane Mihaljevic
Photography Northern Grampians Highway Patrol
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