General News
24 December, 2025
Region’s new top cop as Dixon retires
SUPERINTENDENT Paul Gardiner is the new divisional police commander for central Victoria.
He started in the role last week overseeing the Greater Bendigo, Macedon Ranges, Campaspe and Goldfields policing areas.
His area covers Loddon Shire police stations.
Superintendent Gardiner succeeds Brad Dixon in the role.
The police officer at Tarnagulla for two years from 1996, Superintendent Dixon has retired from Victoria Police after almost 40 years in the force.
He later had stints in Shepparton, Maryborough, Ballarat and Horsham before promotions brought him to Bendigo.
Superintendent Gardiner joined Victoria Police in 1993 and brings 32 years of experience to the role. He and his family are local to the Bendigo area.
“I feel very privileged to have been selected for this role. Having been a Bendigo resident myself for more than a decade, it feels like an incredible opportunity to give back to my own community,” he said.
He started out his career in the western suburbs of Melbourne before working in regional areas including Central and Northeast Victoria.
For the past four years of his career, Superintendent Gardiner was managing the force’s Public Order Response Team and State Liquor Unit. Prior to that he oversaw the force’s response to four royal commissions including mental health, aged care, disability and bushfires. He has also spent time in the state police operations centres during major bushfire emergencies.
“Having worked in Melbourne the last seven years, I won’t be complaining about the extra four hours I will get back every day!”
He is keen to lead and support his own local police across Central Victoria in keeping the community safe.
“I’ll be doing a number of station visits over the next few weeks to meet more of our local police – the experts in this area – to get a better understanding of their challenges and focus areas,” said Superintendent Gardiner.
He also has a particular interest in reducing road trauma and family violence.
Outside of work, Paul enjoys the great outdoors and regularly takes his wife and two children on caravan trips across Victoria and interstate.
He will spend the first few weeks in the role meeting local police, stakeholders and community partners.
“The police in this division do a fantastic job day in day out, and I look forward to supporting them in their roles and backing the work they do.”