Superintendent Mark Gallagher has been acting in the role of Superintendent of the Canobolas Local Area Command since Superintendent Mark Szalajko went on leave several weeks ago.

In that time Detective-Sergeant Andrew McLean has been carrying out the duties of crime manager.

Assistant Commissioner Steve Bradshaw, who oversees police appointments in the state’s west, was unavailable for comment yesterday as to whether Supt. Gallagher will remain in Orange until Superintendent Szalajko returns to duties.

Superintendent Gallagher has been with the Canobolas Local Area Command based in Orange since December 2006.

Before that appointment he was crime manager in the Illawarra area at Woollongong.