Mayor John Davis said he will meet with the NSW Police Association representative when he comes to Orange next week to relay to the state government the urgency of the situation.

In the last 18 months Orange has had one inspector receive a pension due to stress while another two are being assessed for similar entitlements.

A fourth inspector stationed at Cowra who regularly relieved in Orange has transferred from the region.

Canobolas Local Area Commander Superintendent Mark Szalajko was scheduled to return to head the command today but is now on sick leave until the end of the month.

Inspector Mark Gallagher, who was acting in that role, is now on annual leave.

Compounding the shortages is the secondment of officers to the World Youth Day celebrations in Sydney in the next few weeks and an embargo on city officers taking transfers to rural areas until July.

The NSW Police Union says it will come to Orange next week to talk with officers in the command affected by the shortages and will ask that Orange be considered a special case for exemption for city to country transfers, to take pressure off the under-strength force in the city.

Regional organiser of the NSW Police Association Pat Gooley said he had spoken with Orange police and they are maintaining their morale.

“They know they just have to get on with it and they have a job to do,” Mr Gooley said.

“But they are struggling and there are challenges ahead in light of what’s happening.

“We will get to a situation where all police will be able to do is respond to a call and all other policing will have to be put on hold.”

Western Regional Commander Assistant Commissioner Steve Bradshaw said two senior officers are coming to Orange this week to help ease the burden.

“Inspector Jason Puxty is transferring from Bathurst to take on one of the Inspector’s roles and Inspector Tony Bell is coming up from Bathurst for two months to relieve,” he said.

“Acting commander will be Inspector Brett Smith who is coming to Orange from Dubbo in the absence of Superintendent Szalajko.”

Assistant Commission Bradshaw acknowledged the Orange command is under pressure.

“It is difficult that all of this has come at once,” he said.

“I cannot comment on all of those cases of those officers. They are all individual.”

During the leave shortages other officers in Orange have been acting in the more senior roles of inspector and crime manager.

Head of Orange’s crime prevention committee Cr Glenn Taylor, who has worked closely with police over the last few years, said he is keen to work with Mayor John Davis to broker a solution through Police Minister David Campbell or Commissioner Andrew Scipione.

“This is a very unfortunate situation for Orange and we are keen to do whatever we can to support police who are working hard to protect the city,” he said.