“It was a spur of the moment decision that seems to have worked out well so far.” Grant Stevens, South Australia’s incoming Governor, has sat down with 7NEWS for his final interview as police commissioner revealing how he feared for his life several times during his 45 years in the force. From Banksia Park to the vice-regal residence of Government House, he says it is a path he never imagined. Stevens was just a boy when he joined the police force in 1982 and he rose through the ranks quickly - becoming a dogged detective, moving from criminal investigations to major crime and the drug squad before heading up a major paedophile taskforce that locked up 10 men for historical sex crimes; a career highlight. On the lows of his career: “There are some things that come with policing that you never get rid of: child sexual abuse, child sexual exploitation, child abuse material. I've seen images that never leave you. Probably only three, maybe three or two or three times that I had genuine fears for my own safety. My very first night shift I was confronted by a fairly angry man who was holding a star dropper and he took a swing at me with that. He only glanced off me but we got the better of that situation before we could do any real harm.” On SA Police frontline changes: “The biggest technology or equipment rollout that has made the greatest impact on our frontline police is the issue of mobile phones to every police officer so they can access all of our systems at their fingertips and do a lot of the job out and about without having to come back to the patrol base. I think that is probably a generational shift in how our police access information and communicate with each other.” On his career path: “That younger version of Grant Stevens didn't really have a direction, didn't have a goal, was sort of happily moving along day by day. It was really only a coincidence that I happened to walk into police headquarters to inquire about a policing career at a time when they were trying to fill a recruit course that was starting early in 1982.” Advice for the state’s next police commissioner: “Appreciate just how effective and how valuable our workforce is regardless of whether it's police officers in uniform, detectives, specialist officers, our police security officers, our civilian workforce. They are an exceptional group of people who do fantastic work and ensure that you provide them the leadership that enables them to fulfil their responsibilities because that is how we are as effective as possible for the community is by allowing our people to do their job and giving them the support they need to do it well.” On leaving SA Police: “I have been struggling with the idea of no longer being a part of something I've been a part of for two-thirds of my life.” On moving into Government House: “Both Emma and I are looking forward to being able to get out and about, visit different communities, regional communities, different parts of South Australia, different groups, and seeing more of it than just the local police station when I go to a country town - I think that's something we're both looking forward to. I will still visit the police station, though.” — TikTok de @7newsadelaide