A southern highlands police officer who played a major role in the investigation into the  murders of 7 backpackers in the Belangalo Forest near Berrima  is gearing up for retirement after almost 40 years in the New South Wales Police Force.

Detective Senior Constable  Bill Dowton had a series of postings in Sydney before moving to Bowral in 1991

He says given the chance he would have no hesitation in doing it all over again, and says anyone interested in a career in policing will find it a challenging but rewarding journey.

Detective Senior Constable  Dowton says some of the biggest investigations he was ever involved in were based out of Bowral, including the Ivan Milat back pack killings, which was hugely challenging.

In more recent times Senior Constable Dowton was a key investigator in the David Auchterlonie murder inquiry.