A decade on, he is preparing to take on another big challenge in the top alcohol harm prevention role in the country.
At the end of January he will take on a secondment as the new national alcohol co-ordinator.
While he will be working for Police National Headquarters which is based in Wellington, he will be doing the job remotely from Dunedin.
There has been plenty of change in his current role during his 10-year tenure, particularly around student drinking in the past couple of years.
He attributed that to a change in how it was policed, and the Sophia Charter, which came about as a result of the death of University of Otago student Sophia Crestani at a party in 2019.
"Looking at it from a safety point of view rather than a strict enforcement point of view, you can police a party of 3000 people with 10 cops, without incident, and people coming up to you congratulating us for keeping them safe."
His new role will involve co-ordinating alcohol harm prevention officers around the country, ensuring their approach was consistent.
"It’s good having been there, knowing what is needed."
His replacement is a familiar face. Sergeant Steve Jones has already been working with Sgt Paulin in alcohol harm prevention in the city, and said the area was a passion of his.
If he could do half the job Sgt Paulin had done, he would be doing pretty well, he said.
"Having him around to pick his brain on certain issues and just be around for a chat will be good."
Like his predecessor, he will start the job at a busy time.
Orientation Week will be his first big challenge.
They will be working with other organisations in the city and organising prevention measures to mitigate harm, he said.
"We just want to make sure they enjoy themselves, I was a student here once so I know how it is."
