Police Association chair Chris Jordan said a number of former cops from the New England and across NSW are finding Glen Innes the best spot to settle down.

The union representative and senior constable responsible for crime prevention officer traveled to the town to honour a generation of former cops who had given years of service to the people of New South Wales.

Superintendent Scott Tanner echoed Mr Jordan's comments, describing the day as an opportunity to recognise an earlier generation that "paved the way for the rest of us".

"They've walked the same streets - they've usually dealt with the same crooks or their families over the years," he joked.

"I looked around the room here today and there's so many influential people that I've worked with over the years

"So it's really that acknowledgement and also to let you know that you're never out of the police family."

He said some of the retired officers had served four decades in the force

"When you become a new police officer, especially to a country location, you really look up to the people that have been there doing the job."

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Senior constable Jordan said at last year's retired police branch meeting Inverell they had noticed the number of former cops living in Glen Innes and decided to hold it there in the interests of convenience.

"(Retired police) do the sea change and they go for their little trips around and they come to Glen Innes and they like Glen Innes - I don't blame them, Glen Innes is a good spot!"

The union representative said he attended to let the retired officers know what the cops' union was doing for its members serving in uniform today.

Number one priority: compulsory testing of offenders who have bitten or spat at officers and potentially infected them with a blood-borne disease like hepatitis or HIV.

At the moment, police have to wait six months to find out.

"Most of the retired members here have gone through that," he said.

"They've gone through the days when you take two shirts to work because one would be torn and covered in someone else's blood.

"They paved the way for us to make it easier.

Senior constable Jordan said he personally had the anxiety of a potential infection twice back to back.

"I had it twice in one year; as soon as I got the six months done it happened again.

"It was twelve months of worrying, concerns, the anxiety of have I got these diseases, has my family got these diseases."

The Association says if offenders could be tested, that would allow police to know if they're in trouble much faster.

Retired Police Officers Day is held annually on September 4 and honours the contribution, sacrifice and ongoing legacy of retired NSW police officers. It was held at the Glen Innes Services Club.

Over two dozen former and current police attended the event.