General News
18 March, 2024
Local police receive awards
Last week, in recognition of their dedication to the Central Goldfields and surrounds, local police officers were awarded for their efforts in keeping the community safe during the 2021-2022 period. Out of the four certificates given out on March...
Last week, in recognition of their dedication to the Central Goldfields and surrounds, local police officers were awarded for their efforts in keeping the community safe during the 2021-2022 period.
Out of the four certificates given out on March 15, one was accepted by the entire Maryborough Police Complex — comprising of uniformed officers, the Goldfields Crime Investigation Unit (CIU), and Goldfields Highway Patrol.
The unit received a ‘Divisional Commendation’ owing to its commitment to the region in October 2022, when parts of the Central Goldfields were severly impacted by flood events.
Citing their achievements, the award states the team showed an “ability to work with agility and skill across a multitude of functions and critical incidents unfolding during uncertain times contributed to the community safety and reassurance”.
Goldfields CIU also took out the ‘Investigation and Response Commendation’ for displaying resilience and remarkable team-work, the award notes, in regards to executing five search warrants and attending a critical incident during a two-week period in September 2022.
These incidents, as mentioned on the certificate, include — the “arrest of a high-risk recidivist offender and seizure of firearms, drugs, stolen items”, “[arrest] of an offender armed with a machete”, and “separate investigations involving drugs and a significant deception”.
Another ‘Divisional Commendation’ and ‘Investigation and Response Commendation’ were presented individually to Sergeant Michael Peckham and Detective Constable Isaac Brewster, respectively.
“It’s good to be recognised, both as individuals and as a unit, on how [we] actually worked together during that response,” Maryborough Police Senior Sergeant Wendy Lambert said.
“It’s really important to be [acknowledged in this way] because when you look at the amount of work [police] do, when responding to an emergency, [it’s incredible].
“We are under pressure when we do our job, many times it’s life [threatening] or serious injury that you’re preventing and [often] we do go over and above what a community expects from us.”
Alongside these awards, plaques were also given out to former members of the Maryborough unit — Detective Senior Constables Chris Martin, Ben Manning and Brendan Rooney — for their contribution to the team during their time at the station.