Tuggerah Lakes Police District 2023 Awards Ceremony was held on Thursday, June 22, to recognise work in the community done by police, unsworn staff and Volunteers in Police.
This year’s annual awards were presented at the Council Chambers in Wyong to publicly acknowledge 54 people across 60 awards in front of colleagues, community leaders, family and friends.
Awards presented include The National Emergency Medal, National Medal and clasps, National Police Service Medal, Police medal and clasps, Region Awards, District Awards, and Volunteers in Police awards with three recipients honoured for their combined 7,000 hours of volunteering.
The Region awards included acknowledgements for the emergency response to an incident at Frank Baxter Youth Justice Centre at Kariong; a long and complex emergency response to the COVID pandemic and, lastly, the initial police response to a very confronting crime scene which ultimately resulted in vital evidence being secured for a court matter.
District awards included the celebration of staff involved in strike forces and pro-active crime teams. They were acknowledged as being at the forefront of the disruption of crime syndicates involvement in the manufacture and supply of illicit substances.
Two civilians were acknowledged for their actions involving CPR which ultimately saved the life of a young child who was pulled unconscious from a swimming pool. They chose to receive their awards privately.
Superintendent Chad Gillies said it was an important day on the policing calendar.
“Our police and unsworn staff work tirelessly day and night to keep our community safe and Tuggerah Lakes is a dynamic and challenging command,” he said.
“For us to take just a couple of hours for our men and women to be acknowledged in front of their peers, family, friends and the broader community is the least we can do.
“I continue to be amazed at the quality and volume of work being done here and I’m proud to be the Commander of these dedicated professionals at Tuggerah Lakes.”
Students from MacKillop Catholic College at Warnervale performed the National Anthem and another piece to entertain the crowd at the awards ceremony.
Official guests included Acting Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman APM (Northern Region), Brisbane Water Police District Superintendent Darryl Jobson, Port Stephens Hunter Police District Superintendent Wayne Humphrey APM, Central Coast Council Administrator Rik Hart, Police Chaplain Reverend Aleks Pinter and Geoff Talbot representing the Central Coast branch of the Retired and Former Police Association.
Source:
Tuggerah Lakes Police