The presentation is not just about honouring years of service, though that dedication to duty is important in this age where everyone seemingly switches career every few years. What really stood out however is the amazing diversity of work our police officers get up during the course of their day and also some of the pain-staking and difficult tasks they have to carry out.

For instance Detective Senior Sergreant Michell Clark was honoured for her work in the aviation investigation which led to the arrest of a Mount Isa pilot on over three hundred charges including tampering with aircraft. DSS Clark is also leading the way as a mentor in her field of passion around child protection issues.

Then there was a five officer taskforce team from various branches which worked together as a property crime task force, collaborating with intelligence officers to identify and target offenders leading to the charging of 101 people on 281 offences. Whenever anyone complains not enough is being done on crime in this town, I’d point them to this hard working taskforce.

Also honoured was Detective Senior Constable Shane Wockner who managed a serious drug operations in 2017 targetting the distribution of methylamphetamine. His work led to the arrest of 43 offenders on 117 serious drug charges.

Plain Clothes Constable Fraser Hutson deserves praise too. He was off duty on a plan from Brisbane to Mount Isa when a women became unruly and abusive. PCC Hutson identified himself to crew and tried to calm her down. After she spat and vomited on him, he was forced to restrain her all the while keeping composure in a scary aviation incident.

Plaudits also to Acting Senior Constable Renee Matthews who works with schools and students on cyber safety, bullying, setxing and cyber fraud as well as managing truancy and taking on “coffee with a coppa” for elderly residents.

ASC Matthews and fellow officers deserve the highest praise for keeping our community safe, mostly away from the glare of publicity.  – Derek Barry