POLICE officers and members of the public were recognised for their role in preventing crime and arresting offenders at the annual Manning Great Lakes Local Area Command medal and award ceremony held at Tuncurry earlier this month. 

Officers gathered for the ceremony, which honours officers for their years of service, as well as particularly outstanding work. 

Among those singled out for honours was Senior Constable David Arandale for his actions in arresting a man for a break and enter in a search that took him from Nabiac to Tea Gardens. A vehicle was stolen from Nabiac during an aggravated break and enter in November 2013 and the senior constable patrolled the highway to Bulahdelah, using UHF communications with truck drivers to attempt to track the stolen vehicle. 

The vehicle was seen entering Bulahdelah and it was followed to Tea Gardens. After the car chase ended, a foot pursuit began, which ended in the arrest of the man, who was charged with aggravated break and enter and for police pursuit under Sky’s Law. Senior Constable Arandale earned a Local Area Commander’s Commendation. 

Detective Senior Constable Donna Meath was presented with a Local Area Commander’s Commendation for her work as officer in charge of Operation Shorty. The operation successfully targeted the supply of methylamphetamine in the Taree area, resulting in charges being laid and one offender sentenced to a two-year non-parole period in jail. 

Senior Constable Robert Wylie’s work in Bulahdelah to stop a spate of break and enters in the town was rewarded with a Commander’s Certificate of Merit on May 12. Senior Constable Wylie investigated break and enters from 2013 to 2014, including a break-in at the local golf club on May 24 last year. 

Using evidence pieced together from the break-ins, Senior Constable Wylie stopped and searched a vehicle on its way to dispose of stolen property in Newcastle. Nineteen items reported stolen were found in the vehicle and charges were laid. 

It was not just serving officers recognised at the award ceremony. Bryne Keegan was handed a Certificate of Appreciation for his actions in calling triple-zero when he saw a police officer needed help in Head Street Forster on May 15 last year. The officer was alone on patrol and trying to detain two people who were becoming increasingly hostile and volatile. Mr Keegan saw the officer needed back-up and called for it. The situation was peacefully resolved once additional police arrived. 

The Manning Great Lakes Local Area Command Medals and Awards Ceremony recognised more than 50 officers and civilians for their contributions to the area.

Awards given included the National Police Service Medal; the National Medal (and first clasp); the NSW Police Medal (and first, second and third clasps); Certificates of Service; the Northern Region Commander’s Commendation; the Northern Region Commander’s Unit Citation; and the State Crime Command Commendation.