HUNTER VALLEY TOP COP TO RECEIVE AWARD

Eight long-serving New South Wales police officers will today receive the Australian Police Medal after being announced earlier this year as part of the Queens Birthday honours list.

The Governor General of Australia, Ms Quentin Bryce AV CVO, will hold Investitures at Government House, Sydney, today (Thursday 13 September 2012).

NSW Police Force Commissioner, Andrew Scipione APM, has held a morning tea for the officers where he expressed his immense pride in each officer.

“All eight officers are loyal and outstanding members of the Force and this award is recognition of their hard work and dedication to the people of New South Wales,” Commissioner Scipione said.

“The officers, their families and the entire community should be extremely proud of them for their achievements, and grateful for their ongoing contribution to policing.

“They are all deserving recipients of the Australian Police Medal and they should feel honoured to be recognised in such a significant way. I, along with the entire Police Force, am extremely proud of them all.”

The eight recipients are:

Superintendent Mark Francis SWEENEY, Commander – Forensic Services Group, Crime Scene Services Branch

Superintendent Mark Francis Sweeney joined the New South Wales Police Force in 1981 and was attested as a Probationary Constable later that year. Superintendent Sweeney was confirmed as a Constable in 1982 while working at Fairfield. He has since performed duties in Cabramatta, Prosecuting, Crime Scene Unit, Physical Evidence Unit, and the Crime Scene Units at Parramatta, East Sydney and North West. In 2002 he was promoted to the rank of Inspector at Westmead Laboratory where he worked until promoted to the rank of Superintendent as the Commander of Crime Scene Services Branch in 2006. Superintendent Sweeney was awarded the National Medal in 1997; 1^st clasp to the National Medal in 2007 and the NSW Police Medal in 2003 (including 3^rd clasp to the NSW Police Medal in 2009). He has also been awarded the Commissioner’s Commendation for Courage in 1983 for outstanding courage & devotion to duty re; pursuit & arrest of armed offenders in January 1982. During his 30 years of service Superintendent Sweeney has been involved in many high profile crime scenes and major mass disasters, including the Thredbo landslide and Clybucca tourist bus disaster. He also assisted in the Port Arthur Massacre investigation. has been involved in the investigation of many high profile crime scenes and major mass fatality disasters, including the Thredbo disaster, Clybucca tourist coach crash

In 2010, Superintendent Sweeney was appointed Chair of the Australian Disaster Victim Identification Committee (ADVIC). He also holds the position of State DVI Commander and represents Australasia on the Interpol DVI Steering Committee. He is a key adviser to the NSW Police Force Executive on matters of Forensic Procedures.

Superintendent Elizabeth Anne STIRTON, Commander – Albury Local Area Command

Superintendent Elizabeth Anne Stirton joined the New South Wales Police Force as a Trainee in 1982 at the NSW Police Academy, Redfern. She was attested as a Probationary Constable in 1983 where she was stationed at No 1 Division (Central). She was promoted to her current rank in 2011 and posted to her current command in 2011. Superintendent Stirton was confirmed as a Constable in 1984 whilst performing General Duties at Central, she has served at Sydney District Personnel, Eastern Suburbs Personnel, Hornsby, Establishment Control No. 20 Division, North Region Command, Endeavour Region, Kuring-Gai until 2002 where she was promoted to the rank of Inspector (Duty Officer) at Eastwood. She served in this role at Parramatta and Kuring-Gai. She was promoted to the rank of Superintendent as the Local Area Commander of Albury, her current position in 2010. Superintendent Stirton was awarded the National Medal in 2000; 1^st clasp to the National Medal in 2008 and the NSW Police Medal in 2004 (including 3^rd clasp to the NSW Police Medal in 2009).

Superintendent Desmond John ORGAN, Commander –Hunter Valley Local Area Command

Superintendent Desmond John Organ joined the New South Wales Police Force as a Junior Trainee in 1974 at the No. 4 Division (Phillip Street) and later No. 10 Division (Paddington). In 1975 he undertook training at the NSW Police Academy, Redfern. He was attested as a Probationary Constable in 1975 where he was stationed at No. 10 Division (Waverley). He was promoted to his current rank in 2005 and posted to his current command in 2008. Superintendent Organ was confirmed as a Constable in 1976 whilst performing General Duties at No.10 Division (Vaucluse), he has served at Wollongong, Warilla, Werris Creek, Sussex Inlet, Nowra, Narrabri, Wee Waa and Bathurst, where in 2002 he was promoted to the rank of Inspector (Duty Officer). He was promoted to the rank of Superintendent in 2005 as the Local Area Commander of Darling River and his current position in 2008 as the Local Area Commander of the Hunter Valley. Superintendent Organ was awarded the National Medal in 1990; 1^st clasp to the National Medal in 2003 and the NSW Police Medal in 2003 (including 5^th clasp to the NSW Police Medal in 2011). He has also been awarded the Commissioner’s Olympic Citation in 2001 in recognition of valuable contribution to the Police Service during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Superintendent Terence Joseph JACOBSEN, Commander – Human Resources Command, Workforce Management Branch

Superintendent Terence Joseph Jacobsen joined the New South Wales Police Force as a Trainee in 1972 at the NSW Police Academy, Redfern. He was attested as a Probationary Constable in 1972 where he was stationed at No 4 Division (Phillip Street). He was promoted to his current rank in 1996 and posted to his current command in 2011.Superintendent Jacobsen was confirmed as a Constable in 1973 whilst performing General Duties at No. 4 Division (Phillip Street), he has served at Prosecuting Branch, Dee Why, North Region Legal Services, Kempsey Legal Services, Port Macquarie Prosecuting, Prosecuting Training at Police Academy. In 1996, he was promoted to the rank of Superintendent and has served as the Commander at Harbourside LAC, Liverpool LAC, Education Services, Airport Policing, Strike Force ‘Macinne’, Transfers and Promotional Branch. In 2011 he was appointed the Commander of the Human Resources Command, his current position. Superintendent Jacobsen was awarded the National Medal in 1988; 1^st clasp to the National Medal in 1999 and the NSW Police Medal in 2003 (including 5^th clasp to the NSW Police Medal in 2009).

Detective Inspector Greig Anthony STIER, Crime Manager – New England Local Area Command

Detective Inspector Greig Anthony Stier the New South Wales Police Force as a Trainee in 1985 at the NSW Police Academy, Goulburn. He was attested as a Probationary Constable in 1986 where he was stationed at Maroubra. He was promoted to his current rank in 2003 and posted to his current command in 2005. Detective Inspector Stier was confirmed as a Constable in 1987 whilst performing General Duties at Maroubra. He has served at Mascot airport and Eastern Suburbs. He entered the Criminal Investigation field serving at Narrabri in 1988, where he was designated as a Detective in 1993. He later served in Criminal Investigation field at Moree and Bourke where he was promoted to the rank of Detective Sergeant in 2000. He was promoted to the rank of Detective Inspector as the Crime Manager of Cootamundra in 2003. Since 2005, he has served as the Crime Manager of the New England Local Area Command. Detective Inspector Stier was awarded the National Medal in 2003 and the NSW Police Medal in 2004 (including 2^nd clasp to the NSW Police Medal in 2007). He has also been awarded the Commissioner’s Unit Citation for outstanding service and devotion to duty a part of the NSW Police Force response to the outbreak of equine influenza during 2007/2008 – Operation ‘Gambia’.

Inspector John Terrence LIPMAN, Commander – Traffic & Highway Patrol, Traffic Technology Section

Inspector John Terence LIPMAN joined the New South Wales Police Force as a Trainee in 1981 at the NSW Police Academy, Redfern. He was attested as a Probationary Constable in 1981, where he was stationed at No 3 Division (Darlinghurst). He was promoted to his current rank in 2002 and posted to his current command in 2002. Inspector Lipman was confirmed as a Constable in 1982 whilst performing General Duties at No. 3 Division (Darlinghurst), he has performed Highway Patrol duties at the Traffic Branch, Canterbury, Burwood, Campsie and Ashfield District. In 1992, he transferred to the Radio Electronics Unit and later into the Radar Engineering Unit where in 2000 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was promoted to the rank of Inspector in 2002 as the Commander of Traffic Technology Section, his current position. Inspector Lipman was awarded the National Medal in 1997; 1^st clasp to the National Medal in 2006 and the NSW Police Medal in 2003 (including 3^rd clasp to the NSW Police Medal in 2007). Inspector Lipman was on the Steering Committee which was instrumental in launching the field trials for the mobile Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) & In Car Video (ICV) systems used by the NSW Police Force. He was the instigator who implemented the new Breath Analysis equipment and was leader of the steering committee responsible for introducing random drug testing in 2007.

Sergeant Roger Hedley MAYER, Supervisor – State Protection Group Dog Unit

Sergeant Roger Hedley Mayer joined the New South Wales Police Force as a Trainee in 1981 at the NSW Police Academy, Redfern. He was attested as a Probationary Constable in 1982 where he was stationed at Campbelltown. He was promoted to his current rank in 2002 and posted to his current command in 1989. Sergeant Mayer was confirmed as a Constable in 1983 whilst performing General Duties at Campbelltown. He entered the Criminal Investigation field serving at Campbelltown in 1986 and later at Macquarie Fields. In 1989, he transferred to the Dog Unit where in 2002 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Sergeant Mayer was awarded the National Medal in 1996; 1^st clasp to the National Medal in 2004 and the NSW Police Medal in 2003 (including 3rd clasp to the NSW Police Medal in 2009). In 2006, he was awarded the Commissioner’s Unit Citation in recognition of meritorious actions during a civil disturbance that occurred at Redfern between 15 and 16 February 2004. In 2008, he was awarded a 2^nd Commissioner’s Unit Citation in recognition of outstanding bravery and dedication to duty as a member of the NSW Police Force response to civil disorder within Miranda, Eastern Beaches, St. George and Campsie Local Area Command’s. Between 1978 and 1981, Sergeant Mayer served as a Police officer with the Northern Territory Police Force, prior to joining the NSW Police Force. He was stationed in Nhulunbuy, North East Arnhem Land. Whilst working in the Northern Territory, he learnt the local Aboriginal dialect of Gumatj and became fluent in it. He developed close ties with the local Gumatj people. He has a passion for the rights of Indigenous Australians and takes an active interest in educating young police about his experiences.

Sergeant David John WHEATLEY, Supervisor – Brewarrina Police Station

Sergeant David John Wheatley joined the New South Wales Police Force as a Student in 1995 at the NSW Police Academy, Goulburn. He was attested as a Probationary Constable in 1995 where he was stationed at Chatswood. He was promoted to his current rank in 2006 and posted to his current command in 2008.Sergeant Wheatley was confirmed as a Constable in 1996 whilst performing General Duties at North Sydney, he has served at Brewarrina, Bourke, Gunnedah and Tamworth, where he performed Highway Patrol duties. He performed General Duties at Nyngan where he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Sergeant Wheatley was awarded the National Medal in 2001 and the NSW Police Medal in 2007. Sergeant Wheatley is into his second term of service at Brewarrina and has indicated that he wishes to remain there for a lengthy period. Sergeant Wheatley has an excellent rapport and reputation amongst the Aboriginal community and provides a superior role model for junior police at a disadvantaged Station and community.