Police officers recognised for commitment and service

Commissioner Ian Stewart congratulated Queensland Police Service (QPS) officers and staff who received medals and awards at a ceremony held today at Police Headquarters in Brisbane.

The National Police Service Medal was presented to five officers for their past and future commitment to ethical and diligent service and recognises the special status that sworn police officers have because of their role protecting the community. A minimum of 15 years’ service is required to qualify for this medal.

The families of four former serving officers were presented with the National Police Service Medal which were posthumously awarded by the Governor-General and the Queensland Police Service Medal, posthumously awarded by Commissioner Stewart. The officers included:
· Sergeant John Douglas Neideck who died as a result of a traffic incident at Mudgeeraba on December 11, 1984.
· Constable First Class Robin Edward Seefeld who died as a result of a motor vehicle incident at Bundaberg on July 22, 1977.
· Constable Shayne William John Gill who was struck by a motor vehicle while on radar duty on the Bruce Highway near the Glasshouse Mountains on May 21, 1996.
· Constable Vincent John Hennelly who died as a result of a motorcycle incident at Riverview on August 22, 1980.

The National Medal and Clasps were presented to five officers. The National Medal recognises 15 years of diligent service by members of Australian police forces, defence forces, and members of the ambulance and fire services. Clasps to the National Medal are awarded for a further period of ten years’ service.

The Queensland Police Meritorious Service Medal was presented to six officers and members. The Queensland Police Meritorious Service Medal is awarded to members of the QPS who have provided a continued substantial contribution in a number of areas within the QPS over an extended period of time.

Recognised for exemplary conduct in a specific role or duty which enhances the professional image of the QPS far exceeding what might be reasonably expected from an efficient member of the Service, eight members were presented with the Queensland Police Exemplary Conduct Medal.

The ceremony also saw the Queensland Police Service Medal presented to officers and staff members. The QPS Medal is an award approved by the Commissioner in recognition of diligent and ethical service by QPS employees after 10 years of full-time qualifying service.

Commissioner Stewart announced today the Queensland Police Service Medal will now be available to former serving personnel who did not complete the required 10 years of service due to a previous discriminatory workplace policy. This is in line with an exceptions criteria included for the Australian Defence Medal, which acknowledges the discontinuation of women’s service due to policies relating to marriage and family. Similar to our Defence services, up to 1974, our police women were forced to resign when they married. After 1974, married women would commonly resign when having families due to not having access to the parental leave, part-time service and flexible work options our current serving police personnel have available to them today.
Women who received the QPSM today under this new criteria included:
· PW 11, former Constable Roslyn Peters (nee Kelleher) who served from 1965 – 1967.
· PW 18, former Constable Shirley Andrews (nee Adams) who served from 1966 – 1968. She was here today with her husband, former Inspector Grade 3 Leslie Andrews who also received a Queensland Police Service Medal with a 25 Year Clasp.
· PW 217, former Constable First Class Carol Stewart (nee Allen) who served from 1973 – 1980.
· PW229, former Senior Constable Patricia Garnaut who was our first female water police officer and served from 1973 – 1982.
· Former First Class Constable Patricia Neidick-Collins (nee Riggs) who served from 1975 – 1982. Patricia’s late husband, Sergeant John Neidick’s name is on the QPS Honour Roll and today her daughters were presented with his Queensland Police Service Medal and his National Police Service Medal.

Commissioner Stewart presented Mr Garry Ryan with his 50-year Clasp. He is one of five QPS personnel who has received this clasp. A further seven recipients received Clasps and the QPS Medal was awarded to one member and five former officers.

The Commissioner’s Certificate (Corporate and Support) was awarded to Ms Donna Farkas, recognised for exceeding expectations and in acknowledgement to her service to the chaplaincy unit and National Police Remembrance Day events.

The Australian Federal Police Operations Medal with an Operation Pleach Clasp is an internal Australian Federal Police award afforded to all those who took part or supported the whole-of-government operation initiated in June 2007 to assist the Northern Territory Police in the protection of children in remote indigenous communities from sexual and other abuse. This award was presented to eight QPS officers.

Commissioner Stewart said all award recipients were of the highest calibre.

“Everyone presented with an award today shows the professionalism that is a hallmark of the QPS,” Commissioner Stewart said.

“It’s important we also acknowledge family and friends, in front of us, who provide officers the essential support needed to perform our roles every day, who stand alongside all of us during both the challenging and the rewarding times.

“It is the comfort, support and counsel that you provide that gives police officers the strength and confidence required to fulfil their duties, even in the face of adversity.”