More than four hundred police officers, Rotarians, family and friends recently attended the annual NSW Police Officer of the Year awards.
The awards are a joint initiative by the Rotary Club of Sydney on behalf all Rotary Districts in NSW and the NSW Police Force, to recognise professional excellence and dedication to service by officers and civilian staff.
Senior Constable Alison Stewart, from the Port Stephens Hunter Police District was named the 2024 Rotary NSW Police Officer of the Year.
Snr Cst Stewart was recognised for her tireless charity work, efforts with youth in her community and extensive career protecting and serving the people of NSW.
This year’s judging panel noted her charity work with Backpack Venture, her long 36-year career as a regional police officer and her work with youth in her local community.
Snr Cst Stewart helped setup the Backpack Venture charity, an organisation focused on providing food and goods to children across the Hunter and Western NSW. During the 2022 Lismore floods Snr Cst Stewart distributed backpacks full of goods to children impacted by the disaster helping to bring relief to the devasted community.
The 2024 Awards were presented by NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb APM; Minister for Police and Counter Terrorism, The Hon. Yasmin Catley; Rotary Club of Sydney President, Glenn Stafford; retired NSW Police Inspector, Irene Juergens APM, Deputy Commissioners and senior Rotarians.
Winners in each category include:
Senior Constable Lachlan Wykes – Incident and Emergency Management Command – Metropolitan Field Operations Police Officer of the Year
Sergeant Peter Donovan – Wireless Network Group – Corporate Services Police Officer of the Year
Leading Senior Constable Matthew Bailey – Public Order and Riot Squad – Investigations & Counter Terrorism Rotary Police Officer of the year
Sergeant Nathan Trueman – Mount Druitt Police Area Command – Rotary Community Award
Dallas Maher – Facial Recognition Unit – Police Employee of the Year
Constable Joshua Ross – Central North Police District – Customer Service Excellence Award
Superintendent Christine McDonald – Burwood Police Area Command – Irene Juergens (IJ) Fellowship Award Sworn Category
Gandhi Sindyan – Campsie Police Area Command – Irene Juergens (IJ) Fellowship Award Unsworn Category*
David Loft – Monaro Police District – Volunteer of the Year Award