Placing the safety of the community above their own and performing CPR are just some of the reasons officers from New England Police District received recognition at an awards ceremony this week.
Western Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie, presented upward of 30 awards at the ceremony yesterday (Tuesday 11 February 2020), including eight Certificates of Merit for officers who have shown dedication to duty.
“Due to our remoteness, our police officers are often the first emergency services to arrive at motor vehicle crashes or industrial accidents, cardiac arrests, stabbings or drownings,” Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said.
“Therefore, the timely resuscitation and first aid rendered by our police gives people the best opportunity of survival.
“As a way of recognising these efforts, I award all officers who undertake resuscitation and professional first aid the Western Region Certificate of Merit, and I refer these officers to the Royal Life Saving Society for further recognition.”
Some brave officers who have been awarded the Certificate of Merit include:
- Senior Constable Aaron Unicomb was among the award recipients; it was his life-saving efforts that helped resuscitate a 47-year-old man, who was unconscious and not breathing at Coonabarabran on Friday 26 February 2016.
- Constable Samuel Murray was also awarded for his efforts in apprehending a domestic violence offender, who broke free of custody in Moree, on Monday 10 December 2018. Constable Murray pursued the man on foot through streets and backyards. During the pursuit, he was bitten by a dog which later required stitches but continued his pursuit before he apprehended and arrested the man.
- Senior Constable Daniel Swadling and Probationary Constable Mekalah Dillon were first on scene of a crash where a motorcyclist collided with a power pole at Inverell on Monday November 2018. Senior Constable Swadling and Probationary Constable Dillon performed CPR before the arrival of NSW Ambulance paramedics. They have been awarded for their actions.
- Leading Senior Constable Bradley Neppl and Probationary Constable Nicholas Currie were acknowledged for their assistance in performing CPR on a 74-year-old woman at a home at Moree on Sunday 30 July 2017. The actions of these two officers helped save this woman’s life.
- Senior Constable Rowland and Constable Benjamin Stanley were acknowledged for their actions to assist a woman suffering a cardiac arrest in Boggabilla on Wednesday 8 March 2017. The officers provided CPR until NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived and took over. The officers also assisted with roads blocks on the way to Goondiwindi Hospital.
