The world’s longest serving policewoman, a dedicated officer who oversaw the investigation into the Eastern Freeway tragedy and a mental health champion are among Victoria Police members recognised in the King’s Birthday honours.
Detective Senior Sergeant Joy Murphy – recognised by the International Association of Women Police as the longest serving female police officer in the world – has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community through emergency response organisations. Now in her 51st year of policing, Senior Sergeant Murphy has dedicated more than 30 years of her career to working in sex crimes. She served as head of the Sexual Offences Squad, becoming the first woman in Victoria Police to be appointed as officer-in-charge of a crime squad. Senior Sergeant Murphy was responsible for unaccounted for persons at Kinglake and St Andrews during the Black Saturday bushfires and now manages a sex offender registry administration and community engagement team.
Five police have been awarded the Australian Police Medal which recognises distinguished service by a member of the force.
Superintendent John Fitzpatrick, the head of Victoria Police’s Road Policing Operations and Investigations Division, was instrumental in the establishment of Paragon Taskforce which investigated the April 2020 freeway collision that killed four police. He also oversees the delivery of 3 million breath tests and 150,000 drug screenings a year to reduce trauma on Victoria’s roads, was at the forefront of road policing support provided during the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires and last year’s floods and has performed a variety of general and specialist duties in his 43-year career.
Senior Sergeant Dermot Avon’s life changed forever when involved in several critical incidents in the late 1980s. He has since dedicated more than 30 years to developing and implementing peer support and mental health programs at Victoria Police, helping ensure members involved in traumatic incidents as well as their families get the support they need. A police officer for 42 years, Senior Sergeant Avon has often provided one-to-one support to members in his own time. Outside of Victoria Police he serves as junior vice president on the Police Association Victoria’s board.
Inspector Matthew Anderson’s 44-year career has involved service in some of the most high-pressure environments of law enforcement including counter terrorism and management of critical incidents and emergencies. He spent more than a decade with the Special Operations Group and has been involved in numerous high-profile incidents including the rescue of eight hostages from a Mitcham solicitor’s office in 1996 and a thwarted 2016 Christmas Day terrorist plot. Inspector Anderson worked with the defence force to co-ordinate Mallacoota’s evacuation and maintain supplies during the January 2020 bushfires. He is currently at State Highway Patrol.
Detective Superintendent Jacqueline Curran is dedicated to improving community safety outcomes, contributing to Victoria Police’s review of the 2017 Bourke Street tragedy in which six people were killed. In 2019 she was named the first female inspector in charge of the Purana Taskforce which is focused on disrupting, disabling and dismantling organised crime syndicates. Detective Superintendent Curran, who has also served at the former Rape Squad and Homicide Squad, is a role model and mentor. She has showed integrity and ethical leadership in her 37-year career, holding staff to account and lifting standards in her numerous roles within the force.
Assistant Commissioner Christopher Gilbert, who leads Victoria Police’s Intelligence and Covert Support Command, has made an outstanding contribution to community safety, intelligence, covert policing and human source management over more than 32 years. He was integral in driving change in the way Victoria Police manages sources as a result of the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants. Assistant Commissioner Gilbert’s commitment to safety while at the force’s Counter Terrorism Command led to a more educated and integrated approach to the way police respond to crime and how they work with victims. He has also driven initiatives to support police who are off work for mental health reasons to return and thrive.
Quotes attributable to Shane Patton, Chief Commissioner:
“These members go about their duties with passion, professionalism and integrity.
“Be it improving safety on Victoria’s roads, disrupting criminal behaviour or looking out for the welfare of their fellow officers, each has made an outstanding contribution to Victoria Police and the community it serves.
“This is deserved recognition for the extraordinary work our police do each and every day.”
