Nine Officers Honored for Policing in Australia Day List
Nine NSW Police officers have been honoured with an Australian Police Medal (APM) in recognition of their exceptional service and commitment to the community.
Acting Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Paul Scully and NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon have congratulated the officers on the achievement and thanked them for their contribution to the NSW Police Force.
Nominations for the awards can be by an officer's peers, commander or a member of the community, and are announced twice a year, in January (Australia Day) and June (King's Birthday).
The recipients are from the Barrier Police District, Region Enforcement Squad Central Metropolitan Region South, Tactical Operations Unit, Traffic and Highway Command Macarthur Sector, State Crime Command's Sex Crime Squad, Professional Standards Command's Industrial Relations Commission Coordination, Murray River Police District and two officers from Tweed/Byron Police District.
Acting Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Paul Scully praised the officers for their commitment and professionalism.
"These officers have shown remarkable dedication in keeping our communities safe. Their efforts reflect the high standards of NSW Police," Acting Minister Scully said.
"Time and again, they demonstrate courage and care in serving the people of NSW. I thank them for their commitment and congratulate them."
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon commended the outstanding officers who received an Australian Police Medal.
"An Australian Police Medal reflects the highest standards of professionalism, integrity and leadership within our organisation," Commissioner Lanyon said.
"Officers awarded an APM have demonstrated remarkable dedication over many years in various operational, proactive and corporate sides of policing, and I thank them for their ongoing contribution to NSW Police Force.
"An APM is a testament to the officer's character, their service to the people of New South Wales, and their commitment to public safety."
AUSTRALIAN POLICE MEDAL RECIPIENTS
Detective Superintendent Darren William Beeche
Detective Superintendent Beeche joined the NSW Police Force in 1988 and, during his 37 years of policing, has performed duties at Newtown, Wilcannia, Quakers Hill, Deniliquin, Fraud Squad, The Hills, and Bankstown Police Stations, and within Strike Force Raptor. His career has spanned both metropolitan and regional NSW in general duties and criminal investigation.
In 1994 he was designated as a detective, performing duties at Newtown Police Station and commencing his criminal investigation career. He was promoted to detective sergeant at Deniliquin Police Station before serving within the State Crime Command's Fraud Squad. In 2008, he was promoted to a duty officer at The Hills Police Station, and subsequently, as an inspector, he took on the role of coordinator for Strike Force Raptor. He later returned to Bankstown Police Station, resuming duties as a duty officer.
During his 10 years as the coordinator of the State Crime Strike Force Raptor, Detective Superintendent Beeche has been instrumental in changing the way outlaw motorcycle gangs have operated, significantly enhancing the reputation and public trust in the NSW Police Force among both government stakeholders and the wider community.
Detective Superintendent Beeche was promoted to detective superintendent in July 2024 as the commander of the Bathurst Police Station and Chifley Police District, where he serves today. He is a highly experienced operational police officer who has demonstrated consistent leadership, sound decision-making, and dedication throughout his career. Over decades of service, he has successfully disrupted some of the most violent and high-profile criminal activity in NSW while maintaining a caring and empathetic approach toward community members and victims of crime.
Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Anthony Bell
Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Bell joined the NSW Police Force in December 1987. During his 37 years of policing, he has performed duties at Sydney, Redfern, Kings Cross, Surry Hills, Hurstville, and City Central police stations and the Central Metropolitan Region Enforcement Squad. His entire career has been served in the central metropolitan region of Sydney, encompassing general duties, anti-theft, criminal investigation, proactive crime, unsolved homicide and region enforcement.
He became designated as a detective senior constable in 2002, and in 2004 was promoted to a detective sergeant, before being promoted to his current rank of detective chief inspector in 2007, and in 2010 transferred to the Redfern Region Enforcement Squad, where he remains to this date.
Detective Chief Inspector Bell has overseen more than 200 strike force investigations during his tenure as commander of the Region Enforcement Squad. Over the past 15 years, his squad has achieved astonishing results across an array of crime types that have typically plagued the Central Metropolitan Region, including shoplifting, hydroponic cannabis cultivation, 'dial-a-dealer' drug syndicates and crimes targeting the theft of high-performance motor vehicles resulting in over 6,000 persons arrested and charged and nearly 1,000 search warrants executed, with large amounts of illicit drugs and cash seized and 42 firearms recovered.
Detective Chief Inspector Bell's integrity is exemplary and beyond reproach. Over 15 years of leading a high-risk unit, his conduct has never been questioned, and his morals, principles, methods, and processes have consistently reflected the highest standards of policing. With 37 years of dedicated service, he remains a model police officer who has upheld every aspect of the vow he took upon graduating from the New South Wales Police Academy in 1987.
The achievements by Detective Chief Inspector Bell have had, and will continue to have, a significant impact on the NSW Police Force and the community.
Chief Inspector J
Chief Inspector J joined the New South Wales Police Force (NSWPF) in 1993, commencing general duties at Campbelltown Police Station before transferring to Bankstown Police Station, where he later commenced duties as a criminal investigator. After completing a rigorous selection and training process, in 2000 he was seconded to the State Protection Group as part of the NSWPF preparations for the security of the Olympic Games. After his return to Bankstown police station he completed his designation as a detective and later transferred full-time to the Tactical Operations Unit in 2001 and continues to serve there today. In 2006 he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and in 2014 was promoted to inspector.
Chief Inspector J has completed numerous Australia-New Zealand Counter Terrorism Committee courses including the Police Tactical Group Skills Enhancement Course, Tactical Commanders Course and Senior Investigators Course. His qualifications and experience have supported his extensive secondments to international courts and investigative bodies, often during periods of significant unrest and conflict. He served internationally as an investigator with the International Criminal Court and the United Nations International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism for Syria where he was responsible for the investigation of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
With over 20 years of experience in the tactical field and driven by a strong passion for tactical policing, Chief Inspector J has played an integral role in enhancing and maintaining tactical capabilities across New South Wales. His acute professionalism, extensive knowledge, and measured restraint have set an exceptional example for both peers and junior officers.
Inspector Gregory John Donaldson
Inspector Gregory Donaldson joined the NSW Police Force in July 1989 and was stationed at Ermington, Parramatta, and Northwest Region Dog Squads, before he moved to State Protection Group as a dog handler. In 1999, he began a career in highway patrol that has spanned over 25 years. He was promoted to a sergeant at Mount Druitt Highway Patrol in 2002. During this time, Inspector Donaldson has provided outstanding work towards a child restraint initiative to provide child car seats to struggling parents.
In 2021, he was promoted to an inspector with the Macarthur Sector Highway Patrol, where he continues to make significant contributions to the community. In September 2022, he responded to a motor vehicle accident in Buxton, where five teenagers were tragically killed. In the aftermath, Inspector Donaldson, in collaboration with his trainers, developed road safety education programs that were delivered to the victims' friends and their schools. He also sought an appropriate stakeholder, ASPIRE Traffic Education, to support a pilot Young Traffic Offenders Diversion Program aimed at building safer driving habits.
Inspector Donaldson works tirelessly with road safety officers, Rotary NSW and Campbelltown Hospital to implement road safety programs in all high schools in Macarthur and to improve the safety of all young people. He has overseen operations to identify and act against drivers of cars who engage in dangerous driving in defective motor vehicles, resulting in over 1,000 fraud charges laid against mechanics. He developed the operation to detect drink driving offenders on NSW motorways, utilising up to 200 police to perform random breath tests on off-ramps.
Inspector Donaldson has continuously demonstrated distinguished service in a demanding work role and has influenced major changes with his initiatives, including within Revenue NSW. His contribution to the community, road safety and NSW Police Force has been outstanding.
Detective Inspector Rachel Belinda Fawcett
Detective Inspector Rachel Fawcett joined the NSW Police Force in 1993 and was stationed at Campbelltown Police Station. She transferred to Macarthur Special Operations in July 1994 before gaining a position in the Criminal Investigations Unit at Macquarie Fields in 1998, where she led the investigation into the abduction, serious sexual assault and torture of several young men, which resulted in the offender being charged and ultimately sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.
Detective Inspector Fawcett was designated a detective in 1999 and proceeded to work in the Victims and Major Offenders Squad as part of the Joint Investigation Response Team at Penrith investigating child abuse matters. She then moved to the Robbery Squad where she investigated robbery, extortion and kidnapping matters.
Promoted to a sergeant in 2009 at Campbelltown Police Station, she returned to work with the Child Abuse Unit in 2011. In this capacity, her team worked closely with commands throughout the state and tackled offences against multiple victims, and multi-offender matters. Her expertise in this area led her to represent NSW Police at the Safe Children Conference 2018 arising from the Royal Commission into institutionalised child sexual abuse.
Detective Inspector Fawcett returned to Macquarie Fields Police Station in 2016, where she served until 2022 before being promoted to an inspector within the Central Metropolitan Region. Here she draws on her extensive experience in community policing and criminal investigations, applying her skills to the range of roles of the staff officer.
Detective Inspector Fawcett has dedicated over 30 years of service across a range of commands, with a particularly distinguished career in criminal investigation and is currently attached to the State Crime Commands Sex Crime Squad Investigations teams. She has been involved in critical projects such as the review of the aged crime prevention officer's role and the development of a translation app in conjunction with internal police command and Multicultural NSW.
Detective Chief Inspector Matthew James Kehoe
Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Kehoe joined the NSW Police Force on 18 September 1987 and worked at Dee Why, Manly and Frenchs Forest police stations. In 1995 he commenced criminal investigation duties at Manly Police Station and was designated as a detective in 1997.
He transferred to the Corrective Services Investigation Unit, State Crime Command before being promoted to sergeant at Lismore in 2005. He continued to perform a number of duties across northern NSW including a term as the general manager of Industry Regulations at the NSW Firearms Registry over the years. In 2018 he transferred to the Tweed/Byron Police District as a duty officer, then in 2019 he was promoted to a detective chief inspector at the Tweed/Byron Police District. He is currently the officer in charge of the Byron Bay Police Station, performing the role of an operations district inspector.
He has consistently navigated complex challenges throughout his career. His ability to maintain public trust and uphold the integrity of the NSW Police Force has been achieved through proactive engagement with locals, community groups, and business owners within the tourism industry. These strong relationships have been instrumental in fostering community confidence and collaboration.
Detective Chief Inspector Kehoe provided instrumental support to the family of a missing Belgian backpacker. He has planned, commanded and led policing operations at Bluesfest, Splendour in the Grass and Falls Festival in the Byron Shire from 2018 to 2024. He responded to community needs in the Byron Shire during the 2019 bushfires and 2022 floods and led public order management at the NSW and QLD border, Byron Bay, and Mullumbimby during COVID-19 restrictions.
Detective Chief Inspector Kehoe has dedicated 38 years of distinguished service to the community, marked by outstanding performance, quality, and significant contribution to the development of the NSW Police Force.
Chief Inspector Rodney Christopher Pratt
Chief Inspector Rodney Pratt joined the NSW Police Force on 8 December 1980 and performed duties at Regent Street and Central police stations, before moving to the Traffic Unit in 1983, performing highway patrol duties in the metropolitan area. He was a police prosecutor from 1986 to 1999.
Chief Inspector Pratt served across various units between 1985 and 2005. In 2005, he transferred to the Employee Management Advisory section as an investigator, and in 2006, moved to the Internal Affairs Complaint Administration Management Systems Section before his promotion to inspector in 2007 within the Employee Management Section. There he took up his current position as the manager of the Industrial Relations Coordination Unit with the Professional Standards Command and, in 2019, was elevated to the rank of chief inspector.
In 2006 Chief Inspector Pratt was the inaugural appointment to the position of the commissioner's representative and manager of the Industrial Relations Commission Operations Unit. He has tirelessly dedicated himself to reviewing, improving and revising all departmental procedures, working in conjunction with the Office of General Counsel to overhaul the quality and standard of material presented to the Industrial Relations Commission. He has improved the efficiency of departmental processes, built trusted professional relationships with the Office of General Counsel representing the Commissioner, and is well respected amongst the legal fraternity.
Chief Inspector Pratt has 45 years of distinguished service and is an outstanding mentor and educator of the disciplinary process. He represents the Commissioner of Police in relation to reviews filed in the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW and is a trusted expert of disciplinary caselaw imparting his knowledge and expertise to all colleagues and stakeholders and is held in high esteem by the executive team of NSW Police.
Chief Inspector Scott James Russell
Chief Inspector Scott Russell joined the NSW Police Force in 1988 and was posted to Albury Police Station, and remained in this area working at Deniliquin, Mathoura, Holbrook and Griffith police stations. In 2002 he was promoted to a sergeant at Bathurst Police Station, and over the next 13 years he worked tirelessly in regional and remote communities in Portland, Walgett, Collarenebri and Orange. In 2015 Chief Inspector Russell was promoted to an inspector at the Murray River Police District and received a promotion to chief inspector in January 2022 at Albury Police Station and remains there to this day.
Chief Inspector Russell has served with distinction in the NSW Police Force for 37 years. His commitment to regional NSW communities, particularly those in the western and southern regions has had a profound impact on public safety, community trust and charitable fundraising. Chief Inspector Russell's family have been impacted by cancer which led him and his wife into fundraising, as both a NSW Police Force representative and a private citizen. He commenced raising money to assist in prevention and treatment of cancer.
Chief Inspector Russell has been recognised for the tireless charity work within the community, and in particular for the Cancer Council of Australia and his association with the Box Rally. He is known for his dedication and leadership and has rebuilt and strengthened relationships to reduce crime and restore community pride in a remote sector of Collarenebri.
Through unwavering dedication to both his policing duties and community service, Chief Inspector Russell has demonstrated the highest standards of service and integrity. His exceptional contributions to fundraising, cancer research and regional NSW communities, which exemplify the values of the NSW Police Force.
Superintendent Christopher Schilt
Superintendent Christopher Schilt joined the NSW Police Force in 1996 and spent time stationed at the Waverley, Marrickville, Botany Bay and Kings Cross police stations. He was promoted to a sergeant in 2004 at Kings Cross Police Station and to an inspector in 2008 at Botany Bay Police Station. Whilst at Botany Bay Police Station he was recognised for his operational leadership of significant policing incidents and for focusing on officer welfare and the local community.
In 2012 Superintendent Schilt moved to the Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Command as the commander of the Security Management Unit and oversaw the transition of special constable powers from ministerial employees under the Police Act 1990. Superintendent Schilt was promoted to a superintendent in 2016 at Cootamundra Police Station and soon after took up the role of the inaugural commander of the Hume Police District, where he led emergency management responses during the 2019-20 bushfires as the deputy region emergency operations controller in the Southern Region and later in the 2021-22 east coast flood emergencies and 2025 mid coast floods as the local emergency operations controller.
In 2020 he transferred to the Manning Great Lakes Police District where he is the current district commander. Since arriving, he has focussed on youth engagement, driving the Forster sector's first Fit for Life outreach program. He continued to build relationships with local youth through his Boxing with the Boss activities at the Taree Police Citizens Youth Club. A keen boxer for many years and the president of the NSW Police Boxing Club since 2005, Superintendent Schilt has been a driving force behind the NSW Police Force boxing fundraiser across the state; helping to raise a significant amount of money for charities. He has fought in the ring to help raise funds and mentored many young people at crossroads in their lives. His direct intervention has changed the course of those lives for the better.
Superintendent Schilt is a respected member of the NSW Police Force, who shows genuine care for all staff, the community and the NSW Police Force brand.
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