By CASEY NEILL
TWO Casey sergeants were on Monday recognised for their 70 years’ combined service to Victoria Police.
Sergeant Ian Lane from the Cranbourne Family Violence team received a 35-year service award at the Southern Metro Region Division 3 honours and awards ceremony at Pakenham’s Cardinia Cultural Centre on 19 May.
Endeavour Hills Sergeant Michael Sheer took home a 35-year clasp for his Victoria Police Service Medal (VPSM) and a second clasp for his National Medal.
The National Medal is awarded for 15 years of service and clasps are added for each additional 10 years.
The National Police Service Medal (NPSM) recognises ethical and diligent service and among its recipients were Narre Warren Sergeant Sean Murray, Cranbourne Sergeants Barry Jeffrey and Gavin Buchan, Cranbourne Family Violence Sergeant Ian Lane and Endeavour Hills Leading Senior Constable Martin Read.
Endeavour Hills Senior Constable Grzegorz Pajor and Casey Family Violence Senior Constable Peta Blackett-Smith took home VPSMs recognising their 10 years of service.
Casey CIU Sergeant Andrew Payne and Narre Warren Victorian public servant Kaye McBean received 20 year clasps for their VPSMs.
VPSM 25-year clasps and National Medal first clasps went to Narre Warren Leading Senior Constable Stephen Foster, Endeavour Hills Leading Senior Constable Peter De Sair, Casey Highway Patrol Leading Senior Constable Kenneth Niven and Casey CIU Leading Senior Constable Chris Lewis.
Casey Highway Patrol Leading Senior Constable Glen Ziino received a National Medal and 20-year clasp.
Cranbourne Constable Nicholas Walters was among 13 officers to receive a Divisional Commendation recognising exceptional performance at an incident in Noble Park last August.
They arrested a man armed with knives who was threatening police and community members, resolving “a dangerous and volatile incident”.
Narre Warren Acting Senior Sergeant Nathan Prowd and Casey Highway Patrol Senior Constable Leigh Royal were among six members recognised with the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal for their work in New Zealand after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
Southern Metropolitan Region Commander Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius said the division was the second largest in the state, serviced 13 per cent of the state’s population and faced significant challenges.
“But there’s been a huge turnaround,” he said.
“We’ve seen a significant reduction in residential burglary and we’ve also started to turn around public assaults.
“Public assaults are still up but the rate of increase has dropped off.”
Mr Cornelius said the rise in family violence crime had slowed from about 40 per cent to 5 per cent thanks to work on problem behaviour with the community.
“We’re leading the way,” he said.
“But we won’t rest easy until every woman and child feels safe in their own home.
“Close to 46 per cent of all crime, particularly assaults, in this part of the world are family violence related.
“That’s an absolute disgrace.”
Mr Cornelius acknowledged the many loved ones alongside the morning’s medal recipients.
“Thank you for giving us your sons and daughters, your husbands and wives, your mums and dads,” he said.
Mr Cornelius urged the children present to “be proud of your mum and dad”.
“They have worked really hard and made a real difference to the community,” he said.
“In the medal presentation box there’s a miniature medal.
“Make sure you wear that to school tomorrow for show and tell, and say to your mates at school ‘my mum, my dad is a police officer and I’m very proud of them’.”
