Eight NSW Police Force officers have been recognised as part of the Queens’s Birthday Honours list, NSW Police say.
Commissioner Mick Fuller APM extended his congratulations to the eight recipients whose policing experiences covered from general duties, road policing, investigations and public order management.
"This award recognises the important and valued contribution officers make to their local communities every day," Commissioner Fuller said.
"Each of them brings a library of knowledge, experience and professionalism to the NSW Police Force.
"Whilst officers don't embark on a policing career for awards and accolades, it’s humbling to honour their distinguished service today."
The APM recipients are:
Superintendent Gregory Martin – Commander – Richmond Local Area Commander
Chief Inspector Wayne Humphrey – Duty Officer – Port Stephens Local Area Command
Detective Superintendent Peter Thurtell – Commander – Manning Great Lakes Local Area Command
Chief Superintendent Donna Adney – Commander – Public Order and Riot Squad
Inspector Donna Faul – Commander – Protocol and Awards Unit
Sergeant Paul Dilley– Team Leader – Mid North Coast Highway Patrol
Inspector Anthony Reneker – Duty Officer – Griffith Local Area Command
Chief Inspector Kevin McNeil – Crime Manager – Far South Coast Local Area Command
Sergeant Paul Dilley - Team Leader, Mid North Coast Highway Patrol - Sergeant Paul Dilley joined the New South Wales Police Force as a Trainee in 1982, at the NSW Police Academy, Redfern. He was attested as a Probationary Constable in 1982, where he was stationed at Central. He was promoted to his current rank in 1997 and posted to his current command in 1990. Sergeant Dilley has dedicated himself to furthering road policing and road safety in northern NSW. In addition to his duties, he has been a NSW Police Force Protocol officer for more than 10 years, ensuring that appropriate traditions are conducted at ceremonies and events, which include retired police and serving police funerals, National and State Awards presentations, and the 150th year anniversary of the New South Wales Police Force. Sergeant Dilley has been strong contributor to the New South Wales Cricket community, predominately through his high profile role with the Mid North Coast Cricket Umpires Association
Inspector Anthony Reneker - Duty Officer – Griffith Local Area Command - Inspector Anthony Reneker joined the New South Wales Police Force as a Trainee in 1982 at the NSW Police Academy, Redfern. He was attested as a Probationary Constable in 1982, where he was stationed at No. 30 Division (Gosford). He was promoted to his current rank in 2000 and posted to his current command in 2006. Inspector Reneker has spent a major part of his policing service in regional NSW, where he has developed relationships with disaffected members of these communities and has been involved in many early interventions within Aboriginal Communities that saw better outcomes for police and the community. He has been involved in the successful introduction of the Community Engagement Program in Griffith, which increases the level of trust between those communities and police. He is involved in strategies to kerb graffiti and anti-social behaviour for which he has received recognition from various community groups and local government.
Inspector Donna Faul, Commander – Protocol & Awards Unit - Inspector Donna Marie Faul joined the New South Wales Police Force as a Trainee in 1986, at the NSW Police Academy, Goulburn. She was attested as a Probationary Constable in 1987, where she was stationed at Fairfield. She was promoted to her current rank in 2014 and posted to her current command in 2016.
She has overseen the restructure of the Protocol and Awards Unit, including significant enhancements in the delivery of services, both within the NSW Police Force and to external stakeholders. These enhancements included: the accelerated implementation of the Medal and Awards System, an electronic based awards processing tool, including training of field personnel; the implementation of streamlined processes for Medal and Awards Review, clearing a significant backlog in this area; a complete review of standard operating procedures of the Protocol and Awards Unit, resulting in the development and implementation of new operating methods; significant service delivery at the funerals of NSW Police Force personnel, including a closer liaison with family members, Police Commands and Victims Support Groups; and her unwavering commitment to raising the esteem of Awards Presentation Ceremonies and Commemoration Services conducted within the NSW Police Force.
Inspector Faul has fostered increased co-operation with other government departments and external agencies, enhancing and streamlining the delivery of services provided by the Protocol and Awards Unit and other NSW Police units.
Detective Inspector Kevin McNeil – Far South Coast Local Area Command – Detective Kevin McNeil became a trainee for the NSW Police Force in 1985 and was attested as a probationary constable in 1985, where he was stationed at Bankstown.
Detective Inspector McNeil was confirmed as a Constable in 1986 and performed general duties at Bass Hill and also served the Sydney District Prisoner Escort Unit and general duties at Bankstown. In 1991, he entered the criminal investigation field serving at North West Region Crime Squad, where he was designated as a detective in 1993; he later served North West Region Major Crime Squad – Drugs, where in 2002 he was promoted to the rank of Senior Sergeant. In 2005, he commenced duties in the Shoalhaven Local Area Command, where he was promoted to the rank of Inspector (Duty Officer) and in 2010; he took up the role of Crime Manager at the Far South Coast Local Area Command, his current position.
Detective Inspector McNeil has performed criminal investigation duties for a majority of his career, where he has led and been involved in a number of high profile criminal investigations. He has earned the trust, respect and support of his subordinates and peers.
Chief Inspector Wayne Humphrey - Port Stephens Local Area Command - Chief Inspector Wayne David Humphrey joined the NSW Police Force as a junior trainee in 1980. He was attested as a Probationary Constable in 1981, where he was stationed at No. 36 Division (Springwood) and confirmed as a constable in 1982 while at Penrith.
He entered the criminal investigation field, where he was designated as a Detective in 1991, and was promoted to the rank of Inspector (Duty Officer) at Newcastle Local Area Command in 2002. He later served at the Lower Hunter Local Area Command, Lake Macquarie Local Area Command, Northern Operations, Newcastle City Local Area Command, where in 2014, he was appointed as Staff Officer to Commander, Northern Region, and his current position.
He has been an active member of the Operational Support Group, continuing as a tactical advisor to this date, and is also a member of Northern Region State Protection Support Unit, where he has been involved in many high risk incidents. His knowledge, skills and contribution to Emergency Management has been demonstrated through his involvement in the Hunter/Central Coast Storms in 2007 and his deployment to New Zealand, as part of the NSW Police Force contingent, following the devastating earthquakes. He was instrumental in the Newcastle Local Area Command program of reducing Alcohol Related Crime, resulting in significant changes to alcohol related laws. He was a member of the Northern Region team responsible for the planning of the police response to potential large scale public order and protest activities in the Northern Rivers relating to Coal Seam Gas exploration.
Chief Superintendent Donna Adney - Chief Superintendent Donna Adney joined the NSW Police Force in 1986. She was promoted to Superintendent in 2003 and Chief Superintendent in 2011 as Commander Communications Group.
Chief Superintendent Adney has held geographic Commander roles at Gladesville, Ashfield and Surry Hills Local Area Commands and Specialist Commander roles at Communications Group, SPG Dog Unit and her current role as Commander Public Order and Riot Squad.
She has enjoyed a career spanning various Local Area Command positions along with attachments to the (then) Police Air Wing as an Aerial Observer followed by (then) Special Branch as a Close Personal Protection Officer.
In her current role as Commander Public Order Riot Squad she is responsible for the command, management and deployment of PORS operatives and Mounted Unit officers in support of a wide range of operational activities across New South Wales.
Superintendent Gregory Martin, Commander – Richmond Local Area Command - Superintendent Gregory Michael Martin joined the New South Wales Police Force as a Trainee in 1984, at the NSW Police Academy, Goulburn. He was attested as a Probationary Constable in 1984, where he was stationed at Hornsby. He was promoted to his current rank in 2004 and posted to his current command in 2010. Superintendent Martin has dedicated most of his policing career to the forensic field, where he has been recognised in the Supreme Court of NSW (Criminal Division), as an ‘expert’ forensic investigator.
During his time at the Richmond Local Area Command, he was responsible for reinvigorating the Community Drug Action Team (CDAT) and obtaining government funding for an innovative program where safety messages were printed on drink coasters for use in licensed premises, a strategy that has been widely embraced across New South Wales and other jurisdictions
Superintendent Martin has extensive experience in commanding areas with high Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities (ATSI), where he has devoted considerable efforts and resources developing trust and working relationships with community leaders that saw better outcomes for both police and the community. He has been an active sponsor and contributor to the IPROWD program since its inception.
Superintendent Peter Thurtell - Commander – Manning Great Lakes Local Area Command - Superintendent Peter Glenn Thurtell joined the New South Wales Police Force as a Trainee in 1985 at the NSW Police Academy, Goulburn. He was attested as a Probationary Constable in 1985, where he was stationed at Redfern. He was promoted to his current rank in 2005 and posted to his current command in 2012.
Superintendent Thurtell during his time as the Commander of the Mid North Coast Local Area Command instigated his Commands participation in a domestic violence program known as the ‘Community Partnerships against Domestic and Family Violence’ program, a partnership between the local community and the NSW Police Force which facilitated numerous victims of domestic violence to access support.
Superintendent Thurtell is the Northern Region sponsor for Mental Health and active member of the Hunter/New England Regional Interdepartmental Committee for Mental Health. In 2011, he was one of two Forward Commanders for Strike Force "Durkin’ searching for Australia’s most wanted fugitive, who was wanted in relation to two murders and an attempted murder of a NSW police officer, and had eluded police for several years. This high risk search operation involved over 500 specialist police and civilian personnel over a four month period and ultimately led to the arrest of the offender.
