Three South Australia Police (SAPOL) officers have received an Australian Police Medal (APM) as part of Australia Day 2025 honours.
Assistant Commissioner Stuart McLean, Chief Superintendent Stephen Howard and Senior Sergeant First Class Colleen Hilditch have been recognised for their long commitment to policing and the South Australian community.
Commissioner of Police Grant Stevens APM LEM congratulated the three worthy APM recipients.
"Stuart, Stephen and Colleen all have the outstanding qualities and commitment to their policing roles," Commissioner Stevens said
"Each are leaders in their fields, respected in their communities, and most deserving of this accolade.
"While they haven't sought thanks or recognition, on behalf of SAPOL, I congratulate and thank each of them for their service."
Assistant Commissioner Stuart McLean
After joining SAPOL in 1989, Assistant Commissioner McLean was part of general duties patrols in metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia. He became a lecturer at the School of Applied Policing, before he was promoted to the role of training sergeant.
In 2005, he was appointed to the officer rank and managed the Recruit 400 program, coordinating the strategic allocation of 400 additional police positions across the organisation, including international recruits.
As an officer of police, Assistant Commissioner McLean has served in a number of areas, including the chief of staff to the Commissioner of Police.
In 2020, he was seconded to SA Health to establish the command-and-control function and coordinate the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was promoted at this time and managed frontline operations across regional South Australia, before being appointed COVID-19 response coordinator.
He was appointed Assistant Commissioner of SAPOL's Security and Emergency Management Service, before leading SAPOL's team supporting the Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence. In 2025, Assistant Commissioner McLean was selected as the executive leader for Operation Sentinel 31, tasked with responsibility for planning the policing response to the United Nations' 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31).
He has demonstrated his strategic leadership, outstanding communication skills, experience, and commitment to establishing the capability and resource requirements necessary to ensure the safety and security of the major event. In all aspects of his career, Assistant Commissioner McLean has made a significant contribution to the safety of the South Australian community.
Assistant Commissioner Stuart McLean is honoured to receive the Australian Police Medal and feels grateful to belong to a supportive organisation.
Chief Superintendent Stephen Howard
Chief Superintendent Howard started his career at the Adelaide Police Station in general duty patrols in 1990. He was promoted to Sergeant whilst working at Parks and Adelaide Station and became a Senior Sergeant in 2005.
He became an Inspector the following year, and undertook operational postings, corporate reviews and project work. This included reviewing and reengineering the processes supporting DNA management, a review of the process of charging offenders in Magistrates Court cases and preparing briefs of evidence, with the view to increasing the rate of successful prosecutions. He also managed SAPOL's response to, and implementation of, South Australian Government uniform regional boundaries.
Chief Superintendent Howard has served in a number of branches across SAPOL, including Chief of Staff to the Commissioner.
When in charge of Firearms Branch, he was integral to successful legislative reform regarding the sale and possession of gel blasters being subject to licensing and control under the Firearms Act 2015 and Firearms Regulations 2017. He developed policy and processes to address the estimated 62,000 gel blasters owned within the state, thereby enhancing community safety.
Now Officer in Charge of People, Culture and Wellbeing Coordination Branch, Chief Superintendent Howard's contributions on the challenging global and national labour market have been crucial in delivering the Accelerate Recruitment strategy.
Chief Superintendent Stephen Howard is ending his SAPOL career on a high note, retiring with an Australian Police Medal. He is pictured where his journey began at the historic Fort Largs site, once part of the Police Academy.
Senior Sergeant First Class Colleen Hilditch
Senior Sergeant First Class Colleen Hilditch joined SAPOL in 1994 and was posted to Adelaide. She worked in operations and crime scene before joining Community Programs at Port Adelaide in 2003 as the youth and community officer, where she delivered a range of sustainable engagement programs with young people. In 2009, she transferred to the then State Crime Prevention Branch as the crime prevention supervisor.
Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to the South Australian community through her role as a member and subsequently Treasurer of the Westside Blue Light Committee from 2005 to 2009.
Becoming a member of the Blue Light SA Incorporated Board in 2012, she later served as Chair of the Board for three years. During her time as Chair, she was instrumental in delivering a highly successful International Blue Light Conference in October 2018 which was attended by 110 representatives.
In 2013, she began as a supervisory trainer at the Academy and played a pivotal role in the design and implementation of strategic training that evolved from the Equal Opportunity Commission review.
Most significant is her commitment to the mentoring, training and management of recruits undertaking the Constable Development Program. In 2019, she was promoted to Senior Sergeant in charge of the Recruit Training Team.
Throughout her tenure Senior Sergeant First Class Hilditch has demonstrated exceptional leadership and exemplary performance, particularly during Recruit 313 and the COVID-19 pandemic.
She is highly respected and a valued manager whose unwavering focus, agility, stewardship and commitment to the development of recruits is now evident during SAPOL's current period of high recruitment. Her significant contribution to the mentoring, training and development of recruits will leave a considerable legacy.
Senior Sergeant First Class Colleen Hilditch has experienced a diverse policing career and thoroughly enjoys her current role at the South Australia Police Academy. She is humbled by the accolade.
