Minister for Police and Minister for Corrective Services the Honourable Mark Ryan MP and Commissioner Katarina Carroll have joined in congratulating seven Queensland Police Service (QPS) officers who have received Australian Police Medals as part of the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours celebrations.
- Inspector Tracy Dale is recognised for her service as a leader, mentor and senior investigator
- Sergeant Ian Leavers is recognised for his leadership skills, governance abilities and management expertise
Commissioner Carroll said the latest recipients of this national honour had demonstrated exceptional levels of dedication to the Service and to Queensland.
"The QPS recipients of the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours APMs have contributed to various portfolios and programs within the Service," Commissioner Carroll said.
Senior Sergeant Nicole Fox is recognised for her exceptional service as a Forensic Crash Investigator
Senior Sergeant David Rutherford displays a thorough knowledge and understanding of Indigenous cultures and practices
"On behalf of the Queensland Police Service, I would like to personally congratulate the seven officers who have received Australian Police Medals for their distinguished service."
- Inspector Phillip Stevens is recognised for his service in a variety of policing roles resulting in convictions for complex and organised crimes
- Sergeant Karlene Trezise is recognised for her work with the Esk community to reduce road trauma, as well as her role in first response during the 2011 Esk floods and 2019 Peachy/Esk fires
- Inspector Wayne Rasmussen is committed to making the community of Queensland a safer place to live
Minister Ryan said the QPS recipients had received their medals for their investigative skills and leadership qualities.
"These officers have been recognised for their efforts in preventing criminal activity, protecting Queensland communities and upholding the reputation of the Queensland Police Service," Minister Ryan said.
"Congratulations to each officer who has received such a high honour."
Details of each QPS recipient are below:
Inspector Tracy Dale
Inspector Tracy Dale is recognised for her service as a leader, mentor and senior investigator of high-level organised crime investigations within the QPS.
She is widely respected by the QPS executives and senior managers, peers and subordinates alike. She has, over many years, been a role model and mentor for junior officers; offering sound guidance, direction and valuable advice. Her positive mentoring of police and civilian staff in the organisation has had a noticeable and positive impact on members.
She has served as a Regional Duty Officer and Specialist Services Inspector in the South Eastern Region where she has led diverse groups including Cross Cultural, Crime Prevention, District Duty Officers and Tactical Crime Squads. She leads officers across a broad rural portfolio and works in partnership with other community leaders and groups.
Inspector Dale performs her role with professionalism and integrity, and her leadership contributions enhance the QPS' operational capability, significantly contributing to improved service delivery and enhanced safety for the community of Queensland.
Senior Sergeant Nicole Fox
Senior Sergeant Nicole Fox is recognised for her service as a Queensland Police Service Forensic Crash Investigator. She is currently the Officer in Charge of the Brisbane Forensic Crash Unit and is the Forensic Crash State Coordinator.
She has investigated multiple serious and complex crashes which has led to prosecution of charges for dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death and manslaughter. The success of these prosecutions is attributed to her exceptional skills in the forensic crash discipline. She has also received recognition by the judiciary and is highly regarded as an expert in collision analysis.
She has also conducted a training needs analysis to support a business case for the implementation of Australia's first Forensic Crash Specialist Training Program. She is the State Training Coordinator, Senior Facilitator and Assessor delivering the nationally accredited Certificate IV and Diploma qualifications in Forensic Crash Investigations. She has developed national standards for investigators, as well as awareness training for school children to promote safe handling of All Terrain Vehicles, aiming to reduce deaths and serious injuries.
Senior Sergeant Fox has been a pioneer of change through her willingness to share her technical expertise in Forensic Crash Investigation to other investigators and has demonstrated her commitment to the QPS and to Queensland residents.
Sergeant Ian Leavers
Sergeant Ian Leavers commenced his service with the QPS in 1989 and since that time has served as a General Duties Officer throughout Queensland including with the Criminal Investigation Branch, Juvenile Aid Bureau, Traffic Branch, and the Accident Investigation Squad (AIS).
In 1997, whilst serving as a General Duties Officer at Yamanto Police Station, he was elected as the President of the Ipswich Branch of the Queensland Police Union of Employees (QPUE) and worked to bring about significant change to enhance conditions and staffing numbers for the Ipswich District. This was a collaborative approach between the QPS and the QPUE.
In 2005 he was elected as the Executive Member for the Southern Region of the QPUE. He was then elected Vice President of the QPUE in 2008, and subsequently as General President in 2009, his current position.
He is recognised for his leadership skills, governance abilities, and management expertise and is acknowledged as a leading advocate for the improvement of wages, conditions and entitlements for police. On a national scale he is a leader in modern policing policy and is the Vice President of the Police Federation of Australia. He is at the forefront of legislative changes relating to sentencing for those who assault police and has driven significant changes to alcohol fuelled violence legislation.
His abilities have been recognised through Queensland Government appointments to a range of positions including to the WorkCover Queensland Board, the Work Health and Safety Board, as a Member of the Domestic Violence Implementation Council and to the Taskforce on Organised Crime Legislation. He has also been a member of the Commonwealth's Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management's Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency's Police Use of Remote Engine Immobilisers National Working Group. Additionally, he is a Director of QBANK, formerly known as the Queensland Police Credit Union.
Sergeant Leavers has been dedicated to improving legislation, wages, and conditions for all QPS members, and committed to the safety of Queensland community, for more than 31 years.
Inspector Wayne Rasmussen
Inspector Wayne Rasmussen has provided dedicated and committed police service to the community of Queensland throughout his policing career. He has served in the areas of General Duties, Crime Prevention, Road Policing, Cultural Engagement and is currently the Inspector of the Charleville Patrol Group.
He is committed to making the community of Queensland a safer place to live through cultural and faith-based engagements and the establishment of proactive policing initiatives, including Neighbourhood Watch Australasia, Community Policing Boards, and the bespoke Queensland Police Artwork 'Look to the Stars'.
He displayed leadership and innovation in the development and implementation of the Look to the Stars artwork as an effective engagement strategy aimed at reconciliation, and the formation of better relationships with First Nations Peoples built on trust and respect. The artwork is incorporated into the QPS through strategies aimed to build organisational cultural capability that will remain as a legacy for generations that follow.
Inspector Rasmussen continues to build and strengthen relationships within Queensland communities as he leads 11 remote police stations covering an expansive area to the New South Wales and South Australian borders.
Senior Sergeant David Rutherford
Senior Sergeant David Rutherford is recognised for his variety of contributions to the Service as a General Duties Officer, Investigator and Prosecutor with the QPS.
A significant period of his service has been as Officer in Charge in multiple remote communities throughout the state including Normanton, Horn Island, Bamaga and Palm Island. Throughout his career he has displayed a commitment to improving relationships between the QPS and Indigenous communities, particularly through community engagement activities. He is dedicated to providing a safer environment for all children and families and encourages this approach with his staff.
He displays a thorough knowledge and understanding of Indigenous culture and practices and focuses on bridging the gap between the QPS and Indigenous communities as well as being a role model.
Senior Sergeant Rutherford has established significant rapport with community members and representatives of government and non-government agencies to build firm and positive relationships. These, in turn, have significantly enhanced the reputation of the QPS, particularly in regional areas across the state.
Inspector Phillip Stevens
Inspector Phillip Stevens is recognised for his police service in a variety of policing roles and significantly as an investigator within the QPS and in multiple secondments to external agencies.
He has extensive experience as an investigator, and throughout his career has used his investigative skills and perseverance to arrest and secure convictions for complex and organised crimes. He is currently the manager of the QPS Forensic Imaging Section and is responsible for providing a professional imaging service to investigating officers, forensic officers, the courts and other law enforcement agencies.
As a senior investigator, he has mentored and led teams of investigators to successful prosecution of offenders, and the dismantling of organised crime groups. Most notably, he and other officers successfully led the QPS response to the growing organised crime threat posed by Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMCG) and their networks. These operations resulted in the disruption of the associated criminal activity and improved public safety. He, together with members of the Criminal Economy Unit, identified and commenced appropriate treatment in respect of assets amassed by OMCG participants through their involvement in illegal activities
Inspector Stevens, throughout his career, has served QPS and the community of Queensland with distinction.
Sergeant Karlene Trezise
Sergeant Karlene Trezise is recognised for her policing service in a variety of General Duties Officer positions with the QPS, particularly as Officer in Charge of Esk Police Station.
She has performed diligently during her career, working with the Esk community to reduce road trauma and drug use. She has implemented extensive traffic enforcement measures, and worked in partnership with the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads to significantly reduce road trauma suffered in the Esk community. She identified and produced data justifying a need for a reduction in speed limits in certain rural winding roads, resulting in reduced fatalities and injury in traffic accidents in the area.
Sergeant Trezise was a first responder and worked with other QPS officers, emergency services, external partners and the community during the 2011 Esk floods and the recent Peachey/Esk fires, to preserve life and property. Her efforts resulted in no loss of life.
She displays exceptional leadership, with a commitment to front line policing and service delivery. Additionally, she has been extremely active in the investigation and prosecution of drug offenders and education of fellow police officers and the community.
Sergeant Trezise has provided dedicated service over many years to the QPS and to the community of Esk.
