Proving police work is about more than the big busts and arrests, Senior Constable Daniel Duckworth took out this year’s Rotary Police Officer of the Year Award for his “dedicated and genuine” service to rural communities within the Murrumbidgee Police District.
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Caring, kind and compassionate: Nominations describe him as a great community cop who has made a huge impact in rural communities, especially Goolgowi.
“So you have to be true to yourself, true to your family and true to the people you are living with in the community,” Senior Constable Duckworth said.
“You don’t go out looking for accolades, and when you do get them you do appreciate it a lot more.”
The number and quality of nominations he received proved the community respects his “fair but assertive” policing.
“It is incredibly rewarding being so close in the community, but I guess there is an ulterior motive.
“You need to instill that confidence in the communities in regards to crime, and by doing that they become more forthcoming to you as the local police officer.”
He was commended for transforming the life a wayward teenager on the path to destruction, by “mentoring him into a productive community member”, most of which done in his own time.
“I find rural community policing to be real policing. I thank everyone in the community for this award.”
Peer Award
The addition of the Peer Award at this year’s ceremony saw a new cop stand out for her peers, with a “highly” respected officer receiving Highly Commended.
Senior Constable Laura Lentfer, who came from Sydney earlier in the year, was described as a dynamic and dedicated officer who has no limit in her support and care of victims of crime across the Murrumbidgee Police District.
“I didn’t think I’d say this so soon but I love living here... I am loving this role, the team I work with and the command that I am under.”
Her research into the legislation and review of the quality of events and reports will continue to raise the standard of police response into domestic violence incidents.
“I started work here in April, and when I came back to work it was about not being a mum and getting myself back, but I love my role, I love coming to work, the networks I am making,” she said.
“I’ve wanted to be a domestic violence liaison office for the past two years, and when I did the backup I realised that yes, this is what I want to do. To be doing it here now, it’s incredibly rewarding.”
Senior Constable Alan Cope was awarded a special Highly Commended award, for his many support, dedication, knowledge and mentoring roles within the command.
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Senior Constable Cope is very well known throughout the command, and was nominated for playing a vital role in the mechanisms of policing work, taking on extra duties to assist and lighten other officers workload.
Approachable with a knack to get the job done and a role model for up and coming junior police officers, his experience, knowledge and support of staff ensures successful prosecutions in court.