Inspector Steve Vuletas – Nepean Police Area, Michele Ellery – Rotary District Governor, Phil Martin – President of St Marys Rotary and Chairman of POOTY25 organising committee, Karen McKeown OAM – State Member for Penrith, Todd Carney – Mayor of Penrith City, Superintendent Trent King – Commander of Nepean Police Area, Inspector Justine Wilson – Nepean Police Area.

THE Rotary Clubs of Penrith, St Marys, Penrith Valley and Nepean have again combined to organise the 2025 Police Officer of the Year awards, meeting with local politicians and police officers at St Marys Police Station for the official launch.

Phil Martin (St Marys Rotary) is the Chairman of the Organising Committee and welcomed several guests, including His Worship the Mayor, Councillor Todd Carney; State member for Penrith, Karen McKeown OAM; Officer in Charge of the Nepean Police Area Command, Superintendent Trent King; and the Governor for Rotary District 9685 Michele Ellery.

“The Police Officer of the Year awards are a Rotary project,” said Mr Martin. “In 2017, the St Marys Police Local Area Command and the Penrith Police Local Area Command were amalgamated to form the current Nepean Police Area Command. Prior to the amalgamation, these commands had separate Police Officer of the Year awards.

“In 2018, a number of Rotary Clubs combined to organise the first Police Officer of the Year awards for this amalgamated Command. This year the Rotary Clubs of Penrith, St Marys, Penrith Valley and Nepean combined to again organise these awards.

“The Police Officer of the Year award is based on the Rotary motto ‘Service above Self’ and recognises outstanding acts of courage, courtesy, kindness, understanding and devotion to duty.

In addition there are other awards including: General Duties Officer of the Year; Specialist Officer of the Year; Police Employee of the Year (for civilian employees); Leadership Award; and Customer Service Excellence Award.

“Mid next year, we will hold a ceremony where these awards will be presented. We are asking members of the public and Police Force to nominate an officer who they think deserves recognition for their efforts during the year 2025.

“In their nomination, we would like them to explain what the officer did to deserve that recognition and this can be done by writing a letter or completing a nomination form, which will be available from St Marys and Penrith Police Stations.

“I would like to thank our sponsors and the members of the organising committee, for without their involvement, these awards would not occur. In addition to recognising the efforts of police, the award ceremony and sponsors raise money for Police Legacy and the 2024 awards resulted in a donation of $8,000.