Staff Excellence Awards have been presented to 20 members of the South Australia Police (SAPOL) at the South Australia Police Academy.
Acknowledging SAPOL employees and members of the public for acts of bravery or meritorious service in isolated instances over a period time, the awards demonstrate bravery in the face of confronting and dangerous situations with the single ultimate aim of ensuring the safety of the community said Deputy Police Commissioner, Linda Williams.
“At times this has meant putting their own lives at risk to save those in vulnerable situations. I commend these officers who are a credit to themselves and to the SAPOL,” Deputy Commissioner Williams said.
“I commend these officers who are a credit to themselves and to SAPOL,” she said.
The recipients of Police Bravery Medals were:
* Constable Jesse Williams and Constable Justin Young for their brave actions at the scene of a residential house fire at Seacombe Gardens in October 2019;
*Senior Constable First Class Gregory Blieden (then Constable) and Brevet Sergeant Bradley Galpin (then Constable) for their courageous actions at the scene of a house fire at Paralowie in May 2019;
* Detective Brevet Sergeant Robert Lengyel for his courageous actions at the scene of an aggravated robbery at licensed premises in West Lakes Shore in February 2019;
*Senior Constable Steven Westcott and Senior Sergeant David Lewis for their courageous actions at the scene of a residential house fire in Glengowrie in August 2015;
* Detective Senior Sergeant First Class Glenn Jeffries (then Probationary Constable) and Sergeant James Tappin (then Constable) for their courageous actions at the scene of a domestic dispute at Elizabeth North in April 1977; and
* Constable Jock McLeay received a Certificate of Merit for his courageous actions at a domestic violence incident at Ingle Farm in May 2019.
A Unit Certificate of Merit was awarded to current and previous members of the Special Tasks and Rescue Group-Operations Section for their superior performance in response to a high-risk and volatile incident in August 2020 where a male offender had threatened to blow up his house using liquid petroleum gas.
Detective Brevet Sergeant Trudie Pursche received a Certification of Commendation for her actions leading to the rescue of a young child at a house fire in Paralowie in May 2019.
Sergeant Kerry Mountford received a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of his actions at the scene of a residential house fire at Glengowrie in August 2015.
