A DETECTIVE whose investigations led to arrests for murder and sexual assault has been given a Police Officer of the Year award.
Detective Senior Constable Julie Smith from the Bayside Criminal Investigation Branch was given the award at the Capalaba Rotary Club’s Vocational Service Awards dinner on Monday.
Detective Acting Superintendent Owen Elloy said Senior Constable Smith was the principal investigator into a homicide that occurred on Macleay Island in April.
“Her leadership and investigative skills resulted in the arrest of a female for the charge of murder,” Acting Superintendent Elloy said.
He said in November last year Senior Constable Smith had arrested a man on charges of sexual assault and torture of a three-year-old girl.
She recently finalised a firearms trafficking operation during which 17 illegal firearms, more than 4000 rounds of ammunition and significant quantities of illicit drugs were seized, and two clandestine illicit drug labs shut down.
Detective Senior Constable Andrew May from Wynnum Child Protection Investigation Unit received the Outstanding Police Action award.
Senior Constable May investigated the rape and sexual abuse, including abuse involving animals, of a number of children. A man was arrested on numerous charges in 2016 and has pleaded guilty in court.
Senior Constable Samantha Barker from the Capalaba Tactical Crime Squad received the Community Police award.
Acting Superintendent Elloy said she had led investigations that had resulted in the arrest and prosecution of numerous offenders, seizure of large quantities of drugs and recovery of firearms and stolen property.
These included a person charged with possession of about $35,000 of ice at Capalaba, and two people charged at Cleveland after the discovery of a sophisticated drug lab, ice, firearms, a stolen vehicle and several stolen motorbikes.
In a separate case two people were charged with drug trafficking after cannabis, amphetamines, heroin, cocaine and MDMA were seized.
Other vocational awards
Also recognised during the evening were Brant Barr, apprentice plumber with Keith Dyer Plumbing at Ormiston.
Mr Barr won the Phil Boron Award for an apprentice or trainee.
TBC Tax Capalaba sales and customer service representative Rachael Krinks won the Stan Green Award for sales and customer service.
The best business practices category award went to Victoria Point Mower Service, owned by Luke and Melissa Mapp.
Paul Harris Fellows
Capalaba Rotary Club recognised Acting Inspector Elloy and educator Elloise Beveridge with a Paul Harris Fellow.
Club co-president Peter Mathews said the award was the Rotary Foundation’s way of expressing appreciation for contribution to humanitarian and educational programs.
Other nominees
Other police officers nominated were:
- Detective Senior Constable Thomas Buckman from the Bayside Criminal Investigation Branch: Since his appointment in January 2015 he has arrested more than 165 people on 880 charges including robbery, serious and sexual assault, and property-related crimes. Senior Constable Buckman was the principal investigator for an operation that targeted illicit drug supply in the bayside. This operation led to the arrest of 11 people on 452 charges.
- Detective Senior Constable Keith Rook from the Wynnum Child Protection Investigation Unit investigated the death of a five-month-old boy at Cleveland in March last year. The baby’s father was arrested for murder in June and is awaiting trial.
- Senior Constable Ivan Parsons and Senior Constable Adam Brown from Dunwich police station responded to reports of a shooting, during which a bullet fired with a high-powered rifle, had narrowly missed a person, on North Stradbroke Island in February. After creeping more than 50 metres in bushland at night the officers arrested a man who was charged with serious offences.
Others nominated were in the apprentice/traineeship category:
- Regan Dries: Automotive apprentice, Oldmac Mazda Cleveland
- Justin Wade: Automotive apprentice, Oldmac Mazda Cleveland
- Ethan Gray: Automotive apprentice, Barton’s Holden Capalaba
- Harrison Day: Small engines apprentice, Victoria Point Mower Service
- Jake Reynolds; Automotive apprentice, Cleveland Nissan
- Noah Whelan: Automotive apprentice, Cleveland Nissan
Others nominated in the sales and customer service category:
- Sam Hutchinson: Accountant, The Good Guys Capalaba
Others nominated in the best business practices category:
- Battery World Capalaba – Steve and Julie Minter
- Men at work Exhausts Capalaba – Mick and Melinda Thompson
- Bendigo Bank Victoria Point – Manager Justine Kennedy
