“Universally respected. Always consistently working at a high level. A role model for the young and showing a real interest in their development.”
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That’s how Chifley local area command Acting Superintendent Peter McKenna described Leading Senior Constable Daniel La Velle, who received the Paul Quinn Memorial Award on Thursday morning.
The annual award, first awarded in 2012, is presented in honour of officer Paul Quinn who was tragically shot and fatally wounded at Perthville in 1986.
Sergeant Quinn was involved in a high-speed pursuit where the driver lost control of his vehicle, crashed and proceeded to get out of his vehicle, armed with a rifle, to begin shooting at police.
Constable La Velle was honoured at the Chifley LAC medal and award ceremony at the Bathurst RSL.
Another 140 medals were presented at the ceremony.
“It’s an immense award,” he said.
“Considering the calibre of the people I work with, it’s a humbling experience.”
Constable La Velle has been serving in the Chifley LAC for four years and has been based in Bathurst for the past two years, after moving from Lithgow.
He started his career in 2003 and has previously been stationed at Hurstville, Walgett and Molong.
NSW Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys, who was in attendance to address the crowd, said that police officers had to be aware that there were still people who required different services.
“We hear so much about police and the fact that they need to be everything to everyone all the time. There is nothing more true today than that phrase,” he said.
“If we, as police officers, fail to recognise as we move through technology, that there are different generations out there that require different services, we’re letting ourselves and our community down.”
“In country NSW, it’s so relevant that we have so many people out there that are not into technology. They certainly don’t want anything else but a personal service and they deserve that. We need to provide that to them, no matter the crime.
“If someone would like to see us, have that face-to-face contact, I think that it is such an important part of policing in country NSW.”