Coffs/Clarence top cop awarded Police Medal

The Coffs Clarence Police District Commander Steven Clarke’s stellar record in his 35-year career has been reward with the Australian Police Medal in the 2023 Kings Birthday Honours.

Detective Superintendent Clarke joined eight officers who were awarded the medal when the award NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb congratulated the APM recipients who have each provided decades of service to the NSW Police Force and brought a high-level of dedication to the job.

“Through their selfless duty to the people of NSW, these officers embody the values and standards of the NSW Police Force,” Commissioner Webb said.

“This award honours that duty and I thank each of them for their exemplary dedication, compassion and leadership within their teams and communities.

“I have worked alongside many of these officers and know each is deserving of an APM.” Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley thanked the officers for their commitment to the state and the policing profession.

“Policing is such a rewarding profession, it allows people to give back to their communities in a meaningful way,” Minister Catley said.

“I want to personally thank each of these officers who have gone above and beyond in their duties as a NSW Police officer.”

Nominations for the awards can be by an officer’s peers, commander or a member of the community, and are announced twice a year, in January (Australia Day) and June (King’s Birthday).

Det Superintendent Clarke commenced duty at Scone Police Station in 1988.

In 1992 he transferred to Inverell and in 1997 commenced his career in criminal investigations.

In 2002 he was promoted to Detective Sergeant at Inverell. In 2005 he was promoted to Detective Inspector as Crime Manager at Richmond Local Area Command.

In 2009 he transferred to Mid North Coast Local Area Command as Crime Manager. He relieved extensively as Commander at Mid North Coast Local Area Command and Hunter Valley Local Area Command. In 2016 he was promoted to Superintendent and Commander of the Hunter Valley Local Area Command. While Commander he oversaw the challenging process of establishing the new Hunter Valley Police District comprising of the former Hunter Valley Local Area Command and portions of the Central Hunter Local Area Command. During this process he was required to manage significant issues within the new district and Hunter Valley community.

In 2018 he transferred to the Coffs Clarence Police District. In 201920 as Local Emergency Operations Controller (LEOCON) he oversaw the local response and recovery phases for widespread and extreme bushfire season that NSW experienced. He has spent his 35-year career in operational policing and has been an exceptional leader, displaying courage, resilience, and fortitude. He lives and works in the local community and is a well-rounded leader who continues to perform his duties to the highest standards, setting an example to the police that he leads.

The other eight APM recipients are:

Detective Inspector Virginia Gorman – State Crime Command, Homicide Squad

Detective Superintendent Albert Joseph – Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Command

Assistant Commissioner Stacey Maloney –Communication Services Command

Detective Superintendent Bradley Monk – Aviation

Command Sergeant Stephen Rae – Police Prosecutions

Command

Chief Inspector Paul Smith – Protocol and Awards Unit

Detective Superintendent

Grant Taylor – State Crime Command, Criminal Groups Squad

Detective Superintendent

John Watson – State Crime Command, Drug and Firearms Squad