The poster says “Wanted” but there’s nary an outlaw in sight.
Blue Mountains cops are looking for a poster boy or girl to be Police Officer of the Year, and together with local Mountains Rotary clubs, they are giving members of the community the chance to vote for their top cop.
“It’s an opportunity to recognise outstanding acts of courage, compassion, understanding or devotion to duty by a member of NSW Police working in the Blue Mountains Local Area Command,” says Blue Mountains Rotary spokesman John Wakefield.
The winner will be announced in May. That officer will have the chance to compete with other top cops around the State at a dinner later in the year in Sydney.
Springwood-based Sergeant Michael Magill said the award may give one police officer the edge over another if they wanted to transfer to a more desirable station.
“It’s a great reference for your CV for a promotion or transfer. They are going to look at you as a good officer to have in their command,” Sergeant Magill said.
Blue Mountains had been slow to pick up the awards — with all other stations in the Rotary district covering Lithgow to Concord already taking part at various stages of the last 15 years.
“The Mountains is the last command in our Rotary area because of its diverse local communities,” Mr Wakefield said. “We have six Rotary clubs operating in the Mountains and these things take time.”
The award would mean “bragging rights” for the winner, says the area’s new Superintendent Darryl Jobson whose last command St Marys had already adopted the awards.
“They get to feel proud and have that honour.”
A community and a peer award would be given out, he said.
“The police don’t always get the accolades from the community . . . it’s gratifying that the community, through Rotary International, have chosen to acknowledge the great police work here.”
Nominations for the 2012 winner close on April 2 and a form is available at Springwood and Katoomba police stations and also on the Blue Mountains Gazette and Blue Mountains Local Area Command Facebook pages.
Nominations can then be emailed directly to Mr Wakefield at hensonb@bigpond.net.au. Rotary will help cull the finalists.
