Tamworth

Australian Police Medal (APM) 

IT WAS a murder that devastated a force but rallied a command, and the leadership of Superintendent Clinton Pheeney through those trying times has been recognised with the Australian Police Medal. 

The Oxley Commander led the charge when one of their own, Senior Constable David Rixon, was killed in the line of duty in Tamworth.

“I’m only as good as the police around me and that includes from the junior constable to other members of the management team,” he said, praising the resilience of his team.

“What was absolutely remarkable, I think, is that people intermittently involved in that incident on the Friday of Dave’s death were at work the next day at 7 o’clock in the morning.”

After stints in criminal investigation, highway patrol and general duties, Superintendent Pheeney’s investigative knowledge has become an invaluable resource for colleagues.

His career spans 39 years, and country policing is the most rewarding, he says.

“It’s a job that I find very fulfilling and, whilst you see people at their worst, quite often you also see people do some amazing things, people save lives, people get in and help their police,” he said.

“In the bush you actually live in the town you police, you do your shopping, you’re going out and you can actually see the difference your policing makes on that community – you can see the benefits of that.”