CONTRIBUTION HONOURED: Retired police officers were celebrated as part of the inaugural Retired Police Day in Tamworth yesterday from left are Ted Shearman (Tamworth), Brian Hodge (Kootingal), Noel McLachlan (Gunnedah), Clint Pheeney (Commander, Oxley Local Area Command), Ian Mason (Tamworth), John Lambkin and Bob Drew (both Tamworth). 060912BSB02
RETIRED members of the NSW Police Force were honoured in a ceremony held at the Tamworth Town Hall yesterday.
As part of its 150th anniversary celebrations, the NSW Police Force hosted the inaugural Retired Police Day to honour the contribution, sacrifice and ongoing legacy of retired NSW police officers who provided diligent and ethical service over many years.
As part of celebrations in the city yesterday, about 70 registered, retired officers attended the Tamworth Police Station and a ceremony in the town hall that followed, where they were presented with a commemorative 150th anniversary retired police pin by Oxley Local Area Commander, Superintendent Clint Pheeney.
Retired police officers Cyril “Ted” Shearman and Brian Hodge said the day was a nice way of being recognised for their contribution, years after their service.
Mr Hodge said he had thoroughly enjoyed his 16 years on the force serving in Newcastle, a small one-man station in Wallamba, and Tamworth.
“The reward then was the job itself,” he said.
“The biggest problem for officers in the job now is the perception that they are not doing what they should, or what the community feels is enough. I feel bad for them because we never faced anything like that.”
A morning tea was held after the event to allow the retired police to get to know some of the station’s serving officers.
