Awards for a job well done in police line-up

IPSWICH Police Sergeant Tony O'Meara is in a distinguished line-up of 13 local police officers.

The communications co-ordinator and his fellow officers have been nominated for the inaugural Rotary Police Officer of the Year Award.

Sgt O'Meara said his job at Yamanto police station was basically as a "tasking officer".

"When members of the public call in, I read through the jobs and prioritise them and get an appropriate policing response," he said.

"It does get busy."

Sgt O'Meara, proud of a 30-year career as a police officer, said he was shocked and honoured to be nominated.

"There's a lot of good staff out there who do a terrific lot of hard work," he said.

"Any community recognition is a good thing.

"I always wanted to be a police officer. I thought it would be a good career.

"We've got to go to different places in the state.

"It's not boring. Every day's different."

Sgt O'Meara was nominated by one of his peers, a communications room operator, for "displaying exceptional professionalism in his duties".

"He is ethical, organised and always willing to assist colleagues with inquiries," the nomination read.

The Rotary Police Officer of the Year Awards recognise outstanding police officers who display very high standards of professionalism.

In addition, the annual awards will name a community police officer of the year and hand out a peer award.

The awards dinner for the Rotary Police Officer of the Year will be held on Friday, March 1.