Nominate St Marys' top cop

By Kylie Stevens

Oct. 23, 2012, 10:30 a.m.

A force to be reckoned with: St Marys Superintendent Ray Filewood (far right) needs the community's help in finding the next Police Officer of the Year. Picture: Gary Warrick

The hunt is on to track down the next St Marys Police Officer of the Year.

Now in its fourth year, the 2012 award, run by St Marys and Wallacia-Mulgoa Rotary clubs, was launched last week.

Applications are open to the community to nominate an officer who has displayed outstanding acts of courage, compassion and devotion to duty.

More and more sponsors are getting on board each year.

‘‘Each year becomes more exciting,’’ awards chairman Chris Miller said.

‘‘It gives my wife and I something to talk about in our retirement.’’

St Marys Superintendent Ray Filewood is in charge of 139 officers at one of the busiest stations in western Sydney.

‘‘Police officers often put their lives on the line so the community can live without fear,’’ Superintendent Filewood said.

‘‘If your lives have been affected positively, show your support to the police.’’

Penrith mayor Mark Davies added:

’’Police do a lot of work we don’t know about, so this is a small but significant way for the community to acknowledge the work they do’’.

St Marys officers will nominate their colleagues for the peer award.

Both award winners will be in the running for the NSW Police Officer of the Year awards to be held in late 2013.

Previous St Marys award winners include a youth liaison officer and an off duty officer who came to the aid of an injured cyclist.

Last year’s winner, Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Wheeler, led an investigation into a series of sexual assaults, which resulted in a man being put behind bars.

‘‘We come to work every day not knowing not will happen,’’ he said.

Last year’s peer award winner Sergeant Folkes added:

‘‘It’s fantatsic award and it’s nice to be ackowledged for your efforts. It’s something we don’t ask for or expect.’’

He was nominated by the victim’s family.