South Australia Police Officer Of The Year 2024
CONGRATULATIONS go to Senior Constable Chris Mailley, named by Club President John Peacham as the winner of the Rotary Club of Unley, SA Police Officer of the Year Award for 2024. This award was established in 1978 in partnership with SAPOL to recognize outstanding service of police officers to the community and has been running for 46 years. It is a community-based award where nominations are sought from the general public and organisations all over the state. It looks for officers who exceed the requirements of duty, volunteer in a significant way to give back to the community with courtesy, courage, kindness, understanding and compassion. This may be in the face of tragedy, trauma, natural disasters, or community development.
Senior Constable Chris Mailley, is a long-term serving police officer of the Limestone Coast Local Area, stationed in Naracoorte and designated to the Family Violence Investigation Section. In this role for the past 12 years, he supports not only Naracoorte but several of the towns in the Upper & Mid-South East region.
The most significant & lasting legacy of Chris’ work has been the result of his vision for community groups to work in partnership to break the cycle of domestic violence, to help victims of child abuse, those escaping domestic abuse, and helping victims resettle after domestic trauma.
When Chris arrived in the south east the only services were based in Mount Gambier 100 kms from Naracoorte and nearly 200 kms from Keith & Bordertown. As a result, was the formation of the Upper Southeast Domestic Abuse Program. Funded by donations and fundraising activities with the support of local service groups and business sponsorship, immediate assistance can be provided to people who approach a domestic abuse service. Approval can be made in minutes for helping very affected individuals & families. Secure & safe accomodation is now available within the mid & upper southeast. It was no mean feat to be the architect of this unique project in an area where distance can make providing the much needed help difficult.
Currently Chris is working in schools to educate teenagers about what are appropriate & respectable behaviours in a relationship. A strategy that aims to prevent domestic violence.
He has created the RESPECT AWARD which will be rolled out later this year.
Chris meets so many of the attributes we look for and thus is a very worthy winner of the SA Police Officer of the Year Award for 2024
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