Officers honoured with Australian Police Medal

THE Minister for Police and the NSW Police Acting Commissioner have congratulated nine serving officers who have been awarded the prestigious Australian Police Medal (APM) as part of the King’s Birthday 2025 Honours.

Nominations for the awards can be by an officer’s peers, commander or a member of the community, and are announced twice a year, in January (Australia Day) and June (King’s Birthday).

Among the recent recipients were Detective Sergeant Craig Ryan, who joined the NSW Police Force on 30 July 1989 and was stationed at Taree Police Station.

During his 35 years of policing, he has performed duties at Taree, Port Macquarie, Forster and Maitland police stations, Northern Region Crime Squad, Manning-Great Lakes and Port Stephens-Hunter police districts, Hunter Target Action Group, Northern Domestic Violence High Risk Offender Team, Northern Region Enforcement Squad and the Proactive Crime Team Manning-Great Lakes.

In 1996 he was designated as a detective, commencing his criminal investigation career, and was promoted to sergeant in 2023 at the Manning-Great Lakes Police District within the Proactive Crime Team.

Whilst his career has taken him to a number of roles and locations, he is best known for his policing of the Manning-Great Lakes Command where he is one of the most well-known police officers of the area.

“His relationship with the Aboriginal community is one of great respect,” NSW Police said in a statement.

“Despite his enduring and relentless pursuit of criminals whom he has managed to bring to justice for the most complex and significant matters, the Elders all acknowledge his fairness and tenacity.

“Throughout his career he has utilised the most innovative of methods to stop offending, detect criminals and prove their criminality to the courts.”

Detective Sergeant Ryan brought his experience to the Northern Region Enforcement Squad whereby he trained many operatives in controlled operations, as well as all range of covert techniques to identify and gain evidence of large commercial drug supply on a regular basis.

Another local recipient was Superintendent Shane Cribb, who joined the NSW Police Force in 1991 at Paddington Police Station.

In 1995 he commenced at the South Region Major Crime, Drug and Homicide Squads conducting protracted investigations into organised and serious crime.

In 2001 Superintendent Cribb was promoted to sergeant at Cobar Police Station in the Western Region and 2003 he was recognised for his contribution and assistance of 1,100 tonnes of donated grain to the Cobar District gripped by drought.

In 2005 he was promoted to chief inspector at the Coffs-Clarence Local Area Command, before he transferred to the Mid North Coast Police District in 2009.

In 2015 Superintendent Cribb was promoted to a superintendent and the commander of the Canobolas Local Area Command before transferring to the Manning-Great Lakes Police District in 2017, then to the Mid North Coast Police District in 2020 where he is currently.

He is the local emergency management controller for the Mid North Coast and has led responses to floods, bushfires, the COVID-19 pandemic and other emergencies in several police districts, including the 2019 Black Summer fires and most recently fires in October 2023 in the Upper Macleay area west of Kempsey.

In 2019 Superintendent Cribb established the Manning-Great Lakes District Commanders Aboriginal Leadership Group.

In 2022 he was selected to manage the immediate recovery process in relation to the Newcastle-Hunter floods.

In 2023, active armed offenders randomly targeted members of the public and police before killing one of their own associates.

Superintendent Cribb took the responsibility of leading this response.

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said the Australian Police Medal recognised the distinguished service of outstanding officers within the NSW Police Force.

“On behalf of the NSW Government, I offer my deepest thanks and warmest congratulations to each recipient of this year’s Australian Police Medal,” Minister Catley said.

“This year’s recipients have shown extraordinary courage and commitment, and today, all of NSW stands with gratitude and pride in their honour.”

NSW Police Acting Commissioner Peter Thurtell APM congratulated the officers who have been awarded the APM.

“An APM is an acknowledgement of the dedication and exemplary work these officers have shown throughout their careers,” Acting Commissioner Thurtell APM said.

“The medal is recognition of the enduring benefit these officers have provided to the NSW Police Force, with their actions exceeding their normal duties and the high level of achievement they have shown in the performance of those duties.

“They have also shown a selfless commitment to serving the people of NSW for many years and decades.

“All these officers should be very proud of their outstanding careers and receiving this honour, and we thank them for their ongoing duty to our organisation.”