USUALLY, when people encounter the police it is during a traffic stop but police work is so much more than random breath tests and speeding fines.
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The community took a moment to recognise that work with the Police Officer of the Year awards judged by Wagga Sunrise Rotary Club on Saturday night.
Riverina Police District Superintendent Bob Noble said Detective Sergeant Tim Briggs was named the Police Officer of the Year.
"He is a very experienced officer with three decades of experience," he said.
"He has been really a tower of strength in the last five years, leading all manner of complex and serious investigations.
"He is a worthy man."
Superintendent Noble said Detective Sergeant Briggs was a senior case officer on the Strike Force that was the pursuit and eventual capture of Gino and Mark Stocco.
"That was a very high-profile investigation," he said.
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"That was two offenders who had evaded capture for almost a decade across the country wreaking havoc as they went."
Detective Sergeant Briggs will also go through to the state finals for the award.
In the other categories, Senior Constable Lauren Orr took out the Specialist Operations category, Probationary Constable Ashley Fitzgerald was named Junior Police Officer of the Year, the Rotary Community Policing Award went to Senior Constable Mark Fitzgibbins, Junee's VIP Glenn Fanning received the Volunteer Award and the Customer Service Employee award went to Greg Chapman.
"Lauren works in our region enforcement squad out of Wagga here and they provide investigative support into mid-level crime across the region," Superintendent Noble said.
"Constable Ashley Fitzgerald who has only come to use in the last 18 months, not only very popular but is highly proficient already for her years of services.
"Glenn has been a volunteer with us for a little over a year and he is a great guy."
Superintendent Noble said Constable Fitzgibbins' win showed the other side of police work where they engage with the community and he was pleased to see his friend Greg Chapman take out an award.
"Greg has been working here for the last couple of years as a roster officer and was also a former police officer," he said.
"I actually went through the academy with Greg. He provides excellent service across the board."
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