Senior Constable Chris Mailley named 2024 SA Police Officer of the Year after saving woman from abusive partner

When Senior Constable Chris Mailley was asked for help, by a woman fearing the return of her abusive partner from prison, he knew he needed to do something big.

Naracoorte’s Senior Constable Chris Mailley has gone above and beyond to support women and children escaping domestic violence – earning him the recognition of South Australia Police Officer of the Year.

Constable Mailley, from SAPOL’s Family Violence Investigation Section, developed and launched the Upper South East Domestic Abuse Program (USEDAP) in 2022 which raised funds for people in life-threatening domestic situations.

Chris Mailley with the Police commissioner, Grant Stephens at the Royal Adelaide Show. Picture: Ben Clark

He told The Advertiser he thought to create the fund after a woman came to him asking for help.

She said her partner was coming out of prison, and there was reason to believe he was “likely to cause her serious harm”.

Constable Mailley said the woman was willing to move states, but she didn’t have the funds to help her move.

“She was one of the reasons I developed the program,” he said.

“I thought we needed to have a pocket of money we could always tap into, irrespective if it’s late at night or early in the morning, that’s the model we needed.”

Through the USEDAP, Constable Mailley was able to help that woman escape before her partner was released from prison.

Constable Mailley estimates that already the program has benefited between 40-50 people.

The initiative is independent of any Government support agency, instead it has a charity status that is supported through donations from Upper South East local businesses and communities.

Commissioner Grant Stevens said it was an honour to be able to “recognise one police officer” who goes “over and above in their specific role”.

“Family and domestic violence is a major focus for us, it is a major driver of demand for us,” Mr Stevens said after Friday’s award ceremony at the Royal Adelaide Show.

“We have a role in preventing further harm to women and children who come forward and report those sorts of event … it is one of those elements of our work that touches so many parts of the organisation.

“And for the work Chris does to assist those families after the initial police intervention – I think it’s really important.”