Pride of Australia nomination for retiring cop Ray Filewood

FOR much of his career Ray Filewood has worked in Sydney's west among the people he calls "the salt of the earth".

FOR much of his career Ray Filewood has worked in Sydney's west among the people he calls "the salt of the earth".

Now, as St Marys local area command boss Superintendent Filewood enters retirement, his service to the community has led to a nomination for a Pride of Australia award.

Supt Filewood leaves the force today, exactly 40 years after he began as a probationary constable.

St Marys LAC commander for the past 10 years, he said he has achieved his goal of creating a safer community.

He said he left his career with no regrets but many memories, from being a young officer on Mount Panorama during the Easter motorbike race riots in Bathurst in 1985 to being commander of the Blue Mountains LAC when two trains collided at Glenbrook, killing seven people and injuring 51 others.

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He reserved special pride for the police and staff at St Marys who he has led for the past 10 years.

"A lot of our workload stems around alcohol and drugs and we come across some pretty violent people but I'm always impressed how every one of my team pitch in, respond, get the job done and back each other up," he said.

sIn 1999, as Commander of the Blue Mountains LAC, he was at a leaders forum at headquarters when two trains collided at Glenbrook, killing seven people and injuring 51 others.

"Jeff Jarratt (former deputy commissioner) looked around and said "where's the Blue Mountains commander? You better get back up to the mountains there's been a train disaster and it looks like lots of fatalities,"' he said.

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"When I get there were people running everywhere and it took a fair bit to get down to the site.

"It was quite horrific you never forget scenes like that and the next morning when they pulled the trains apart you could really appreciate the force of the impact."

Supt Filewood has been nominated for a Pride of Australia Community Spirit Medal.

"What I'll miss most is dealing with the community the local interactions walking down the street and the meetings with local councils," he said.

"I think I've provided a good service to the community of St Marys which no doubt will be continued by whoever follows after me."

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St Marys Duty Officer, Chief Inspector Mick Connolly praised his boss's leadership and commitment.

"He is a friendly, caring commander who appreciate the value of his officers and loves his community," Insp Connolly said.

"Ray has never done a bad turn by anyone and deserves (this) recognition."

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