Pair of NT constables, including one of the Territory’s longest serving police officers, recognised with Australia Police Service Medals
TWO NT Police senior constables have been awarded the Australian Police Medal as part of this year’s Australian Day Honours.
Northern Territory
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CHRIS KILIAN & BINDI-JANE BURNELL PSM
TWO Northern Territory Police senior constables have been awarded the Australian Police Service Medal as part of this year’s Australian Day Honours.
Detective Senior Constable Chris Kilian and Senior Constable First Class Bindi-Jane Burnell have been recognised for distinguished service over the duration of their careers.
Constable Kilian is one of the longest-serving police officers in the Territory and he has worked across the Drug Squad, Water Police, Territory Response Group and overseas.
One of his proudest achievements was helping to establish a community centre in Timor Leste where he started a gym with equipment donated by the Northern Territory Police.
The centre quickly expanded to offering cooking classes and early childhood care.
Twenty years later the centre is still running.
“Helping people on a personal level is the most satisfying part of the job,” he said.
Since his time in the Water Police as a Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator, Constable Kilian has also developed a passion for improving water safety awareness.
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“We need to take a good hard look at our marine safety,” he said.
“It’s said we’re casual about it in the NT but the truth is we’re lax.”
Constable Kilian hopes that more will be done to improve water awareness in the future.
“Helping people on a personal level is the most satisfying part of the job,” he said.
Constable Kilian is now moving into a new role as a detective in the Coroner’s office.
“I hope to be an empathetic and confident addition to the team,” he said.
Constable Kilian said being awarded the Australian Police Medal was completely unexpected.
“I’ve watched other police officers receive this award over the years who are all people of great respect,” he said.
“To be counted amongst them is quite an honour.”
Constable Burnell has made a name for herself as a crime scene investigator, mentor and advocate for women in the police force during her 25 years of service.
Early in her career Constable Burnell worked in schools teaching the Drug and Alcohol Resistance Program (DARE) before transferring to crime scene investigation.
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She currently works as a crime scene examiner and Disaster Victim Identification co-ordinator, where she has contributed award-winning research to the field of crime scene investigation.
Constable Burnell has also served in the executive team of the Northern Territory Police Association.
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