Queen’s Birthday Honours: Policing pair rise to occasion and thrive

WHEN Detective Senior Sergeant Robert Jordan took charge at Yuendumu Police Station last year, he says it was one of the most daunting moments in his 32-year career, but also one of the most rewarding. Today he received the Australian Police Medal for his service

Detective Senior Sergeant Robert Jordan and Commander David Proctor both received the Australian Police Medal. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

WHEN Detective Senior Sergeant Robert Jordan took charge at Yuendumu Police Station last year, he says it was one of the most daunting moments in his 32-year career, but also one of the most rewarding.

Today he received the Australian Police Medal (APM) for his service.

Sgt Jordan joined the NT Police Force in 1988 after seeing a advertisement in his local paper.

“I wasn’t very good at school so getting that telegram to say I’d been accepted into the NT Police was like my lottery ticket,” he said.

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During his career Sgt Jordan served in Alice Springs, Katherine, Lajamanu, Darwin, Tennant Creek, Hermannsburg, Kulgera and more recently he has been the officer in charge at Yuendumu.

He arrived in Yuendumu one week after the shooting death of 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker.

“Going to Yuendumu was probably one of the most daunting jobs I had but at the end of it, it was probably the most satisfying,” he said.

“I was quick to build relationships with the elders and was lucky to have an offsider Sgt Anne Jolley and we worked on rebuilding relationships and trust with the community — at the end of the day I think we did a good job.”

Sgt Jordan said he was thrilled that Commander David Proctor would also receive an APM today.

He said pair had been working together since he was a junior detective.

Cdr Proctor joined the NT Police in 1987 and during his career has served in Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs.

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He is also currently the Incident Controller for the NT Response to the COVID-19 pandemic.