Darling Downs police honoured at awards service

From saving a man’s life to busting an illegal firearm ring or helping young children understand the law, these awards pay tribute to the varied roles police play in our community.

Senior Constable Rachael Smith was honoured for her volunteer work at Middle Ridge State School for the past 20 years.

When Sergeant Robert Timm and Senior Constable Catherine Heywood were called to a disturbance at a Gatton address in October 2024 they found a man who had been stabbed in the back.

The blade had penetrated his lung and he was dying.

In an instant the two officers leapt into action, using a chest seal to relieve pressure on the man’s lungs.

They then provided first aid for about 20 minutes while waiting for paramedics, and ensuring there was no threat to the public.

“We did what we were required to do and he pulled through,” Sergeant Timm said.

“The victim survived and the offender was arrested in the coming days.”

At an awards service on Wednesday, Sergeant Timm and Senior Constable Heywood, along with about a dozen of their fellow officers, were honoured for the work and dedication to duty.

“It’s good to be recognised for actions on the road,” Sergeant Timm said.

“It’s quite a difficult job at times and quite dynamic, so getting recognition is always nice.”

Other award recipients included Detective Senior Sergeant Jason Kitto, Detective Sergeant Matthew MacArthur and Detective Senior Constable Nathan Hynes.

They received Assistant Commissioner’s Certificates for their roles in investigating the theft of 42 rifles from a Stanthorpe property in June 2023.

The operation included a team of officers from across our region executing multiple search warrants which led to the recovery of most of the rifles.

“It was an entire district response, with multiple work units,” Sergeant MacArthur said.

“We believed the offenders went there with a plan to steal those firearms and then move them very quickly.

“Without a rapid response those guns would be gone, and they posed a danger to the community and a danger to police officers.”

The awards were earnt through a range of policing duties, for responding to specific incidents or for sustained dedication to duty and ethical service.

Senior Constable Rachael Smith was honoured for her volunteer work at Middle Ridge State School for the past 20 years.

The scenes of crime officer started visiting the school to talk about disability and inclusion after her goddaughter enrolled and over the years she has developed a lasting bond with the students.

Today she teaches students about personal safety, about what to do if there is violence in their home and how their legal responsibilities will change as they grow older.

“I found that I have gained a lot of information that can help those children, particularly in domestic violence situations,” Senior Constable Smith said.

“They felt that they could trust us enough to come and tell us what was happening in their lives and we could step in and help those families get through what was a really difficult time.

“Our day-to-day work can be very confronting, but it’s also rewarding when we’re helping victims or bringing closure to people.

“Going into the schools, the kids treat you like a little bit of a celebrity and that’s nice too.

“They’re always excited to see us and that rapport that you develop with them is really rewarding.”