Kudos for Tasmania Police officers who collared ‘Facebook fugitive’ Cameron James Brasher

TEN police officers are being recognised for their role in helping to apprehend a man who fired at police during an ice-fuelled crime rampage in Tasmania’s Central Highlands in 2014.

Police officers at the Tasmania Police Academy in Rokeby.

TEN police officers are being recognised for their role in helping to apprehend a man who fired at police during an ice-fuelled crime rampage in Tasmania’s Central Highlands in 2014.

So-called “Facebook fugitive” Cameron James Brasher led police on a six-hour manhunt involving 30 vehicles and a helicopter in February 2014, during which he fired a sawn-off shotgun at three officers and kept followers updated via social media.

He was later sentenced in the Supreme Court in Launceston to seven years’ jail after pleading guilty to three counts of aggravated assault, one of reckless use of a firearm, evading police, resisting and threatening police, firearm offences and three counts of stealing.

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Cameron James Brasher smiles at the media from behind bars at the Launceston Magistrates Court.

Four police officers — Inspector Matthew McCreadie, Senior Sergeant David Bray and

Constables Adrian Ayers and Joshua Partridge — will each receive a Commissioner’s

Commendation in relation to the event.

Six others — Senior Constables Paul Britten and Adam Forrest, and Constables Martyn Scott, Adam Jago, Rhian Appleton and Bryan Powell — will receive a Commissioner’s Certificate of Appreciation.

Constable Michael Harley will also receive a Commissioner’s Certificate of Appreciation

in relation to the incident at a ceremony in Launceston on Tuesday.

The officers will be presented with their awards as part of a special ceremony recognising police officers and Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management employees at the Tasmania Police Academy in Hobart today.

More than 260 current and retired police and DPFEM staff will be recognised for a combination of Commissioner’s Medal and Award, National Medal and National Police Service Medals and clasps.

Police Commissioner Darren Hine said the medals and awards were issued to members who have demonstrated consistently high standards of work performance and personal and professional conduct.

“These awards are a chance for me to say thank you for the work that our police officers

and state service employees do,” Commissioner Hine said.

“Without them, the department would not be what it is today.”