WA Police Awards: Hero cop and major crash detectives honoured for protecting everyday West Australians
Staff Sergeant Dan Clark goes to work every day hoping to do his best to keep the community safe.
On January 26 this year, veteran WA police officers moved quickly to stop an Invasion Day rally after explosives were thrown into a crowded Forrest Place.
Facing a volatile environment, Senator Sergeant Clark put himself and his fellow officers in harm’s way to safely evacuate the incident and thwart the threat that ultimately resulted in a landmark terrorism charge.
“We put on our clothes, we say goodbye to our partners, we go to work and we have no idea what to expect…we just do the best we can and hope the best is enough,” said Senator Sergeant Clark, who received the State’s highest law enforcement award Friday night for his actions that day.
Commenting on the incident, Senator Sergeant Clark said he trusted his calculating instincts, knowing he had to pay attention to the cultural complexities of the rally.
“Gut feelings and gut reactions are everything, but a decision of this magnitude had to be calculated,” he said.
“I made my decision that day… I took everything apart after that, but when you think about it, it’s very, very humbling.
“It’s an incredible credit to the agency that there were no arrests that day, there were no physical incidents, and everyone in the community came together.”
Senator Sergeant Clark was hand-picked by Commissioner Col Blanch to receive the prestigious Policing Excellence Award at the WA Police Force Excellence Recognition Awards.
The commissioner also supported the officer’s snap choice immediately following the incident.
“It doesn’t get any bigger than this,” Senator Sergeant Clark said of the Commissioner’s support. “But I had the chance to receive praise from Aboriginal elders, so it was very emotional for me personally in that aspect as well.”
The ceremony also celebrated the tireless detective work that brought answers to a grieving WA family five years after a tragic hit-and-run.
The Major Accident Investigation Section’s Operation Stranded was awarded the State Team Winner award for its outstanding resolution of the 2020 death of Mathew Neary.
The case remained unsolved until detectives identified a young man as the driver in 2025.
A small, dedicated team re-examined the evidence, meticulously examining CCTV footage and analyzing minute tire details to track down the suspect vehicle and eventually identify the driver.
In a dramatic development, detectives arrested the driver, who was 17 at the time of the incident, just 24 hours after launching a public media appeal.
The then-22-year-old was charged with fleeing the scene of the crash before pleading guilty, saving the family from a lengthy court battle.
Detective Sergeant Ollie Edwards recalled the emotional moment when Mr Neary rang his brother Brody Rodgers and told him the good news.
“We had the moment of leaving the Perth Watch House while the imposter was in the van… on speaker the investigative team spoke to Brody and told him, hey, we’ve got the suspect in custody,” said Det. Sergeant. Edwards said.
“It was an amazing moment,” Mr. Rodgers said.
He remembered the first time Det. Sergeant. Edwards took over the file and visited his home in Mandurah.
“I immediately said, be honest with me, is this going to get resolved?” Mr. Rodgers said.
“And Ollie immediately said: ‘This is 100 percent solvable, like we can do this.’
“As Ollie said, it was a solvable situation and yes, it was a huge relief for me and my family.
“Now it’s just a matter of moving on and reliving the memories with his family and his children.”
Commissioner Blanch was visibly impressed by his force’s commitment to the WA community.
“I am extremely proud of the work our officers do every day to keep our community safe,” said Commissioner Blanch.
SEE THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS BELOW
Individual Award for Excellence in Policing – Senior Sergeant Dan Clark
Award for Excellence in Policing Team – Fitzroy Crossing Police Station
Minister’s Community Trust Award (Metropolitan) -Mandurah Detectives
Minister’s Community Trust Award (Regional) – Broome Investigation Team
Metropolitan Individual Winner – Staff Sergeant Dan Clark
Metropolitan Team Winner – Midland Detectives
Regional Individual Winner – Staff Sergeant Scott Starkie
Regional Team Winner – Fitzroy Crossing Police Station
State Individual Winner – Senior Constable Oliver Taylor
State Team Winner – Major Accident – Operation Landing
Lance Martin Technology Individual Winner – Senior Constable Charlie Jenkins
Lance Martin Technology Team Winner – Firearms Law Reform Program
Agency Services and Development Individual Winner -Sherileen Martin
Agency Services and Development Team Winner – Operations Podcast
