The Police Association of South Australia

The chest that bears the medal

by Brian Mattner

"It's about time" was the feeling among police officers after the issue of honours and awards went before a federal review panel in February 1995. The proposal presented to the panel was to:

• Reinstate a police long service/good conduct medal to replace the National Medal.
  
  

• Strike a new police service medal, similar to the Australian Service Medal, to recognise operational officers for a designated period of service.

But when the panel's final recommendations were published in a book, A Matter of Honour, the result brought small comfort to police: the proposal was rejected. The panel decided instead that there should be:

• No police long service/good conduct medal.

• No police service medal

• A removal of the National Medal.

My involvement in the process was the first encounter I had ever had with a federal body: I can appreciate the frustration of the Association executive in dealing with government officials.

But the question which emerges now is: "Do we need awards such as these issued to police officers'?"

Historically, recognition for bravery, service and performance above and beyond the call of duty has come in the form of medals or ribbons. But before 1975, the awards with which Australian citizens had been recognised were British. So, former prime minister, Gough Whitlam, instituted Australian honours and awards during his second term in office.

Individuals in any organisation crave praise and positive reinforcement for their efforts. And irrespective of titles, be it constable or sergeant, inspector or manager, the police will always be seen as a para- military organisation. The duties they perform and the leadership aspect of police work make the awarding of medals and ribbons both an appropriate and accepted form of recognition.

In his article, Rank and The Three Rs -- Reward, Recognition and Remuneration (Police Journal, December 1996), Kevin Lawton provided a sound argument for retaining the now defunct ranks of first class constable and senior constable first grade. "...to those who have achieved them," he wrote, "they are a sense of pride and achievement."

Lawton's argument applies equally to the issue of awards. What greater statement of recognition could there be, and what form of reward could instil a greater level of pride?

It's been enlightening to have contact with United States Air Force (USAF) personnel at Woomera and learn something of the structure of their particular awards system. Of course, Australians tend to downplay the individual and often perceive the way in which Americans celebrate worthy deeds as excessive. But there's much to be said for the USAF's system. Its aim, through awards, is to bring about:

• Personal pride and the will to achieve.

• Visible recognition.

• Promotional opportunities.

Through this policy, the USAF demonstrates its clear understanding of the vital importance of recognition for input. The USAF allocates a certain number of points to some of its medals and ribbons which are used to the advantage of award recipients when competing for promotion. By contrast, the idea of linking promotional opportunity with awards is foreign to Australian law enforcement.

Police officers within SAPOL (South Australia Police) have, over the years, been rewarded with certificates of merit, letters of commendation and, more recently, the South Australia Police Bravery Medal and Efficiency Medal. The "correspondence" awards are simply issued and gazetted. But such recognition soon fades leaving recipients, their peers and supervisors without a lasting symbol of individuals' exceptional actions.

Recipients of the Police Bravery Medal face a similar dilemma. While they're honoured to receive it, the medal is awarded outside the realm of Australian- issued awards and is therefore unrecognised within other regimes. In fact, it is rated below the National Medal and must be worn to the right.

Of course, no system will please all of the people all of the time. But as we move toward the 21st century and consider concepts such as corporate directions, police ethics and service delivery, we must ensure that both the current and future needs of police officers are met.

Accordingly, the Police Department must review its policy of honours and awards. It must ensure that such recognition is commensurate with the unfailing service and outstanding acts performed by police officers.

South Australia's police have endured substantial hardship during their Department's restructuring of the past decade. At long last, however, the changes seem to be bearing fruit. But morale has suffered and the esprit de corps is not what it once was.

SAPOL now has the opportunity to lead the way in acknowledging its employees' accomplishments. Rewarding and recognizing police officers may also serve as an antidote for the poor morale by which they're currently plagued.

Of all the structures which SAPOL management is able to institute, few could be more critical than an appropriate system of honours and awards.

<<<<<<<<<< Australian Police Medal (APM) The Australian Police Medal was instituted by The Queen on 3 March 1986 to recognise distinguished service members of Australian police forces. Recommendations are made to the Governor-General by the responsible Minister for approval. An annual quota applies for each police force.

<<<<<<<<<< Police Overseas Service Medal The Police Overseas Service Medal was instituted by The Queen on 25 April 1991 to recognise service with international peace keeping organisations by officers of Australian police forces. The award of the Medal is made with a Clasp to denote the area of prescribed service and any subsequent award to the same person is made in the form of a further Clasp with the prescribed service appropriately inscribed.

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