Former South West District Management Coordinator Peter Hatch said he was honoured to be recognised for his work as a police officer.
The current Central Metropolitan District Superintendent was given the Australian Police Medal, as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, for his services across Western Australia.
“I am pretty honoured and humbled to receive the Australian Police Medal,” he said.
“It’s not just me, it’s about everyone that was around me at the time and the community members who assisted to help achieve what we achieved.”
Since beginning his career with WA Police in 1986, Superintendent Hatch has fought to preserve the safety and security of the metropolitan and regional areas he has served in.
He became South West District Management Coordinator in 2013, and worked to engage with the community.
During his time in the South West, police were involved in the discovery of a TATP explosive in the Australind Estuary.
South West officers were also part of Operation Tyria, the largest controlled drug operation in regional WA’s history.
The 12-month operation saw 36 search warrants executed and 53 people charged with 252 offences.
Police seized almost half a kilogram of methamphetamine and over $1 million in cash.
Superintendent Hatch was also involved in major emergency situations such as the Yarloop bushfires in 2016.
“I am pretty proud to have been part of the planning of how the South West exists now, in terms of the number of police we have down there and how the police station looks,” he said.
Read more: