Blue Mountains Police Rescue operator Senior Constable Steven Day has taken out a NSW policing award for his work during a particularly challenging two-month period last year.
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At a ceremony in Sydney last Friday, Snr Const Day was awarded the Metropolitan Field Operations Police Officer of the Year.
“I’m very honoured to receive this award,” Snr Const Day told the gathering.
“However I did not get here by myself. I’d like to thank my fellow rescue operators from the Blue Mountains Police Rescue squad for their professionalism, commitment, courage, and above all their extraordinary resilience in a very tough time in the squad and the Blue Mountains command. It is one of the main reasons I am standing here before you tonight.”
He also made special mention of his wife Carey who’d provided support over more than two decades of police rescue, there for him when he returned home after long days and difficult rescues. “She’s been my rock,” Snr Const Day said.
The officer received the award for his involvement in the recovery of 10 bodies in the Blue Mountains as a result of suicide over a two-month period in 2017.
Snr Const Day was acting Blue Mountains Police Rescue co-ordinator at the time, responsible for the welfare of the squad, co-ordinating the retrieval and often involved in actually carrying out the retrieval.
One of the most difficult incidents was in Leura in June, 2017.
During strong winds, light snow and rain, Snr Const Day and the police rescue squad went in to retrieve the body of a woman.
Due to the dangerous weather conditions and suffering from mild hypothermia and fatigue, the rescue operators had to return the next day to complete the operation.
“We keep doing it for the families,” Snr Const Day had previously said.
“To bring some form of closure for the families.”
A 22-year Police Rescue squad veteran, Snr Const Day was directly involved in 123 rescue jobs in 2017 – everything from car accidents to injured bushwalkers and lost tourists.
Even when he was hospitalised with pancreatitis last year he continued to monitor the rescue jobs.
“I was tapping my feet. I wanted to get back into it,” he said.
In April, Snr Const Day was named the 2017 Blue Mountains Police Officer of the Year at an awards ceremony organised by the combined Rotary clubs of Blue Mountains, which saw him nominated for the state awards.
- If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
