Above and beyond the call of duty

PC Kat Murray is presented with her Student Officer of the Year Award by Chief Constable Peter Fahy.

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Top cops are at the double

POLICE in Oldham are celebrating a double win at the Chief Constable’s Excellence Awards.

Sergeant Craig Johnson and PC Kat Murray picked up gongs at the Manchester Town Hall event which recognises members of staff who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

Sergeant Johnson, of the Saddleworth and Lees Neighbourhood Policing Team, won the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Throughout his 33-year career, Sergeant Johnson has celebrated exceptional arrest and conviction rates and, since moving to his current post in 1989, is now a key part of the community and is fondly referred to by residents as Mr Saddleworth.

Sergeant Johnson’s nomination was made up entirely of recommendations from colleagues, senior officers and members of the community.

He recently came third in the Lifetime Achievement Award category at the national Jane’s Police Review awards.

He said: “I joined GMP back in 1976. I wanted a career dealing with people, which was exciting and varied and where I would be part of a team.

“To quote an old cliché — I wanted a job that mattered.

“In 1989, I was asked to be the Community Sergeant for Saddleworth for a six-month period — 20 years later and three years after I could have retired, I am still here.

“I would like to thank my colleagues and members of the public who supported my nomination and my wife for her constant understanding and support.”

PC Murray won the Student Officer of the Year Award for her work with the Response Team at Oldham Police Station.

PC Murray was praised for using her initiative when tracking down offenders and had led on a number of arrests of Oldham’s most prolific and violent criminals.

She undertook extensive research to find an offender who had become particularly notorious in the area for avoiding arrest, even ramming police cars to get away.

Together with her team, PC Murray acted quickly to find out where he was living and raided the house.

He was arrested and is now serving a three-year prison sentence.

Divisional Commander of the Oldham Division, Chief Supt Tim Forber, said: “There is a lot of excellent work being done to tackle crime and disorder across Oldham, which is evident in the quality of this year’s winners.

“The officers’ awards are in recognition of their continual efforts and first class service they provide to not only members of the public, but also to their colleagues.

“It is clear that both officers have made an impact in the communities they serve.

“I am pleased their work has been recognised this way. I congratulate them on their achievements.”