Office of the Public AdvocateThe Public Advocate's Police Awards recognise outstanding police service to people with disability.
Recipients are nominated by colleagues, Independent Third Persons (ITPs) - volunteers who support people with disability in police interviews, and members of the public.
The Ben Bodna Award, named after Victoria's first Public Advocate, recognises exceptional leadership in support of Victorians with a disability.
The Independent Third Person Program Awards recognise members of Victoria Police who demonstrate the ideals of the ITP program, and have gone above and beyond in ensuring people with disability are not disadvantaged during police interviews.
| Year | Ben Bodna Award | Community nominated | Police nominated | ITP - Metro | ITP - Rural |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Detective Senior Constables Travis Kinghorn, Rhiannon Woolfe, and Samantha Perez of Fawkner SOCIT | Sergeant Mark Osborne | Sergeant Kate Lockyer | Mernda | Benalla SOCIT |
| 2022 | Sergeant Melanie Castles-McKeown | Victoria Police Soccer Club | Sergeant Barry Randall | Frankston Police Station | Bairnsdale Police Station |
| 2021 |
Inspector Chris Allen, North West Metro Region |
No Community nominated award due to COVID-19 pandemic | Sergeant Kelly Christie | Melton Police Station | Horsham Police Station |
| 2020 | Acting Inspector Christine Lalor | No Community nominated award due to COVID-19 pandemic | Lydia Popec | Melbourne West Police Station | Ballarat Police Station |
| 2019 | Victoria Police’s Disability Portfolio’s Priority Communities Team | Detective Senior Constable Eric Forcey | Senior Constable Tamara Olley | Sunshine Police Station | Geelong Police Station |
| 2018 | Senior Constable Anthony Downing | Detective Senior Constable Carol Griffith | Judy Ruka | Knox Police Station | Shepparton Police Station |
| 2017 | Assistant Commissioner Tess Walsh | Senior Constable David Grealish and Melbourne Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team | Sergeant John Hollis | Box Hill Police Station | Bendigo Police Station |
| 2016 | Melbourne North Police Station | Sergeant Tristan Snow | Senior Sergeant Nicole Williams | Epping Police Station | Ararat Police Station |
