Senior Sergeant Ken Dunlop has been named this year’s Blue Ribbon Foundation Police Officer of the Year.A LOCAL senior sergeant was “flabbergasted” at being named this year’s Blue Ribbon Foundation Police Officer of the Year.
Senior Sergeant Ken Dunlop of the Region 5 (South East) Regional Traffic Tasking Unit was presented with the honour at the Blue Ribbon annual breakfast last Tuesday week.
Sen Sgt Dunlop, who notches up 38 years with Victoria Police in November, was only last month awarded an Australian Police Medal (APM) as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
He said the latest honour topped off an incredible year.
“The year just cannot get any better,” Sen Sgt Dunlop said.
“I received the APM, my father turned 89, my parents celebrated their 60th anniversary and 10 days ago I became a grandfather.
“This award is incredibly humbling.
“I have always had real passion for traffic policing, road safety and anything to do with the Blue Ribbon Foundation.
“I just go about doing what I like doing and the award certainly did take me by surprise.”
Blue Ribbon CEO Neil Soullier said the Police Officer of the Year Award sought to recognise police officers who went above and beyond the call of duty.
“It is our good fortune that Sen Sgt Dunlop has been such a great supporter of the Blue Ribbon Foundation over the past 20 years,” Mr Soullier said.
“To say that Sen Sgt Dunlop knows traffic is an understatement.
“He has made a significant contribution to traffic policing during his time with Victoria Police and has been instrumental in many aspects of traffic and transport operations.
“I sincerely congratulate him on the award.”
The Dandenong police member coordinates traffic operations across all divisions of Region 5, including the City of Casey, in support of local Traffic Management Units.
In addition to this, he regularly coordinates and commands large-scale, multi-agency drink driving operations.
Sen Sgt Dunlop has been instrumental in the planning, coordination and implementation of various aspects of the traffic and transport operation for the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island and is well respected within the motorcycle community. He is also heavily involved in the planning for the Blue Ribbon Foundation’s Ride to Remember.
The Blue Ribbon Foundation was first established in 1988 as a way for the Victorian community to remember police members killed in the line of duty.
Funds raised by the Blue Ribbon Foundation are used to provide new or improved emergency and trauma facilities in Victoria’s public hospitals.
