Cops receive coveted medals

Great Southern police officers who were thrown into an “extremely confronting situation” in Tambellup in August have been bestowed with one of the force’s highest honours last Thursday night.

Tambellup officer-in-charge Sergeant Josh Humble and Katanning First Class Constables Rhys Challen and Michael Le Poidevin were called to the horrific death of a 60-year-old Tambellup man in his home on Garrity Street in the early hours of Sunday, August 4.

They arrested 41-year-old Greg John William Quartermaine, who was later charged with murder.

The incident rocked the tight-knit community of Tambellup.

WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson commended Sgt Humble, Const. Challen and Const. Le Poidevin for their response to the “tragic policing event” at last Thursday night’s WA Police recruit graduation ceremony in Joondalup.

“The officers entered the house and encountered a graphic crime scene where a male person was tragically located deceased,” Commissioner Dawson said.

“Each of these officers performed their duties with the utmost professionalism and great maturity under difficult circumstances until the arrival of specialist police units.

“For these reasons, each officer has been awarded the Commissioner’s Medal for Excellence.”

Following the tragic incident, Great Southern Police District Superintendent Ian Clarke praised the first responders for their handling of the situation.

“The officers involved in the apprehension dealt with it very professionally in what was an extremely confronting situation for them and also the people that were involved in the incident,” he said in August.