Harrowing year for top cop

As an elderly couple spent their final moments in the wreckage of a car crash, Sergeant Cameron Clifford was the voice lending calm words of reassurance.

It is this human touch in tragic times that earned the Walpole officer-in-charge the title of WA Police Officer of the Year on Tuesday.

In the past 12 months, the 40-year-old has been one of the first on the scene after eight deaths in town, including two drownings and a fatal car crash.

Sgt Clifford won the prestigious accolade ahead of Cranbrook police officer-in-charge Sergeant Bob Scott and Perth’s major crash unit investigator Senior Constable Peter Price.

Grateful residents of the 500-strong community nominated him for the award, which he received at a presentation event in Perth.

Senior police were told how during one emergency, Sgt Clifford spent 45 minutes trying to resuscitate a man before he died.

They said he often fielded calls well into the night.

“You’re a long way from help in a lot of country places,” Sgt Clifford said.

“It’s not like you have the cavalry coming over the hills.

“They’ve rolled their car, they’re 60km from nowhere and we are it.”

The father-of-two has been a police officer for 21 years, having been on the beat in Mt Magnet, Karratha, Albany, Coolgardie, Ongerup and Kalgoorlie.

Walpole has been Sgt Clifford’s home for the past two-and-a-half years.

He said he was humbled to be recognised as the State’s top cop.

“The people of Walpole nominated me for the award and it is lovely to be recommended by my own community,” he said.

“Policing has been difficult … but my time there so far has been extremely memorable due to the close-knit community.”

Sgt Clifford thanked his wife Kym and sons aged 13 and 10 for moving around WA with him during his many country posts.

“The ability to sit down, have a chat, have a beer, have a cup of tea and have someone tell you they still love you and you’re doing a great job is brilliant,” he said.

Mrs Clifford, who watched her husband collect the award, said the family made sure they were there to “offer a hug” after his many long shifts.