As a young Sergeant out at Lightning Ridge to Commander of Southern Region based in Wollongong, Assistant Commissioner Worboys has always been a community cop.

It’s a big reason why he was one of several police officers honoured in the Australia Day Awards.

He received The Australian Police Medal, awarded by the Governor-General, Sir Peter John Cosgrove, “for distinguished service by a member of an Australian police force.”

The official citation noted his strategic approach in the Southern Region is ‘Crime, Community and Our People’, where the emphasis is based on a strong community engagement program, that finds police at field days, schools, local shows and other events.

“This strategy strengthens police and community relations with initiatives to specifically target crime in the community,” it read.

A longtime Goulburn resident, A/C Worboys, attributed his longevity in the profession to the support of his family (wife Deanne and children Matt and Kylie), friends and colleagues.

“I feel very fortunate and humbled by it but it would not have been able to happen without the support of Deanne and my many friends who have made the tough times easier for me,” he said.

“Working in the Southern Region presents many opportunities to work on those community ties … be it Wollongong, Deniliquin, Cootamundra, Goulburn, Queanbeyan … the sense of community is still very strong in those places.”

True to form, A/C Worboys spent the Australia Day weekend at local community events as a civilian.

He attended Sunday’s Wild Colonial Day at Collector and Monday’s Australia Day activities in Victoria Park before catching the Angelina Jolie film Unbroken which also features local lad Louis McIntosh.

The awards are announced twice annually, on Australia Day and the Queen’s Birthday in June.

Acting NSW Police Commissioner Catherine Burn has congratulated the recipients on their nominations and commitment to policing.

“I am tremendously proud to have ten officers – with over 300 years combined service – recognised for their dedication to the NSW Police Force,” she  said.

“These officers are a credit to the NSW Police Force, their colleagues, family, friends and the community.

A/C Worboys’ full citation reads: 

Assistant Commissioner Gary Worboys joined the New South Wales Police Force as a Junior Trainee in 1981 at the NSW Police Academy, Redfern. He was attested as a Probationary Constable in 1982, where he was stationed at No. 27 Division (Blacktown). He was promoted to his current rank and posted to his current command in 2013.

Assistant Commissioner Worboys was confirmed as a Constable in 1983 whilst performing General Duties at No. 27 Division (Blacktown). He has served at Traffic Branch, and performed Highway Patrol duties at Penrith and Lismore. A/Commissioner Worboys has also worked general duties at Lismore, Lightning Ridge and Goulburn; where in 2000, he was promoted to the rank of Superintendent (Commander, Goulburn Local Area Command). A/Commissioner Worboys later served as Local Area Commander at Monaro, Wollongong and Liverpool. In 2013, he was promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner, as Commander of Southern Region, his current position.

Assistant Commissioner Worboys has overseen a number of events including; Operation ‘Hurculean’ (targeting heavy vehicles along the Hume Highway) and the AC/DC concerts held at the ANZ Stadium, Homebush.

In 2011, he was the NSW Police Force representative for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference (CHOGM) that was held in Perth.

Recently, he was the Commander of Operation ‘Unite’ targeting alcohol related crime. He is the Corporate spokesperson for Uniform Standards, Victims of Crime and is an associate member of the Royal Humane Society Awards Committee, as well as the NSW representative on the National Police Memorial Steering Committee.

Assistant Commissioner Worboys strategic approach in the Southern Region is ‘Crime, Community and Our People’, where the emphasis is based on a strong Community Engagement program, that finds police at field days, schools, local shows, sale yards, general stores, as well as police exhibitions and events. This strategy strengthens police and community relations with initiatives to specifically target crime in the community.

Assistant Commissioner Worboys was awarded the National Police Service Medal in 2014, the National Medal in 1997 (1st clasp to the National Medal in 2006) and the NSW Police Medal in 2003 (including 4th clasp to the NSW Police Medal in 2014). In 2012, he received the Commissioner’s Sesquicentenary Citation.

His distinguished service in policing now sees Assistant Commissioner Worboys at the Southern Region, serving the state of New South Wales.