YOUR local
ISSUE 016 FRIDAY, 23 MARCH, 2018
6 PAGE RACING GUIDE PAGE 11
YOUR INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY
PAPER
WEEKLY REAL ESTATE INSERT
Police Officer of the Year: Detective Sergeant Brent Fletcher Marguerite McKinnon
“No greater honour will ever be bestowed on an officer, or a more profound duty imposed on them, than when they are entrusted with the investigation of the death of a human being. It is their duty to find the facts, regardless of colour or creed, without prejudice, and to let no power on Earth deter them from presenting these facts to the court without regards to personality.” Anonymous.
Riverina Police District Commander Bob Noble and Detective Sergeant Brent Fletcher.
Presented by THE HERALD OF HOPE MAGAZINE
BRENT Fletcher didn’t want to be a police officer initially. Instead the boy who grew up around Taree on the NSW North Coast began a degree in Civil Engineering. But Brent’s father was a police officer, and soon Brent discovered that his real passion was the police force. “I started in the Force back in 1988 and my first five years were in Surry Hills (in Sydney),” Brent said. “Then I went to Griffith and Coolamon, and for the past 14 years I’ve been here in Wagga.” This week, Detective Sergeant Brent Fletcher, or Fletch to his colleagues, marked 30 years in policing by being named Wagga Local Area Command Police Officer of the Year, and winner of the Police Specialist category at the annual Rotary Wagga Police Officer of the Year Awards. What would come as no surprise to those who work closely with Fletch, he said the award was a total surprise. “One hundred per cent surprise. So many other worthy people were finalists,” Brent said. “I don’t seek attention. I don’t like attention. But I do get satisfaction from helping people, and especially seeing victims of crime get the justice they deserve. Especially victims of sexual assault because they have been through the difficulty of reporting the matter and having to go through court. Seeing them get justice is the biggest achievement for me,” he said. As Investigations Manager of the Riverina Police District, the Detective Sergeant is in charge of 700 investigations currently underway by local police. “I can’t be across all of them, but I am here to keep an eye on them and to help the officers in any way I can,” he said. Brent is the key investigator in mystery surrounding the disappearance of Allecha Boyd in August last year. Two men have been charged with her murder, even though she still has not been located. “I remember when the missing person call came in. Straight away I was concerned. It didn’t sit well with me,” Brent said. The Riverina Police District Commander, Superintendent Bob Noble, said Brent’s dedication and care is very much behind the scenes, supporting Allecha’s family as they wait in agony for answers. “He has been a source of information and comfort for the family, while leaving no stone unturned in his investigation,” Superintendent Noble said. Crime Manager Detective, Inspector Darren Cloake, says Brent deserves every accolade. “I only voted for one person and Brent was it,” Darren said. “We call him The Voice of Reason. When others go like a bull at a gate, Fletch is measured in his approach.” ...continued on page 2
Bible Prophecy Conference Thursday 29th March to Sunday 1st April 2018
Thursday 7pm - Friday 10am & 6pm - Saturday 10am & 6pm - Sunday 9:30, 11am & 6pm
Wagga Wagga Independent Baptist Church - 34 Northcott Parade, Mount Austin 02 6926 5804 - www.indbaptwaggakjv.com