Australia Day Honours: Mike Bell among four West Australians awarded Australian Police Medal

Four WA Police officers — who have a combined total of more than 140 years experience — have been recognised for their distinguished service as members of the force.

Commander Michael James Bell, Detective Senior Sergeant Stephen John Cleal, Inspector Jodie Lee Di Lallo and Detective Superintendent John Andrew Hutchison will be granted the Australian Police Medal as part of the Australia Day honours.

Cdr Bell — WA’s top traffic cop — has served in the force for almost 40 years and has been praised for setting “clear directions” for his road policing efforts.

He has also been commended for playing a “pivotal role” in the Infringement Reform Project — a program which helped modern the system issuing safety camera-detected infringements — by fostering partnerships with the Road Safety Commission and the Department of Transport.

Sgt Cleal — the officer who led the investigation into the tragic death of 15-year-old Cassius Turvey — was also awarded the APM after almost 30 years service.

Sgt Cleal has been recognised for his support for the Turvey family and is commended for empowering Cassius’ mother, Mechelle, to become actively involved in police-related initiatives.

Mechelle has since launched TAKE 5, a victim engagement program to improve police-community relations.

Sgt Cleal is commended for having a “remarkable capacity” to drive change and bridge the gap between the community and police.

Former Child Abuse Unit specialist interviewer Insp. Di Lallo was granted the APM for her work in having a “profound effect” on sexual and physical abuse victims.

She has also been commended for implementing the Facial Recognition Capability and Police Force Covert Re-Assimilation Program into the WA Police Force.

Supt. Hutchison — one of the top cops involved in one of the biggest drug busts in Australia’s history — was also awarded the APM after 38 years of service.

He helped lead Operation Beech, a covert international operation which stopped 24 tonnes of cocaine destined for WA — worth $1 billion — from reaching the State’s shores in one of the biggest drug busts in Australian history.

A dozen people with alleged links to the Mexican drug cartel were charged after the mammoth haul was intercepted by the US Drug Enforcement Administration off the South American coast.

Supt. Hutchison’s leadership also led to the arrests of cartels in Africa, the United Kingdom and Mexico.

He has also been involved in several high profile homicides including the Daniel Morcombe case.