Four Australian Federal Police (AFP) members have been recognised for their service in the 2022 Australia Day Honours List.
Ms Kim Crimmins will receive the Public Service Medal (PSM), awarded to public servants for outstanding service. Detective Superintendent David Nelson, Detective Superintendent Anita Van Hilst and Detective Sergeant Louise Denley will each receive the Australian Police Medal (APM) in acknowledgment of their distinguished service to the Australian community.
AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw APM congratulated the AFP members for their decades of service and thanked them for their outstanding dedication to the AFP and the Australian community.
"I'm so proud of our four members, who collectively represent more than 111 years of service with the AFP and have supported victims of crime and helped to ensure the safety of all Australians, whether it be in the field of counter terrorism, community policing, or combatting transnational serious organised crime," Commissioner Kershaw said.
"As a former Victim Liaison Officer and now Family Investigative Liaison Officer, Kim Crimmins has been integral in supporting and providing much needed assistance to victims of crime through the investigation and court processes, as well as working with the families of the 41 victims of the downing of Malaysia Airlines (MH17) in the Ukraine.
"Detective Superintendent Nelson has a distinguished career of domestic and international service, and currently leads the AFP contribution to the joint team investigating the downing of Malaysia Airlines (MH17) over Ukraine on 17 July 2014, one of the most complex and internationally sensitive investigations in the history of the AFP.
"Detective Superintendent Van Hilst's work in the counter terrorism area saw her deploy to Jordan in 2017 during the height of Syrian Civil War, where she forged strong partnerships with international agencies and made a significant contribution to the global law enforcement community's management of foreign terrorist fighters.
"Detective Sergeant Denley has blazed a path in ACT Policing, becoming the first female police motorcyclist, pursuit driver, full-time rescue squad member, and in 1996 was promoted to Sergeant, becoming the AFP's first female Traffic Sergeant."
Kim Crimmins began her career with the AFP in August 2002 in the ACT Policing North Criminal Investigation Team. She has deployed, led or engaged with AFP Family Investigative Liaison Officers in response to various critical incidences, including the downing of MH17, the Christchurch terrorist attack in March 2019, and the New Zealand White Island Volcano eruption in 2019. In 2021 she was named as the Most Outstanding Female Practitioner as part of the Australian Council for Women and Policing 22nd Excellence in Policing Awards.
Detective Superintendent David Nelson joined the AFP in October 1990, and was posted to Sydney after completing recruit training. He was deployed to Thailand as the Bangkok Liaison Officer between 2004 and 2007. Detective Superintendent Nelson also worked in Bogota, Colombia, from 2009 to 2013. He has led the AFP contribution to the joint team investigating the downing of MH17 since November 2016.
Detective Superintendent Anita Van Hilst joined the AFP in 1998, beginning her career in ACT Policing, City Station. In 2002, she transferred to national investigations and served in Economic and Special Operations, and deployed to New Zealand in 2006. She moved to counter terrorism in 2014, and deployed to Jordan in 2017 where she oversaw an increase in operational tempo due to the Syrian Civil War.
Detective Sergeant Louise Denley joined the AFP in July 1985 and, after recruit training, was posted to ACT Policing as a general duties officer. In ACT Policing, she became the first female police motorcyclist, pursuit driver, full-time rescue squad member, and was later promoted to Sergeant in Traffic in 1996. In February 2002, Detective Sergeant Denley deployed as part of the 70th contingent for the United Nations peacekeeping mission to Cyprus. She has also worked in Transnational Sex Offenders and Child Protection teams.
