It’s what the citation for his newly-awarded Australian Police Medal says, but the veteran officer will tell you the accolade is more about the men and women who work alongside him, and that his focus is on giving the community “the best police force that we possibly can”.

Superintendent Smith, now Lake Illawarra Police District commander, joined the force in 1988.

He’s held various roles across the state since, including a stint with the organised crime squad.

In 2003, while working as Wollongong police crime coordinator, Superintendent Smith was the lead investigator of the Waterfall Train Disaster.

“That was a very challenging time and one which was certainly full of sadness for all of those families that lost loved ones in that tragedy,” he said.

“They’re the times that you reflect on how important it is to be part of the NSW Police Force and the role that we have to play.”

Superintendent Smith joined the New South Wales Police Force in 1988 and was confirmed as a Constable at Sutherland Police Station.

He performed general duties at the Sutherland Police Station and shortly after moved into criminal investigation duties at the same location.

In 1994 he transferred to the Drug Enforcement Agency and later the Organised Crime Squad where he performed criminal investigations into major crime syndicates.

At the completion of a secondment at the Olympics Security Command in 2000, he transferred into the position of Team Leader at the Georges River Target Action Group.

In 2002 he was promoted to the rank of Senior Sergeant at Wollongong Local Area Command in the role of Crime Co-Ordinator where in 2003 he was the lead Investigator at the Waterfall Train Disaster.

He was promoted to the rank of Inspector as Duty Officer and later Crime Manager at the Cootamundra Local Area Command before transferring to the role of Operations Manager, Southern Region from 2012 to 2014.

In 2014 he was promoted to the rank of Superintendent, Operations Manager, North West Metropolitan Region where he remained until 2017.

He was then transferred to the NSW Dog Squad and in late 2017 he was appointed to the position of Commander, Lake Illawarra Police District Command.

In this role, he has had an immediate impact with the Aboriginal and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities within the district.

Superintendent Smith leads by example with a work ethic equal to the very best in the New South Wales Police Force and he has provided dedicated service to the people of New South Wales for over 30 years.