Six Western Bay police personnel and a member of the public have been recognised with awards for going the extra mile - four of them have been credited with saving lives.
During a special ceremony at Tauranga police station last week Constable Shane McCarthy received a silver merit award for helping pull 77-year-old Neta Lawrence from her burning Mount Maunganui home on July 6, 2014.
Constables Blair Robertson and Murray McGowan received District Commanders' Commendations for their teamwork in saving a distressed man's life on May 31, 2015.
Member of the public Quinn O'Connell received a District Commanders Certificate of Appreciation for his lifesaving actions at Mount Maunganui Beach on January 24 this year.
Also recognised with a District Commanders Commendation was Detective Matthew Valentine for his "professionalism, commitment and investigative excellence" during a gang-related home invasion investigation he headed in 2013 dubbed Operation Plummers. Two men suffered serious injuries including the loss of an eye.
