Senior Sergeant Dan Clark goes to work each day hoping his best is enough to keep the community safe.
On January 26 this year, the veteran WA police officer moved swiftly to halt an Invasion Day rally after an explosive device was thrown into a crowded Forrest Place.
Facing a volatile environment, Sen. Sgt Clark put himself and his fellow officers in harm’s way to safely evacuate the event, ultimately averting the threat that resulted in a landmark terrorism charge.
“We get our clothes on, we kiss our partners goodbye, we head off to work, and we have got no idea what we’re going to face… we just do our best, and we hope that the best is enough,” said Sen. Sgt Clark, who received the State’s top law enforcement honour on Friday night for his actions that day.
Reflecting on the incident, Sen. Sgt Clark said he relied on calculated instinct, knowing he had to remain mindful of the cultural complexities of the rally.
WA's biggest courts and crime stories to your inbox
Sign-up to our weekly newsletter for free
Sign up“Gut feelings and gut reactions mean everything, but a decision of that magnitude needed to be calculated,” he said.
“I made the decision on the day . . . I pulled it apart after that, but on reflection, it’s very, very humbling.
“It’s an amazing accolade for the agency that there was no arrests that day, there was no physicality, and everybody in the community came together.”
Sen. Sgt Clark was handpicked by Commissioner Col Blanch to receive the prestigious Brilliance in Policing Award at the WA Police Force Recognition of Excellence Awards.
The Commissioner also backed the officer’s split-second choice immediately following the incident.
“Doesn’t get any bigger than that,” Sen. Sgt Clark said of the Commissioner’s backing. “But then I was fortunate to receive praise from Aboriginal elders, so from that aspect of it again, massively emotional for me personally.”
The ceremony also celebrated the tireless detective work that brought answers to a grieving WA family five years after a tragic hit-and-run.
The Major Crash Investigation Section’s Operation Aground was awarded the State Team Winner award for their extraordinary resolution of the 2020 death of Mathew Neary.
The case was unsolved until detectives identified a young man as the driver in 2025.
A small, dedicated squad took a fresh look at the evidence, meticulously reviewing CCTV footage and analysing minute tyre details to track down the suspect vehicle and eventually identify the driver.
In a dramatic breakthrough, detectives arrested the driver — who was 17 at the time of the incident — just 24 hours after launching a public media appeal.
The now 21-year-old subsequently pleaded guilty, sparing the family a protracted court battle.
Detective Sergeant Ollie Edwards recalled the emotional moment he called Mr Neary’s brother, Brody Rodgers, to tell him the good news.
“We had the moment of leaving the Perth Watch House with the crook in the van... the investigative team on speaker spoke with Brody and disclosed to him, like, hey, we’ve got the suspect in custody,” Detective Sergeant Edwards said.
“That moment was a fantastic moment,” Mr Rodgers said.
He recalled the first time Detective Sergeant Edwards took over the file and visited his Mandurah home.
“I just said straight away, like, just be honest with me, is this going to get solved?” Mr Rodgers said.
“And straight away, Ollie said, ‘This is 100 per cent solvable, like we can do it’.
“True to Ollie’s word, it was solvable, and yeah, just a massive relief for myself and the family.
“Now it’s just a case of moving on and just reliving his memories with his family and his kids.”
Commissioner Blanch was visibly touched by the commitment of his force to the WA community.
“I am extremely proud of the work our officers carry out each and every day to keep the community safe,” Commissioner Blanch said.
SEE THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS BELOW
Brilliance in Policing Individual Award - Senior Sergeant Dan Clark
Brilliance in Policing Team Award - Fitzroy Crossing Police Station
Minister’s Community Confidence Award (Metropolitan) -Mandurah Detectives
Minister’s Community Confidence Award (Regional) - Broome Inquiry Team
Metropolitan Individual Winner - Senior Sergeant Dan Clark
Metropolitan Team Winner - Midland Detectives
Regional Individual Winner - Senior Sergeant Scott Starkie
Regional Team Winner - Fitzroy Crossing Police Station
State Individual Winner - Senior Constable Oliver Taylor
State Team Winner - Major Crash - Operation Aground
Lance Martin Technology Individual Winner - Senior Constable Charlie Jenkins
Lance Martin Technology Team Winner - Firearms Act Reform Program
Agency Services and Development Individual Winner -Sherileen Martin
Agency Services and Development Team Winner - Operation Podcast
Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.
Sign up for our emails