A Warriewood family recognised for putting themselves in harm’s way to protect an elderly neighbour has received one of NSW’s highest civilian honours — more than four years after the incident that nearly cost them their lives.
Geoffrey and Carolyn Walsh, along with their son Alex, were presented with the Commissioner’s Certificate of Merit at a Medals and Awards Presentation Day held on 15 July at the Dee Why RSL Club. The ceremony, attended by NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley and Commissioner Mal Lanyon APM, brought together the Northern Beaches and North Shore Police Area Commands to honour both officers and members of the public for acts of courage and dedicated service.
The Walsh family’s recognition stems from an incident on the morning of 28 February 2022, when emergency services were called to Warriewood Road after a 78-year-old man was allegedly attacked by his granddaughter. Rather than standing by, the Walshs stepped in. Carolyn sustained serious cuts to her ankle during the struggle, while Geoffrey and Alex worked together to subdue the alleged offender and hold her until police and paramedics arrived. NSW Police Inspector Luke Baker, speaking at the ceremony, credited their actions with preventing a fatal outcome for the elderly man.
Geoffrey and Carolyn were on hand to collect the award; Alex was unable to attend, and his parents accepted on his behalf.
Also earning a Certificate of Merit at the ceremony were two local first responders — off-duty Constable Ruby Dardengo and NSW Ambulance Paramedic Ricci Newton — who came to the aid of a man who had suffered serious lacerations to his hands and face at Warriewood. The pair provided first aid and monitored his condition until paramedics arrived, despite being off the clock at the time.
The ceremony also recognised Northern Beaches officers for their roles in some of Australia’s most significant counter-terrorism operations. Sergeant Andrew Geraghty, then a constable, received a Commissioner’s Unit Citation for his part in the response to the 2014 Lindt Café siege in Martin Place — a 17-hour ordeal described as one of the largest police operations in NSW history. Sergeant Daniel Hewett received the same honour for his involvement in Operation Silves, a 2017 investigation that disrupted a terrorist cell linked to ISIS in Syria. That cell had allegedly planned to detonate an improvised explosive device aboard an international flight and deploy a chemical weapon in a public transport hub. Four members were arrested, with two ultimately convicted and sentenced to a combined total of nearly 40 years in prison.
Six other certificates were handed out to officers from the Northern Beaches command for incidents ranging from a ten-hour cliff-edge negotiation at North Head to a lone search in darkness that saved an unconscious teenager. Senior Constable Adam Millard was recognised for locating a 19-year-old woman who had become unconscious after consuming alcohol and prescription medication. Senior Constable Michael Townsend was acknowledged for identifying and responding to a young motorist he had pulled over for a breath test, who was found to be in serious emotional distress. Constables William Barraclough and Matthew Childs received recognition for pursuing and apprehending the occupants of a stolen vehicle after it ran a red light at Mona Vale and subsequently crashed. Constables Ryan Groves and Ava Trotter were honoured for the protracted negotiation that brought a vulnerable man back from the edge of a cliff at North Head, Manly. Probationary Constable Matthew Bright was also acknowledged for locating an unconscious woman at risk of self-harm in a Dee Why car park and ensuring she received urgent care.
Long-service medals were also presented at the ceremony, including the National Medal (for 15 years of service), the National Police Service Medal, the NSW Police Medal, and the Premier Flood Citation for those who responded to the 2022–23 NSW flood emergencies.
Minister Catley used the occasion to acknowledge the toll that frontline policing takes beyond the job itself — on officers’ families and on their personal lives. Commissioner Lanyon echoed that sentiment, opening his remarks by thanking the families of those being honoured rather than the recipients themselves, before reflecting on what he described as a challenging 12 months for both the NSW community and the force.
The Northern Beaches and North Shore areas remain among the safest in the state, according to the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.
Published 21-July-2026
