Compassion her strength
SERGEANT Rebecca McMillan is the first woman to win Penrith’s Police Officer of the Year Award.
“I feel very proud and honoured,” Sergeant McMillan said.
The award honours police officers who show courage, courtesy, kindness or dedication beyond the call of duty.
Sergeant McMillan, who is the Penrith command’s education and training officer, joined the police 15 years ago at age 21.
“I joined because I wanted to do the right thing by people,” she said.
“I’m not one of those who can stand by and watch bad things happen.”
She said empathy towards colleagues and the public was very important for police officers.
“In my case, my battle with cancer helped me feel that,” Sergeant McMillan said.
“I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2007 and had my thyroid and an eight-centimetre tumour removed.”
She is now clear of cancer but said her experience made her think of others in the same situation.
“I had a colleague whose husband died of cancer — they had four daughters,” Sergeant McMillan said.
“We made sure they were looked after.”
She also said she did what she could for another colleague whose wife had cancer.
Penrith police commander Ben Feszczuk said Sergeant McMillan was a worthy winner of the award.
“By her actions otherwise unheralded, Sergeant McMillan has demonstrated her outstanding kindness and compassion to others despite her own difficult circumstances,” Superintendent Feszczuk said.
Read More: http://www.penrithstar.com.au/news/local/news/general/compassion-her-strength/2203661.aspx
