Former Hawke's Bay Police Inspector Kevin Kalff was quick to swing the attention away from himself when it came to acknowledging he had been awarded a Queen's Service Medal (QSM).
"It was a huge surprise to receive the nomination," Mr Kalff said from his Ahuriri home.
"And I chose to accept it on behalf of all the wonderful people of Napier who have worked with, and for me, to achieve what we did together."
He said while the police were ideally positioned to take a lead roll in supporting community based initiatives, nothing could be achieved without "passionate people in the community" who selflessly volunteered their time and were committed to ensuring initiatives were effective and enduring.
"I see this award as acknowledgement of all of those people who work together and are committed to making Napier a safer place."