Prestigious national honour awarded to three officers

Detective Chief Superintendent Catherine Hilliard, currently serving as Acting Assistant Commissioner, Sergeant First Class Silvano Dovi, and Senior Community Constable First Class Gregory Smith are recognised for their dedication to policing and a collective 94 years of service.

Awarded by the Governor‑General as part of the King’s Birthday and Australia Day Honours, the APM recognises exceptional achievement, leadership, and dedication to the values of policing.

Commissioner of Police Grant Stevens APM LEM commended the recipients, noting their dedication and leadership across decades of service.

“The Australian Police Medal recognises officers whose work has strengthened our organisation and our state. Each of these recipients has made a significant and lasting contribution to community safety,” Commissioner Stevens said.

“Catherine, Silvano and Gregory’s leadership, integrity and commitment to serving the people of South Australia is evident in every stage of their careers. This honour is a fitting acknowledgement of their achievements.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Catherine Hilliard

Detective Chief Superintendent Catherine Hilliard joined SAPOL in 1987 and began her career in general duties across metropolitan Adelaide before moving into investigations in 1996. Her investigative work has spanned Elizabeth, Port Adelaide, Anti‑Corruption, Major Crime, and Organised Crime.

Detective Chief Superintendent Hilliard was appointed to Officer rank in 2014 while serving in Police Communications, later transferring to Special Crimes Investigations in 2016.

As Officer in Charge (OC) of the Family and Domestic Violence Section and the Multi‑Agency Protection Service (MAPS) from 2021, Detective Chief Superintendent Hilliard strengthened interagency cooperation to safeguard vulnerable people.

Under her leadership, MAPS has become a benchmark for coordinated risk assessment and response.

Drawing on academic expertise from Cambridge University, where she specialised in child protection, Ms Hilliard has led significant improvements in investigative practice, including the Prescribed Interview Room Project which is creating trauma‑informed spaces for victim-survivors of sexual offences.

Her influence extends nationally through her involvement in domestic and family violence forums, where she is recognised as a leader driving systemic change in policing responses to family and sexual violence.

Detective Chief Superintendent Hilliard continues to shape SAPOL’s investigative priorities and operational outcomes.

Detective Chief Superintendent Catherine Hilliard

Sergeant First Class Silvano Dovi

Sergeant First Class Silvano Dovi joined SAPOL in 1994, commencing in general patrols at Port Adelaide and Henley Beach before dedicating his career to road safety from 1998.

Sergeant Dovi has served as a motorcycle police officer for more than 20 years, providing specialist capability across major events and high‑risk traffic operations.

A long‑standing member of the Tour Down Under (TDU) operational team, Sergeant Dovi has served in almost every event as a Motorcycle Supervisor. His meticulous planning and management of rolling road closures have been instrumental in maintaining the TDU’s reputation among Union Cycliste Internationale officials as one of the safest races in the world.

His expertise has also supported numerous major sporting and community events including AFL, soccer and cricket matches, ANZAC Day parades and ceremonial operations.

Sergeant Dovi is also committed to community engagement, contributing to the SAPOL Police Link Program and visiting the Women’s and Children’s Hospital each Christmas on his police motorcycle to bring joy to young patients.

He has made a significant and sustained contribution to road safety and frontline policing in South Australia.

Sergeant First Class Silvano Dovi

Senior Community Constable First Class Gregory Smith

Senior Community Constable First Class Gregory Smith joined SAPOL in 2003, beginning his career in Murray Bridge general patrols and undertaking extended periods with Murray Bridge Investigations until 2014.

A respected elder known affectionately as ‘Unckie’, he has been central to strengthening relationships between SAPOL and First Nations communities across the Murray Mallee.

In 2017, Senior Constable Smith developed a place‑based First Nations information brochure to support culturally responsive policing, now embedded in the Murray Mallee Region induction package.

In 2022, he led the commissioning of the ‘Ponde’ artwork to deepen SAPOL’s relationship with the Ngarrindjeri people, with the artwork displayed in all Murray Mallee police stations as a symbol of cultural respect.

That same year, he established the Blue Light Boxing Program, which has delivered positive outcomes for at‑risk First Nations youth and contributed to reduced youth justice involvement.

Recently he introduced the Fitness Health Yarn initiative with Moorundi Health Services and spearheaded the Kuti Camp program, reconnecting First Nations youth with Country while enhancing cultural understanding among police officers.

Last year he reviewed the Community Constable Development Program and delivered locally developed cultural awareness sessions to operational members, strengthening understanding of regional cultural history, sensitivities and the role of Community Constables.

Senior Constable Smith’s work has been recognised by the State First Nations Voice to Parliament as a best‑practice model for regional policing, making a profound contribution to community trust, cultural safety and policing outcomes across South Australia.

Senior Community Constable First Class Gregory Smith