‘Exemplary service’: two Mid North Coast police officers awarded King’s BIrthday honours

TWO of the region’s leading police officers have been awarded Kings Birthday 2025 Honours.

Head of the Mid North Coast Police District Superintendent Shane Cribb, and Manning-Great Lakes Detective Sergeant Craig Ryan (formally of Port Macquarie), were among only nine serving officers from across NSW awarded the prestigious Australian Police Medal (APM).

“This year’s recipients have shown extraordinary courage and commitment,” Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said.

Acting Commissioner Peter Thurtell APM said the award acknowledged “career-long dedication and exemplary service” and “a selfless commitment to serving the people of NSW for many years and decades.”

Superintendent Shane Cribb

Superintendent Shane Cribb joined the NSW Police Force in 1991 at Paddington Police Station.

In 1995, he started with the South Region Major Crime, Drug and Homicide squads, conducting protracted investigations into organised and serious crime.

In 2001, he was promoted to Sergeant at Cobar Police Station where he helped secure 1100 tonnes of donated grain for the drought-affected district.

From there, he was promoted to Inspector at the Darling River Local Area Command (LAC); Chief Inspector in the Coffs-Clarence and Mid North Coast police districts; and Superintendent and Commander of the Canobolas LAC.

Supt Cribb returned to the coast in 2017, firstly with the Manning-Great Lakes Police District and then the Mid North Coast District for a second time, where he is currently based in Port Macquarie.

He is the local emergency management controller for the Mid North Coast and has led responses to floods, bushfires, the COVID-19 pandemic and other emergencies, including the 2019 Black Summer fires and most recently the October 2023 fires in the Upper Macleay.

Supt Cribb is described as a strong advocate for the communities he oversees, and a champion for First Nations people – having implemented a number of community-led initiatives to divert Aboriginal youth in particular from the judicial system.

Detective Sergeant Craig Ryan

Detective Sergeant Craig Ryan joined the NSW Police Force on 30 July 1989.

During his 35 years of policing, he has worked in the Taree, Port Macquarie, Forster and Maitland police stations and with the Northern Region Crime Squad, Hunter Target Action Group, Northern Domestic Violence High Risk Offender Team, Northern Region Enforcement Squad and the Proactive Crime Team Manning-Great Lakes.

Det. Sgt Ryan has trained many operatives in controlled operations and in a range of covert techniques, to identify and gain evidence of large commercial drug supply.

His relationship with the Aboriginal community is one of great respect with Elders acknowledging his fairness and tenacity.