“This year it is with pride but also sadness we recognise an officer lost to illness late last year,” Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police Shane Patton said.
“Sen Sgt James Egan was a trailblazer among our ranks and leaves a legacy of change that will benefit not only the Aboriginal community but all Victorians.”
Sen Sgt Egan, who passed away in November last year at the age of 57, was Victoria Police’s longest-serving Aboriginal officer, with a career spanning 39 years. He joined the force in December 1985, working in a variety of general duties roles in Frankston, South Melbourne, Morwell and Traralgon before taking on other responsibilities later in his career.
Sen Sgt Egan also served as the officer in charge of the one-member Raywood Police Station near Bendigo for nearly nine years and worked as a firearms trainer at the police academy for over two decades.
“In November, we faced the profound loss of our beloved husband and dad, who dedicated an incredible 39 years of his life to serving with Victoria Police,” Sen Sgt Egan’s family said.
“As we reflect on his remarkable career, we are immensely proud of all he accomplished and the positive impact he had on so many lives.
“Receiving this award in his honour is both overwhelming and bittersweet.
“Although he is no longer with us, we know that he would have approached this recognition with the humility that defined his character.
“Dad was a quiet achiever, and we can only imagine the pride he would have felt, knowing he made a difference in the lives of others.
“This award holds significant meaning for our family.
“It symbolises the wonderful legacy he has left behind and serves as a reminder of the values he instilled in us.
“We hope others will look to his example and find inspiration in his dedication to service.
“As we continue our own journeys, we aspire to carry forward Dad’s legacy in our own lives.
“We are committed to doing him proud.”
In the later part of his career, Sen Sgt Egan transitioned to a training officer role in Melbourne’s south-east, where he led the development and delivery of the Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Training program in 2019.
Drawing on his own experiences, he designed and delivered sessions that addressed historical and cultural topics, providing an in-depth perspective on the challenges faced by Aboriginal communities.
This program is now a compulsory initiative for Victoria Police’s 22,000 employees.
Sen Sgt Egan also worked closely with the chief commissioner in preparation for the Yoorrook Justice Commission, where he shared personal accounts and insights into the impacts of the Stolen Generations and the mistrust between Aboriginal communities and police.
Sen Sgt Egan was an inaugural recipient of Victoria Police’s Aboriginal Service Medal in October 2023. As a council member of the Aboriginal Employee Network Council, he worked to address challenges faced by Aboriginal employees and supported colleagues through mentorship and advocacy.
Sen Sgt Christian Wake, who had known Sen Sgt Egan for 10 years, reflected on his “integrity”.
“If James was tasked with something, he gave it 100 per cent because I think it related to what people thought of him as a person, and what his name represented,” he said.
“He wanted to make sure that people knew that if, if you gave James Egan a task to do, it would be done, done very well, and he’d like to deliver higher-than-expected results, and that sort of reflected his life.”
Sen Sgt Egan’s career is remembered for its focus on cultural education and his efforts to improve the relationship between Victoria Police and Aboriginal communities.
