Bendigo Police Sergeant Tony Kekich worked with the late Sergeant Craig Pearse for many years.

So for Sergeant Kekich to receive an award named in his mate's honour was not only memorable, but a surreal experience.

Sergeant Kekich was presented with the prestigious Sergeant Craig Pearse Memorial Award last week.

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Awarded to the best police member in the Bendigo service area - covering Bendigo uniform, crime investigation and highway patrol, Eaglehawk, Heathcote, Goornong, Elmore and Axedale - Sergeant Kekich said he was stunned to receive the award.

"I am proud and humbled to receive the award and I was really pleased when my name was called out and I was completely taken by surprise," Sergeant Kekich said.

The award is in memory of late Sergeant Craig Pearse, who passed away following a heart attack in 2011.

Sgt Kekich has been something of a police pioneer in the field of suicide prevention and the award, named for his old mate, is judged on work output, community engagement, ethical attributes, administration and mentoring and leadership.

A reflection of, and perfect description for, Sergeant Pearse.

"I was a really good friend of Craig for a long time and we worked together here in Bendigo previously," Sergeant Kekich said.

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"You come to work each day and you want to do the best you can for the community and for Victoria Police and you don't expect to have any sort of recognition.

"However when this comes along, it makes it quite special and with Craig being a good friend of mine, it makes even more special.

"Working with him for so long, I like to emulate some of his qualities and what he meant to Victoria Police and what Victoria Police meant to him.

"It's my determination to carry that on the best that I can."

Sergeant Kekich was recognised for his professionalism, ethics and dedication to Victoria Police and the community, as well as the outstanding work he does with Suicide Prevention Australia.

"Part of that was being part of the Suicide Prevention Conference of Australia and in 2017, I spoke on Victoria Police's response on suicide prevention at the conference in Brisbane," he said.

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"During this time, I have managed to work with some wonderful people in suicide prevention and this award is a testament to the people I have worked within that field.

"Working with driven and determined people, that is something I like being a part of and that's something that is close to me and the work that we do, to try and better our services and mindset around suicide prevention."

Sergeant Kekich said many people across the community had been touched by suicide one way or another.

"Suicide is such a waste of a valued life," he said.

"I think a lot of people have been touched by suicide and it's something that in the past has gone fairly unnoticed.

"It's important that us as police officers start talking about suicide.

"We have started making really good in-roads and I think a lot of us that work in suicide prevention take it as a hit when we hear someone dying by suicide and we are driven to keep our work going."

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Sergeant Kekich has been an officer for more than 35 years now.

One thing that he prides himself on is his high standards.

"One of the things, I like to do - Victoria Police set really high standards and I am one that likes to look at those standards and look at our team and think how we can exceed that.

"As a team, we work harder for our community and for Victoria Police overall and build confidence in the community and that's what the award is all about."

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