During the ceremony, where more than 20 officers and staff recognised for dedicated service, he commended local police for their work in community engagement, drug prevention and the commitment to the William Tyrrell investigation.

"Congratulations to the award recipients but don't ever forget the men and women around you who participate in that and support you every day - you are all a team," Assistant Commissioner Mitchell said.

He spoke very highly about the officers who recently gave evidence in the William Tyrrell coronial inquest.

"I also want to acknowledge the excellent work of the officers who were involved in the investigation into the William Tyrrell disappearance," he said.

"I want to congratulate superintendent Fehon for the leadership and the support of those officers who had to go down to Sydney and give evidence before the Coroner.

"They went down well prepared and gave evidence professionally and I understand Senior Counsel have acknowledged the professionalism of those officers who gave evidence.

"I think that is a real tribute to this Command and how it operates because it takes great courage to support its officers in this way."

When talking about the wider police district, Assistant Commissioner Mitchell praised officers for their work in slowing the supply of heroin.

"Listening to the work being done on the Mid North Coast, particularly for our Indigenous youth in the Kempsey, Macksville and Nambucca area, is wonderful," he said.

"Recently I was with the region team looking at the Mid North Coast and I must say the report was outstanding.

"Now I don't congratulate superintendent Paul Fehon for that work personally, though it certainly has come from his leadership and team, but it flows on the back of local officers. The work being done has been outstanding here on the Mid North Coast.

"Particularly with the heroin supply in the Mid North Coast in the Kempsey area, it is a constant battle that we are fighting on a day to day basis, but it is certainly about that preventative work that you are doing and we will win the overall war."

He assured officers they have unwavering support for the work they do.

"When our association met in Port Macquarie a few months ago I spoke publicly and said I am adamant that I want to enhance and change the life and style of policing and the uniform," Assistant Commissioner Mitchell said.

"The respect that you have from myself and the support is unwavering and I know the work you undertake on a day to day basis; the domestics you attend and dealing with so many social problems that some other agencies struggle to cope with.

"What I ask from each officer is to never lose sight of professionalism and the need for us to look after our community holistically."

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