Two SNP Security Officers, Jovan Jovanov and Mahmoud Nemra, have received Australian Security Valour Medals (ASVM) at the 2014 Australian Security Medals Foundation Charity Dinner at the Sydney Opera House last night [21 March, 2014].
Tom Roche, Managing Director at SNP Security, says Jovanov and Nemra displayed exceptional bravery in two separate security incidents in January, 2014.
The Australian Security Valour Medal (ASVM) is awarded to between one and 10 security personnel each year and recognises examples of outstanding valour, courage and decisiveness. This year only 5 medals were awarded.
“It is a tremendous achievement for two SNP Security guards to receive this accolade in the same year. I am very proud of Jovan and Mahmoud and would like to congratulate them for being handpicked by the industry for their professionalism during these incidents,” says Roche.
On 22 January, 2014, Jovanov and two other guards stationed at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, Canberra, responded to an urgent call for assistance at the nearby Tent Embassy. Jovanov was credited with stopping a dog attack and disarming an assailant, saving an elderly man’s life in the process.
Jovanov says he felt a duty to respond to the off-site incident.
“I could instantly tell that the situation was serious. It’s not every day that we have to deal with an incident like this, but in these situations your training takes over and you do whatever you can to take control,” says Jovanov.
On 20 January, 2014, Nemra was on guard at Bankstown Station when he was approached by six boys followed by a group of up to 30 youths. Nemra secured the boys in a locked office and prevented the youths from harming anyone by physically blocking the doorway. Nemra controlled the situation for ten minutes until Police arrived.
Mahmoud says he simply did what anyone would have done under the circumstances.
“It all happened very quickly. My priority was to prevent anyone from getting hurt. I feel very lucky that no-one was injured, including myself, but I would do it again in a heartbeat,” says Nemra.
Roche says both Jovanov and Nemra displayed decisive action under pressure in these circumstances, but on a day-to-day basis typify SNP’s mission ethos to of “Expect the Unexpected. We Do.”.
“Jovan and Mahmoud showed great courage in their actions during these two incidents and in my opinion are well deserving of Australian Security Valour Medals,” says Roche.
For further information on security solutions, please visit – www.snpsecurity.com.au
The Honourable Phillip Ruddock MP and Mahmoud Nemra SNP Security
The Honourable Phillip Ruddock MP and Jovan Jovanov SNP Security
ENDS
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Notes to Editors:
• SNP Security is a privately owned, fourth generation family business operated by the Roche family.
• Since its inception in 1923, the company has evolved from a ‘night watch’ operation into an innovative, cutting-edge, high-tech security company.
• In recent years, the company has developed and expanded rapidly in size and is now the largest, Australian owned, security company with 26,000 clients and more than 2,500 staff in 13 offices nationwide.
• SNP Security has a host of accolades for exceeding the standards set by the industry.