Ms Collins presented Snr Const Dow (56) with a 35-year long-service award during a function at the Oamaru Police Station yesterday.
He has worked in Oamaru for the past 33 years. .
Other long-service awards were presented to Senior Sergeant Jason McCoy (21 years), Senior Constable Ewen Graham (14 years) and Sue Rudduck (14 years), while Constable Paul Alden received a diploma in police workplace practice (level 5).
Senior Constable Sandy Agnew received a district commander's commendation for her dedication and professionalism between January 2009 and January 2010.
The citation said she investigated allegations of indecent assault against a serial paedophile which were facilitated by neglect on the part of the victim's mother.
The offender was convicted and imprisoned.
Snr Const Agnew then held the mother accountable for her lack of intervention, by prosecuting her on charges of neglect.
The woman was subsequently convicted.
Snr Const Agnew's actions provided a safe environment for two young girls to grow up in.
Addressing the function, Ms Collins said she had just viewed the DVD played to drink-drivers before sentencing in the Oamaru District Court and it was a "really powerful message".
The hard-hitting DVD featured footage from television programme Police 10-7, as well as locally-filmed footage.
She intended discussing the initiative with Police Commissioner Howard Broad.
