The trio faced a man who threatened them with a blood-filled syringe.

The four police were among 30 officers and unsworn members from across NSW who were recognised for their service to the community at the Albury Local Area Command’s police medals and awards presentation ceremony yesterday.

Sen-Constable Geoff Smith was recognised for his bravery in saving a man who tried to jump off a bridge in Fallon Street.

Constable Andrew Donaldson, Sen-Constable Anthony Clifford and Sen-Constable Tod Donoghue were recognised for their courage when faced with a man armed with a blood-filled syringe in Commercial Street, Walla, in April last year.

Albury highway patrol Sen-Constable Steve Schausinger received a National Police Service Medal for the “unique contribution” and “significant commitment” he had given in almost 34 years of service.

Sen-Constable Schausinger, who has also worked at Deniliquin and Holbrook, said it was an honour to be recognised in a job he still loved.

“You get to meet a lot of different people — good and bad,” he said.

He said he loved the unknown of the job, the fact that one phone call could change everything.

Sen-Constable Schausinger said a pile of VHS tapes found underneath a seat during a car check was a perfect example of a normal shift turned on its head.

He was doing random breath tests on the Hume Highway at Tarcutta in 2000 when he pulled over a Toyota Camry.

The driver and passenger appeared nervous so Sen-Constable Schausinger checked the car.

Underneath a seat was a pile of VHS tapes with a kilogram of heroin inside.

“You don’t know what’s going to happen,” Sen-Constable Schausinger said.

He said seeing the waste of life on local roads would always be a difficult aspect of his work.

Sen-Constable Schausinger said the “tried and true” methods of policing, including police presence and speed enforcement, were key to keeping drivers safe.

“There’s no miracle cure for it unfortunately,” he said.