It's long past time for NSW Police to consider medals for the five "heroes" involved in a police shooting last year, a local union official believes.
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Two Glen Innes cops were hit with the same bullet during a horror incident in January 2019.
Police Association Executive Member Chris Jordan said the service should have considered decorations "the day after, in our view".
Sergeant Mark Johnston, Senior Constable Helen McMurtrie and Probationary Constable Samantha Petty came under first last year after responding to reports of domestic violence in the small town.
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A big-game hunter in his 70s fired a single high-calibre bullet at the trio, hospitalising Senior Constable McMurtrie and Sergeant Johnston.
Two nearby civilians in their 20s heard the shot and ran to the aid of the two injured officers.
Meanwhile, Constable Petty dragged Senior Constable McMurtrie to safety behind a nearby police car.
Mr Jordon said all five were "heroes".
"The two civilian guys, I know they don't think of themselves like that, but they are," he said.
"We could have lost three of Glen Innes' finest that day."
In August, Deputy State Coroner Elizabeth Ryan finalised her report into the incident.
The four-day inquest found there was enough information available to Sergeant Johnston and Senior Constable McMurtrie to conclude the man was probably armed with a gun.
The coroner criticised flaws in the risk assessment conducted by the two senior police and the plan they developed to apprehend the man.
But there was "no evidence" a different approach would have prevented his death, she found.
Ms Ryan concluded there was no basis to make any recommendations arising from the incident.
She acknowledged the "courage, bravery and support" the officers gave each other after the shooting.
Helen McMurtrie was medically discharged from NSW Police earlier this year. Pieces of shrapnel remain in her neck and cannot be safely removed. NSW Police was contacted for comment.