Alexander Riley (tracker)

Alexander Riley (1884-1970) was an Australian Aboriginal tracker from the Dubbo area and the first Aboriginal person to gain the rank of sergeant in the New South Wales Police Force.
Early years.
Riley was born 26 May 1884 at Nymagee, New South Wales. He was the son of a labourer, John Riley, and his wife Mary, née Calligan.
Career.
After working as a stationhand, Riley joined the New South Wales Police Force as a tracker on 11 June 1911.
He injured his foot in 1912 and resigned from the police force on 31 August 1914. Riley was reappointed to the NSW police force on 1 January 1918. He was promoted to sergeant on 5 August 1941. He was the first Aboriginal sergeant in the New South Wales police force.
Some of his most notable cases included the capture of Roy Governor, the youngest brother of bushranger Jimmy Governor, at Mendooran in June 1923. He found a barefoot six-year-old girl who had been lost for twenty-four hours in the mountains near Stuart Town.
Riley was a keen footballer and athlete. He coached in athletics at Dubbo for many years.
Riley retired on 13 July 1950.
Family life.
Riley married Ethel Taylor at Wellington on 14 June 1924. They lived at the Talbragar Aboriginal Reserve and together they had eight children.
Riley died on 29 October 1970 at Dubbo.