My Journey to Becoming a Police Officer at the Age of 19

Originally, my plan was to join the army as an officer on a short-service commission, but for several compelling reasons, I made a last-minute switch. I was playing rugby at a high standard and had teammates, including an England international, who were police officers. They suggested I give it a try, and I did. It seemed like a natural fit because I had always stood up for bullying victims and had a strong sense of fair play. My initial experience at the training school was relatively smooth, but my probationary period was more of a challenge. Despite my struggles with paperwork, I ultimately passed my probation after two years. I spent the next three years as a response officer in the Home Counties but grew tired of the shift work.

At this point, I applied for and was accepted onto a firearms course. This change marked the start of a 19-year career as a firearms officer. While I didn’t quite become Steve McGarrett, I enjoyed my career immensely.

Early Days

As a child in the 1960s, I was deeply influenced by the original Hawaii Five-0 TV series (1968–1980) and dreamt of being a cop like Steve McGarrett. I even considered becoming a lawyer at one point, but by high school, I reverted to my original plan and stuck with it. I joined the police force in 1980 and retired in 2015.

The Training and Early Career

My journey began on August 15, 1978, when I received my first assignment. The chief handed me a gun, handcuffs, and a flashlight. We used a police special .38 as the standard handgun at the time. After receiving a key set, my assignment was to patrol. My first radio call was a neighbor dispute over a barking dog. I settled the incident by convincing the dog owner to bring the dog inside at night. I felt a great sense of accomplishment after this early experience.

I became a police cadet at the age of 16, but it wasn’t until I was 19 that I became a constable. This milestone happened on my 19th birthday, December 28, 1960, while I was at the district police training centre in Pannal, Ash, Harrogate, England. Three days later, with some Scottish dormitory mates, we celebrated New Year's Eve with plastic cups and good Scotch whisky. In the photo, I appear in red pyjamas, just after midnight on January 1, 1961, in dormitory L No.3 of the District Police Training Centre.

Reflecting on my journey, the early days were filled with challenges and growth. From the camaraderie at the training centre to the dynamic of working as a response officer, each experience has contributed to my enduring passion for the police force.