It always feels as if there is something vaguely self- indulgent when it comes to writing about oneself and I guess that the skill lies in painting a succinct and informative picture without getting carried away with life's great achievements, real or imagined. But here goes.
When I'm asked "What's your job?" I always reply "Retired Police Officer" and have given that response throughout the period of my retirement from the Force in 2013 even though I have held several other jobs during that time. I guess that's because 30 years as a copper defines you in a way that no other position held before or since will quite manage to do.
During my police career I was privileged to serve in several different places and posts working operationally in big cities and towns like Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Huddersfield and Dewsbury.
In 1983 I stepped out onto the streets of Bradford for the first time as a uniformed Constable and learned my "craft" there for 10 years before transferring to the Road Traffic Department as a "White Cap" for 2 years before being promoted to Sergeant in 1995. In 1999 I was promoted to Inspector and moved to the metropolis of Leeds one of the biggest cities in the UK.
The remaining 15 years of my service was spent as an Inspector in various operational postings culminating in several specialisms such as Tactical Firearms Command and Major Incident and Events Command during the final years of my service.
My late father was a passionate cyclist and motorcyclist and travelled his beloved Yorkshire Dales widely before and after his World War 2 service in the RAF. However my own first encounter with motorcycles stemmed from an unlikely turn of events. In 1986 with just 3 years service under my belt I was offered a post as a Police Motorcyclist working across Bradford. I had a very short time in which to secure my full "civilian" motorcycle licence before commencing the 4 week Police Advanced Motorcycle Training Course. In retrospect this was something of a mistake as I commenced very advanced rider training having only just acquired my licence. On week 3 of the course the inevitable happened and I was involved in a high speed crash resulting in a leg broken in 4 places above the ankle and my "bike cop" career, of which I had become so very proud, was over. Still at 24 years old you heal quickly and my passion for all things motorbike was well and truly cemented and remains so today.
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