Page 101 - Once a copper 10 03 2020

End of Probation

A New Year 1982 bought with it the final residential course of my
probationary period. Two weeks back at Ryton-On-Dunsmore in a frosty
February was not so appealing. However, as it turned out, the experience
was a pleasant one. Having completed almost two years’ service doing the
real job of policing, earned us a degree of respect from our tutors which was
greatly appreciated by us all. These two weeks seemed to fly by and before I
knew it, I was back on Division raring to go.

Soon after my return from Ryton I was delighted to receive my final
probationers’ appraisal filled with glowing endorsements from Supervisory
Officers. Sergeant, Inspector, Superintendent and finally, a few days after my
22 birthday, the critical words I desperately wanted to see from Chief
nd
Superintendent Bagnall:

“A very good police officer. I recommend his appointment with my confidence.”
Looking back over the two years, it had been jam-packed with excitement
and incident, from the new and strange experiences at Ryton, the thrill of the
chase and arrests, prison officer duties, court attendance and giving
evidence, my first riot and football match duties. Most of all I appreciated the
wealth of new experiences that brought a fresh and unique perspective and
greater understanding of human behaviours. As a student with an amateur
interest in human Psychology, it had so far been a fascinating lesson.

I was no longer a Pro-Con. The term ‘Sprog’ no longer applied to me. I was
now excited and ready to build on a wonderful opportunity to soak up yet
more experience and become the best police officer I could.

Diversification

As an established Police Officer, successfully out-of-probation there were
several objectives I set for myself to further broaden my experience and
enhance my sense of fulfilment.

I always maintained this was not a career, but more of a vocation. While a
career holds its own importance, the most obvious is earning an income, a
vocation evokes innermost gifts, abilities, passions, dreams and a broader life
purpose. The Latin root word “vocationem” means “a calling”. Vocation is an
occupation that someone feels strongly about doing, despite monetary gain
or other influences. A vocation is what we feel compelled to do because it
gives a deeper meaning to life as well as added meaning within us. Page101