Page 44 - Once a copper 10 03 2020

Centre Commandant. It was the first time I’d heard the term Commandant
used here and I had to forcibly stop myself internally humming the theme to
‘The Great Escape’.

We had ten glorious weeks ahead of us, confined to camp during the week,
allowed out on bail homeward bound on Friday afternoons, with the order to
be back on the centre on Sunday evening before lights out at 11pm.

Classwork Made Fun

There was to be no escape at weekends devoted to study time preparing for
the exam that would be held every Monday morning without fail. Monday of
weeks 5 and 10 week covered everything in the weeks up to that point.

The class instructors were experienced practical police officers who were also
trained in teaching us newbies both the theory and practical application of
the law. I remember the instructors had distinctly different styles of teaching.
Sergeant Bowden was light hearted, introducing funny stories or analogies
which certainly helped with learning and memorising otherwise dull and
colourless aspects of law. Sergeant Lee was more academic and refocused
us all on detail, so together they gave us a balanced course.

We secretly nick-named Sergeant Bowden
“Baloo-Bowden”. He was a bear of a man in
stature and had the funny habit of leaning against
the edge of whiteboard, using it to scratch his
back. When the class looked at him incredulously,
he would glare back and just say “WHAT?” and
we’d all crack up laughing. He certainly knew
how to maintain the attention of the class and our Figure 20 Baloo From Jungle Book
end of course results were a glowing testament to
his communication skills.
Other than a couple of early drop-outs, who, within two weeks either couldn’t
handle the pressure of studies or realised the police life was going to be too
intensive, Course 4/80 would produce a 100% academic pass rate.

Unfamiliar with the law, the subjects were alien to me, Road Traffic, Crime,
General Police Duties, however over the weeks that were to follow, I was
pleased to pass every exam. Whilst not a star academic, I was usually in the
top half of results. Criminal law fascinated me, and I scored well there.

Our days generally passed very quickly, filled with legal theory from Law
books in the classroom, working through how the various laws are applied in
real life and role plays out in Ryton’s own self-contained streets and adjacent
buildings. The instructors hammered home the point that learning the law
parrot-fashion only enabled you to quote it, the importance in both exams Page44