A POPULAR police officer who has served Teesdale for greater than 15 years is handing in his warrant card as we speak.
PC David Williamson, who lined a big space from Woodland and the higher Gaunless Valley to as far east as Gainford and Hutton Magna, formally retires on January 3.
The neighbourhood bobby is greatest identified for the community of contacts and shut relationships he solid with the communities he served.
Throughout his 23-year profession he has amassed a hoard of superintendent commendations and awards.
Though born in Melsonby, North Yorkshire, the PC grew up round Barnard Fortress, and regardless of learning to be a instructor at Warwick College, he initially adopted in his father Leslie’s footsteps by taking up farm work.
He additionally labored as a driving teacher earlier than becoming a member of the Durham Constabulary on the flip of the millennium.
He stated: “I needed to do a job that was extra group focussed and extra various. I labored on response for eight years and I used to be an performing sergeant for 4 years.”
Postings throughout this era included stints at Newton Aycliffe, Shildon and Spennymoor earlier than he joined Barnard Fortress Neighbourhood Police Workforce.
The 56-year-old stated: “I assumed that was the place my profession was going with promotion, however in 2008 I turned a beat officer right here and, following that, actually discovered my ardour was in neighbourhood policing.
“After that I didn’t need promotion, I most popular to be working in Teesdale.
“The spotlight has been simply working with the agricultural group, individuals in villages, parish councils, dedicated and devoted people, drawback fixing, build up friendships and having these sturdy hyperlinks as a result of we police by consent, however we additionally police by forging these hyperlinks with individuals.”
The PC stated one of many challenges he confronted when initially arriving the world was anti-social behaviour however that had been tackled properly and the present challenges are principally to do with rural theft.
He added: “I suppose the opposite problem is having the ability to assist a community in such a big space and it has turn into better as sources have diminished.”
Working in a rural space additionally has some unusual call-outs which city police are unlikely to come across.
Mr Williamson stated: “It is rather uncommon in Teesdale that you’d rescue one thing like sheep from somebody’s swimming pool and that [we thought] was to do with anti-social behaviour.
“It was a highly regarded day and I can keep in mind coming down the dale and saying ‘I ponder if the children had snuck into the swimming pool. I arrived to search out they hadn’t however the sheep had.”
PC Williamson, who will probably be having fun with travelling the UK, Europe and worldwide, in addition to strolling, in his retirement, admitted feeling slightly unhappy about handing in his warrant card.
He stated: “I’m going to overlook the group. I’m definitely going to overlook lots of people and I’ll miss policing, however I gained’t miss the forms and the admin facet of issues. I loved the legislation and I loved working with all people, good or dangerous.”
Taking on from PC Williamson is PC Rob Sales space, who already has expertise of the world having labored as a particular constable in Teesdale.
PC Williamson stated: “He acquired furloughed from work throughout Covid and he got here to work with me for a couple of year-and-a-half, so he has acquired the expertise. He’s eager and he’s good.”