Police lifer finishes after 55 years

You get less for murder

A former police officer who went on to work in Devon and Cornwall Police's control centre after handing in his warrant card is calling an end to his career after 55 years.

Now Jim Shand, who started in the force as a teenage, is shortlisted for a Lifetime Achievement Award nationally.

Mr Shand, 73, joined Devon and Exeter Police, as it then was, in 1966 as a probationary constable, working in Plympton, before moving on to Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton and Exeter. 

Having served as a police officer for 30 years, he has worked as a resource deployment officer (RDO) in the control room in Exeter for the last 25 years.

Described as a ‘fountain of knowledge’ he has taken many new members of staff under his wing and guided them in the simpler ways to approach the job.

His experience as an officer has helped to make him an extremely proficient RDO, with his operational knowledge aiding his approach to work and being able to offer advice to colleagues, which he has always been happy to do.

In nominating Jim for the lifetime award, his colleagues in the Control Room said: “Jim epitomises the phrase 'unsung hero'. There is nothing specific, no one spectacular job he dealt with that gives cause for this nomination. Jim is just a hard-working, reliable member of staff who we have been able to count on in the department for many years, for which he is thoroughly worthy of recognition. His stories of the old days are absolutely fascinating, he is kind and thoughtful, always offering to wash the cups at the end of the day among other things. For this, and many, many other reasons, he will be very sorely missed when he retires.”

During his career, he experienced many different situations, including working in Derbyshire for 12 weeks during the miners’ strike in the 1980s and dealing with unexpected situations, such as turning a corner in Exmouth to find a roof had slid off a building into the street.

He also described how the changes in technology over the years had taken a bit of getting used to but by working with colleagues, they had all got to grips with it.

Jim’s service with the police comes to an end on Sunday 2 May with a night shift before he goes into retirement, which he plans to use to go out walking with his two dogs and taming his garden.

At a presentation made to him by Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer, Jim said: “It has been a privilege working with everyone over the years. It has been a fantastic experience working both here and on the streets.

“There has been no better crew to work with, from the top, down to this level.”

The Chief Constable said: “Jim joined the Devon and Exeter Police is 1966 so this is an unparalleled length of service. It is unprecedented.

“For Jim to be operating in the control room environment after all these years is brilliant. I was three years old and the Prime Minister was only two years old when Jim was first keeping the streets safe.

“We wish him well in his retirement.”

Jim’s colleagues nominated him for the lifetime achievement award at the fourth annual APD Control Room Awards which are being staged as a virtual event.

The awards, organised by APD Communications, will take place on Friday 14 May.

Organisers said entries were received from almost 100 organisations across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland and almost 500 control room employees will receive pin badges of honour from APD having been nominated individually or as a team member.