Police careers
Nearly 250,000 people across the UK work for the Police, either as serving officers, in support roles, or as volunteers or Special Constables. Being a police officer is varied and rewarding but also challenging, so there are some key qualities and skills you need to already have or be willing to develop in order to do the job well. There are also a number of entry routes, with some forces offering Apprenticeships as one way to join. We’ve talked to a family of Police officers to find out what they enjoy about their roles.
Police officers often talk about their ‘policing family’; the very nature of working for the police, particularly on the frontline, brings unique experiences that can bond people closely, like a family. The Coolahans take this to the next level, with the whole family working for Hampshire Constabulary. PC Sarah Coolahan, her husband PC Jon Coolahan and daughter PC Samantha Coolahan are all serving officers, while Sarah’s son Ryan is currently training at the Hampshire Police Training School in Netley, near Southampton.
Jon was the first recruit, joining the Constabulary in 2004 having previously served in the Royal Navy for 22 years. Jon started out in Cosham, later moving to Fareham. He has dedicated his entire policing career to the frontline and is due to retire next year.
Sarah, who has been a Response & Patrol officer for the majority of her 16-year career, currently works on Fareham D Shift and has recently passed her sergeants exam. Asked about why the job has kept her coming back for so long, Sarah said “I thoroughly enjoy my role and can’t see myself working anywhere else. I haven’t ever found anything I enjoy as much. I love the buzz of Response & Patrol as every day is different and you never know what you’re going to be doing.”
Sarah joined the force in 2006 and her brother and sister-in-law are also officers. Sarah added “Seeing how much my brother and his wife enjoyed being police officers made me want to give it a go. The last 16 years have flown by and there is never a day that I don’t look forward to coming to work.”
Meanwhile, daughter Sam is celebrating her sixth year in force on Fareham E shift where she has spent the last 18 months, following four years based in Portsmouth.
Ryan is the latest in the family of officers to join, having been training at Netley for the last three weeks. Prior to this he served as a prison officer for three years, where he developed a variety of skills that helped him prepare for a career in the police.
“I am so proud of both of my children,” Sarah said. “I think they both have a very bright future ahead of them.”