Meet Colchester’s newest officer

Colchester’s Local Policing Team have been joined by our newest officer, PC Daniel Palmer, who graduated from the Essex Police training college in February this year.

But PC Palmer isn’t new to Essex Police. When he was 17, he joined the cadets and by 18, he volunteered with the Special Constabulary where he earned his independent patrol licence. Now, age 20, he gets to fulfil his life-long dream as a police officer.

Excited to embark on his journey in Colchester, PC Palmer said:

“Policing has been something I’ve always wanted to do since I was five years old. I always like a challenge and I don’t like waking up and doing the same thing. I like stepping into the unknown and helping people, that’s what I thrive on.

“The Passing Out Parade was one of the best days of my life. I’m now ready to go out into my community and provide reassurance and be there for people when they need us.”

PC Palmer is a keen martial artist and has been learning karate for most of his life. He grew up in Spain where he first started karate at eight years old, and when he moved to the UK, he picked up his passion for karate again in 2012. Many years later, he’s now a black belt.

“I’ve done tournaments at a regional, national and international scale. I’ve been able to take home quite a lot of medals, as well as the only trophy in my region. I’ve even gone up against the World Champion.

“From the first day of your karate journey, you set a goal, just like you do in policing. I’ve learnt discipline, but also how to improve each day to help me work towards achieving my goal. I can have up to 2000 people watching me at one time, so I’ve learnt a lot about working under pressure."

Back to training with Essex Police, PC Palmer “learnt all about what true policing is”. It hasn’t all been easy though, but thanks to his determination and support from the trainers at the college, PC Palmer can use his own skills to help see situations in a different perspective.

“Training has been an eye opener and it’s made me learn a lot about myself as well. I absolutely love helping people.

“One of the hardest parts of training for me was understanding what was being said. I suffer severely with dyslexia, so I’ll be told something and someone else will be told the same thing, but I look at things from a completely different angle. My trainer and I found a way we could communicate so that we could understand things in the same way.

“Essex Police has supported me since the beginning. I’ve had adjustments put in place to help with exams and course work, such as being given a laptop and my own working space to do my work. They’ve helped me be myself.

“The main thing is, you can be a police officer if you have dyslexia. I’ve done it and loads of other people in the force have done it too.”

So, if you want to use your valuable skills, life experiences and hobbies to make a difference to communities across Essex like PC Palmer, take the leap and join us.

And, if you need that extra boost of confidence, PC Palmer has a few final words:

“Before I started, even as a Special, my confidence did not exist. With all the training, working on the frontline, responding to 999 calls, my confidence has grown massively and will continue to. I can now picture myself protecting and serving Essex, whereas two years ago, I would have thought I couldn’t do that.

“It changes you as a person, but for the better.

“My mental health has improved too. I actually wake up and I’m happy that I’m going to work knowing that I’m making a real difference. Not many people can say that.

“The support you get here is unreal.”

 

Why not start your journey with Essex Police today?

At Essex Police, we value difference, and know that we’re strongest when we all work together.

Our officers have different life experiences, different skills and represent communities from across our county.

We’re here for you and your loved ones in times of emergency, and we’re always looking for new people to join us.

If you think you could protect and serve the people of Essex, why not see if you #FitTheBill? Visit our police officer career page to find out more.