Special Constabulary celebrated at awards night
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The outstanding work of our Special Constabulary was celebrated at their annual awards ceremony at Headquarters.
Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Nolan and Deputy Police Fire and Crime Commissioner Jane Gardner presented 11 awards at the event hosted by Superintendent Shaun Kane, Head of the Special Constabulary, in the Assembly Hall
Specials from across the county were joined by their friends and families to recognise the officers whose exceptional work has helped to catch criminals and keep the people of Essex safe.
Essex Police has the second largest Special Constabulary in the country after the Metropolitan Police, with more than 500 serving officers.
Specials have the same powers as regular officers and dedicate at least 16 hours a month to policing alongside their work and family commitments.
Addressing the nominees at the event, ACC Nolan said: “To hear about your amazing work, the hours you’ve committed, and what colleagues have said about you is incredibly impressive and humbling.
“You have all given a huge amount to help serve the public. We all joined the police to help people, give something back and make a difference, and every single one of you is doing just that. You should all be really proud.”
ACC Nolan also thanked the relatives and friends of the officers and told them the Specials are only able to achieve what they do thanks to their support.
Special Superintendent Chris Glidden was the biggest winner on the night, taking home the Chief Officer Award and being part of the Fast Roads team who won Team of the Year, and the Special Command Superintendents team who won the Salter Cup for hours worked.
He said: “I’m really proud. It’s been a difficult couple of years, and this is our first awards ceremony since the pandemic. It’s great to be recognised alongside some brilliant people.”
One of the biggest ovations of the night was for Colchester Special Constable Anthony Phillips who received the Norman Dooley Trophy for Meritorious Conduct.
SC Phillips, who has a career as an emergency ambulance crew member, saved the lives of two people after an accident on the A12 in which the other two occupants of the car they were travelling in sadly died.
The very next day, after refusing a day off, SC Phillips was first on the scene after a young person suffered a cardiac arrest. He again performed first aid and and acted as the liaison between the police and ambulance service.
He said: “I feel like I don’t deserve it really. I was just doing my job. It was nothing extraordinary. Any other police officer or member of staff that has my skills and experience would have done the same.”
Full list of winners and nominees
Salter Cup
This award is presented annually to the team who have completed the highest average amount of hours per officer recorded on duty sheet during the period of 1st April 2021 and 31st March 2022.
1st place Specials Command Superintendents
2nd place Rural Engagement Team
3rd place Roads Policing Unit
Special Constabulary Team of the Year
Presented to the team judged by our panel to have shown outstanding commitment to their community in line with the Plan on a Page, supporting Force priorities and keeping Essex safe.
1st place Fast Roads Training Team
2nd place (joint)Mental Health Street Triage Specials & Op Matterhorn Bronze commanders
3rd place Southend LPT and CPT
Community Award
For the Special Constabulary officer or team who have been visible and accessible within their community, addressing local issues and priorities, patrolling hot spots, and engaging with their communities and partners.
1st place Simon Jesse
2nd place Mark Barham
3rd place Tom Morement and Steve Dale
The Derek Hopkins Trophy for Student Officer of the Year award
This award will be presented annually to the Student Officer of the year judged by the panel within Essex Police College to have been consistent within all areas of their time at EPC.
1st place Alex Colbear
Recruitment Champion
Presented to the Officer judged to have best supported the aims and objectives of Essex Police recruitment team, who has been an integrated part of the team at various events, open days and other recruitment requests. This officer continuously shows that they are a supporter of the organisation and aims to always portray the Special Constabulary in a positive way.
1st place Jaye Jacobs
2nd place Andrew Linford
Regular or Police Staff Team of the Year Award
For the regular officer or police staff team who have supported the Special Constabulary. This team’s activity supports our inclusion and cohesion providing a seamless policing service. Demonstrating our values of Service, Excellence and Teamwork, our officer’s feel valued and appreciated.
1st place E shift Rayleigh
2nd place Specials Training Team
3rd place OSG Team 2
Regular Officer of the Year
Presented to the regular officer judged to have supported the Special Constabulary, patrolling with new officers and existing officers and assisting their learning or promoting the Special Constabulary through opportunity, engagement and development.
1st place Ch Insp Ian Hughes
2nd place PC Terry Verrall
3rd place PC Emily Bowyer
Employer Supported Policing Award
For the employer that has provided support to staff by allowing paid time off or flexible working for policing duties within the Employer Supported Policing Scheme.
1st place Essex County Council
2nd place Wave Utilities
The East of England Coop Special Constabulary Supervisor of the Year
This award is for the supervisor judged by our panel to have consistently met the standards required within their role, supporting and inspiring while ensuring effective performance of duties personally and from their team, being open-minded and fair, taking ownership for any problems and collaborating with others to provide the best possible public service.
1st place Matt Smith
2nd place Chris Gliddon
3rd place Mark Barham
Chief Officers Award
Presented to the Officer judged by the panel to have best supported the aims and objectives of Essex Police, who has been an integrated and committed member of the Special Constabulary, who has trained and equipped themselves to assist in the delivery of effective policing within their community.
1st place Chris Gliddon
2nd place Steve Pipe
3rd place (joint) Perry Woolner
3rd place (joint) Mark Barham
Norman Dooley Trophy for Meritorious Conduct
Presented to a member of the Special Constabulary judged by the panel to have displayed exceptional skill, courage or determination in dealing with a situation whilst either on or off duty.
1st place Anthony Phillips
2nd place Rob Austin
3rd place Kelsey Dott
Could you help keep Essex safe?
Special Constables are volunteer Police Officers. They have the same police powers, uniforms and equipment as regular Police Officers but sacrifice their free time on a voluntary basis, organising their busy personal lives, day jobs and other commitments around police duties. They do not get paid, but are reimbursed for expenses.
A Special in Essex is someone who will be valued, supported and integrated into the wider policing family. They’re someone who will learn new skills, see new things and make tangible differences to the lives of the public they serve. A Special in Essex is someone who makes new friends, sees life from new perspectives and upholds the law.
Read more about how you can become a Special with Essex Police.