Truncheon guard of honour set retiring sergeant’s tears flowing
A GUERNSEY police sergeant was given a surprise send-off by her colleagues when she retired from the force after 26 years.
Sarah-Jane Snowdon was given a truncheon guard of honour as she left the station for the last time.
Overwhelmed by gifts and comments from colleagues both past and present, Mrs Snowdon said it had yet to really sink in.
‘I’ve been so busy I haven’t really thought about it, I’m not yet in retirement mode,’ she said.
‘On my last shift I was absolutely fine until I said goodbye to everyone and went to walk out. They were all stood there with their truncheons doing a guard of honour. I was overwhelmed, that’s when the tears kicked in.’
Mrs Snowdon spent nine years with Northumbria Police, which she joined in 1992, before she moved to Guernsey.
During her time in the UK, she received five formal recognitions, including one for professionalism, dedication and integrity displayed during the investigation and presentation of a murder inquiry at crown court.
Since joining Guernsey Police in 2001, she has worked in uniformed operations, special branch, public protection and the economic crime departments and was up until her retirement the C shift sergeant.
In 2002, she received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and in 2012 she was awarded a medal for long service.
During her time with Guernsey Police she received five formal acknowledgements for good police work and a chief officer’s commendation for her work as a family liaison officer supporting the family of a murder victim.
‘There has been a lot of reminiscing over the last few weeks,’ she said.
‘One that stands out was doing undercover work in the mid -’90s. There’s been some hairy moments, like undercover drug buying in clubs, that was quite exhilarating, got the old adrenaline rush.’
Mrs Snowdon explained that seeing criminals brought to justice has been the most rewarding part of her job.
‘That day in court has given me the greatest sense of satisfaction,’ she said.
‘Offenders getting that sentence they deserve, whether it be murder, manslaughter or abuse.
‘Especially historical child abuse cases – I knew what that person had gone through, not just when it happened but how much it took to come forward.
‘To get their abusers in court is really high up there with my highlights, it’s all been very rewarding.
‘But then there are the very hard parts, like telling people that a member of their family had died. You have to be that person who’s turned their life upside down.
‘That’s why we need that camaraderie with the other officers, we stick together and we look out for one another.’
As for her immediate plans, Mrs Snowdon will be enjoying her joint retirement and 50th birthday celebrations later in the year.
