Family on the Beat: A Father and Son in Policing

Rhyan and Karl have something special, not just as father and son, but also as colleagues in policing. Rhyan works as a control room supervisor, and Karl is an acting sergeant in the same area. Because of their roles, Rhyan often sends Karl out on jobs. He sometimes talks to him over the radio, making their connection both personal and professional.

This Father’s Day, we caught up with Rhyan and Karl to hear about their experiences of policing together, the unique bond they share, and what it means to serve side by side as father and son.

Rhyan, what was it like watching your son join the police?

I was still serving in the Royal Air Force (RAF) at the time he joined, so I had to watch from afar. Seeing Karl join another uniformed government organisation made me immensely proud. Despite it not being the military, the organisations share some of the core values of Respect, Integrity, Service, and Excellence. Growing up in a military household, I am pleased to see that these values were not lost on him. I did a reasonable job of parenting. To pursue a career with those values, alongside his natural-born desire to help people and simply do the right thing, marks him out as the person that he is. This fills me with immense pride.

Karl, what inspired you to join, and how did your dad influence that? 

I had no intention of joining the police initially and tried to follow my dad into the RAF. However, when this fell through, I entered the world of policing. I enjoyed the structure and stability that it had to offer at the time. Being young and not really knowing what I wanted to do was a big factor in it. Dad supported me throughout the process and was always pushing me to do better for myself. He knew what I was capable of. I do feel like he is my biggest advocate sometimes.

Do you feel like you have a special bond at work?

Karl: The fact that we work together quite a lot allows for that bond to be formed. It’s like anything- if you work with someone enough, you’re always going to have some sort of bond in one way or another. The fact that we’re related, I think, allows for that bigger support bubble and understanding of each other’s roles and responsibilities. A lot of people in his role know me through him, and vice versa. We can laugh and joke at each other’s expense without any hard feelings. There are no undertones that might be misunderstood by others, as we have that close connection.

Rhyan: I would second what Karl has said. We are privileged that we have the opportunity to work together. As a Police Controller and now a Control Room Supervisor, I have become very aware of some of the incidents that he is involved in. I think I would be lying if I said I had not become a little worried at times. However, this is a natural reaction as a parent. I am reassured in knowing that he works alongside many other remarkable colleagues. These colleagues put themselves in harm’s way daily to keep the public safe. They also keep each other safe. Knowing this allows me to think about it professionally and control the emotions that sometimes present.

Do you give each other work advice? Who listens more? 

Rhyan: I am always asking Karl questions – I think sometimes he must tire of it. It enables me to gain a better understanding of a situation from the police officers’ perspective. I believe this has given me a broader consideration of circumstances when deploying officers to an incident.  Our conversations have often influenced my decision-making.

Karl: All the time. We are forever running thoughts and ideas past each other. The best thing is that we are in two completely different roles and have different perspectives and styles of working. I think that I tend to give my opinion on things a lot more. More with the operational side of things and my experiences through my policing career. Sometimes it is helpful to have a fresh set of eyes on a problem. It helps to see it from someone else’s perspective without having them question any intentions or judgments. It allows some of the work to be seen in a different light.

Can you share a funny moment from working together?

Both laughing…
Rhyan: I’m sure there are many, but these are probably best kept for us to laugh at together!

What does it mean to have family support in a policing career?

Karl: This is the biggest staple for me, because if I have a hard shift, or I have been to an incident, dealt with something that may have had any sort of impact, I know that my dad would understand. He may not necessarily see it all the time from my perspective; however, it allows me to discuss it, and he would have that further understanding than anyone else who does not have the insight into policing that he may have. It almost allows me to have a debrief with someone who knows my quirks and understands the way that I tick, which means he can almost pre-empt the type of mood or effect that something might have on me. Again, he is one of my biggest supporters and is the first to tell me things straight without dancing around the bush.

Rhyan:  I think Karl captured it in a nutshell. We’re blessed to have the opportunity to unload our thoughts, concerns, and sometimes our frustrations to each other. Having that understanding of each other’s roles and insight into policing helps us appreciate where the other is coming from. Probably more than our closest family members. They, too, are incredibly supportive, and I think they’re happy to know we’re looking after each other when we’re away from home and at work. Karl is also one of my greatest supporters; he’s always encouraging me to challenge myself.

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This Father’s Day, let’s celebrate the support, guidance, and connection that make a real difference both at home and in uniform.

Thames Valley Police (TVP) is actively looking for people to be the difference they want to see in their communities.

To find out more about a policing career with TVP – including the realities of working on response, initial training, and to apply to become a Police Officer, please visit our Police Officer page