Meet PC Jacob

PC Jacob joined policing in 2019 after 4 years of military service. He currently works as a response officer dealing with 999 and 101 shouts.

Why did you want to join the police? 

After leaving the army, I still wanted work in a uniformed role and was drawn to the police. After leaving the army I spent around a year travelling abroad and then worked a couple different jobs. I knew I needed something more challenging, and for me I saw the police as that challenge. After going through the application process with Thames Valley Police I eventually joined as a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) in 2019 before taking the leap and joining as a Police Constable (PC) in 2020. There are so many different departments/roles within the police, there is something for everyone, my aspirations are to become an ARV (armed response).

How do you feel your military career has helped you in your police career? 

The army was a life changing experience for me and put me in good stead to join the police. Being in the army presents you with a number of opportunities for personal development, giving you valuable life experience and helping to make you a more resilient robust person. Both the police and army are demanding jobs, but my time in the army really helped set me up for my career in the police and moulded me into who I am today.

What is the most rewarding thing about policing? 

I really enjoy the challenging nature of the police. No day is the same and I have dealt with some demanding incidents, some of which I never thought I would necessarily deal with as a Police Officer. Like most people who join the police, helping people plays a major part. Whether that is a victim of crime, dealing a medical emergency, a road traffic collision (RTC) or simply engaging with members of the public helping to improve their confidence in the police. The police is a demanding job, but I recommend leavers of the armed forces to consider applying as your experience in military is invaluable and will give you the confidence to deal with the demands of the job.

What do you like most about policing?

What I like the most about policing is working with my team day to day. When I left the army, I really missed the camaraderie and being part of a close-knit team. The team are great; they’re from all walks of life, backgrounds and with varying lengths of service. Like the military, you go through hard times and situations as a team and it those people who keep you going.

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If you are looking at military resettlement into TVP, you can read more about the support available on our Military Resettlement page.

Thames Valley Police (TVP) is actively looking for people wanting 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 register your interest to become a Police Officer please visit our Police Officer page.