A police sergeant who serves Melksham has been awarded for outstanding service to the public at the Wiltshire Police Force Awards.
Police Sergeant Gemma Rutter serves the communities of Melksham, Trowbridge and Bradford-on-Avon.
She was awarded the Dan Cooper Memorial Award, recognising her commitment to neighbourhood policing, her ability to build strong relationships with local communities and partners and her dedication to keeping people safe.
Gemma said, “Whether you’re on duty or off duty, you see things in your community that aren’t right and you have the opportunity to do something about it. You can help people, make positive changes and improve lives. That’s what makes the job rewarding.
“I’m still proud to wear the uniform and proud to serve as a police officer. At times, that can be challenging because there is a lot of negativity around policing but I’m incredibly proud of what we do and the difference we make every day.”
Speaking about the challenges of policing, Gemma said, “There have certainly been difficult times. We see things that can be incredibly tough but for me the biggest challenge has always been balancing the demands of the job with family life. You come to work wanting to give everything you’ve got and that can be hard. What makes the difference is the people I work with. They’re a fantastic team and they make it possible.”
Alongside her role as police sergeant, Gemma works as a family liaison coordinator, providing compassionate support to families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
She said, “I really enjoy family liaison work because you can see the difference it makes. It brings together so many different teams, from Roads Policing and the Serious Collision Investigation Team to response officers and family liaison officers, all working towards the same goal.
“I’ve seen colleagues drop everything to support families through the most difficult circumstances imaginable. It’s a privilege to work with those families and to help ensure they receive the very best support and service we can provide. It isn’t always easy but it’s incredibly worthwhile.”
The Dan Cooper Memorial Award was established in memory of PC Dan Cooper, who tragically died while on duty at a road traffic collision near Bradford-on-Avon in 2007. The award recognises officers who demonstrate exceptional service to the public.
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