Police chief retires after 30-year career

Telford's police chief will retire from the force this week after 25 years of fighting crime in the county.

Superintendent Gary Higgins, who has been Territorial Policing Unit Commander in Telford for the past 12 months, will retire from West Mercia Police after completing more than 30 years in the police service.

Mr Higgins – who succeeded Superintendent James Tozer as Telford's police chief in 2010 – first successfully applied to join West Mercia Police in the early 1980s but was advised that there was an 18 month waiting list before he could officially join up.

Rather than wait he applied to join the Metropolitan Police in London with a longer-term plan to transfer back to West Mercia Police – as a Shropshire lad, his local force – once he had gained significant policing experience.

"My first posting on arriving back in West Mercia was as a response constable in Telford," said Mr Higgins.

"From then on I worked in a variety of both uniform and CID roles, mainly between Telford and Shrewsbury, and have actually served the people of Telford in every rank from constable to superintendent.

"Looking back I have had a great time in the police, dealing with the whole range of crime and community issues at all levels.

"As well as my time at Telford I have particularly fond memories of my time as the detective sergeant running the Operation Bumblebee Team (the Burglary Squad) in Shrewsbury.

"Particular highlights of my final posting as TPU Commander in Telford include playing my part in the successful operation put in place to ensure the recent English Defence League protest in Wellington passed off peacefully.

"It was very rewarding to see so many different sections within our local community supporting each other and working together to get through what was a very sensitive time."