A LONG serving and much respected North Cornwall police sergeant is due to retire at the end of this month after 30 years of dedicated public service.

Sgt Aaron Ward first started in his policing career in Plymouth in 1989 and after completing his initial probationary period moved to Bude, North Cornwall in 1991. Aaron very quickly became an integral part of a team that delivered community policing to this geographically isolated area of Cornwall. Initially taking responsibility as a parish constable for Week St Mary, he then served in various frontline and support roles throughout Launceston and Bude.

In 2005 Aaron was promoted to the rank of sergeant. The constabulary quickly recognised his undoubted commitment to neighbourhood policing by selecting him to lead a team of neighbourhood officers delivering community policing to Launceston and its surrounding rural areas.

During this period Aaron was at the forefront of introducing the new neighbourhood policing model, creating innovative neighbourhood interventions and processes that not only contributed to increased community communication, reassurance and resilience within Launceston but also influenced neighbourhood activity throughout the constabulary.

As a result of his interventions Aaron developed a strong partnership network within the community ranging from government agencies, voluntary bodies, charities, support groups and businesses.

Cllr Dave Gordon, deputy mayor of Launceston paid tribute to the police sergeant. He said: “I have known Aaron for more than 10 years both in my capacity as a town councillor, chairman of Coronation Park Trust and as chairman of the Launceston Carnival Committee.

“Aaron will be missed in Launceston by many people, not only for his professional role as a police officer, but for the genuine and approachable person he is.

“Launceston has been very lucky over the last 15 years or so with the police officers that have served in our community, and Aaron’s police work in our community has ensured Launceston remains a safe and peaceful place to live in.

“As the present serving deputy mayor of Launceston I wish Aaron a long and happy retirement, and wish both him and his family much happiness in the years to come.”

Jack Jackson, chief executive officer of the Launceston College Multi-Academy Trust spoke of Aaron’s commitment to the education sector. He said: “Aaron has been a regular attender at celebration events such as the Year 11 leavers’ day where he represented the police in a way that ensured that Launceston College students interacted with police officers on positive occasions rather than just when things have gone wrong.

“I also worked alongside Aaron in his role as chair of governors at Egloskerry Primary school and then a director of Launceston College Multi Academy Trust (MAT). In all meetings he demonstrated his commitment to the community and to public service. I am saddened to see Aaron retiring as he has had such a positive influence on our community, I am confident, however, that many of the strong relationships which he worked hard to create will continue.”

In 2013 Aaron took on the added responsibility for overseeing the delivery of neighbourhood policing for not only Launceston but also Bude, Callington and Camelford, an area that incorporated 720 square kilometres, essentially a fifth of Cornwall. This was the largest area within the whole of Devon and Cornwall constabulary that was under the supervision of one neighbourhood policing sergeant.

Chief Inspector Lynden Hughes said of his colleague: “In this last year the constabulary has again looked at re-modelling its delivery of neighbourhood policing. Due to his significant experience of neighbourhood policing, the respect he commands within the constabulary, for his expert knowledge in this area and his undiminished enthusiasm for serving his communities Aaron was selected to be a part of a small team to redesign and implement a new constabulary wide neighbourhood policing model for the future.

“As Aaron approaches the end of his service he has been rightly rewarded to represent the constabulary at the royal garden party in May this year, a fitting reward for his dedication to the provision of community policing within North Cornwall and his undoubted commitment to youth engagement.

“Aaron’s enduring legacy are the officers he has tutored, supervised and positively influenced over the last 30 years. He has been a role model to a significant number of officers throughout his service, I count myself as one of those officers.”