Rookie to Retirement: Volume 2

By Brian Waugh

From Rookie to Retirement, 1960 to 1990, Warts and All, PC 1538

The incidents recorded in this book are my recollections of them during my life. I cannot recall working anywhere that was free from corruption, theft, or fraudulent activity. Judge me personally after you read the book, and ask yourself one question, which is this, what would you have done if you found yourself in similar circumstances? A lot of the content is funny—some hilarious, some very serious, and some very sad. I use some bad language only to illustrate frustration, disgust, despair, and temper. You will notice I used first names only. I can honestly say I have met and worked with lot of very honest and trustworthy people over the years, for which I feel very privileged and grateful.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Nov 19, 2019
• ISBN: 9781984592682

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Copyright © 2019 by Brian Waugh.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 11/25/2019

First Edition

Xlibris

800-056-3182

www.Xlibrispublishing.co.uk

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Contents

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

THE CUSTOMER’S ARE NEVER RIGHT

{I do not believe it}

THE WIFE AND LIFE OF BRIAN

Continuation of Seige from Vol.1…

CHAPTER FIVE

We followed him by car and when he crossed the bridge over the railway, we then became the back-up team, to Pete’s team, only we could not contact them. We drove to the main road, and did an about turn. We still had not seen the other team. We saw the target going back to his bike. We knew now that he had located his loot and found only paper, instead of 12 thousand pounds of stolen money, we followed the target back towards his bike. He was now our responsibility and Petes team were the back up.

We knew the target was not going anywhere because I had disabled his bike. Bill decided to ambush the target by overtaking him, and swinging the car across the road, to use as a barrier so we could arrest him. The driver swung the car across the road behind the target and stopped? Big Mistake.

Bill jumped out of the front passenger seat and ran after the target, and shouted at him to stop, MERVYN exited the car like Bill on the wrong side, I jumped out of the car and took up a cover position behind the offside rear wheel it was so fast I jammed my right knee between the tyre and the wheel arch.

I forced my leg free, and lifted my kneecap, I very painfully ran stumbling after Bill, he was still shouting at the villain I caught up to Bill and was standing with him when the target, did a right about turn to face us, in the next, millie seconds the villain fired two shots, his sawn off shotgun was in the bag which exploded in a sheet of flame, Bill fired one shot, I fired one shot, Mervyn fired one shot, I only ever heard one bang, the villain was reloading and did not seem to be affected by any of the shots, he was turning away and I fired another shot, the villain fell wounded.

If the villain had made a left about turn it would mean I might have been shot as I would be the first person and nearest to him.

I checked Bill, he was dead I ran to take cover behind a car, and experienced another out of body trip, I could see the whole scene from above the car, I was shouting at the villain, I fired a third shot, and the villain lay still, I was left with Bill dead. The driver disappeared, Mervyn the other sgt was shot in the thigh and he was still alive. My adrenaline rush was very high. My priority now was Mervyn make sure he was comfortable, and get all the help on the way, as this whole area was a murder scene.

The back up team arrived TOO BLOODY LATE. But, ok for PETE… The coward, the work was over. I have made several statements covering this incident in detail and the aftermath it caused. I was not injured by shots but my right knee cap had been severely damaged. I got up and hobbled up to Bill, my specific job was to protect him, all of this happened in milli seconds, in all 7 shots were fired. I was deaf after that for a while, with hindsight I felt I should have aborted the job, I was so angry.

Now my holiday was at risk. The S.O.C.TEAM, were called Bill was taken to hospital and kept alive on machines for 5 days. Mervyn was taken to hospital but, they never removed the bullet, from his thigh. We ended up back at Walton station, and I started writing my notes and reports, after I had managed to phone Jenn and tell her watch the news but, I am ok, and will be home later. the inspector turned up, and stinking of ale.

He wanted me to cover for him and say he was at HQ when we were called out. It ended up in a row and I was dragged off him by other officers. He was sent home. I organised a driver, and he took us to HQ. I went home and arrived about 01:30am. I sat on the bed and discussed the whole shambles of the job with Jenn, which was now a secondary consideration, to our holiday.

I had to be back at CID office to be interviewed by 9am. Between 01:30 and 07:30 my hair turned white. It was ridiculous and I could not understand how. Jenn in her mind planned out our lives for the next five years, she knew I would be taken off the unit, and the firearms section and would be posted away from HQ. She knew from the experience of a previous shooting, what would happen.

I attended CID and made statements to cover the killing of Bill, and asked for an interview with the Deputy Chief Constable. This took place on Friday, and I opened up in all honesty how I felt, and what I would do, and what I would not do. He spent several hours with me and said he would help me as much as possible. My feelings at this stage were Bill was DEAD. The force were buying time until they got organised and were advised by other forces. the D.C.C said, I would have to go to a police converlesance home for a while. I then explained about my holiday, starting Saturday, and he could not believe it. He wanted to know how I had arranged it, and had it approved, even he could not get 6 weeks and two days all together. I explained I would not give evidence at a coroners court, or inquest, and I would not attend any debriefing sessions, to do with this murder at HQ. My reasoning for this is, Bill was a very likable man. Even though I disapproved of the methods of teaching he used. Many people believed in what he was teaching and thought highly of him.

I was not about to destroy his reputation, as I thought he has paid the ultimate price, for his family, and friends sake. I would not blacken his character now. The DCC, said I was to go on my holiday and hope my family would be around me and enjoy ourselves, take our minds of Bill’s death.

On Sat 25th as planned we set off for Malta overland with the rig.

THIS IS THE RIG JENN AND I WERE TAKING OVERLAND

TO THE VILLA ON GOZO MALTA GC. ON 25 AUG 84.

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WEIGHT IN TOTAL UNDER 5 TONS. LENGTH

OVERALL IS 45FT.

My daughters Julie and Christine where to fly out on Monday and hopefully we would be joining them at the weekend. Micky Smith a colleague had booked a couple of weeks at the hotel, and when he left, Martin a member of Petes team would arrive for a couple of weeks. No rest for the wicked. The officers and their families had been to the hotel previously, when I was on holiday and because they knew my family were going, they arranged to join us there. We eventually came home, the military style funeral had taken place, I was glad I missed it.

When mam came to visit, she brought updated news of Bob and the men on the old Gateshead force. Bob had let his dog off the lead late at night opposite the substation. Apparently it attacked a nurse who was savaged. The dog tore the muscles between her left elbow and shoulder, ripped them out and rendered her arm useless.

The dog was ordered to be destroyed and Bob