A mother-of-four who has spent her whole life caring for her community has had the debt repaid when the public voted her police community support officer of the year.
Jackie Dodson spent 23 years as a care worker before her son, a serving police officer, suggested that she change career. On Tuesday night she was honoured by Thames Valley Police in a ceremony that celebrated the force’s community policing awards.
The 55-year-old, who is based at Wing Police Station, was named Bucks Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Of The Year. She joined as a PCSO in June 2006 and is now a pivotal part of the community she serves. She has fallen in love with the people and places in her patch even though she actually lives with her family near Winslow.
Award winners are nominated by the public and fellow officers. Two people spoke about how much she had helped them through difficult times and had gone above and beyond the call of duty to resolve their issues. She has dealt with a number of neighbourhood disputes, improving the quality of life of the residents concerned and played an instrumental role in reducing illegal angling and fish theft from local reservoirs and canals.
Jackie said that she has been shocked to learn of the award. “It’s an absolutely wonderful thing to have been awarded. Words can’t express how I felt when I received the letter. I am very lucky that I have a wonderful husband and four wonderful children who provide a support network that allows me to help people and make a difference to their lives by doing a job that I love.
“My son suggested I applied to be a PCSO. He said:’ You’d be great at that, you never stop talking!’I love it as much now as when I started. I love being out and visiting the schools, doing the neighbourhood stuff and making a difference.”
One of her favourite villages is Edlesborough where the parish council, who were among those to nominate Jackie, gave her their own award plus some flowers.
Her boss, Inspector Emma Garside, was delighted at the PCSO’s success. She said:“ It is fantastic news that for the fourth year running a member of my rural neighbourhood team in Aylesbury Vale has been a worthy recipient of these awards.
“This is worthy recognition for all the hard work she has done across her neighbourhood. Local people have commented that prior to Jackie working in their villages they would only ever see the police when something had gone wrong. Now Jackie is recognised and welcomed as part of the community. She has made a huge difference to many people’s lives and she is an asset to my team.”