Rook Family Story

All I had ever dreamed of and wanted to be growing up was a Police Officer. I had no plan B if this was not achieved. School was painful place for me – diagnosed with dyslexia and a never-ending degree of ignorance seemed to have me wrote off by most teachers. Told I would never achieve anything in life just made me even more determined to become a police officer.

Post school took me to college and university. A career as a Special Constable confirmed even more my career path would be – A Police Officer. Once I joined the police, I finally felt I belonged to something and somewhere. I loved my job. Nothing seemed to be able to prevent me from reaching the 30 years of service milestone, or so I believed. Policing managed to tap into another ambition I never knew I had. That was promotion. I somehow achieved the rank of Chief Inspector. Never did I think on day one of my service I would even contemplate promotion. But as well as specialised policing in the Firearms arena, promotion aspirations were also a driving force. Nothing was going to stop me. Nothing that is until my own body began to stop me.

A complex and rare ulcer in my right eye began the fight I had with myself. I never recovered the sight I had pre ulcer which became a hurdle. As my body had to fight the ulcer and the aftermath of it, I found my health began to take a turn for the worse both mentally and physically. I tried my very best to continue – but it was obvious a sight impaired chief inspector was not to have a career which would continue in policing. By this stage I was a father of four. 3 boys and 1 girl. 2 children from my first marriage and 2 from my second. The two children from my second marriage were still young and I began to be terrified by the uncertain future which now lay ahead of me. I knew I could survive, but what about my children. I had worked so hard to provide for them – but now this was going to be in my mind the biggest robbery I had dealt with in my career. My own career robbed from me by ill health. My mind cast back to that first week I had as a Police officer. All the forms I had signed but not really understood. But one signature came back to me. The Police Children’s charity. A charity I had donated to each and every month of service. Never expecting that the charity would be coming to my help I had paid for those less fortunate than me – to then become one of the beneficiaries. As life post police terrified me the charity offered me great reassurances. There was absolutely no judgement in the application process. Something I had experienced elsewhere when trying to explain I had been medically retired. In fact, quite the opposite, a full understanding and appreciation of how these things occur. No hidden pitfalls – just help for such situations. Whilst I felt I had lost control of my life the children’s charity managed to steer me back on path. Knowing there would be a source of income for 3 of my children assured me greatly. My eldest son benefitted from funded driving lessons. My two youngest children still to this day receive payments throughout the year. Often timed with birthdays and Christmas. The charity took so much pressure off me following my retirement it gave me a period where I could finally concentrate on me and doing my best to get my health stable.

To those reading this who might think they never will need to use the charity, I would just simply say so did I. If you are contemplating if you are going to donate to the charity, again simply I would firstly say thank you to those officers who continue to contribute and encourage anyone who is thinking about it to do so. If in these hard times there is one thing you can do to make yourself feel good is contribute to the charity and help so many children like my own. My health declined, but it wasn’t their fault, just as it’s not a child’s fault for the various challenges officers face while serving the public in this unique occupation.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the children’s charity for their assistance, understanding, and contributions to my children. A unique charity providing for people who work in a unique career. The charity to me feels like an extended part of the policing family and still gives me a feeling of finally belonging.

Nick Rook

Medically Retired from West Yorkshire Police