Frome bids farewell to popular PCSO

A long-serving police community support officer (PCSO) who has helped generations of young people in Frome has retired after years working in the town.

Gary Maule joined the service in 2008 and has spent his entire PCSO career in Frome. He was presented with a mayor’s civic award in recognition of his service at a full town council meeting on Wednesday 11th November, where he received a standing ovation.

Paying tribute to Gary at the meeting, police inspector Rachel Clark said he had become part of the ‘fabric’ of Frome.

She said, “After nearly 20 years of service in this town, nowhere else has he served his time; Gary has sadly left our neighbourhood team. I have been incredibly fortunate to share most of his service with him as his beat manager, sergeant and inspector. What has always set you apart is your passion for helping people, especially children and young people in this town, long before safeguarding became a buzzword and partnerships filled our diaries. You were out there making a difference. Schools, families, young people struggling with life, particularly those with neurodivergent needs, you always had time for them.

“Over the years you have positively influenced countless young people helping them navigate some of the most difficult periods of their lives, helping them with patience, kindness, understanding and absolutely no judgement. The respect they have for you speaks volumes. You earned their trust, and that is something that can never be measured in statistics or performance charts. The reality is many young people, many families and indeed many of us sitting here today are better off because Gary Maule came into our lives at exactly the right moment.

“You will always be remembered in this town as PC Gary. There are parents now introducing their children to you, who were children themselves when you first helped them. That’s an incredible legacy. Not many people can say they have influenced not just lives but generations of lives.”

Presenting Gary with his civic award, Mayor Mark Dorrington said, “You performed the role of a home beat, a bobby on the beat, a neighbourhood police officer. You knew everybody on your patch and it is a great loss that you have gone.”

Gary also received the Pride of Somerset Award for his service and was also nominated for a National Policing Award.

During his time in Frome, he worked extensively with local schools and young people, launching a prison experience project for children with learning difficulties and autism. He also features as a character in a set of interactive children’s books about Frome.

Responding to his award, Gary said, “It is a complete surprise and I have loved every single moment of Frome, every single minute of neighbourhood policing. I have had the best bosses right the way through. I couldn’t have wanted a better boss. Thank you to everybody. There are so many people who I have worked with and who have supported me, so I just want to say a massive thank you as well.

“The job has been a massive passion and it has been amazing to be part of a team that really does care.”

Gary is now working in children’s social care with Somerset Council’s Family First team.

 

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1. Gary Maule with colleagues from the Frome Neighbourhood Police Team - photo from Frome Town Council