editorial

PC Edward Walker is loving life at West Yorkshire Police

Not so long ago Police Constable Edward Walker aka Eddy set off on his travels with the support of Durham Constabulary.

Since then there has been no stopping him as he managed to stop off at Northumbria Police, Cleveland Police & now he is taking West Yorkshire Police by storm.

Eddy is the one teddy everyone wants to get their hands on within the social media world of policing. He is causing so much excitement within the world of Twitter and it is truly fantastic.

Best of all Eddy set off on his travels for the sole purpose of raising awareness and donations for COPS a UK charity.

Eddy has already made a name for himself after getting a Tweet from non-other than Newcastle United Football Club wishing him luck after he arrived at ST James Park.

While Eddy was at ST James Park he managed to spend some valuable days with the Northumbria Police Central engagement team when he attended a disability, diversity and inclusion. While here they took great care of him and taught him the importance of Equality and being you is not a crime.

He spent some time with a lovely ex-police officer named June who shared her policing photo from 1964. Eddy found this such a great honour to learn from the best and took with him valuable lifelong skills from his visit.

Since Eddy left Northumbria Police he has been lucky to spend some time shadowing Chief Constable Dee Collins. Spending lots of time with the senior team, he watched lots of important presentations before passing his message to fellow teds.

Since then he has been lucky to spend some time shadowing Chief Constable Dee Collins, spending lots of time with the senior team, he watched lots of important presentations before passing his message to fellow teds.

From there he headed to the West York Police Force control room and even went out on patrol with a certain well-known PCSO who features in the Police Twitter Awards, Maybe Ted has his eyes on the awards after spending all that time with the Best Tweeting Chief Constable of the Year.

Leg Three West Yorkshire Police

After a long journey from Northumbria Police Eddy arrived at West Yorkshire Police HQ, as he arrived he was very excited and looking forward to meeting many officers. His first port of call was @WYP_BAWP.

Eddy was quick to get noticed within West Yorkshire and wanted to meet with the Best Tweeting Chief Constable Dee Collins, seeking advice on how he should tweet because he couldn’t really work it out knowing that this was one of the CC strengths he leapt at the chance or did he just have his eyes set on those awards?

He was quick to jump at the chance to shadow one of the most inspirational women within British policing. Together they went off to brief Eddy on the Police and Crime plan.

Eddy really enjoyed the meeting and was able to take a lot away with him. He had lots to think about before he headed off.

But Eddy spotted a camera, The last time he did this he stole a slot on the Police Interceptors, this could be his chance to get noticed and swoop the best tweeting police bear award at this year’s Police Twitter Awards…. Come on Eddy he was thinking.

After all those pictures Eddy decided to hunt out the snacks, he was starting to get hungry after all that work.

All of a sudden he bumped into one of the Police Twitter Awards Finalists he was star struck as he filled his paws.

It was only Police Community Support Officer Sarah Barberini. He knew he only had one chance to make sure PCSO Barberini would work with him, maybe later.

After making arrangements to go out another day Eddy was back with Dee talking about the importance of Force Accountability with Meg Ininns. He really enjoyed the company of Meg, such a wonderful lady he thought.

Next Eddy wanted to learn some leadership skills he was so excited that he grabbed one of the front seats.

Eddy told Angela Williams that he was very impressed with their 999 performance. He decided he must visit the contact centre.

999 whats your emergency, Eddy was now on his first emergency call, he jumped straight in there he just wanted to do his bit to make a difference and help another.

Following his call Eddy was supported by another member of the Forces Contact Centre to guide him in the right direction.

After a 12 hour night shift in the West Yorkshire Contact Centre Eddy was raring to go and decided he wanted to pay a little visit to some four-legged friends.

Marley was not having any of it, Eddy get a suitable riding hat on or you’re not coming out with me.

Next Eddy was off to promote diversity and difference within West Yorkshire Police with some fellow friends.

Yes, the day has finally come that Eddy gets to work with one of the Police Twitter Award Finalists, he wants to learn from the best here. He was delighted to be announced as a new starter. That award must be within his sights now.

Dedicated to the job and eager to make some good first impressions with PCSO Barberini he decided he would help fill out the digital record for a section 59 warning. Phew thinking Eddy i managed to get out of making the brews.

A quick check of PCSO Barberini boots and they are off out on patrol. Very shiney indeed he added.

Next, he decided he would visit Cohort 6… All at the ready line up for inspection… Come on now.

PSCO Barberini was soon onto his plans to take the best tweeting bear at the police twitter awards and chucked him in the cells, before releasing him and thanking him for his time.

Yes another camera, I have time to reclaim my fame and take to the big screen move over police interceptors I’ve got my own show now West Yorkshire 999.

Next Eddy was off to see Police Sergeant Chirs Dibbs to learn about leadership and professional development.

https://twitter.com/WYP_PSDibbs/status/919937783137005568

He quickly took the opportunity for another photo with Sarah Baker and Andy From the West Yorkshire Police media team.

https://twitter.com/WYP_PSDibbs/status/919915574393737218

Eddy was then introduced to the West Yorkshire Police Training Centre and meet with Cohort 13A/B. Wishing them all good luck.

Next, he took the opportunity to give some advice to members of the performance, conduct and welfare class for first line managers.

And then he was off to meet some new officers on their second day with West Yorkshire Police

And decided to help Cohort 12 A/B with their IT instruction.

Next, it was a lesson in first aid, one of the most important aspects of police training when responding to a critical situation.

After a fantastic couple of days at Carr Gate Eddy was eager to show off everything he had been shown to Ossett Brownies.

However he had his sights on NPAS Carr Gate, Maybe he will be the eye in the sky next?

For now, it’s a sleepover with PC Sally Baines…. Goodnight Eddy. Don’t be making too much noise.

https://twitter.com/WYP_SallyB/status/920750119045206017

Why the tour?

Eddy was sent on his travels by Durham Police so that we could raise further awareness and funds for COPS Charity, We wanted a creative way to have some fun and along the way raise some money for a good cause.

UK Cops are dedicated to helping the families of police officers who have lost their lives in relation to their duty, to rebuild their lives and we wanted to do our little bit.

Julia Berry has been doing running lately and wanted to use her running to raise money for her chosen charity.

She has already taken on the Cops 30 Miler, The Great North Run, ending at the Birmingham International Marathon.

You can keep track Jules runs and where Eddy is at on his tour by following @PCEdwardWalker #PCWalkerTours

About COPS

COPS is the UK charity dedicated to helping the families of police officers who have lost their lives in relation to their duty, to rebuild their lives.

Since being founded in 2003, they have helped hundreds of families shattered by the loss of their police officer. They aim to ensure that surviving family members have all the help they need

to cope with such a tragedy and they remain part of the police family.

What COPS do

COPS is a peer support charity, enabling Survivors from around the UK to support other Survivors in practical ways. They arrange local and national events that enable Survivors to build friendships and bonds that support them through the good times and bad.

Families are rightly proud of their officer and COPS to help ensure that they remain part of the police family.

Please Donate

If you are wanting to make a donation to UK Cops please donate via Jules Just Giving Page.

Let us know your views by tweeting @PoliceHour We'll feature the best tweets within the article.

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Trevor Sherwood is the Editor of Police Hour. Trevor studied Crime and Investigation at Teesside Uni and has a background within policing.

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