Detective says farewell to job but not his community

Detective Sergeant Martin Balkeen retired on December 31 from his role with Police Scotland’s public protection unit and met with senior officers to mark his final days on the force.

 

Divisional Commander Gary I’Anson and Chief Inspector Lee Page came to Lochgilphead to thank DS Balkeen personally for his service.

 

They thanked him for his outstanding commitment and service to the local communities in Argyll and Bute over the decades and passed on the best wishes of everyone in the Argyll and West Dunbartonshire division for his retirement.

 

Speaking to the Advertiser just days before his retirement, DS Balkeen reflected fondly on his time in Mid Argyll.

 

“I started my probation in Baillieston in Glasgow’s east end and then worked in Shettleston as a patrol office,” he said. “I had always had an interest in rural policing, so when the post in Lochgilphead was advertised I applied.

 

When his application proved successful the change to the working life of the young officer from East Kilbride was stark.

 

“Sandra, who was my girlfriend at the time and now my wife, came to see Lochgilphead and loved it, so we were both happy to move,” he explained. “It was so different to working in Glasgow because there you tend to live somewhere other than where you work, so you’re anonymous.

 

"Suddenly when I moved to Lochgilphead I was policing in the community I was living in – it was a complete culture shock.

 

“I had to unlearn city policing and learn that in a community like this you’re not a uniform or a badge, you’re an individual.”

 

DS Balkeen explained that his new colleagues at the time supported him in dealing with the dramatic change to his working practices.

 

“Your colleagues explain how things work and I relied on Tom Campbell who helped me with that transition; I’m grateful to him for that,” the detective sergeant said. “I was a complete stranger, but very quickly found my place.”

 

He added that the Mid Argyll community had played a significant part in the enjoyment he found in policing the area.

 

“I’m genuinely really sad about leaving, I’m so very grateful to the community for the support they’ve given me throughout the years; it really has been a pleasure."

 

DS Balkeen gave one example of an incident where local people have rallied to his aid, but stressed that there were several more, similar examples.

 

“I was once out dealing with somebody and they became quite upset and I had to arrest them,” he told the Advertiser.

 

“I was on my own and there was the possibility of either myself or the distressed person becoming injured.

 

"Without being asked, two members of the public came to help me and we managed to safely get him the help he needed. This kind of thing has happened throughout the years.”

 

Although he says he is ready to retire, DS Balkeen plans to continue to serve his community, but as a special constable and at Lochgilphead court every second week.

 

“I had thought of volunteering with the fire service or coastguard, but then realised I have police experience and skills that can still be useful.”

 

DS Balkeen will also be working part-time with a local company and spending more time with his three teenaged children and Samantha, who works with children with additional support needs.