Special Sergeant tells how he ‘jumped at opportunity’ to volunteer during pandemic

6 February 2023

A Special Sergeant ‘who has always had an appetite for policing’ has told how gaining unexpected spare time during the Covid-19 pandemic prompted him to train as a volunteer in the Force. 

Inspired by his father and stepmother, who both once worked as officers, Martin Ruddy (53) has been volunteering with Suffolk Police for just over 12 months now. 

The qualified pilot, who now works as a general manager at National Air Traffic Services (NATS) at Stansted Airport, said when he saw Suffolk Constabulary was calling for volunteers, he ‘jumped at the opportunity’.

“There’s a real crossover of learning between volunteering and my professional role. I’ve gained so much already as a Special, and equally, have been able to transfer my skills across the Force, especially as a sergeant,” said father-of-two Martin.

“Working with the police has taught me so much, especially when it comes to people psychology, social interaction and inclusion. I manage up to 50 people in my professional job, and this continuous learning is definitely having a positive impact on my role as a manager.

“I’ve been working in the same career for 30 years, and you get to a certain level in life where the job becomes slightly more relaxed. Volunteering as a Special has taken me away from the comfort of my office - it’s taken me into a whole new world.

“It’s like I’ve started a whole new job. I’ve gone back to basics, out on the streets - and it’s invigorating. Every day comes with its own challenges and that’s what drives me forward.” 

Martin, who also has a level five in coaching, says the qualification helps him better understand and manage his team as a Special Sergeant.

“Although I’m only in the infancy of my role as sergeant, my new responsibilities mean volunteering with the Force isn’t just about responding to incidents anymore - it’s about supporting my team, whether that’s helping junior officers progress or being there for career Specials like me, when they need it,” he added.

Martin explained that becoming a Special had exposed him to a whole range of different people, who - despite all coming from various backgrounds - each share the same enthusiasm for volunteering with the police.

“My most memorable moment since becoming a Special is this one particular shift when I was driving back to the station with a colleague and we spotted an argument outside the pub,” Martin recalled.

“Upon intervening, the offender actually ended up assaulting my colleague. At that point, I went to full protection mode - and following the incident, my colleague expressed how grateful he was that I was there to support him.”

As soon as it was announced in the summer of last year that Specials could join the Police Federation, Martin did. 

“I welcomed the decision to allow Specials to join the Federation with open arms. It provides you with a level of security and protection, especially if an accusation is ever made against me. I feel confident that the Federation will offer me the support and guidance if I ever need it,” he ended.