Super Sgt Faye Burgess wins our Eastern Officer Award
5 December 2023
An officer who balanced her team’s work/life balance with the demanding police job - making “a massive difference” to officers in her division - has won the Eastern Officer Award at the inaugural Surrey Police Federation Recognition Awards.
Sgt Faye Burgess first joined the police as a Special Constable in 2005 before becoming a regular officer a year later. A key leader within Mole Valley, Sgt Burgess prioritises the wellbeing of her team, checking in with them regularly to make sure they’re not overwhelmed by their workload, and that they have a good work/life balance.
Sgt Burgess said: “I joined the police because I wanted to make a difference, and I wanted to do something that was different every day, something that challenges me.
“I want to look out for people because I know how difficult the job is, and I’ve also had some supervisors who in my view haven’t been very supportive. We spend a lot of time at work together, probably more so than you do with your own family, so if you don’t all get on and you don’t feel supported and you don’t enjoy coming to work, it’s horrible for everyone.
“I don’t like to see people struggle. Sometimes people don’t get supported in the way that they should... I’ve seen it, I’ve been a victim of that myself, so I make a point of making sure that everybody’s supported and everybody feels included.”
Sgt Burgess said she was surprised to win the Federation Award but was glad that it recognised the importance of officer welfare.
Surrey Police Federation Chair Darren Pemble said: “Faye’s actions have made a massive difference – she really motivates her team and they have more drive towards their work as they feel supported by her. She makes work more enjoyable for all of them.
“Faye has gone above and beyond for her team, and it has definitely helped her colleagues cope with the hefty weight of the job. Congratulations Faye. A well-deserved accolade.”
Sgt Burgess will attend the Surrey Police Federation Recognition Awards on Thursday 7 December.
The lead sponsor for the Awards is Metfriendly.
Also sponsoring are the National Police Healthcare Scheme, MJR Solicitors, Flint House Rehabilitation, Serve and Protect Credit Union, Police Mutual, No1 Copperpot Credit Union, Philip Williams Insurance, Hempsons, Uniform Mortgages, Police Mortgages, Reynolds Dawson, the Surrey PCC’s Office and DAC Beachcroft.
The hashtag for the event is #SurreyFedBravery.
