Sergeant says receiving British Empire Medal is “absolute privilege”

3 November 2020

Sergeant Joe Trusselle says it was “an absolute privilege” to be listed in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

The West Midlands Police officer has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to community policing. He was one of only seven police officers in the UK to receive the BEM.

“It’s an absolute privilege to have been honoured at a national level,” Joe said, “It’s has given me a real sense of achievement around some of the work that I’ve done.”

Joe, who moved to Small Heath and Highgate this earlier year, was recognised for his work in Wolverhampton over a 14-year period.

He secured Home Office and Sport England grants to run projects aimed at keeping children out of trouble and a dedicated police van tackling anti-social behaviour.

His work led to anti-social behaviour falling by 59 per cent during one school summer holiday period as young people were engaged with sports and other activities.

“I kept a look-out for new funding opportunities and then tried to think how the funders’ objectives could align to our priorities,” he said.

Joe says the memory of his late Mum seeing him in his police uniform as a young recruit has been a motivation throughout his time as a police officer.

“My highlights are meeting so many fantastic people over the last 15 years and seeing all of the fantastic work taking place every day,” he said. “Obviously being promoted and being awarded my British Empire Medal are also high on that list.”

Joe said that because of the coronavirus pandemic he is unsure about when he will receive his medal.

“It’s a little up in the air,” he said. “The Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire has contacted me and will arrange the presentation as soon as they’re able to.

“The same goes for the royal garden parties which are hopefully going to recommence next year.”

Joe, who joined the Force in 2005, said he wanted to be a police officer from a young age.

“I just wanted to be able to help people and make some sort of difference,” Joe said.

He credits his late grandfather-in-law, Joe Davies, as being a big influence on his career.

“He rose to the rank of superintendent heading up Force operations,” he said, “Joe has been a huge influence on my career, and I spent many an hour chatting to him about work.

“He was always so interested to know what things were like nowadays and was so refreshing that despite the differences he saw how we needed to move with the times.”