Sarah-Jane Thrift-Sommers

Sarah-Jane Thrift-Sommers joined the force as a regular officer in 2022 under the accelerated detective pathway, but the following year returned to her job as a lecturer in sports, public services and sports massage therapy.

Recently she returned to policing, graduating as a Special.

Sarah-Jane had always been a self-starter and a workaholic – starting out at 13 knocking on people’s doors and washing their cars or cleaning elderly people’s homes.

But when her mother died unexpectedly after a routine operation and her father suffered mental health problems and eventually moved to Australia, 15-year-old Sarah-Jane had to find new levels of resilience.

Looked after by her elder siblings, she continued working and studying, eventually gaining a diploma in Uniformed Public Services.

Her interest in policing started here and while she applied unsuccessfully aged 18, it led to her becoming a fitness instructor and personal trainer and then a teacher in 2009.

In 2022, she tried policing again and successfully joined via the accelerated detective pathway, making the hard decision to hand in her notice at the college.

However, when management changed at the college and they asked her to return, Sarah-Jane agreed, but she couldn’t leave policing behind.

As soon as she could, she applied to become a Special.

Now she has independent status and says she has the “best of both worlds” - educating 16+ learners and sharing industry experience with those wishing to start a policing career.

She said: “Both my parents worked prior to my mum passing, so maybe I got my work ethic from them but, for sure, I have always just strived to be successful, a go-getter.

“I have always been a stickler for the rules, very black and white and organised. So, I think this has all contributed to me becoming a police officer.

“Everyone makes choices in life. What happened to me as a child might have led someone else down a different path, but I just remained focused and wanted to do my parents proud.

“I am lucky to not be a statistic in relation to my adverse childhood experiences, as there were a few.”

Sarah-Jane, whose father died when she was applying to become a Special, said her graduation was better than her first and praised her trainers and volunteer colleagues.

“The training team have been great, very knowledgeable and friendly”, she said.

“And very accommodating - I have only had to attend what has been necessary. I sat my exams before the cohort started in December to prove my knowledge of the law had been retained.

“I love providing a service in which I can help others, making a difference. I want to gain knowledge, skills and experiences I can share with others who are interested in joining the police.