In March 1985, as a 17 year old, Jarrod joined up In Redruth, Cornwall as a Recovery Mechanic in the REME (Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers). With his Fathers wise words advice to just sign up for 3 years ringing in his ears, he signed up for 9.
After basic and trade training, Jarrod was posted to North Germany to 7 Armoured Workshop , (The Desert Rats) In 1987, Jarrod began the first of three tours of Northern Ireland. His 1st tour was providing armed vehicle recovery throughout the Province, his 2nd tour was as a basic medic with The Green Jackets, only dealing with one shooting, by the 3rd tour in early 2000’s all had calmed down a bit.
In 1989 Jarrod was posted to HQ Nato in Holland (Brunsuum) working mainly with the Germans, Belgians and the Americans. In early 1990 they were sent to the Gulf. It could be remembered by lots of flies, volleyball and shooting but could never truly be described in full. 1991 saw a posting to London, here he did an advanced driving course allowing him to work driving Officers to various functions at the Palace as well as working in Regents Park Barracks providing REME support to the Royal Corps of Transport that were stationed there at the time. Commonly known as The Queens Baggage. (Any visiting dignitary that was a guest of the Queen would have their luggage picked up from Heathrow by this lot) and the REME had to support and follow them. In 1993, Jarrod was posted to Germany, Detmold, entering the aviation world, working with Helicopters. He then moved to Wattisham Airfield in Suffolk, mid 90’s where he had various ground roles attached to the Army Air Corps. Posted to the Cavalry at Swanton Morley, in 1999, Jarrod then spent 9 months in Canada working with the Light Dragoons as they trained for the possibility of another Gulf war. 2003 saw a move (with a new wife (Sian) and family down to 36 Engineers in Maidstone, Kent, they did more running than Steve Ovett and Seb Coe put together. Engineers are a fit lot! 2005 brought Jarrod back to Wattisham for his final 3 years in the REME. Working with 3 Regiment Army Air Corps, desk job all very boring
Jan 2008 saw the end of Jarrods 22yr service with the REME, thanks for the advice Dad, and he then promptly rejoined in March 2008, the MPGS (Military Provost Guard Service). Jarrod then ended up providing Security and Guarding for the camp he had left 2 months previously as the Apache Helicopter was making its way acrossthe Atlantic and becoming the main asset for future conflicts as the land deterrent (tanks) were being phased out since the Berlin wall came down and East and West
Germany all became friends! In July 2008, Jarrod became a military dog handler and 2009 qualified as a Kennel manager. Training dogs to become “true arm patrol dogs” and helping other dog handlers to further their careers in the military Dog World. Jarrod continues in that role today, managing a kennel of True Arm Patrol dogs, and their handlers at Wattisham Air Base.
2. HEATH KEOGH
I joined the MPS in 2003 as a Community Support Officer, after being the victim of robbery and stabbing in 2001. In 2008 I transitioned to Police Constable but in 2009 was seriously injured in the execution of my duties while chasing burglars from a property on the Myatts Field Estate in Brixton, Lambeth. This resulted in reconstruction surgery in my right knee and upper thigh, a difficult time for my family and myself, as I didn’t know whether I would be able to carry on with my career as an operational police officer. My dreams of becoming a dog handler were dashed and non-achievable.
In 2010 I transferred to the London Borough of Sutton, placed in the Anti-Social Behaviour Office: the Safer Sutton Partnership Services. Here I started my work with the LEAD (Local Environmental Awareness on Dogs) Initiative. Management had learned I owned/showed Staffords and was a committee member of Downlands SBT Club. In 2013 I was approached by the Status Dogs Unit, as it had been highlighted that being a Stafford fancier, I ticked the box as an expert witness, under Home Office Guidelines. In April 2013 I became a MPS trained Dog Legislation Officer, holding an ACOPO recognised qualification in this field. Due to this, and to separate my personal life and work, I stepped down from Downlands committee. In 2014 I was involved in the DEFRA document ‘Dealing with irresponsible dog ownership: Practitioners’ Manual’, where LEAD was highlighted as ‘Best Practice’. LEAD is endorsed by government departments, ministers, national dog charities and organizations, The Royal Kennel Club, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Blue Cross and the RSPCA. Through my work with LEAD, we offer early intervention, prevention, and education where we engage with ALL dog owners, regardless of breed or type of dog involved, or social background of the owner, before we have escalation to a complaint under s.3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act. I educate colleagues on dogs and other partner agencies, flying the flag as a dog owner, especially a Stafford owner. Over the years I have worked with and made fantastic friendships across the world of dogs. LEAD is used by North Wales Police, across all 6 counties in North Wales since 2017, also implemented across the whole of Gwent Police and South Wales Police force areas in 2023 and 2025. LEAD has been used/piloted by Surrey, Hertfordshire and Thames Valley police forces. From 2022 to 2024 I was part of the team from DEFRA providing a presentation aimed at early intervention to all police forces and local authorities in England and Wales.
I have over 23 years’ experience in safer neighbourhood Policing, problem solving, dealing with Anti-Social Behaviour, working in partnership with local authorities and other strategic partnership agencies. I am single point of contact/implementer of the Metropolitan Police LEAD Initiative, recognised as 'Best Practice' by DEFRA and Smarter Practice by the College of Policing, attending round table discussions and seminars at local and national government level, dealing with the issue of Dangerous Dogs and protecting communities, offering advice and guidance to other police forces, local authorities and partner agencies. I attend court to give evidence within this field, obtaining control orders under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the 1871 Dogs Act, also Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBO /ASBO) and Civil Injunctions
I am the recipient of the RSPCA Founders Award, the RKC Good Citizen Award and Keep Sutton Safe Award, Borough Commander's Commendation, Assistant Commissioner's Commendation and more recently the Kings Police Medal, all in recognition of the LEAD Initiative. I currently work within the new Southern Area Basic Command Unit, (London Boroughs of Sutton, Croydon & Bromley) managing anti-social behaviour reports for the BCU implementing the LEAD Initiative across London boroughs. I am a point of excellence for the BCU, supporting dedicated Ward Officers across the tri-borough when dealing with complicated and sometimes complex ASB issues having a detrimental effect on local communities. I am the MPS SPOC for the LEAD Initiative and a point of excellence for officers across the MPS for solutions in dealing with dog related ASB, irresponsible owners and nuisance/problematic dogs. I attend and chair problem solving meetings, Community MARAC and strategic meetings for Sutton, covering Croydon and Bromley. I wholeheartedly believe neighbourhood policing is the heartbeat of policing, something I am passionate about as I love helping people, both the communities I serve, partners I work with, and supporting colleagues. Moreover I love dogs, BUT I especially LOVE Staffords…!!
3. GREG TOMKINS
Joining Bedfordshire Police in October 2001 and completing initial training in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, I took to the streets of Luton in March 2002. I spent around five years as a Uniformed Response Officer, learning fast in a town which was could easily be compared to a London Borough. Dealing with day to day Policing as well as taking on extra training to be qualified as a Victim Liaison Officer dealing with Victims of serious sexual offences as well as training in riot and crowd control, particularly useful when dealing with some of the hostile situations linked to Luton Football Clubs matches, as well as giving support to other Police Force Areas. An example, as being part of a uniformed unit sent to Colchester to give reassurance to a housing estate that had been the rocked by the stabbing of two residents and the suspect was still at large (later apprehended).
My Uniformed duties served me well moving into the role of Detective, specialising in the protection of Children and later Vulnerable Adults. In this role I was given specialised training in interviewing both Victims and Suspects, dealing with Child abuse, Child Sexual Exploitation, Child Criminal Exploitation and Child Deaths. Then supported Vulnerable Adults who were being abused, not only physically and mentally, but also financially. These roles involved closely working with other agencies such as Social Services, Health and Education Authorities and the Crown Prosecution Service. Attending Magistrates and Crown Court, as well as the High Court in London as lead Officer in various serious investigations.
Prior to retiring in June 2020, I was part of a team working on an operation relating to historic sexual abuse of multiple children by one male suspect in between the 1980’s and 2000’s, I left before the suspect was convicted in October 2021 and received several life sentences for his offences. This resulted in two episodes of the popular programme 24 Hours in Police Custody. These programmes served as a catalyst for more Victims to come forward and in 2023 I returned to Beds Police to assist in investigating 20 new victims, which resulted in 13 cases being taken forward to Crown Court where the Offender was handed 4 more life sentences and resulted in one more 24-hour episode.
A career of twenty plus years, resulted in many positive outcomes at Court, justice being served on numerous Offenders and giving support and guidance to Victims and their Families in the toughest of times, for which I was awarded 2 Chief Superintendent Commendations. I have worked all over England and also in to Wales and Scotland and it goes without saying that my time as a serving Officer has been a really fulfilling part of my life.
