Former Walney firefighter Phil Sullivan to retire as PCSO

Phil Sullivan worked as an on-call firefighter on Walney for 23 years and served 16 years at Barrow Police Station as a police community support officer (PCSO).

The 62-year-old left the fire service in August and, six months later, has decided to retire from Cumbria Police.

Mr Sullivan described his years as a PCSO as ‘hugely rewarding’ – and hopes to encourage others to join the community-based role.

However, the dad is excited to take on his biggest adventure yet: being a grandparent.

“I decided I wanted to go a bit early from the force,” he said.

“Now felt like the right time, mostly because I’m about to be a grandad for the first time. I wanted to be able to spend more time with my family.”

At the time, Mr Sullivan was one of just two officers in Cumbria that became a joint emergency service officer: working as both a PCSO and firefighter on-call.

Phil Sullivan pictured in his PCSO uniform in 2009 (Image: Mail Archive)

He said: “It was a brand new role when I joined. The PCSO role really interested me. As a PCSO our job is all about the community: being in schools, talking to the public, offering advice. Prior to that, I was a sales rep travelling all over the country and wanted something closer to home with a young family.

“I was already in the fire service at that time and had been since 1998. This came around at the right time and meant having two jobs serving the community. I applied to be a PCSO and that became my full time job and I was on-call as a firefighter.

“That meant I was doing work as a PCSO and being on-call at the same time as a firefighter which had been agreed with the police and fire.

“I did called out to a few fire jobs while working as a PCSO – it was hugely rewarding.”

Mr Sullivan said one area he will miss the most as a PCSO will be his engagement with local schools.

“I loved the rapport you built with the schools,” he said.

“I had seven schools on Walney which I worked with for 11 years so you really built a bond with the children and staff.

Walney PCSO Phil Sullivan and Wildlife Crime Officer PC Karen Park (l-r) on North Walney Nature Reserve in 2009 (Image: Mail Archive)

“I had a fantastic relationship with the teachers and heads. It’s lovely to be walking about in the community and to be recognised for what you do.

“I made a lot of friends over the years. I do feel a real sense of pride and achievement. There’s been upset and excitement over the years but it’s been hugely rewarding.”

READ MORE: Walney firefighter Phil Sullivan marks 20 years of service

Determined on giving back to his community during retirement, Mr Sullivan will be working part-time at St Mary’s Hospice warehouse in Barrow.

He said: “The hospice does amazing work and I was actually planning on volunteering there anyway before they offered me a part-time job.”

Mr Sullivan is urging anyone interested in joining the fire service or police force as a PCSO to take the plunge.

He said: “I’d say to anyone interested in joining to do their homework and if you feel you want to give something back to the community, then do it.”