The Bobby CONTENTS

the bobby C O N T E N T S 3 editor’s comments 4 “just another nickname” 7 dreams can come true 10 do you know who I am? 12 an extract from the book The Royal Gibraltar Police 1830-2005 Front cover: PC Jared McIntosh 15 criminal handiwork Editor's Comments 17 anti-social behaviour It is incredible how quickly time passes, summer has come and gone and once again, The Bobby already in its 5th Edition has 19 “una mirada desde la gone to print, just before Christmas. In keeping with our stated aim of providing an informative and interesting magazine, this verja” edition of The Bobby contains a variety of articles which set out the manner in which the Royal Gibraltar Police serves the Community of Gibraltar. 21 a day in the life of... There is no better example of this commitment to serve than PC Jared McINTOSH, who appears on the cover of this 22 edition, and who quite rightly, has been hailed as a hero by the strategic command Gibraltar Parliament and whose account of that day is course contained in an article. Christmas is a time for family and friends to get together and 24 marvel at the celebration of this feast. Let us remember during international association our celebrations all those members of the Royal Gibraltar of computer investigative Police and indeed all of the Emergency Services in Gibraltar who will be on duty ensuring that we all enjoy ourselves in a specialists safe and peaceful environment. Our anti drink drive campaign message within the Operation Roadwatch strategy is as relevant over the Christmas period as Edited and produced by the Royal Gibraltar Police Editor: RGP Corporate Communications it is outside of that, so remember "Are you over the prescribed Printers: Gibraltar Chronicle Printing Ltd. alcohol limit? DON'T RISK IT! Thank you for not drinking and Advertising: Sound Advertising Driving." I hope you enjoy reading this edition and if there is any way Police Headquarters, New Mole House, Rosia Road, Gibraltar that you think we would be able to improve this format; your Telephone: (350) 20044127 or 20048039 views would be greatly appreciated. Fax: (350) 20076940 The Editorial Team E-mails: [email protected] [email protected] 3 the bobby "Just another nickname" says Hero PC By Stephen Ignacio Hailed a hero by the Chief Minister, and later by politicians and members of the public alike, as well as by his own colleagues, May 31st became a turning point for this officer who had only just been confirmed to the rank of constable after two short years in the force. Months after the events The Bobby has had a chance to speak to him. PC McIntosh is relaxed and philosophical about it all, taking it in his stride. Even when jokes are made about it all, he joins in the comments, even adding to them. However, as it was clearly evident from talking to him, it was a traumatic event which no manual teaches how to cope with the after events, especially when the public claim you are a hero. This was clear when immediately after some joking he added how he had gone to the late victim's funeral, meeting his family and joining in the moment of grief.As he said "it was something I had to do, it was important, I had to go." He might not have cried saying it, but his eyes were sullen, and he stared down in a sad gaze as he spoke these comments. For a moment his normal smile was lost, replaced by a thoughtful moment of silence. t's 0620hrs, on a Sunday morning, and it is particularly early to be relieved by your colleagues coming on Morning In case you are reading this and still do not know what happened it Shift, to say the least. Not unexpected though when your could be summed up in a few sentences. A major explosion blew the top off I a tank at North Mole, and left two workers trapped at the top of the adjacent relief happens to be Constable Jared McIntosh. tank. Instead of tracking back, PC McIntosh cleared the area and climbed to the top of the blazing tanks to extract the two men, literally pulling one down Through the door of the Custody Suite he enters, a young man, from safety whilst knowing that he himself could be trapped by the raging whose life was turned upside down in a matter of minutes, and who from fire. This, even before any of his colleagues, or emergency services, arrived being a normal day to day police officer, suddenly became the officer who at the location. With the two men safe, the next few hours saw the rest of bore the burden, and honour, of being considered a hero by the community Gibraltar await tensely whilst the emergency services attempted to extinguish he serves and his colleagues. Even a Facebook page was created calling for the raging fire, watching as the tanks exploded before it all ceased. him to receive a medal for his actions. The Bobby spoke to PC McIntosh about events, and this is what he had On this Sunday morning he will not patrol the streets, instead, like to say. other officers, it is his turn to look after detainees whilst in cells. None of the running, chasing, heroics or action, but just as important a role if any which Bobby - Let's go back to 31st May 2011. You were at the Cruise requires maturity, calmness and a very high degree of responsibility, Terminal I take it when it all started? What's the first thing you remember something this unassuming, quiet officer will jokingly say he doesn't have, seeing?And what went through your head at the time? but whose short record in the police force has already shown he has in abundance. Jared - "I was patrolling the inside of the cruise liner terminal and speaking to both the SIL officers and to the last tourists who were returning It was 1520hrs on the 31st May 2011. What had initially been a to the Independence of the Seas. quiet deployment to the cruise terminal on a sunny week day, in which normal duties are generally to ensure the safe passage of passengers and "At the time I didn't see anything I just heard an extremely loud trafficwhilstkeepingtheareasecure, soonbecame oneinwhichthecourage bang come from the south part of the North Mole and observed the people of the emergency services and others involved was to be highlighted through around me began to look afraid. My first reaction was to find out what's this officer's selfless actions. happened." 4 the bobby Bobby - It was some distance; I "I knew that this incident was "On being told about this man being trapped, take it, between yourself and where the beginning to get bigger. The two men who I believed him, but I expected the man to be explosion took place; so I suppose you run passed by me looked shocked and scared and exaggerating the situation. I ran into the there? In those few seconds how did you feel? did not say anything." compound and then the building and saw six What were your thoughts? Were you afraid? I to seven men dressed in blue overalls running mean you were about to put your life at risk, Bobby - When you reached the around the rooms looking confused and or were you not even thinking about that? bottom of the tank a wall stood between you scared. I shouted out at them to leave the and the tank. Did you know at the time there building. Jared - "I ran out from the south was somebody at the top? How did you find west exit doors of the liner terminal leading out, and what did you do? "I ran along a corridor inside one of onto the pier and looked towards the south the buildings and out into the open space part of the Mole. I noticed that small flakes Jared- "On reaching the where the large tanks are situated. I then saw of ash were coming down from the sky. It entrance/exit gate of the tank compound I was a man in his 50's again dressed in blue looked like the beginning of a scene when a stopped by a man who told me that a man was overalls by the side of the building, shouting volcano erupts. I then saw two men running trapped at the top of the tank. From where I out "hay un hombre atrapado alli arriba" towards me in the distance. At that point I stood I could only see thick black smoke (there is a man trapped up there) and pointing quickly ran towards them. I then radioed to billowing out from the top part of one of the him out to me. I looked upwards and saw two the controller that there had been an large tanks at a very quick rate. persons by almost the top of the yellow spiral explosion in the North Mole but knew "Whilst speaking to this man I saw staircase, one of them was lying down on the nothing of what had happened and could not two to three more people running out of the stairs and the other was crouched down. see anything from that location. I then heard compound screaming hysterically. As they From where I was situated I could see ashes, someone shout out, call for an ambulance so I passed by me I advised the men to evacuate large amounts of black smoke and flames immediately asked for the ambulance to the area.

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