Detective sergeant retires after 30 years’ service

This week we’re saying goodbye to Detective Sergeant Katy Chaney.

Katy began her journey with Durham Constabulary in 1992, having joined as a cadet at the age of 16.

She was posted to Bishop Auckland for two years before working in Spennymoor as a response officer. She then branched out into detective roles in CID and Safeguarding in South Durham.

After 15 years out of uniform she went back to her roots in response policing in South Durham when the pandemic hit.

Her last few years have been spent in the multi-agency safeguarding hub (MASH) at Newton Aycliffe who work to protect and identify vulnerable children and adults who may be at risk of harm or who need the help of support services.

Katy and her team also helped implement a new Clare's/Sarah's Law case management system. The system helps safeguard individuals at risk of domestic abuse and safeguards children providing guardians and carers with information about who has access and contact with the child. The team won a national award for the roll out of the system in force.

She said: “The police is not only a job but a way of life. During my 30 years’ service I have met some incredible people including my husband Stuart and made friends for life."

Her advice to colleagues is to work together, not as one, take time to help each other and remember why you joined the job - to help people.

Katy now plans to enjoy some much-needed family time.

Thank you, Katy, for 30 years of remarkable service. You’ll be greatly missed, but we wish you all the happiness in this exciting new chapter of your life.