Husband and wife duo celebrate 40 years' service

We’d like to say a huge congratulations to PCSO Becky Heseltine and PC Karl Heseltine who were presented with their long service awards this week.

The husband-and-wife duo both joined the force in 2005 – Becky as a PCSO in Darlington, and Karl as a PC in Newton Aycliffe.

Becky has worked her entire career in Darlington, covering most of the wards in the town at different points. She currently covers Cockerton, Mowden, and the West End.

“I’ve met some amazing people along my journey, who work and volunteer in their communities,” she said.

“My favourite memory was when I arranged for the police helicopter to land on Heathfield Primary School field and around 500 kids were bouncing up and down and cheering with excitement. It was priceless!”

Karl transferred to the force from British Transport Police, starting off in Newton Aycliffe before moving to Bishop Auckland, then Darlington, and now works in the control room at police headquarters answering 999 and 101 calls.

In 2019, he and a colleague saved the life of a man who went into cardiac arrest while shopping in the Cornmill Centre, in Darlington.

Together they carried out CPR for over an hour alongside paramedics before the man was rushed to hospital for life-saving treatment.

Several weeks later, Karl and his colleague visited the man at his home in Darlington, where he was well on the road to recovery.

“That will live with me forever,” he said. “It was great to see him recover and how well he was doing afterwards.”

As well as celebrating their joint 20 years’ service together, the couple will also be celebrating their silver wedding anniversary later this year.

Congratulations guys!