My journey to an Excel award

It seemed that Richard Lloyd's hopes of a new career in the police force were to be dashed by his stammer. But speech and language therapy has helped him succeed and win awards.

Richard Lloyd with his wife Sheila at the first Excel Award ceremony.

In 2008, I was badly hurt by one of the residents in the psychiatric home where I worked. I had to be rescued by officers from West Yorkshire Police. In fact, they grabbed me by my belt and yanked me out of the dangerous situation that I had found myself in.

They were my heroes, and so we got talking - they asking about my job and I about theirs. I'd worked in care homes for over 21 years. Two of the officers said that I should apply to be a Detention Officer, as they thought it would be something I could handle.

A Detention Officer? What was that? I asked. Basically, the police bring in people who have found themselves on the wrong side of the law for whatever reason. A Detention Officer takes their details, fingerprints them etc, puts them in a cell if need be and looks after them until they are released or have to go to court.

It sounded great and was just the challenge I had been longing for lately. But what about my stammer, I asked. No problems, I was told. You sound OK to us. And so I did. My stammer had been pretty much non-existent for a few months now; I was doing good!

So I applied and got invited to a questionnaire session. The maths I found hard work and struggled through. I did not take after my mother and sister when it came to arithmetic. When I met my wife outside, I said "Well, that's the last time I'll hear from them!" We went away on holiday and I put all thoughts about joining the police to the back of my mind.

Job interview

On arriving home after our Welsh break, a letter from West Yorkshire Police was waiting for me. Opening it, I expected it to say "Sorry but no thanks". It was nothing of the sort. In fact it was inviting me to an interview. I was so thrilled and couldn't wait for the day to arrive.

Dressed in my best suit, I met two people. One was an officer, and the other used to be but now worked in a civilian role. They were both very friendly and made me feel right at ease. My speech was OK. Not great but it was understandable. I asked if my speech would be a problem in the role, if accepted and was told "It's not like 'Life On Mars' anymore !" I would never forget those words.

A week or so later, my wife and I had come in from shopping when the phone rang. The caller was a lady that I would end up working with a few months later. She told me the job was mine and that I had to come in for a medical. She had to keep telling me the job was mine quite a few times as I struggled to believe her!

The day before my medical I decided to join my mother and some friends on a hike. Silly me. Daft idea. Walking through some thick undergrowth my knee went and in a scream of agony I fell to the ground. Could not move. It was hot and we were miles from a road and miles from anywhere. Luckily we had our mobiles and so an ambulance was called. We were told that an ambulance couldn't find us so a helicopter was coming for me. Great, I thought. My dream coming true. At long last a ride in a helicopter. Brilliant.

But the ambulance found me. It had seen our group in the distance, and having parked on the edge of the field had called off the helicopter. How unkind !!!

The 2 paramedics walked over to where I was laid, suffering now from sunstroke, and picked me up and carried me to the ambulance. My dreams dashed, I got into the ambulance and was taken to hospital. I had torn a ligament and was going to be out of action for some time. Just typical!!

The police recruiting people were great. No problems; they'd just re-arrange my medical. I said "No, I'll be there as planned". And I was - hobbling in on crutches I did all the tests, and it all went well. One thing they did have to re-arrange though was my starting date. I would have to train with another team, when my knee had properly healed.

Police training

In a way this worked out well, for the team that I joined at the end of October comprised some of the nicest people I have ever known. I still remain good friends with each and every one of them, and think I always will do.

Unfortunately, my stammer was beginning to get the better of me and it was beginning to panic the instructors. It was making people nervous and their nervousness was making me nervous, making my stammer even more difficult. In the 2nd week, concerns were being raised about my stammer. Questions were being asked about how I had got through the interview process. Time went on and a pattern emerged. Every few days I was pulled out of a lesson and had to face questions about my stammer. All this began to upset me and wreck the confidence that only a few weeks ago I had had tons of.

"Finally, on the last day of training I was pulled out of a training session and was told that my dream of becoming a Detention Officer was over."

Finally, on the last day of training I was pulled out of a training session and was told that my dream of becoming a Detention Officer was over. Those I had trained with were as devastated as I was, but one had lost his lapels and asked if he could have mine now that I would no longer be needing them! The ironic thing is that a few months later, he would leave the police and move away to work elsewhere.

Anyway, I was numb when told that I would now enter re-deployment where a more suitable role would be found for me, and if one was not found I would be unemployed.

Re-deployment

This was news I found difficult to go home and tell my wife. The look on her face upset me greatly. Were we going to lose our much loved home if a job could not be found for me? Why had I given up my care job? I had been much respected and had been promoted twice in my 21 plus years as a carer. I was good at my job. What had I done?! Re-deployment meant working behind a desk in Recruitment......what irony! The people there were so friendly and supportive. But everyone there knew that my morale was low and that office work was not for me. I was also worried about losing this job, I worked nights at my former care home so I had something to fall back on just in case.

Then just as I thought I'd be out on the street, the union came to my rescue. I had a chance to become a Detention Officer. It was going to be an uphill battle but the union were happy to fight for it if I still wanted to. I really had had the stuffing kicked out of me, but the union kept me strong. If it were not for them, I may well have fallen at the first hurdle.

They kept me going even in my darkest days, and pretty soon my disappointment at ending up in an office didn't bother me. The people there were a great crowd who were so kind to me. I made my role in Recruitment work for me, and over the 18 months there I made myself useful. So useful that I was given the alarm codes so I could open up on a morning and get the place ready for the day ahead. When there was no work for me in the office, I emailed other departments asking if they needed anything doing. Even if it meant chucking out rubbish or going shopping for someone, I didn't care. I just needed to be busy. I made great friends, many of whom I keep in touch with now, I was invited to the Christmas party, went to the circus, and was often picked to go away on recruitment drives, and actually assist in their operation. One day we even went to my youngest son's school which was fun for me and a shock for him!!

Speech and language therapy

Then Re-deployment told me that they had arranged a speech and language therapist for me. Dr. Trudy Stewart. I had known Trudy from a few years earlier when having a difficult spell with my speech, I had gone to her for assistance. She was brilliant then. She had so much patience and support, my confidence in myself had returned. I was confident when I heard her name mentioned that she would be brilliant again.

Things were beginning to move forward. Eventually, I was told that for a few hours each week, I was going to actually be in a Custody area. What joy! At long last! Hooray! I was so happy. These few hours gradually became longer and longer until I actually did a full shift.

Then, after what had been 18 long and scary months, I was back in the uniform of a West Yorkshire Police Detention Officer (I had had to order new lapels!). So many people had helped me make this dream finally come true. I know I had put the effort and determination in, but I had to thank so many people for actually getting me back into uniform.

Entering the Custody Suite for the very first time as a real D.O was so scary but the Sergeant and other Detention Officers immediately made me feel welcome and put me at ease. They were so very kind to me and helped me learn the job all over again. All that training in 2008 had long been forgotten. I was starting all over again. From scratch and these people were helping me. I just felt so lucky and so very happy. I had made it.

Awards

Receiving the first award.

Late last year, I discovered that I had been nominated for a Police Excel award. This was due to the fact that I had never given up in my quest to overcome the odds and finally make it as a Detention Officer. It was a very proud moment when, after listening to a wonderfully touching speech from my Chief Inspector, I walked up onto the stage to accept my award. The award reads: "For your determination and perseverance for delivering a challenging operational role with enthusiasm and professionalism whilst managing a difficult and restrictive speech impediment".

This was a very humbling experience, as there were officers there who were being awarded for their bravery and many other amazing things. It was an honour to be amongst them. I was also so very happy to have my wonderful wife, Sheila, there with me as well as my amazing speech therapist, Dr. Trudy Stewart. After all these two women had taken this journey with me and witnessed my every emotion. They had to be there with me.

This was not to be the only award that I was to be given. On 18th March this year, I was presented with an award: "For your determination which has seen you progress within your career regardless of your communication challenges. Upon your appointment to the role of Detention Officer, you immediately impressed everyone with your attitude, determination and enthusiasm". This ceremony was held at Saville's Hall, Leeds and was an incredible evening. My award was given to me by David Rathband, the brave policeman who had been blinded by the killer Raoul Moat. This was such a humbling experience as I felt that it should have been me giving him an award and not the other way around. He knew my name and it was an honour to shake his hand.

My Chief Inspector and my wife were there to see me get this award. If it were not for my Sgt (J. Mellor) and my Ch. Insp. (S. Millar), who have been absolutely amazing in their support, I doubt if I'd have ever been nominated for these wonderful awards. I am and will always be ever so grateful to them.

As for being a Detention Officer now, I've still a lot to learn. Been told I'm 90% there. That is not good enough for me; I want to be a 100% there. I want to be the best that I can be, and am determined to get there eventually. It is not the easiest of jobs. We work hard and it can be quite stressful at times. You always go home feeling that you've earned every penny. But along with the tense moments, there are also happy, fun times.

"The people that I work for and with are more than colleagues; they have become 'family."

I am so glad that I got there in the end. The people that I work for and with are more than colleagues; they have become 'family.

My speech still plays me up at times, some days more than others, but I've never met such caring and supportive people. They give me hope when I feel as if I have none. They enable me to carry on. So many now ask me about my stammer and show great interest in the techniques that my therapist Dr. Trudy Stewart has shown me.

I was injured recently and was stunned at the amount of people who went out of their way to make sure I was properly taken care of and got home safely. They've kept in touch with me throughout and I am amazed. I've never known such a caring organisation. I am proud to work for WEST YORKSHIRE POLICE.

richardlloydphotography.co.uk

Therapist's view

I was privileged to see Richard Lloyd receive his award for "determination and perseverance" from the West Yorkshire Police force. At the time I reflected on what an amazing journey he had been on. I remembered his elation at being successful at interview and then the devastation only weeks later when his hopes and dreams seemed shattered.

Richard has worked very hard, not only on his speech but on changing attitudes to stammering in those around him; from the drunks in the cells right up to the chief inspector.

Talking to colleagues at the award ceremony and watching them talk to Richard it was clear they respected Richard both personally and professionally. I asked one senior officer what it was that made Richard so successful in his role. She replied she had watched him at work, taking time to assess situations and go to where he was most needed. She added that in his interactions with others he showed "wonderful humanity."

It was clear that Richard had enabled those around him to let go of their negative misconceptions about stammering and see him as he really is.

Trudy Stewart, Consultant Speech & Language Therapist (dysfluency), Stammering Support Centre, Leeds Community Healthcare.

These are extended versions of articles in the Summer 2011 issue of Speaking Out, pages 10-11.