Reason
A few years ago I dealt with the rape case of a 16-year-old student I will call “Jade.” I took her victim statement and interviewed and arrested the offender, who was found guilty following a District Court trial. I got to know Jade and her family quite well during the six months.
I must have told Jade I played golf. That Christmas she left me a fantastic Christmas card at the station. She told me how I had turned her life around and how she and her family would never forget me. With the card was a packet of four recycled golf balls, tees and ball markers from the Warehouse. I was well aware that the small cost would have been a big part of Jade’s Christmas present budget.
I was very moved and rang Jade and her mother up and told them how special they made me feel. I kept that card and have read it from time to time to remind myself why we do this job. To this day, it is the first story I think of when I think of what it means to be a detective.
I played golf with those recycled golf balls the next time I went out and broke 95 for the first time ever. Sadly, I am still a hopeless golfer, coming right down the Police golf champs list.