Who are our local police officers, and what do they deal with day-to-day?

We've teamed up with North Yorkshire Police to introduce you to some of their officers. This semi-regular series will help you get to know them a little better.

This week.. Sgt Wesley Cooper

Where do you work and what is your patch like?

I have just started a new role as a custody sergeant based at York, but also covering the other custody areas within the force.  My role involves the booking in process of people arrested, and then ensuring that investigations are progressed expeditiously in accordance with legal requirement.

Prior to that, I have spent my career both in York and Leeds on response teams, the latest working within York City Centre dealing with the daily demand of call handling.

York is a fantastic area to work in. It remains very popular worldwide as a tourist destination, whilst becoming increasing popular for the night time economy, alongside popular universities. 

What’s the best thing about your job?

No day is the same within my job, particularly from the response side. The team working is like no other organisation I have worked in. I work, and have worked, with some dedicated individuals who pull together as a team. My team were on duty for a lot of the initial flood reports over Christmas. I was proud to manage such a team with the work ethic they displayed, in helping people at such a difficult time, with some members of the team affected themselves by the flooding, but remained on duty.

I have had some fantastic memories from my job, in particular working the entire route of the Yorkshire Grand Depart of the Tour De France in 2014 following the cyclists. The public support over those two days towards the emergency services was fantastic.

What was your first arrest?

My first arrest in North Yorkshire Police was drugs-related having found a cannabis set-up within a house. The occupier was arrested for cannabis cultivation.

And your most recent arrest?

My last arrest was for a drink-related matter within the city centre, where I arrested a man for drunk and disorderly who was displaying aggressive, and abusive behaviour within the city centre.

Can you tell us about a funny incident that’s happened when you were on duty?

A number that are probably not for print in a family newspaper!

However, I do recall from my previous force working with a colleague who shall remain nameless. We attended a domestic incident between a mother and daughter where it was agreed that the daughter would leave the address for the night to let things calm down. The police gave her a lift to a hotel with some overnight belongings. 

My colleague then returned with three bins bags which, at the time, we believed contained  the belongings of the daughter.

Upon arrival at the hotel, it was pointed out by the lady that, in fact, the officer had collected the weekly rubbish!

What one message would you most like to get across to the public?

I would stress that it is a small minority of society who commit crime or engage in anti-social behaviour. I would reassure the public that North Yorkshire, and York in general, are not only a safe place to visit, but to live.  The public can be assured that we value their input, and any information they are able to provide is vital to assist the police in tackling local issues.

The ongoing work within the city centre in particular is ensuring that York remains a safe and popular tourist destination, and that any of the small minority that wish to visit York whilst engaging in anti-social behaviour or criminal acts, will be dealt with. The likely outcome will probably mean meeting myself, or one of the other custody sergeants, in custody.