Hemel cop crowned Police Community Support Officer of the year

PCSO Daniel McManus, from the Hemel North, Rural, West and Central Safer Neighbourhood Team, was chosen as the winner at the Chief Constable’s awards after being nominated by three colleagues.

Daniel, who looks after the Boxmoor and Chaulden wards, has been praised for his dedication to local policing since joining the force in September 2006.

Colleagues describe him as a team player with a great work ethic, and say he is always willing to go the extra mile.

One of Daniel’s career highlights includes being instrumental in setting up and running Dacorum’s Police scheme, which has been in place since September 2018.

Ten primary schools have already benefited from the eight-week course and there is a waiting list of others wanting to take part.

Daniel, who joined the force when he was 28, put together bespoke lesson plans to include an input on water safety from Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and arranged the children’s final reward week to involve a fire station visit, a presentation from forensic crime scene officers and input from volunteers on the RAPPAW* scheme.

He also set up the Dacorum Mini Police Facebook page, which is regularly updated with news and photos from the team’s latest courses.

Speaking after being presented with his award, PCSO McManus said: “I would like to thank my colleague and two sergeants who all nominated me for this prestigious award.

“I have worked with a number of very hard working colleagues and partners at Hertfordshire Constabulary and it is a pleasure to serve all the people that live, work and enjoy Boxmoor, Chaulden and Hemel Hempstead as a whole.”

Sergeant Karen Mellor, who was one of three people who nominated the PCSO, said: “Daniel is everything you could wish for in an officer. He’s professional and hard-working, with a fierce motivation to provide the best service to residents, partners and businesses within his ward and a result they all know who their local officer is.

Daniel has been previously nominated for the annual Frank Mason Memorial Award, a prestigious accolade bestowed to a different Dacorum officer each year who mirrors late PC Mason’s qualities of dedication, professionalism and selflessness in protecting the community.