A Deputy Chief Constable has finished his final shift for West Yorkshire Police.
DCC Jawaid Akhtar finished a career spanning over 30 years on January 5 by spending his last shift working alongside his son, Mohsin.
The Pakistan-born DCC has been with West Yorkshire Police throughout his career, serving mainly on the Western side of the county. He quickly rose through the ranks to become one of the most senior currently serving BME officers in the country.
Primarily based in his hometown of Huddersfield, DCC Akhtar also served in Bradford as detective sergeant in 1988, before leaving the area to return 15 years later as chief Superintendent for Bradford South.
He said: “I am extremely proud to have served West Yorkshire’s communities for almost 32 years. The challenges and the way police have changed vastly in that period, but I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here.”
DCC Akhtar has led a number of high profile cases throughout the years, including the Stephen Griffiths, also known as the Crossbow Cannibal murder investigation.
He was also part of West Yorkshire Police’s investigation around retention of human tissue samples, which was part of a national review involving all Forces.
Mark Gilmore, Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police, said “I want to pay tribute to Jawaid Akhtar for the very significant and selfless contribution he has made to West Yorkshire Police, to our communities and to British Policing for almost 32 years. He has been a cornerstone of this organisation and gave me, as Chief Constable, invaluable support after I took up post in early 2013.
“Jawaid has devoted his career to serving the communities of West Yorkshire and I am proud and privileged to have worked alongside him. His depth of knowledge, integrity, sound advice and ability to challenge issues in a positive and robust way have been a real asset to West Yorkshire Police and indeed the British Police Service.
He added: “I would like to join with all colleagues in wishing Jawaid every success for his retirement. I know he will be greatly missed, not only by his Chief Officer Team colleagues, but also, I suspect, across the organisation.”
Mark Burns-Williamson, Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire, said: “I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with Jawaid for many years, particularly following his appointment as an Assistant Chief Constable back in 2004. It will seem strange not having Jawaid around West Yorkshire Police, but he has clearly earned a successful retirement after nearly 32 years dedicated service to WYP and the public of West Yorkshire.
“I wish him and his family all the best for the future and pass on my sincere thanks for his contributions locally and nationally. It is fantastic that he was able to join his son Mohsin on patrol during his last working day where it all started for him in Huddersfield…clearly his legacy will live on.”
