A TOP cop has gone back on the beat for one last time - with a 150-mile trek to mark his retirement.
David Coleman steps down as Chief Constable next month after more than three decades with the force.
Traditionally, departing chief constables make a low-key tour of their stations to bid goodbye to colleagues.
But Mr Coleman is doing it the hard way with his Chief on the Beat challenge - walking to each station and collecting sponsorship for five local charities along the way. Over the coming weeks he will walk a route starting at Glossop in the north west of the county and ending up at Swadlincote in the south.
Throughout the walk - which began on Friday - Mr Coleman will be accompanied by his driver, Graham MacDonald, and staff officer Tracy Harrison. Colleagues and public figures will be invited to join them for sections of the trek.
The group hope to raise £150,000 for Peak District Mountain Rescue, Derbyshire Community Foundation, Derbyshire Association for the Blind, Sporting Futures and Umbrella.
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Chief beats final retreat
August 25, 2007
Derbyshire Chief Constable David Coleman (centre) on his walk around the County's Police Stations before he retires
Showing comments 1 to 8 and replies | View All
ace, manchester (25/08/2007 at 12:01)
ace, manchester (25/08/2007 at 12:27)
The Voice of Reason, Manchester (25/08/2007 at 23:32)
Many thanks for your totally inept.undeserving and ludicrous comments. If you ever manage to raise this amount of money for charity please let me know. I will gladly contribute, hopefully being involved in such a event will keep you off the internet!
ace, manchester (26/08/2007 at 15:58)
Where i live in east manchester we dont have many mountains? but it would be nice to see the odd policeman/woman on the beat,Its ok these police officers raising their public profile when they retire,He should have raised his profile while he was a serving police officer.Im sorry of you dont like my views on the subject but they are honest.I see lots of high ranking police officers talk about how bad the police force are understaffed Etc.but this is after they retire.
The Voice of Reason, Manchester (26/08/2007 at 20:54)
Just how do you argue 'honest comment' on the fact that a person who doesn't police or never had responsibility for East Manchester, is some way to blame for the lack on police in your area. It is as ludicrous as suggesting that a Doctor or Dentist from that area is somehow responsible for the lack of health care in our area.
Your views are normally on the mark, but you are well off target on this matter, give the guy a break, in fact take a bus ride and join him on the walk, raise your own profile!
Oh, just for your information, Cheshire has no mountains nor will it have unless the UK is subject to another ice age, maybe sooner rather than later judging by the climate change we are experiencing!
ace, manchester (27/08/2007 at 14:24)
Im not blaming him direct,What im trying to point out is why do these coppers always tell people what the problems are with the police force after they retire and not while they are in the job.worried about rocking the boat is the answer.why cant these police ifficers be honest and tell the public that they are having problems.What would have been wrong with him doing the same walk ten years ago? rather than now.Hes telling everybody "Look im retiring now " So listen to me im collecting for a charity......
Lizz (27/08/2007 at 19:12)
The Voice of Reason, Manchester (28/08/2007 at 01:04)
I'll look out for this cop as he passes me on Clayton Vale, okay maybe not then, but if he raises 150k for charity, I won't get too upset!