Police from across the state descended on Bundaberg Station today to farewell Bundaberg Patrol Group Chief Inspector Grant Marcus, who is stepping into a well-earned retirement after 38 years with the Queensland Police Service.
Chief Inspector Marcus signed up as a police recruit when he was 21 years old after dreaming of becoming an officer throughout his childhood. He first walked into the academy 38 years ago to the day, before settling in Bundaberg almost 30 years ago.
“I always wanted to be a police officer. I remember playing in the playground in primary school and you’d pretend to be somebody, more often than not I would pretend to be a police officer.”
He says it’s still hard to believe this chapter of his life is coming to an end, and there’s a lot of mixed emotions.
“A bit of sadness there but generally speaking, I’m feeling quite excited. I’ve been doing it for quite a long time, It’s very much a part of who I am as a person but like they say, all good things must come to an end.”
From fatal crashes to natural disasters, the Chief has been a leading force in the response to countless unfolding incidents over the decades.
“Definitely the floods in 2013 would be the most memorable. We were heavily involved in that response and Bundaberg was literally torn apart by that flooding and subsequent tornadoes. The good work from not just all emergency services but also the community coming around each other was just tremendous.”
Chief Inspector Marcus is encouraging anyone considering a career in policing to sign up, saying it’s one of the most rewarding experiences of his life.
“It’s an exciting job. So much can happen in any given day and it can be challenging, but you’re always giving back to the community and that’s a really good feeling. And the camaraderie within the organisation is fantastic, there’s a reason we call it a police family.”
As for what’s next, the Chief Inspector is excited to start ticking off some items on an extensive travel bucket list.
“We’ve got a daughter who’s married that’s over in London and our son is living with his girlfriend in Sydney, so they might see a bit more of their parents now that Dad’s retired and got a bit more time. A trip is already booked to Western Australia too.”
And there will be plenty of time for his favourite hobby…
“I just love the game of pickleball, I’ve become hooked. I’m really looking forward to having a few more hits every week.”
