Adam Bough

How did CLS get you ready for the world of work?

I suppose the number one thing was discipline. In the 80s (and I suspect before) the old school corridors would often ring out with the sound of a booming master’s voice for sub standard behaviour or uniform or other perceived slight. At the time it didn’t really occur to me that those values rubbed off on me.

What was your first job?

My first job was as a baker for Sainsburys, I always loved cooking & my Saturday job turned into a FT job for 6 years whilst I figured out my aim in life. I ended up being a departmental manager & it gave me good experience in managing staff, budgets and the public.l but I knew I wanted a more fulfilling and definitely more exciting job. I subsequently joined the Metropolitan Police in 1991.

Your biggest professional achievement?

In 35 years of policing I’ve experienced almost every possible aspect of the role. I’ve arrested murderers, comforted people in their final moments, located missing persons, protected heads of state (inc Nelson Mandela – very nice chat!) and saved lives when people were at their most vulnerable. I’ve entered burning buildings, been shot at, stabbed, and injured more times than I care to remember. Ive attended terrorist incidents throughout the 1990s and in July 2005; I’ve also lost far too many colleagues and friends to vehicle accidents, violence and suicide.

When I first joined, my ambition was simple: to become an Area Car driver. I achieved that goal but in hindsight, my greatest professional achievement isn’t a role or an incident. The real achievement is that after 35 years of risk, loss and trauma. I’m still standing…….And what’s more bizarre, I’d do it again.

Your most challenging professional moment?

In August 2007, shortly after emigrating to South Australia, I was involved in the detention of a mentally ill man south of Adelaide who had absconded from hospital. The man, who was about 150kg, 6’ 3”, broke free from police & I, along with other officers, pursued him and brought him to the ground and restrained him. During a prolonged struggle, he was handcuffed, then collapsed and subsequently died.

Following the incident, all involved were subject of a major crime investigation. I was interviewed on numerous occasions and became the focus of significant media scrutiny. For the three years it took for the coronial inquiry to conclude, I lived under sustained uncertainty, during which I was forced to seriously reflect on my career and life choices. When it goes wrong in the police, it can go wrong very quickly and very seriously.

What inspires and motivates you at work?

The opportunity to make a genuine difference in people’s lives, often at their most vulnerable moments. Policing gives me a clear sense of purpose, protecting the public, supporting victims and upholding the law with fairness & integrity. I’m also motivated by the responsibility that comes with my role & by working alongside and managing colleagues who are committed, resilient and professional under the most difficult and sometimes traumatic circumstances. What motivates me is performing effectively in high pressure situations. Policing requires clear thinking and restraint, often in volatile circumstances and I take satisfaction in maintaining professionalism when it matters most.

One piece of advice for pupils and other Old Citizens about getting into your profession

Don’t be put off by what others think. In today’s SM world there are plenty of armchair experts on policing, often with little understanding of the realities & complexities of the job. If you’re motivated by service, integrity and making a difference, focus on that rather than the outside noise. This job is genuinely like no other, no two days are the same. The rewards are high, certainly not financially speaking but in the difference you make.

^{All sorts of things are handed in. Including stolen snakes}

_{Adam had the opportunity to work in APY lands in the far north of South Australia.A short 4 hour flight to work, 200+ km from the nearest back up working in the Aboriginal ancestral lands.}