Community & Business
18 October, 2024
Sgt Willett retires
After nine years as Clifton’s Officer in Charge and 34 years as a police officer, Sergeant Bruce Willett handed in his badge and gun on Tuesday, his career celebrated at a morning tea held at the Clifton Police Station.
Sgt Willett’s retirement coincided with his 60th birthday, the age of retirement for Queensland police officers.
He was joined by fellow Clifton residents, police officers, friends and families for the morning tea.
Fellow Clifton police officer Tyson Morris, who has worked alongside Sgt Willett since he joined the station eight and a half years ago, farewelled his mate and colleague.
Senior Constable Morris said working with Bruce had been a once in a lifetime opportunity.
“I don’t have a mate like Bruce in or out of the force,” Snr Constable Morris said.
He said Bruce has shown real leadership in bringing the Clifton community together over the past nine years.
Acting Superintendent Scott Stahlhut and Inspector Kelly Hanlen from Warwick also congratulated Sgt Willett on his decorated career and dedicated service to the community.
Clifton’s retired fire captain Peter McKenzie also spoke, highlighting the strong cooperation that exists between the police and fire service and the value of Bruce Willett to the community.
The life of a police officer, with the demands of shift work and needing to be on-call, are difficult in the city, let alone in a small town with very few police officers to call upon.
There are many missed Christmases, birthdays and other important family events.
Sgt Willett has had the tremendous support of wife Louise and sons Sam and Mick.
Mrs Willett said she was always reassured by Bruce sending her texts during the night, letting her know he was safe.
“I won’t miss being on call all the time,” Mrs Willett said.
“He’s given up a lot to serve his community.”
Bruce also had the opportunity to speak, thanking his family and the many police officers who helped shape him in his early career.
He also thanked Tyson Morris and Clifton Police administration officer Belinda Kindelan, who has returned to the station after taking long service leave at the start of this year.
Bruce Willett said remarkably he and Tyson had never had a fight in the years they have worked together.
Having previously worked as a shearer, Bruce Willett joined the police academy on 28 May 1990, graduating later that year and beginning life as a
police officer at Broadbeach Station.
However, he was destined to head out west.
“My heart was always in the bush,” he said.
Over the next two decades, he worked at stations all across Queensland including Mount Isa, Karumba, Camooweal, Mornington Island, Hervey Bay, Richmond and Cloncurry, Warwick and Wallangarra.
Bruce became the Clifton Station Officer in Charge on 9 November, 2015, taking over from Guy Smidt (now retired himself), who was in attendance at the retirement ceremony.
Bruce had also served as a police union representative.
