Kelvin Shipp devoted more than 40 years of his life to public service, first joining the force as a Special Constable in November 1981 and then as a full-time regular serving officer in June 1991.
Throughout his career, he served in a wide range of roles, most recently as a Response and Patrol Team Inspector in Portsmouth until his retirement in March 2022.
The 62-year-old from Southsea has also provided his skills and experience to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the United Nations by joining international policing deployments to Iraq and South Sudan.
He was even awarded a commendation by the Chief Constable for bravery after coming to the aid of a UN colleague who was confronted by a hostile crowd in South Sudan.
Kelvin also took part in many European Union Police Services Training courses and exercises, which took him across the continent before returning home to feedback and valuable insights into the force.
In 2019 he assisted with the D-Day 75-anniversary event, which saw the Queen and leaders from across the world, including the American President, visit Portsmouth to honour veterans.
His enthusiasm for policing never waned and he gained a reputation as an inspiring leader by supporting younger colleagues with mentoring and advice, passing his knowledge on to the next generation of policing as he reached the end of a career spanning four decades.
Even in retirement, he has continued to support the National Association of Retired Police Officers with his passion for safeguarding the history of the police and his dedication to preserving the memory of fallen police colleagues.
Reflecting on this honour, Kelvin said: “I had absolutely no idea I was being nominated for this honour, so to find out about this after my retirement was very humbling. It’s a tremendous honour.
“I have been so lucky in my career to see so many places but Portsmouth is my spiritual policing home really as I have spent half my career there.
“I do miss it. I was privileged to have an amazing career and I would say to anyone considering a career in policing to give it a go.
“I’ve met many incredible people and had some quite interesting experiences and if I had the chance I would do it all again.”
Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney said: “Kelvin devoted his working life to policing and served the public with distinction.
His commitment and dedication to varied roles across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, as well as abroad, earned him a reputation as a highly respected and trusted officer with extraordinary drive and enthusiasm.
“Throughout his career in front-line policing, Kelvin showed great leadership, determination and courage of many types. I am delighted that he has been recognised for his 40 years of exemplary service.”
