1.
John SELLERS
21 The Briars
Leighswood Road
Aldridge
Walsall
WS9 8AQ
01922 453 238
07766 403 029
Born. Londonderry N.Ireland
23 Aug 1960
Present occupation West Midlands Police
Education 4 GCSEs [Maths, English, Art, Anatomy and physiology]
Employment history
1976 – 1988
Armed Forces : 1st Bn Royal Irish Rangers
5th Airborne Brigade [3 Para, 1 Para]
160 Parachute Police [Airborne]
1989 – 1990
Foreign and Commonwealth Office [Close protection team]
1990 – Present
West Midlands Police
Qualifications/courses
Infantry Section Commander
Communications Operator
Weapons Instructor [Small arms, Heavy MG, Support weapon systems]
Explosives and demolitions
Jungle/Arctic/Bush warfare
FIBUA tactics
Minor unit tactics instructor
Escape and Evasion
Sniper [basic]
Combat medic
Military Investigators course + Senior Investigators course [RMP]
Adventure training instructor [canoe, windsurf, water ski, rock climb and parachute]
Physical Training Instructor [PTI]
Close Protection Operative [Basic + Advanced]
2.
Escape and Evasion driving
Weapons instructor
Police advanced driver
Police Investigators course
Vulnerable witness/victim interview course
Basic + Advanced interview course [suspects]
Murder Investigation Course [incident room]
Investigation and management of serous crime course
Surveillance trained
Sergeant promotion examination passed
Inspector promotion examination passed
Summary
Military:
Extensive travel, USA, Middle East, Europe, Falklands, Africa, C.America. Training, weapons, explosives, tactics, communications, close protection duties, driving, command and control.
Police: Serious crime scene management and investigation, driving, surveillance, management, planning and execution of operations.
As a Detective Sergeant I have conducted the role of Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) for several Class C. murders, and have acted as deputy SIO for Class A and B category murders as well as shootings, kidnaps and other serious offences. These roles required me to manage resources, finances, briefings, investigations and search operations together with planning and monitoring of suspect and witness interviews.
During my service on the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) I have also supervised a team dealing with burglary and vehicle related matters. This involved the management of 7 Detectives including their duties and casework over two years. During this period I enabled this team to improve the stations detections by 75%. This raised the stations league position from second from bottom to a consistent top 5 spot among the 21 competing areas.
I have passed my Inspectors examination process and in consequence performed the role of Acting Detective Inspector. This required the management of 30 Detectives split into 5 teams. Through effective leadership and good management this team performed effectively in the investigation into serious crime in an environment considered the most hostile, in policing terms in the whole force.
3.
Service with the Foreign Office involved the close protection of British Ambassadors in category A posts in Beirut, Kampala, Khartoum as well as several other theatres. I formed part of a CP team, responsible for the residence security as well as mobile and foot personal escort team. This entailed reconnaissance, planning, briefing, route security, action on drills, weapon selection and efficiency, emergency planning as well as evasive action drills and team selections.
I can remain calm and direct people effectively even in the most stressful of circumstances.
Throughout both my military and police careers I have approached all tasks with total enthusiasm and commitment and have acted with honesty, integrity and bravery when required. As a result I have on many occasions been commended by my senior officers both verbally and in the form of written commendations and citations.
I have constantly sought the most difficult and challenging of environments in which to work. In the military not content with an infantry unit I applied for and was selected to join the Parachute Regiment. An elite group in which I knew that I would be tested physically, mentally and in combat. Thereafter I volunteered for an investigators role in the armed forces which proved challenging in a different way and not content to stay and risk becoming stagnant in role I transferred to the Close Protection Team, without doubt one of the most challenging roles in the armed services. On leaving the military and joining the Police I was posted to Handsworth in Birmingham, a place synonymous with murders, shooting, gang activity and serious crime. Unlike many who on promotion are only too happy to leave what is considered a dangerous maelstrom I asked to be promoted in situ. In an environment where this was a rarity I was promoted at Handsworth and sought and gained a return into the CID. In this role I was able to evidence my leadership skills as I lead numerous teams to success after success in the investigation of both volume and serious crime.
I am a born enthusiast who approaches every task in a positive manner and who can be relied on to deliver despite difficulty and hardship. I am open and honest and would agree with some commentators that I wear my heart on my sleeve. What I offer is commitment, passion, a striving for excellence and the ability to deliver effective leadership or proactive followship in equal measure, and to understand the environment sufficiently to know which is required.
John SELLERS
