A special constable who fought pneumonia and had to learn to walk again celebrated 40 years of protecting the people of Dundee with a patrol of his Lochee beat.
Marshall Moyes, from Perthshire, was described “unique” after giving 40 years of his life in voluntary service to the police.
Now 64, Mr Moyes’ commitment saw him return to the police after he was admitted to hospital and put into a coma last year.
He said: “Last year I got pneumonia.
“I don’t know how. I thought I had the flu.
“They had to put me into a coma and I spent two months in intensive care like that.
“When I woke up again I couldn’t walk because of the muscle wastage and I had to learn how to walk again.”
He overcame his illness and despite only being able to walk again last Christmas he was soon back on the beat, where he was joined by Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Mawson, who said Mr Moyes’ commitment was “very unusual indeed”.
He said: “Forty years is a long time.
“Most regulars only do 30 years and the average special constable stays about 10 years.”
There are around 1,300 special constables in Scotland, and the role has changed a lot over the years. When he started Mr Moyes was issued with one second-hand blue shirt and three detachable collars.
He said: “It doesn’t feel like it has been 40 years, but it certainly has changed.
“In the early days a lot of specials said they were never really accepted by the regulars, but over the years I have developed relationships with so many officers.
“Nowadays being a special is normally seen as a career path into the main force so many officers started off as specials themselves.”
Mr Moyes has worked for a number of specialised police departments during his 40 years, including scenes of crime, which he said was the hardest.
He said: “Some of the incidents you go into with scenes of crime can be quite involved, like murders.
“You’ve got to try and divorce yourself from that as much as you can, but it is sometimes difficult.”
He proudly wears a medal ribbon signifying his years of long service, as well as two Queen’s jubilee medals.
Anyone who is interested in becoming a special police officer can find out more from their local police station or by visiting the Police Scotland website.