Retired Garda Jon says it was a privilege to serve

Some snapshots of Jon's Garda life.

For anyone who thinks a career as a Garda is an uncomplicated straight-line life choice, talking to Jon Brien, recently retired from his final posting in Kilcullen after 30 years' service, will completely change that idea, writes Brian Byrne. 

Most local people will know him as the Community Garda serving out of Kilcullen for the past seven years, where he was a familiar figure at many public events and in schools and meetings of various community and sports organisations. He was never known to be without a smile in all his interactions with people. At AGMs of Text Alert, crime and safety talks, speaking with TY students about life choices, he was informative, reassuring, and, above all, empathetic to people's concerns and needs.

Originally from Lucan, Jon’s first station assignment was as a probationary guard in Donnybrook in Dublin. “Then I went to Ronanstown in Clondalkin for a couple of years. After that, I spent some time in Blanchardstown before moving on to the Crime Task Force.” He spent five years as a detective garda with the Criminal Assets Bureau before transferring to the Kildare area, where he spent a year working out of Celbridge Garda Station. “I went then to Leixlip, where I worked as a Criminal Intelligence Officer for five years, before coming out to Naas ten years ago.” After three years in Naas, he transferred to Kilcullen as a Community Garda. 

When I talked with Jon, it was clear that he had enjoyed all the different facets of the job over the years. His time in criminal intelligence involved studying crime patterns within the county, watching for trends, and watching the kind of inter-regional criminal gangs operating there. “That was very good, and it was a very structured kind of work that I enjoyed.” But anyone who came into contact with Jon over his final seven years will be very aware that he likes to be out and about with the people he serves, which is why he eventually moved out of what was desk-based analytical work, taking a transfer to Naas and, later, Kilcullen. 

Highlights from his three decades as a guard include working during the Special Olympics in 2003, which he remembers as a particularly nice time. "And I always liked how the country portrayed itself when we had state visits and things like that, they were always very proud times.” His best memories of recent years include working with young people and doing school talks. “In particular, the Transition Year programme that I’ve been doing for the last five years, bringing young students in to see what guards do on a daily basis.”

One reaction to that part of his work was interest expressed in a career as a garda, which he says he could honestly recommend based on his own experience. "It has been very good to me over the past 30 years. You have to look at it in balance, of course. There are some very sad times when, as a guard, you have to deal with families when there has been something like a bereavement. It can be extremely tough. But everybody who joins the job does it because they want to try and help people. That's where we get our satisfaction, and that's what it's all about. I like to think I served the people during my years, and I've been privileged to be in that position."

The variety he describes in the job gets the young people's attention. "Apart from what I have done myself, there are other areas. The Air Support Unit and the Underwater Unit, for example. All these jobs are advertised, and if you have a flair for any of them, you apply, get assessed, and if you're suitable, you go on and progress. You can go sideways through the force, or you can take promotions and go upwards as well if you have leadership qualities. It all depends on what you want."

He also mentions other training opportunities. "I took the driving course and the motorcycle course and got my minibus licence on the job as well. So I've met quite a few young people in the TY programme who become very interested when they see the diversity in the job and its value in the community."

Jon's wife, Lorraine, hails from Newbridge, which is what initially brought him to County Kildare. They have three children, and moved to Crookstown about 20 years ago after a short time living in Kilcullen. "I wouldn't change it for the world. It's a great place to raise children, and there's a fantastic community spirit in South Kildare and Kilcullen. I couldn't have picked a better place to live and work."

Jon may have left the job. But that means he'll have more time to do what he loves best, being part of his community.

This article was originally published in The Kildare Nationalist.

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