Detective Superintendent Gordon Urquhart left Northern Constabulary last week after 34 years but not before receiving the prestigious Chief Constable’s Commendation for his commitment and dedication to Policing in the Highlands and Islands.
Gordon, 52, is the first officer under Chief Constable Ian Latimer’s tenure to receive the award upon retirement, with the honour usually reserved for officers who have put their lives at risk to protect our communities. Mr Latimer’s decision to mark his departure in this way clearly shows the high regard with which Gordon was held by the Force and the Chief Constable.
The Chief Constable commented: "I have great pleasure in awarding my commendation for exemplary leadership, an outstanding professional contribution to the development of crime investigation and management within Northern Constabulary and for his committed support of the Chief Constable throughout his tenure as the Head of Crime.
"Gordon was a valued colleague whose distinguished career commenced on the 28 April 1975 and concluded with his retirement on the 30th April 2009. I would like to wish him a very happy and healthy retirement."
Gordon is married to Anne, who is still a serving Police officer with Northern Constabulary and together they have a son and a daughter. He joined Northern through the cadet scheme on 19 August 1975 and was sworn in as a Police Constable on 24 April that year. The next few years saw him serve in Inverness, Kyle of Lochalsh, Beauly and Lerwick, which also saw him take on a role in the Traffic Department for a month.
He was promoted to Sergeant in May 1990 and assumed the role of Detective Sergeant at Lerwick, his second spell on the island. In November 1996 he won promotion to Inspector and remained on the island until 1998 when he returned to Inverness to take on the role of Detective Chief Inspector at Force HQ. In 2003 he was promoted to Head of Crime at Force HQ and the rank of Detective Superintendent. During this time he oversaw a large number of major, high profile inquiries and headed up the team which brought the successful prosecution of Michael Ross for the 1992 murder of Bangladeshi waiter Shamsuddin Mahmood in Orkney.
Gordon says he has thoroughly enjoyed his time with Northern Constabulary, saying:
"The 34 years seem like a lifetime. There have been highs and lows. The highs are probably pretty parochial, like solving any kind of crime.
"There have been lows but I have been fortunate to have worked with a terrific bunch of people who have turned the lows into challenges. By working as a team we have been able to work through things together. "For that reason I would not change a thing and I have enjoyed every minute of it. I was extremely honoured, as well as humbled, to receive a commendation from the Chief Constable when I officially retired last Friday. It meant the world to me and I will cherish it."
Gordon now plans to take some time out and enjoy one of his favourite pastimes of hillwalking.
He has been replaced as Head of Crime by an equally experienced officer in Detective Superintendent Ralph Noble and Gordon wished him all the best in his new role. He said: "Policing does not get any easier as the years go on, in fact there are more politics involved than ever before. However, in Ralph Noble the Force has appointed a highly experienced and capable individual who has got a good team there to work with and I wish him all the best of success in the future."
Chair: Jim Ferguson
