Chesterfield special constable proposes after passing out ceremony

Special Constable Owen Palfreyman popped the question to his partner of two-and-a-half years, Jess Goodman, in front of his fellow volunteer police officers at the attestation ceremony.

Owen, who is a full-time carer to Jess, decided the attestation was the perfect place to get down on one knee but wasn’t sure exactly how it was going to go.

The 22-year-old from Chesterfield said: “I made up my mind a month ago that I was going to do it on the day of the attestation. “However, I still hadn’t made my mind up exactly where it was going to happen until just before I did it.

“It went absolutely perfectly.”

Owen previously worked as a barman at Beach Bar and Groove in Chesterfield until doctors diagnosed 23-year-old Jess with supraventricular tachycardia - a serious heart condition that means Jess’s heart rate can suddenly increase causing her to faint.

Owen, who lives in Chesterfield, said: “I had to leave my job to become a full time carer for Jess. It’s been a massive lifestyle change for us both – for instance Jess can’t take a shower any more so I have wash her hair for her now.

“It has made a massive different to our day-to-day lives but it is a decision I would make again in a heartbeat.”

Owen’s eventual aim is to become a full-time police officer as Jess’s condition is tackled with medication – but is looking forward to starting his role as a Special and find out what the job demands.

He said: “The hope now is that the SVT is controlled with drugs that allow Jess to go back to work and I will be able to hopefully start as a full-time police officer.

“I’m really looking forward to learning about the job and serving at Clay Cross with the rest of the team.”

Owen and Jess were congratulated by the other 16 Special Constables and their family and friends who were celebrating their attestation at Derbyshire police’s headquarters on Tuesday, July 17.

After completing an 11-week training course, the specials took their oaths and were presented with a course certificate and their warrant card.

Assistant Chief Constable Paul Gibson said: “Becoming a special constable brings with it the promise of being involved in something exciting, worthwhile and making a real difference in the local community as well as having the chance to learn new skills.

“They have been put through their paces by the training team and their unique skills have served them well and will continue to help them in their policing careers. I have no doubt they will make a significant contribution to policing in Derbyshire.

“I would also like to say a huge congratulations to both Owen and Jess. On behalf of the whole force I wish you both a lifetime of happiness. I’m sure, Owen, you will make both a brilliant member of our policing team as well as a fantastic husband.”

Special constables are volunteer police officers. They have the same police powers, uniforms and equipment as regular police officers but give their free time on a voluntary basis, organising their busy personal lives, day jobs and other commitments around police duties.