Welwyn Hatfield Policeman retires - and is back to work the next day

A POLICE sergeant who loves his job has retired only to start work again the very next day. Hatfield man Keith Dean has served 30 years with Herts Police and was set to officially retire – but under a special scheme he returned

A POLICE sergeant who loves his job has retired only to start work again the very next day.

Hatfield man Keith Dean has served 30 years with Herts Police and was set to officially retire - but under a special scheme he returned to work in the same role.

Keith - known as Deano to colleagues and criminals alike - has had an illustrious career including helping secure the conviction of a murderer and rapist and rescuing a woman from a house fire.

In 1986 Sgt Dean found a diary in Brookmans Park, when newly-married villager Anne Lock, 29, disappeared.

His discovery proved Mrs Lock had got off the train at Brookmans Park, placing her at the scene and upgrading the case from a missing person to a murder inquiry.

She was later found murdered and Sgt Dean gave evidence at the Old Bailey 14 years later when David Mulcahy, who faced trial for raping and murdering three women, seven more rapes and five counts of conspiracy to rape, was found guilty.

Mulcahy's partner-in-crime John Duffy, 41, had been jailed for life in 1988 for two other murders, but was cleared of the Anne Lock killing.

In 1983 Sgt Dean received a commendation from the Society for Protection of Life from Fire for rescuing an 89-year-old woman from a house fire in Marford Road in Wheathampstead with a member of the public.

Unfortunately she died a few days later.

Sgt Dean is currently working as Welwyn Hatfield Community Safety Sergeant.

For his comments, see this week's Welwyn & Hatfield Times.