Stephen Jones, known to his family and many of those around him as Steve or “Jonesy”, dedicated much of his life to caring for and helping other people.

Before joining Northumbria Police, Steve worked as a nurse, beginning a career of public service that would ultimately span decades. He joined Northumbria Police in October 1988 and served with Newcastle North as PC 148, completing his full 30 years of service before retiring in March 2013.

The man behind the uniform

Policing became a huge part of Steve’s life, but behind the uniform he was so much more than a police officer. He was a husband, a Dad and a Grandpa, as well as a hugely supportive friend.

To his family, Steve was the heart of their home. He was a kind and loving husband who brought laughter and happiness into family life, an unwaveringly supportive Dad, and a fiercely kind man who went out of his way to help other people.

That kindness was reflected in the kind of police officer Steve was too. He was proud to wear the uniform, fair to those he dealt with and deeply caring towards victims. He was tenacious in pursuit and a staunch colleague who could be relied upon, always ready around the corner when someone needed backup. He was rarely off sick and always seemed to be available for overtime.

Away from policing, Steve had a deep love of the outdoors. To his friends, he brought knowledge, experience and energy to every mountain trip and hike, and he shared many adventures with them on the fells.

He was also an accomplished musician who loved playing the guitar and played in a number of bands during his younger years. On his wedding day, Steve sang and played Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight” to his new wife.

Perhaps less obviously to those who first met him, Steve was also a huge heavy rock fan. It was a passion that immediately connected him with other members of his very first police shift, and together they travelled to gigs across the country.

Cricket was another important part of Steve’s life. He was a keen cricketer who played for a number of teams over the years, but spent many years playing for Mitford Cricket Club, where he found his place and became affectionately known as “Papa J”.

To his friends, Steve was a gentleman, one of the good guys, and someone who left behind a lifetime of unforgettable adventures.

A lifetime of helping others

Throughout both nursing and policing, looking after other people came naturally to Steve. His family remember a man whose life was centred around helping others, whether as a nurse, medic, police officer, friend or member of his family.

Like many officers who spend decades dealing with situations most people will thankfully never encounter, however, Steve’s service came at a personal cost.

In August 2007, while still serving, he suffered a serious mental breakdown. He returned to office-based duties in November of that year and was fully operational again by January 2008.

Steve continued serving and eventually completed his career, but retirement did not bring the relief that his family had hoped it would.

Away from the demands and structure of policing, he struggled with the experiences he had accumulated throughout his career and with the transition to a very different way of life. There were things he had witnessed during his service which, in his own words, “couldn’t be unseen”.

His family were subsequently advised by the coroner that Steve had been suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of his policing career.

In December 2016, three years after retiring from Northumbria Police, Steve took his own life. He had been missing for four days before he was found following a search involving Northumbria Police and Northumberland Mountain Rescue Team.

More than the circumstances of his death

As Steve’s family explain:

“As a family, we have tried not to let the nature of Stephen’s death define him or us as a family. But behind every statistic about suicide and mental health is a policing family like ours, navigating trauma that began at work and ended at home. Our story is a reminder that organisational culture can shape outcomes far beyond the workplace.”

Steve’s story is one of decades spent caring for people. From nursing to policing, from being there for his friends to being a husband, Dad and Grandpa, he spent much of his life supporting others.

His family hope that sharing his story can also help improve understanding of the lasting effect a career in policing can have on an individual, including after the uniform has been taken off for the final time. Retirement does not necessarily mean that the experiences accumulated over a policing career disappear with it, and Steve’s story is an important reminder that support for those who have served should not simply end when their service does.

The places Steve loved

Following his death, Steve’s family scattered his ashes in small batches across some of his special places in Northumberland and the Lake District.

There was one place they sadly could not manage: Selhurst Park.

Steve was a lifelong Crystal Palace supporter, so much so that when he worked matches involving Palace at St James’ Park, he would wear his Crystal Palace shirt underneath his police uniform.

One small box of Steve’s ashes remained, with plans for them to be scattered from the top of Blencathra. In a sad and ironic twist, the car carrying them was broken into and the box containing Steve’s ashes was stolen.

It is the stories and memories from across Steve’s life that show the person behind the uniform: the nurse who cared for others before becoming a police officer, the proud PC who colleagues knew would be there when they needed backup, the musician who played “Wonderful Tonight” to his wife on their wedding day, the heavy rock fan, the cricketer known as Papa J, the Palace supporter, and the friend who brought knowledge and energy to countless adventures in the mountains.

Above all, Steve was a much-loved husband, Dad and Grandpa, a loyal friend and colleague, and a fiercely kind man who spent so much of his life caring for other people.