Constable Tom Taylor's son, Probationary Constable Edsel Taylor (31), graduated from Police College last week and starts his new job in Greymouth on Monday.
Edsel Taylor has had several different jobs, working in China as an English teacher, at Finegand freezing works in Balclutha and on farms during the off-season.
However, becoming a police officer had always been at the back of his mind.
When he was 11, he announced he wanted to join the force because his father was a policeman.
When he grew up, his reason changed to a desire to contribute to the community and have a bit of stability.
''Basically getting paid to help people was the ideal job.''
Const Taylor said there were challenges during his training which reminded him of his first year of studying at university - except there was more support at police college to help him through it.
''If you're at university, you're struggling alone. When you're struggling at police college, there's someone there.''
Const Tom Taylor (64) said he advised his son to focus on the task at hand and tick off each milestone as it arrived.
''If you look at it as a whole, it's pretty daunting.''
''I know what it's like going through college. I take my hat off to him.''
Const Taylor sen, who has been a policeman for 20 years, said it was great that his son had finished college and was on his way to starting his own career.
Brought up in Balclutha, Const Taylor jun was not sure if he would ever apply to work there.
''They ask you where you want to go. My answer was 'anywhere but Auckland'.''
He will start in Greymouth, after asking to be stationed in the South Island. His wife, Elaine Wang (28), would keep living in Balclutha, as she was pregnant, he said.
