Sergeant Martin Bull and his wife Toni-Lee Bull are leaving Balclutha to pursue new lives in Nelson.
Sgt Bull’s last day was yesterday, while Mrs Bull will stay on in Balclutha until their home is sold.Sgt Bull said he would miss the community and volunteering spirit evident in the Clutha district.
"Everyone sort of gets stuck-in and helps each other."
His time in South Otago was "very enjoyable" working with professional police officers who were passionate about what they do.
"They work some long hours getting the job done but they do it in a calm professional manner."
There were quite a few memorable events from his time in the area, including a time when two "young fellas" found themselves in need of rescue from an old mine shaft at Kaitangata.
A lack of oxygen in the underground shaft meant one of the duo passed out and emergency services had to work together to get him out and provide medical assistance.
"That was pretty intense."
Originally from Horowhenua, he joined the police in 1992. His first posting was to Horowhenua. He moved to Balclutha in 2006.He worked there until 2011, when he returned to Horowhenua for family reasons.
He returned to Balclutha in 2013 and has worked there since.
However, it was time for something new and his move to Nelson was for a new job as a family violence co-ordinator with the Ministry of Social Development.
It would be "something new and something different", but still similar to his current role.
"I’ll still know what I’m doing, hopefully."
He was looking forward to the new job and hoped to get involved with rugby again there.
"I haven’t been able to play for a while . . . so I might go back into golden-oldies."
