Leading Senior Constable Mireylees, affectionately and universally known as Fletch,  started his career with the New South Wales Police Force in 1996.

After completing three months of training at the NSW Police Academy in Goulburn, SC Mireylees began his career at Nowra Police Station on December 20, 1996.

He remained in Nowra for 32 years until his retirement on November 15, 2018.

During his time in Nowra, SC Mireylees performed duties with the highly trained Operational Support Group and State Protection Support Unit.  

Throughout his career, SC Mireylees received numerous awards, including several Commander's Commendations and Region Commander Unit Citations.  

Well respected by his peers, his experience and sense of humour will be sorely missed.

In a fitting farewell SC Mireylees, accompanied by his wife Jo, was piped out of the Nowra station by a bagpiper, with his fellow officers forming a guard of honour.

Reflecting on his career SC Mireylees said he was grateful of the support he received.

"I am grateful I have been able to work with a great bunch of people over the years who have supported my career,” he said.

“I truly consider them all to be lifelong friends.

“Policing is a challenging career but the good times far outweigh the bad."   

As for a highlight he said just doing his job within the community.

“It allowed me to get into many different places that you can’t normally go to,” he said.

“It was great to work alongside the tactical guys for 20 odd years, the different personalities and the different sense of humours.”

He has certainly seen some changes in his time in the force.

“The technological change has been amazing,” he said.

“When I first started we used telex machines and all our reports were written on a typewriter.

“Now it’s all computerised, we even have computers in ours cars - that’s been amazing to see.

“I remember people standing at the station’s front desk to make a report smoking. There was often burn marks on the counter.

“I’ve been lucky to meet some great friends both in and out of the force.”

As well as being well-known for his police role, he has also been a regular in local rugby and touch football circles and often took the field in the police’s twilight cricket team.

And the big question - how did he get the nickname Fletch.

“When I first started Ron AKhurst was a senior constable and it was a trend to give people funny nicknames - he always adapted your middle name - mine was Fletcher - hence Fletch.

“And it stuck!”