Snr Const Jory started an extended period of leave on Thursday before officially retiring in early January next year.

Colleagues gathered at the Nowra Police Station for a special morning tea to farewell the popular member.

While there was plenty of banter about his "wit, humour, quirky ways" and some "fun gifts" there was also a feeling of respect - with words like loyalty, professionalism and integrity bandied around.

As always the joker, "all things that are true," Snr Constable Jory said.

"Thank you one and all - I deserve it.

"Next year I'll be tickling 60, so it's time."

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South Coast Police District Commander Superintendent Greg Moore said he was "honoured to say a few words on behalf of the district".

"Since I have come here, you have really welcomed me and educated me to all things fail to pay and pay before you pump etc," he said.

"The work Fingers does behind the scenes is fantastic. Sure he has a bit of a joke but he's got such good systems out there.

"I have to mention the great work he has done over the years with the Jerringa Aboriginal community - they still rave about him out there and the good relationship that exists - it wasn't always that way.

"It's only through his personality shining through the blue uniform he was able to get the confidence of the community.

"I thank you for your professionalism, support, friendship and also your efforts as a human being. It's often tough in the cops but you come in, have a joke, a laugh and break the ice, settling everything down."

South Coast Police District Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Scott Nelson, on behalf of colleagues in the Crime Prevention Unit, said Snr Const Jory would be missed.

"Fingers has been a stalwart of the CPU over the past few years," Det Insp Nelson said.

"Prior to that he was a lone man at Culburra. You do a lot for the command and the whole command will miss you.

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"While you have your quirky ways, you also have loyalty and integrity in bucket loads."

Snr Const Jory joined the police force "later in life", at age 39.

In his previous life he was a cabinet maker, [a very bad cabinet maker he tells us] and he suffered an injury where one of his fingers was cut off.

"I was told by the insurance company I was totally disabled," he said.

"I thought the police would be exciting, something to do.

"My brother [Robert] actually wanted to do it too - I did it first and he followed a couple of years later."

All his service has been on the South Coast and in particular the Shoalhaven.

"I started in general duties in Nowra, had a short stint in the Target Action Group (TAG) and then went to Culburra to fill in for a month or so and ended up staying a month shy of 10 years," he said.

He then moved back into Nowra and took up a role in the Crime Prevention Unit.

"The South Coast and Shoalhaven have been my whole career," he said.

"Been lots of fun times, lots of funny stories, I can't share many as it may incriminate people."

He says policing has changed dramatically.

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"Heaps of changes - in the old days we'd just drive along in the car... now legislation has changed allowing us to do different things, the police have been re-engineered and gone from a police service to police force, from Shoalhaven to the South Coast Police District," he said.

"The cars have changed, the way we do things have changed. But I've always enjoyed my role, especially at Culburra, and community policing. I think that's the best model.

"Crime prevention is not just going out and giving a message, I believe it's helping the general duties police, reducing their workloads which gives them more time out on streets, preventing more crime."

He's known universally wherever he goes, constantly getting shouts of "Fingers".

"Even had it in Sydney," he laughed. "Had someone yell out 'Fingers' in Sydney.

"It's all usually favourable, which is good.

"People come up and have a chat all the time, show me their kids. The problem I have is remembering who they are."

For the past six and half years, Fingers has been the man behind the popular weekly column "On The Beat", where as the Shoalhaven crime prevention officer, he has provided hints on a variety of subjects and brought to the public's attention along the coast various issues, scams or incidents that are occurring.

He has produced 280 columns, each, as he puts it, is "an award winning article ...Pulitzer worthy even" .

"A highlight for me has been doing those 280 "On The Beat" columns - pull that up on Google and you can have a few chuckles hopefully," he said.

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How's it feel to be leaving?

"I don't know yet - it feels good I suppose - I didn't set the alarm today for tomorrow morning so that's a start. We'll see how it goes.

"I have to learn to be a retiree. I have plenty of things to do - work on the house, my garden, and I'm building a caravan, and clean up my shed.

"And, of course, there are the grandkids they keep us busy."

And for one last time Fingers couldn't help himself - he sent a reminder to all South Coast residents to "please lock your cars, keep your valuables safe, and please report any suspicious incidents to police."

Snr Const Jory will be officially piped into retirement with another function in January next year.