Looking back with pride

'I started off as an office boy'

Dubai "I am the first member in my family to join the police force and I am so proud to be part of this organisation," he said on the occasion of serving over 40 years with Dubai Police.

Major Khamis Ali Al Mazroui, director of the military personnel reinforcement division, which is part of the Dubai anti-riot police department of the General Department of Organisations Protective Security and Emergency, joined Dubai Police at the age of 14.

He started off as an office boy delivering documents at the traffic department of Dubai Police. Within six months he underwent military training and with determination climbed up his career ladder to become a trainer at the academy. "Hardly anyone in the early 1960s and 1970s completed their schooling. I dropped out of the 7th grade to join the police force just like many people at the time. Most of the people in the military training were within the age group of 16-18 years old," he said.

He started off with a 250 rupees salary, which was enough to help him establish a family at the age of 18. "Back in the old days, our basic salary helped us through all the demands of life. We lived as a community," said the father of nine children.

He was a coach in infantry and weapons usage and he had senior officials right now train under his supervision, according to him.

Now his division takes part in many high profile events such as the recent launch of Burj Khalifa. His team was also involved in combating rioting, in particular, amongst workers.

"The most vicious riot I took part in controlling was four years ago. A protest by more than 2,000 workers … It got really violent as they were vandalising vehicles. We drew up a plan and were able to control the crowd within hours," he said.

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