Now 45, and with more than two decades of policing behind him, Sgt Millard remains as committed as ever to making a difference in Derby.
“No shift is ever the same and a typical day doesn’t exist,” he said. “But do I love my job? Yes, I do. And is there still a lot to do? Yes, there really is.”
For the past ten years, Sgt Millard has helped lead the Derby City Safer Neighbourhood Team, working alongside Sgt Jonathon Sharp and a dedicated team of officers to tackle crime, anti-social behaviour and the issues that matter most to people living, working and visiting the city.
Preventing and detecting crime is a major part of the role, but Sgt Millard says successful neighbourhood policing is also about being visible, building trust and working closely with local partners.
He said: “To succeed, we must embed ourselves in the heart of the community and build relationships with everyone.
“But we can’t do it on our own, and that is why partners like Derby’s Business Improvement Districts, their Rangers, Derby City Council and Derbion play such a vital role in what we do.
“It is a team effort, and we work extremely closely with a whole list of agencies to keep crime at a minimum and tackle issues such as drugs and anti-social behaviour.
“We are dedicated to maintaining a professional footprint in the city and pride ourselves on the visible presence we provide in Derby. We know that helps deter anti-social behaviour and brings peace of mind to shop owners and the general public.”
Between March and May this year, Sgt Millard and his team made 278 arrests in Derby city centre, seized 13 weapons and recovered 50 illegal e-bikes and scooters.
During the same period, officers arrested people for dealing mamba and crack cocaine, seized stock from illegal perfume sellers and dealt with incidents involving class A drugs, bladed articles, mobile phones and drug-related equipment.
In another operation, the team made arrests at a brothel and seized suspected anabolic steroids and cannabis.
Sgt Millard said targeted patrols, a mixture of plain-clothed and high-visibility officers, and close partnership working are all helping to make a difference.
“Every city has its challenges, but I know that extra patrols see incidents of anti-social behaviour drop and our targeting patrols have had great results,” he said.
“Our patrols have resulted in offenders being taken off the street and drugs and weapons being seized. The successful Shopwatch scheme, which promotes communication between retailers and local police, has also reported a reduction in robberies and thefts from city centre businesses.
“My team are the absolute best, and everyone works their hardest to make a positive impact in Derby. We collaborate with other partners to respond to rough sleeping and anti-social behaviour, but our focus on neighbourhood regeneration in the city is key.”
One of the changes Sgt Millard campaigned for was moving the Derby City Safer Neighbourhood Team back into the city centre.
He says being based in the heart of Derby has made a real difference, allowing officers to respond quickly to incidents, carry out patrols and take part in covert operations within minutes.
“This is what we all love,” he said. “Being out and talking to people, building relationships and focusing on delivering targeted support.
“Of course, days can be enormously tough, and I can list a whole host of really difficult days, but that’s when we lean on each other and our families for support.
“For me, I go home to my wife and four kids, and I throw myself into family life. I also go to the gym and kickbox to switch off.
“But when I’m in my uniform, you’ll see a police officer with a smile on his face wanting to help people and do his very best for this city.”
Sgt Millard says his message to those involved in crime and anti-social behaviour is clear.
“I have always wanted to make a difference in Derby and we are certainly working hard to bring down crime,” he said.
“I want to be clear that activity such as drug offences, anti-social behaviour and thefts are not welcome here.
“We can’t be everywhere, but we try our hardest to target and bring to justice those who cause the most harm. We also listen to the concerns of the public and make sure that, together, we look at long-term problem solving for issues that affect communities the most.”
Brad Worley, BID Manager for Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter, said Sgt Millard and the Derby City Safer Neighbourhood Team play a vital role in supporting businesses across the city.
He said: “Sergeant Jamie Millard is a huge support to us and the businesses across the city.
“We work closely with the Derby City Safer Neighbourhood Team and they do an amazing job to help keep our city safe.
“People like Sgt Millard deserve to be recognised for the work they do because, like many of us, he wants to make Derby a better place.”