FROM tragedies to triumphs, recently retired police inspector Gary Koschel has seen it all.
But 41 years in the force is enough time on the clock for the long-serving policeman.
On his final day of service on July 17, he was greeted by an old friend — a cage truck he once drove, which was now owned by NSW Historic Patrol Vehicles.
It was a fitting farewell for Mr Koschel, 60, of Mortdale, who wrapped up his career at Kings Cross police station, where he was based for the past eight years.
He was a young lad when he was recruited from Finley in country NSW.
The fresh-to-the-force graduate was sent to Redfern, arguably the toughest command in the state, in 1972.
Mr Koschel went on to work at several Sydney regions, including Kogarah, Miranda and at Bankstown's crash investigations unit, where he stayed for 10 years, until 1998.
He was the road planner for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and worked in regional enforcement squads (formerly known as target action groups) at Bass Hill and St George.
At Kings Cross, he was proactive in pushing for better transport management in response to pub and club lock-outs.
"The lock-outs have been successful but it's a big wheel that's slowly turning," he said.
"We invite people to go to the city, dump them in there but when it's coming-home time, they can't get home."
Mr Koschel was involved in major operations including the 1977 Granville train derailment, the 1991 Strathfield massacre, the 2003 Waterfall train disaster and the Belanglo State Forest murder investigation.
"You have a lot of harrowing experiences in the force," he said.
"There are very morbid things . . . but you counsel yourself to release the pressure and focus on getting the job done.
"But even when you separate it from your own life, you still think about it.
"I've also had my fair share of blues, street brawls, knives pulled on me in the 70s and 80s, shot at in 1973 at Redfern rail yards.
"What am I most proud of? Surviving. But I tried not to play that in my mind."
But there are better memories too.
"Decisions were tougher and it wasn't easy to get bail — those were the good times," he said.
"And the people — they make the job what it is. You can be their friend but still be their boss.
"Mixing with people from different organisations who are all putting their noses to the grind, fighting and working together to achieve a common goal.
"It's been a long run you know but it's time to let the young ones have a turn."