Branch Chairperson, Chris Cronin has paid this tribute to Willie on behalf of his colleagues in Cork City and in the AGSI.
Sergeant William J. Gleeson 22582G will retire from An Garda Siochana on the 22nd November 2015. A Proud Tipperary man he hails from Terryglass in the north of the County but didn’t have to travel very far when he got the bus to Templemore in the month of April in 1982, and of the 766 Gardai that entered the College in that year he was to leave an indelible mark on policing. Care for the people he served, his Work in the Association of Garda Sergeant’s and Inspectors and the welfare of members during his 34-year career.His first Station was to be Cobh in County Cork and he was to serve his entire national career in the Rebel County. Internationally he served with the United Nations with great distinction in Croatia in 1996 and 1997, initially as team leader for six months based in Beli Manastir and then as Chief of Police of the Armed Special Operations Unit (ERU) where he designed police courses for a mixed team of 100 Serb and Croat Police Officers.Willie was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1992 and was sent fishing to Castletownbere and after mending some nets in that beautiful fishing port he landed back into the City where he served in Anglesea Street, Bridewell and Watercourse Road Stations until his notable appointment as Sergeant in Charge of Command and Control in 1998. In that position there was none to equal his brilliant command of the engine room. His ability to read an incident, highlight dangers to Gardai on the ground and give direction as if at the scene is second to none. His expertise was continually called upon for all major sporting and cultural events that were to take place in the City and most notably it was the Queens Visit where his finest hour was to be played out in that role.Willie Gleeson’s role in AGSI began in 1992 from the time of his promotion. From 1998 onwards he held officer positions as Secretary and Branch Chairman. He was elected to the National Executive in 2001 and has been a constant presence at the Phibsboro table since that time and he is the longest serving member on the National Executive of AGSI. During this period he held many different portfolios but was the Associations Treasurer from 2004 to 2010 and moved up a notch to Senior Vice President before landing the highest accolade of Election by his peers to be President of Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors in 2012.The greatest tribute in all his work for AGSI that one could pay to Willie was to say he did everything he could for anyone who had a need and while he represented the Cork City Branch and Munster Region he was truly a representative without boundaries and so he helped members right across the country. His phone is always on and if you had Willie on your side – the tide would be in your favour. Willie’s primary concern was always for the welfare of others and whether it was his work in Benevolent, Garda Medical Aid, Peer Support or Divisional Welfare Committee he always placed the member first.From An Garda Siochana’s point of view this was recognised by his Chief Superintendent and classmate Mick Finn when he congratulated Willie on his achievements in AGSI on his appointment as President.Willie was very involved in the Cork Garda Choir for many years and he has a love of music, sport, and just going for a gentle walk.His final Station from where he will retire is Blackrock in Cork City and as he will step out the door on nights for the last time on the 21st November 2015 but he really can be proud that he served all people all of the time to the best of his ability.So to Willie, Carol and his daughters Louise, Michelle and Emma we wish you all that is Good in the world – because – “Good things happen to Good People so, Good Man Willie!”Willie’s Retirement Party is in the Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork on Friday 13th November 2015 at 8pmWillie Gleeson’s Career
A remarkable career on the frontline and as a voice for Sergeants and Inspectors.Sergeant Willie GleesonFrom: CorkStationed: Sergeant-in-charge, Unit C, Blackrock, CorkService:- Joined An Garda Síochána April 1982
- Cobh Garda Station October 1982 (temporary transfer to Portlaoise Prison)
- McCurtain St. Garda Station June 1984
- Promoted Sergeant and transferred to Castletownbere February 1992
- Anglesea St. Garda Station June 1993
- Bridewell Garda Station July 1993
- Watercourse Rd. Garda Station September 1993
- Deployed with the United Nations to the former Yugoslavia May 1996
- Anglesea St. May 1997 (temporary transfer to Shannon for President Bush visit June 2004)
- Deployed as Sergeant in charge Cork Command and Control Centre October 1998
- Blackrock Garda Station June 2013
- Retire from An Garda Síochána November 2015
- AGSI National Executive Committee March 2001 – November 2015
- Honorary Treasurer 2004 – 2010
- Senior Vice President 2012
- President 2012 – 2013
- Vice President 2014 – 2015
- Vice Chairman Garda Benevolent Trust Fund 2001 – 2010
- Board of Management Garda Benevolent Trust Fund 2013 – 2015
- Board of Management St. Paul’s Garda Medical Aid Society 2008 – 2013
- Founding member and National Committee 24/7 Front Line Services Alliance from 2009
- AGSI Cork City Divisional Committee March 1998 – November 2015
- Chairman 2001 – 2004, and 2010 – 2015
- Secretary 2004 – 2010
- Cork City Employee Assistance Committee
- Cork City Divisional Catering Committee
- Current Vice president and former President & current and longest serving member of the National Executive of the Association of the Garda Sergeants and Inspectors continuously since 2001
- Current board of Management of the Garda Benevolent Trust Fund
- Current Chairman of Cork City Branch of the Association of Garda Sergeants & Inspectors also Chairman from 2001 to 2004
- Current Sergeant on Cork City Garda Employee Assistance Committee
- Current Sergeant in charge of Cork City Garda Divisional Catering committee
- Member of Cork City Garda Project board on Computer Aided Dispatch
- United Nations Veteran and member of the Irish United Nations Veterans’ Association.
- Member of Cork City Garda Project board on Strategic study of Garda Stations
- Especially chosen by my authorities as Sergeant in charge of the Emergency Command Centre for the visit of the HRH Queen Elizabeth II to Cork in May 2011
- Founding member and National Committee of the 24/7 Front Line Services Alliance from 2009
- Especially chosen by my authorities (temporarily transferred from Cork to Shannon) as Sergeant in charge of the Emergency Command Centre for the visit of U.S President George Bush to Shannon and Dromoland in 2004
- Vice Chairman and Board of Management of the Garda Benevolent Trust fund from 2001 to 2010 – Company Director of Raheny House Retirement Home
- Board of Management of St. Paul’s Garda Medical Aid Society 2008 to 2013
- Honorary Treasurer of the Association of Garda Sergeants & Inspectors from 2004 to 2010, Company Director of Garda News Limited
- Secretary of the Cork City Branch of the Association of Garda Sergeants & Inspectors from 2004 to 2010
- Former Safety Officer and P.R.O of the South Cork Steam and Vintage Club
- Former Chairman and member of the Cork Garda Male Voice Choir
- Music, The Theatre, Walking, Cycling, Swimming, Chess, DIY and Sport in general
