Throwback Thursday: Chris’s Journey from Winstanley to the GMP Firearms Unit

This week’s Throwback Thursday features former Winstanley student Chris Bullock, who studied with us from 1998 to 2000 before embarking on an impressive and longstanding career with Greater Manchester Police. With almost 24 years of service—including roles in frontline response, leadership, and now the Firearms Unit—Chris reflects on how Winstanley shaped his path, what he’s learned along the way, and the advice he has for today’s students.

Chris says:

“I went to Cansfield High School from 1993 to 1998, before joining Winstanley in the autumn of 1998. At College, I studied Psychology, Computing and Business—subjects that gave me a solid foundation for both higher education routes and employment.

After finishing College in 2000, I applied straight to Greater Manchester Police. The process took over a year, and I finally got my intake date in May 2002. I’ve been with GMP ever since.

I started out as a Police Constable in Salford, working on the frontline as a response officer. Later, I was promoted to Sergeant and stayed in Salford until 2015, when I joined the Firearms Unit. I’m now an Inspector within that same unit, and I’ve loved the challenge and variety the job has given me.

I’m approaching 24 years of service now, and although police officers can retire at 30 years, I won’t be sailing off into the sunset just yet. Over the years, I’ve gained additional qualifications—teaching, physical training, management and trauma lead—so I imagine I’ll move into one of those roles when the time comes. I want to keep my brain active.

To any future student thinking about coming to Winstanley: do it. It’s a brilliant college and everything is geared towards helping you succeed. My biggest regret is not throwing myself fully into everything that was available. The tutors were incredibly supportive, and Winstanley played a massive part in shaping my future. My son now feels exactly the same way about College.

I also met my two closest pals at Winstanley, and we’re still tight to this day. It’s not just about education; you grow up a lot, start to take real responsibility, and build friendships for life. I even met my future mother‑in‑law for the first time on my first day—she was the one who registered me! All roads lead back to Winstanley for me.”

“For anyone thinking of a career in Policing, I would absolutely recommend it. It’s a proper career, not just a job. There are countless specialisms—detective work, traffic, undercover roles, counter‑terrorism, and, like me, firearms. No two days are ever the same. You’ll experience incredible highs, though admittedly some lows too, but it’s unbelievably rewarding.”