DCI John Caldwell has retired from the PSNI on medical grounds, less than two years after he suffered life-changing injuries in a New IRA shooting.
His early retirement came shortly after he was awarded the Kings Police Medal at Buckingham Palace last month.
The senior PSNI detective was shot and seriously injured by the New IRA in February 2023.
He spent several weeks in intensive care. Just last month he had said his “recovery was going well”.
But in a statement to UTV on Thursday, PSNI chief constable Jon Boutcher said: “We can confirm that as of 5th December 2024, Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell has retired from the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
“John was the subject of a cowardly and murderous attack in 2023 and we thank him for his bravery, commitment and service to the public.
“We wish him all the very best in the future.”
Mr Caldwell was awarded the King’s Police Medal for putting the lives of others before his own.
After attending a ceremony in London last month to receive the medal Mr Caldwell said: “I’m feeling very happy, feel very privileged, feel very honoured to be - firstly nominated - and then to receive such a very nice medal from the King.
“I’ve been impacted, obviously, the attack upon me: I was shot nine times. I’m still recovering from those injuries.
“But the recovery is going very well.
“That’s thanks to the medical teams and thanks to the support from family and friends and from my wife and my son.”
