Craig Semple is a former police officer and career detective, who worked in Hay in the mid-nineties during the formative years of his professional career.

He has written a book, The Cop Who Fell to Earth, and the resounding consensus in the Grazier office is that it is a must-read.

Arriving in Hay a trainee detective, a fresh faced and wild 24-year-old, during the three years he was stationed in Hay, his life did a complete 180.

“Not only did I arrive in Hay a single, when a murder occurred in Hay, as a trainee detective, I was thrown in the deep end, and learnt my trade through experience, it was like learning to swim.

“In the bigger city areas, you have the sup port of other detectives, and the cushion of their years of experience to fall back on, but it was just me out there, I was it.

"There was no time to second guess myself, no time for nervous ness and fear of failure.

"Important things, an investigation had to be done, and done well.

“Hay taught me so much, and I am forever fond of the experiences, learning, and lifelong friendships I made in Hay.

“Hay really shaped who I was, as a person and in my career. I came to Hay a little wild, with a big city attitude.

“The beauty of a small town is that you can’t get away with anything, and someone will always tap you on the shoulder and pull you up, and provide really good guidance.

“I learnt a lot of self-reliance in Hay, I talk about my transformation in Hay at every talk I give.”

From his early days in Hay, Craig went on to sniff crime out like a bloodhound, progressing through the ranks of the police force and leading teams in high stakes operations involving bikie gangs, jail murders, domestic violence murders and drug murders.

The journey of his career was a tightrope walk between work and family life, and it all inevitably took its toll.

Craig’s eventual retirement from the police force was a result of his own personal battle with workplace psychological injury.

From that lived experience he has developed a rare personal insight into the causes, symptoms, treatment, recovery strategies and the impact of mental illness in the workplace.

Craig is a fully accredited Instructor for the delivery of Mental Health First Aid training, and an expert in creating mentally healthy and resilient workplaces.

He is justifiably proud of his own progress and growth.

He pays it forward, imparting his own journey, and the knowledge he has gained through his own personal experiences and battles.

He has used his experiences to processes of dealing with mental health issues to actively help others.

He is the founding director of Mentality Plus, through which he has developed and delivered mental health, wellbeing and resilience education to thousands of people all over Australia.

He is a master instructor with Mental Health First Aid Australia and an ambassador for the Black Dog Institute.

More than 30,000 people have benefited from Craig’s positive presentations. In 2016 Craig was selected as an inaugural mentor for the NSW Police Legacy program Backup for Life.

He has used his unique experience to help develop this program which is providing sup port to injured Police Officers and their families.

Craig was selected because of his positive message and established ability to overcome adversity.

He is considered a role model for injured Police transitioning into the next phase of their lives.

Combining his skills in leadership, effective communication, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution and risk management with a lived experience of recovery from workplace psychological injury, Craig provides real, practical mental health training for staff and leaders.

Craig says The Cop That Fell to Earth was written in four drafts, and when he goes back and reflects on earlier drafts, he can identify his progress as a writer.

“When I first started writing, it was hard language, and clinical, with much police jargon,” he recalled.

“As the book progressed through various stages, and as I progressed in my recovery, it began to soften, and evolve.

“It was such a long time of personal growth and skill development.

"I had so much fear of putting my story out there in a public form, when I made the choice initially, I did not worry about it. But once it all became real, the contract was signed, I became nervous.

“I was worried about judgement, of me and the effect it may have on my family.

“My publisher was and always has been in credibly supportive, as has my partner, and the book has been well received.”

Craig was prompted by his mental health professional to begin writing his story, as a tool.

“Not only did I arrive in Hay a single, when a murder occurred in Hay, as a trainee detective, I was thrown in the deep end, and learnt my trade through experience, it was like learning to swim.”

“It was quite a cathartic process, a way to un pack all that I had been through and begin to put it behind me,” Craig recalled.

“But, as it kept on going, I had so much to get out, that it became a five-year writing journey.

"I realised that perhaps getting my story out to an audience could help others, show others from a perspective of someone who has been through trauma and issues, that you can find the way back with hard work and hope.”

He has been approached to start writing in a fiction format, and is considering the concept.

We at the Grazier are hoping that he will in deed bring out more both fiction and nonfiction works.

“The Cop Who Fell to Earth was, in its early form, 600 pages long, and I was told that I would have to condense it,” Craig said.

“So, I have many more stories that I have written but not yet published.

"Throughout my career, I have been transferred to just about every part of New South Wales.

“As it happened, as soon as I arrived in a new area, something major would happen. Thus, there are a lot of stories.”

He is in the middle of writing a second book. This next book is focused on the practical techniques that served him well through his own personal struggles and journey with mental health.

The practical techniques include sensory observations, meditative mindfulness and ways to reduce stress, including word art, which he cites as a tool which also helped him with his descriptive skills in writing.

“There are many clinical self-help books out there dedicated to the topic,” Craig said.

“However, there aren’t a lot out there dedicated to the consumer’s point of view.

“People need to know that they are not alone, and that there is belief and hope out there.

“The strategies which pulled me through may not work for everyone, but you will find what works for you.”

His self-help book is projected to be released in October 2024.

The Cop Who Fell to Earth is the best book I have read in a very long time.

Reading his in tensely personal story of profound growth through exposure to extreme life events was flooring, and not quite like anything I’ve read before. His story is entertaining, real, and with exceptionally valuable messages inside.

Call into the Riverine Grazier to grab your copy today.

You will not regret it.