He can laugh about some of the crimes he has had to deal with and recalls when some criminals planning a ram-raid robbery slashed the police car tyres as well as the tyres on his private vehicle for good measure.
"Road fatalities have been a hard part of the job - when it is someone you have known, it does haunt you," he said.
"You develop a very black sense of humour, and that is what helps you to cope."
Mr Rook also credits wife Cheryl for helping to keep him sane in the job.
"I know there were times when she wasn't sure if I would be coming home, or whether she was going to see two police officers walking up the drive to give the dreaded message that all police officers' spouses live in fear of," he said.
"She is also the one that I have had to take my frustrations out on when I got home from incidents that have really pissed me off - and there have been a few."
Fellow police officers who have worked in Waverley were mentioned and he gave a special salute to Bryan Ragg, or "Raggy" as he is known.
"He was the epitome of the 'old copper' - fair but firm.
"Well done, Bryan, you are a legend."
Mr Rook worked as a meat inspector in his hometown of Patea before he joined the police force at age 37.
He will still be active in the Waverley and Patea communities as a community board member, Lions club member and with the voluntary Community Patrol group, which he says has been a huge success.
"Along with the security cameras around town, the Community Patrol have been very successful in helping us keep the lid on disorder and crime in Waverley."
Mr Rook plans to retire to the beach house at Waiinu that he and Cheryl have been renovating, spend more time with their children and grandchildren, do some fishing, play golf and maybe get a part-time job.