Fallen officers remembered at COPS service

29 July 2024

Derbyshire Police Federation chair Keith Chambers joined the families of fallen officers at the annual Care of Police Survivors (COPS) Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on Sunday.

Keith was attending one of his first events as branch chair, having only taken up the post six days earlier.

“I have never attended the COPS remembrance service before,” said Keith, “I found it a moving ceremony and I was particularly struck by the fact that the service is all about those families who have lost a police officer. They are placed front and centre, just as it should be.

“There were chief officers there, representatives of other policing organisations and civic dignitaries, but the most important guests of all were the fallen officers’ families.

“It was clear how critical COPS is in terms of offering peer support and helping families rebuild their lives in the wake of the tragic loss of a loved one.

“Those who have experienced the loss of a police officer in the past are committed to being there for those who follow, supporting officers’ families and helping them pick up the pieces.”

Derbyshire Chief Constable Rachel Swann also attended the service while Assistant Chief Constable Michelle Shooter joined other cyclists from the Force as part of the East Midlands Chapter of the Police Unity Tour (PUT).

Riders from forces across England and Wales set off from their home force areas on Friday and rode first to Drayton Manor in Staffordshire on Saturday to be greeted by the families of fallen officers.

Derbyshire families

They then cycled to the arboretum on Sunday morning, led by the Blue Knights - the world’s largest law enforcement motorcycle club, for the last leg of their journey and ahead of the service of remembrance.

The family of Derbyshire PC Bruce Stevenson who died on duty at Cotton Lane Police Station on 7 January 2013, and Angela Morgan, partner of Derbyshire PC Gary Freeman who died in a car accident on 19 August 1994, were among the families to gather for the service.

Gill Marshall, COPS president, opened the service. A police widow herself, she recalled her daughters were just two and four when her husband, Alan, died and explained that she knew first-hand the value of COPS, which she called a fantastic charity.

Sarah Doyle, whose husband Merseyside PC Neil Doyle died 10 years ago, recalled how the couple had only been married a short time when he died after being assaulted while off duty. She said she immediately knew life would never be the same again, admitting that part of her heart had died with Neil.

While it had taken her a few years to get involved with COPS, she spoke movingly of how the friendship of other police widows had helped her and urged police survivors to seek the charity’s support. 

“You will never look back. They help you to rebuild your shattered life,” she said.

Friday would have been the couple’s 10^th wedding anniversary and Sarah had decided to mark the poignant date by joining the PUT.

Roll of honour

Charlotte Kellaway, daughter of DI Ian Kellaway who died of Covid in April 2020 having contracted the virus while on duty, shared her story of grieving for her father and also praised the way in which COPS had helped.

After Charlotte’s reading, Gill Marshall read the roll of honour featuring the names of officers who had died since last year’s COPS service. They were:

Sergeant Graham Saville of Nottinghamshire Police who died on 29 August 2023

Sergeant Paul Frear of West Midlands Police who died on 22 September 2023

PC Jack Cummings of West Yorkshire Police who died on 19 May 2024, and

Acting Sergeant Reece Buckenham of Hertfordshire Constabulary who died on 29 June 2024.

The roll of honour also included British Transport Police Property Officer Mark Birch who died on 12 October 2020.

A minute’s silence followed and then wreaths were laid by for the Office of the Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire, the High Sheriff’s Office, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the College of Policing, the Blue Knights, the Police Unity Tour, the National Memorial Arboretum and COPS.

The final reading was by Greg Briggs, brother of Merseyside PC Paul Briggs, who died in 2017. He talked about his brother’s life of service, first to the Army and then to policing and welcomed the unwavering dedication of COPS to look after police survivors, saying he would be forever grateful to the charity.

Sir Peter Fahy, chair of COPS, closed the service, acknowledging that every year police officers will lose their lives on duty.

“COPS is there to support their families, not just in the immediate aftermath but in the years and years ahead,” said Sir Peter.

The service included music from the West Midlands Police Brass Band and, for the first time, vocal performances by Superintendent Sam Batey, a band member.

After the service, families and other guests made their way to The Beat, an avenue of trees dedicated to individual forces and officers to lay wreaths and single red roses.

At the Derbyshire tree, Angela Morgan praised the work of COPS and thanked those who had taken part in the Police Unity Tour.

READ MORE: Police Unity Tour: Highlight of policing year.