29 July 2024

Police Family Remembers fallen colleagues at COPS Weekend

There was emotion and humour as police officers who have died on duty were remembered by their family and friends at the Care of Police Survivors (COPS) Annual Service of Remembrance.

Surviving family members and serving police officers gathered at the National Memorial Arboretum on Sunday July 28 to pay respects to officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

The service in Staffordshire – bathed in glorious sunshine – was attended by around 1,000 people.

Before the Service of Remembrance, The Police Unity Tour – hundreds of cyclists who had ridden from across the country to the Arboretum in memory of fallen officers – arrived. The cyclists raise money for the COPS charity.

James Dimmack, Chair of Dorset Police Federation, led the Dorset Chapter of the Unity Tour.

He said: “I’m hugely honoured to be here. I’ve been supporting the Dorset chapter, riding well over 200 miles through a plethora of different weather. But that’s shaded into insignificance when you hear the words spoken from survivors of fallen officers.

“There’s a lot of talk of family today and the family of officers who have fallen, and it’s been ridden by police officers who really are a family.

“It’s a really great opportunity for us to honour those people who’ve fallen doing a great job, and also to showcase what a great job police officers do and how we work together to make life better for others.

“Their legacy must live on, because everything we do is about them. Everything we do is about protecting others. We do that without fear or favour, for anyone in society, so we must remember them and put value in what we do. We understand how what we do makes a difference.”

All cyclists taking part in the Unity Tour rode on behalf of a fallen officer. James rode in memory of a David McPherson, from Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

James added: “We’re lucky in Dorset, we haven’t had many officers fall. But it’s important that every rider, every support staff has got the name of a fallen officer on their wrist and we hope it gives some level of comfort to those families that these people will never be forgotten. They will always be honoured and there’s a place in our hearts for them, always.

“It’s been a huge honour and these officers come and do this off their own back, using up their annual leave in the summer period in order to work really hard, but in order to showcase what a great profession we have and to remember those people who really are the best of us.”

Events took place all weekend for surviving family members.

During the 50-minute service on Sunday, survivors recalled their loss and how the charity had helped them in their time of need.

Speaking eloquently and emotionally were Sarah Doyle, wife of PC Neil Doyle, of Merseyside Police, Greg Briggs, brother of PC Paul Briggs, of Merseyside Police, and Charlotte Kellaway, daughter of Detective Inspector Ian Kellaway of The City of London Police.

The Roll of Honour for the police officers and who died on duty during the last 12 months was read out.

Those remembered this year were Police Property Officer Mark Birch, from the British Transport Police, Sgt Graham Saville, of Nottinghamshire Police, Sgt Paul Frear, of West Midlands Police, PC Jack Cummings, of West Yorkshire Police, and Acting Sgt Reece Buckenham, of Hertfordshire Police.

Also attending were the Blue Knights motorcyclists.