‘His story didn’t end in that moment’: fallen Hertfordshire officer remembered at COPS Service of Remembrance

10 August 2026

The daughter of a fallen Hertfordshire police officer told this year’s COPS Service of Remembrance about the lasting impact of losing her father - and how his legacy ultimately inspired her to follow in his footsteps.

Detective Katie Hull was among those who spoke at the event, which took place on Sunday (9 August), at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, where she shared the story of her father, Police Constable Ronald Hull.

Ronald was killed while carrying out his duties in 1989 after being struck by a vehicle while attending a road traffic collision.

For Katie, who was just eight years old at the time, the events of that day would change her family forever.

Hertfordshire Constabulary's remembrance tree at the National
Memorial Arbotetum.

“My dad went to work that morning doing his job,” she told those gathered at the service. “Like so many officers remembered here today, he did not come home.”

Ronald had been called to a single-vehicle road traffic collision on a dual carriageway. While officers worked to close lanes and protect those involved, both were struck by a vehicle travelling at speed through the road closure.

Ronald was thrown into the air and suffered fatal injuries. A fellow officer, PC Neal Austin, also suffered serious injuries.

Katie recalled how her mother was told about the crash shortly before her children were due home from school.

Tragedy

At the time, Katie was eight, her brother James was seven and her brother Matthew was four.

“I remember being walked home by someone we didn't know, who later transpired to be the welfare officer,” she said, adding: “When we got to our house, there were police cars filling the driveway and people throughout the house.

“My mum had to tell us what had happened. I don’t know how she found the strength to do that.”

In the weeks following the tragedy, Katie’s mother was told that because Ronald had died on duty, his collar number would never be issued to another officer - unless one of his children chose to join the police.

“Challenge accepted,” said Katie, adding: “I was eight years old, and I decided I wanted to join the police."

Years later, that childhood ambition became reality.

At the age of 21, Katie joined the police and was initially issued with a different collar number. But she knew there was one number she wanted. She was eventually given her father’s number – 1375.

Collar number

“It wasn’t a normal number to me,” she said. “That’s the one I needed.”

Following Ronald’s death, Katie and her family were supported by COPS. Despite initially knowing very little about the charity, she said that her family has since benefited enormously from its support.

As a child, she remembered people visiting the family and trying to offer support, but there was something different about being surrounded by people who had experienced the same loss.

She said: “And that is why this charity, and the people who give their time, energy and compassion to make weekends like this happen, is so important.”

The COPS Service of Remembrance brings together families of fallen officers alongside members of the wider policing family to remember those who have died in the line of duty.

The service also marked the end of this year’s Police Unity Tour (PUT), a yearly three-day cycling challenge, which sees riders from across England and Wales set off from their home force areas on Friday to Drayton Manor in Staffordshire, where they are greeted by the families of fallen officers.

From there, they travelled to the arboretum on Sunday, led by the Blue Knights - the world’s largest law enforcement motorcycle club, as they completed the last leg of their journey ahead of the service.

Line of duty

Gill Marshall, COPS president, opened the service. Joanne Woodward, sister of South Wales Police Sergeant Mark Woodward, who died in a motorcycle accident in 2002, also shared her story.

After Joanne’s reading, Gill Marshall read the Roll of Honour - the names of officers who have died in the line of duty since last year’s service:

Police Constable Marcus Bennett, of Civil Nuclear Constabulary, who died on 30 January 2025
Police Constable Francis Hawkins, of Metropolitan Police, who died on 11 February 2025
Police Constable Ian Minett, of Gloucestershire Constabulary, who died on 21 June 2025
Police Constable Faizaan Najeeb, of Northamptonshire Police, who died on 26 September 2025
Police Constable Mathew Parker, of Essex Police, who died on 19 November 2025
Police Constable Bradley Corke, of Kent Police, who died on 21 March 2026
Police Constable Mark Chester, of Ministry of Defence Police, who died on 2 May 2026
Police Constable Jess Turnbull, of Northumbria Police, who died on 10 June 2026
Police Constable Alice Slominska, of Bedfordshire Police, who died on 17 July 2026.

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 from Ella Dent, the stepdaughter of Metropolitan Police Constable Chris Dent, who died in a motorcycle accident in 2009.

Attendees heard music performed by the West Midlands Police Brass Band and West Midlands Superintendent Sam Batey.

West Yorkshire Chief Constable Sir John Robins, from the COPS Chair of Trustees, closed the service. Families and guests then made their way to The Beat, an avenue of trees dedicated to individual forces and officers, to lay wreaths and single red roses.

Diary

August 2026