Humberside officer who has shown determination and courage while undergoing cancer treatment wins Inspiration and Resilience in Policing Award

20 June 2023

A young police officer who has shown a huge amount of determination and courage while undergoing years of cancer treatment has won the Humberside Police Federation Inspiration and Resilience in Policing Award.

PC Ellie Downes was in her early 20s when she joined Humberside Police in July 2020 and posted to patrol at Goole Police Station. While going through her probationary period, she suffered from constant pain in her left leg and in May 2021 she went to hospital for an MRI scan.

The medical team found that she had a tumour in the bone in her leg, and that it was likely to be cancerous. In July 2021 Ellie underwent two biopsies under general anesthetic at Birmingham Hospital, which confirmed a diagnosis of osteoblastic osteosarcoma of her upper shinbone (proximal tibia).

In August of that year, Ellie started intense chemotherapy treatment for an initial 10 weeks. Then, in November, she had an operation to put a metal implant into her leg. She continued with the chemotherapy, doing a grueling 20-week course and finishing in March 2022.

On 13 September 2022 Ellie completed her final treatment and returned to work a week later, working remotely at first but being keen to get back and continue with her career. The force asked her to re-submit work that she had done prior to becoming unwell, which she is now doing with little complaint, always saying that her ambition is to be a detective and help people.

Sadly, last December Ellie had an MRI scan which showed a shadow on her lung. She was subsequently told that the shadow was cancer and she would have to undergo more intense chemotherapy – due to this, she will not be able to have children.

Ellie is still just 26 years old, so this news was hard to bear. Yet she is still determined to continue her career in the police.

Humberside Police Federation Chair Lee Sims said: “Ellie has maintained a quite frankly unbelievable attitude and strength of character throughout all of this. She has told her Federation supporter and supervisor that all she wants to do is be a police officer and help people. She has risen above so many hurdles through no fault of her own.

“For such a young officer so early on in her career, she is an inspiration to her colleagues and friends in the force. She has shown that even under the most extreme of circumstances you can persevere and achieve your ambitions. The positive change she has made among her peers is immeasurable.

“She has also inspired us as a local Federation to keep fighting hard for other colleagues going through serious health and personal issues.”

PC Downes attended the first Humberside Police and Federation Bravery Awards on Thursday 15 June.

The lead sponsor for the Awards is The Northern Police Healthcare Scheme.

Also sponsoring the Awards are Serve and Protect Credit Union, No 1 Copperpot Credit Union, Metfriendly, Taylor Law, Niche, JMW Solicitors, New Park Court and The Humberside Police Welfare & Benevolent Fund.

The hashtag for the event is #HumberBravery.