COPS service pays tribute to fallen officers

31 July 2023

Chief Constable Kate Meynell, Fed secretary Tom Hill and Notts Police PUT team organiser, Detective Sergeant Paul Lefford.

The eight officers who have lost their lives in the 12 months since the last Care of Police Survivors (COPS) Service of Remembrance were read out at this year’s service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas yesterday.

The service was attended by around 300 members of the families of fallen officers as well as officers of all ranks.

The Chief Constable Kate Meynell represented the Force at the event and also joined the East Midlands Chapter of the Police Unity Tour (PUT) in cycling around 200 miles to the arboretum in a fundraising event that started on Friday.

“This year marked the 20^th time COPS has held this annual service,” says Tom Hill, secretary of Nottinghamshire Police Federation.

“While the service is centred on remembering our fallen colleagues, what it also really ably demonstrates is the power of COPS to help their families rebuild their lives after such tragedy.

“During the service, it is very moving to hear family members give their personal and often heartbreaking accounts of how their lives were devastated by the loss of their loved ones.

“But it also uplifting to hear how they were able to find solace within COPS, by sharing their stories with those who can truly empathise with what they are going through.

“The peer support COPS and the COPS family provides seems to help so many families find their way out of their darkest days.” 

Ahead of the service, those attending welcomed the arrival of the Blue Knights, the world’s largest law enforcement motorcycle club and supporter of COPS from the time of the charity’s launch.

Minutes later, cyclists from the PUT made up of chapters from forces across England and Wales, made their way into the arboretum to applause from the crowd.

Among the PUT teams were officers from Nottinghamshire Police, including the Chief, who formed part of the East Midlands Chapter.

The cyclists set off from their home force areas on Friday, heading for Drayton Manor near Tamworth on Saturday to be greeted by the families of fallen officers.

They then made their way to the arboretum on Sunday morning for the last leg of their journey.

The remembrance service was opened by Christine Fulton, co-founder of COPS and the charity’s life vice-president.

Christine Fulton addresses the service.

She talked about the dark days that followed the death of her husband of two years in Glasgow in 1994. PC Lewis Fulton was just 28 when he was stabbed to death as he sought to detain a knifeman who had already injured a police sergeant. 

But her life changed when retired police officer Jim McNulty encouraged her to attend a COPS service in America.

Thinking it would be an ‘interesting holiday’, she was unprepared for the impact the trip to the States would have on her and recalled that it was the first time she had found herself in a room full of people who understood how she felt which lifted a huge weight off her shoulders.

Realising how valuable that support would have been if she had received it at the start of her grieving process, Christine wrote to all chief constables when she returned to the UK seeking support to start a similar organisation but was largely told that it was a ‘dreadful idea’ and that families did not want to remember their loss, but wanted to forget.

Undeterred, Christine forged ahead, telling the service that she expected 34 survivors to attend the first event, but 64 turned up. 

Peer support, she explained, was at the heart of the charity, adding that 300 family members were at this year’s service.

The family weekend could be life-changing and life affirming, said Christine.

“It proves you can move forward but you don’t leave your officer behind,” she added, “They are always with you. They are part of you, and always will be.”

Caroline Cox, younger sister of Inspector Mark Estall of Essex Police who died on 5 January 2017, talked about the positive impact COPS had on her life, describing it as ‘an incredible charity’.

She began by thanking all the PUT riders.

“You will never know how much it means to us,” said Caroline on behalf of fallen officers’ families, “To us, it means everything.”

In a similar vein, Katy McMurray, daughter of PC Alan McMurray of Lothian and Borders Police who died on 4 February 2006, when she was just two, talked about how the charity had helped her.

Katy recalled how meeting other children who had lost a police officer parent through COPS had helped her process her emotions and access support when she needed it.

The service also included music from the West Midlands Police Band, songs from vocalist Diane Whylie and an address from Gill Marshall, the COPS national president.

Gill read out the roll of honour which included the names of officers who have died since last year’s COPS service:

PC Daniel Golding of the Metropolitan Police who died on 18 August 2022

PCSO Daniel Gower of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary who died on 23 November

PS Steven Creal of Sussex Police who died on 21 December 

PC Richard Kemp of Lancashire Constabulary who died on 27 December 2022

PC Bruce Lister of Hertfordshire Police who died on 30 January 2023

PC Neil Pattinson of Northumbria Police who died on 27 February

PC Andy Boardman of West Mercia Police who died on 11 April, and

Inspector Gareth Earp of Dyfed Powys Police who died on 29 June.

Wreaths were laid on behalf of the Office of the Lieutenancy, the High Sheriff’s Office, the Home Office, the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Fire & Rescue Services, the National Police Chiefs’ Council, Blue Light, the Police Unity Tour, the National Memorial Arboretum and COPS.

As Sir Peter Fahy, chair of the COPS trustees, prepared to close the service, the National Police Air Service helicopter, flew over and performed a ‘bow’ to the congregation.

Families and other guests then made their way to The Beat – the avenue of trees dedicated to each force and to some individual officers – to lay red roses and wreaths.