First anniversary of the death of popular sergeant

22 September 2024

A year has now passed since the tragic death of West Midlands Police Sergeant Paul Frear.

Paul, 45, was critically injured after being knocked over by a car while on his way to work in Tollhouse Way, near Smethwick Rolfe Street Station. He was rushed to hospital but succumbed to his injuries the following day, 22 September 2023.

He served the Force for 21 years, having joined in August 2002 and spent the last five years of his service on Low Hill, Bushbury and Fallings Park neighbourhood teams.

At the time of his death, West Midlands Police Federation Rich Cooke, who had worked with Paul at Wolverhampton and knew him well, said he was a ‘lovely and supportive officer, mild-mannered and measured with a great sense of humour’.