Service pays tribute to “ultimate sacrifice” of hero officers

THE sacrifices made by police officers up and down the country must not be forgotten, the Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police has said following this year’s Care of Police Survivors (COPS) Service of Remembrance.

David Crompton (pictured) was among more than 500 people to attend Sunday’s service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on Sunday July 20. 

The service saw surviving family members and serving police officers gather to remember officers who have fallen in the line of duty.

Mr Crompton said it was important to attend the service because “people should not forget the sorts of sacrifices that have been made by police officers up and down the country very often in really tragic circumstances”.

He said the service is about reminding families that the police service has not forgotten and is about remembering the “good work that is being done and the danger that officers are in day in and day out that people take for granted”.

This year was the biggest-ever COPS weekend, with events taking place all weekend for surviving family members.

During the 60-minute Sunday service a surviving wife, mother, sister and daughter all recalled how the charity had helped them in their time of need.

Chief officers from all UK forces, the Home Office and staff associations were amongst those that took time to pay their respects and lay wreaths.

“I think this sort of day is incredibly important for the forces, but probably more importantly for the families who need an occasion when they can come along in a nice atmosphere, in lovely surroundings like we have got here, and remember their loved ones,” said Mr Crompton.

The Roll of Honour for the eight police officers and one member of staff who died on duty during the last 12 months was read out by outgoing COPS President Sue Brace. Those remembered this year were PCs Shazahan Wadud and Andrew Duncan, of the Metropolitan Police, PCs Tony Collins and Kirsty Nelis and Captain David Traill, all of Police Scotland, DC Adrian Grew, of Kent Police, PC Michael Chapman, of West Midlands Police, PC Mark Murtagh, of Police Scotland, and DC Sharon Garrett, of Cambridgeshire Constabulary.