Essex Police Remembers Fallen Colleagues at COPS Weekend

THE Police Family gathered on Sunday (29 July) to remember more than 4,000 police officers who have died on duty – and to support family members left behind.

The Annual Care of Police Survivors Service of Remembrance took place at the National Memorial Arboretum in horrendous weather conditions – but that did not stop the service being packed out.

Essex Police Chief Constable BJ Harrington was one of those in attendance paying their respects – having ridden on the Annual Police Unity Tour.

CC Harrington said: “It’s really important, isn’t it? We look after the public and this is an opportunity for us to look after the people that do that. The people that have given their lives, the families, the Survivors who have given everything to come here, remember that, to give their support, support the charity so that we can look after the people who look after everybody else.”

Speaking about The Unity Tour, he added: “It’s hard work. Some of the hills. Every extreme of weather. From 40° on Thursday through to cold and rain today. It’s good fun and it’s a great camaraderie to have survivors riding with us. And don’t forget the support teams because riding the tour is one thing, but the people who make sure we’re fed and watered and our kit gets to where we’re travelling to is really important as well.”

This year, the Essex Chapter rode with Donna Cox – sister of our fallen colleague PC Jo-Ann Jennings. 2019 marks 30 years since Jo-Ann’s death on duty.

CC Harrington added: “That was a special tour. We did an extra leg from Chelmsford to Norfolk in commemoration of Jo. And of course Brett Daniels whose Dad, Rod, was killed at work, and he rode with us as well. So really important that they’re riding with us and part of that team.”

The service on Sunday was attended by more than 800 people and events took place all weekend for surviving family members.

Chief officers from all UK forces, the Home Office and staff associations were among those who took time to honour fallen officers and lay wreaths. The West Midlands Police band and a piper provided accompanying music.

A succession of speakers – known as Survivors – (including Donna Cox, sister of PC Jo-Ann Jennings) spoke movingly and with good humour recalling their police officer loved one who had been lost on duty and also importantly of the support the Charity COPS offers family members of deceased police officers.

Officers remembered this year – who had died on duty over the past year – were Special Agent Noel Remagen of the US Secret Service (who died while on deployment in Scotland), PC Joseph Cook, of the Metropolitan Police, PC Daniel Clayton-Drabble and Sgt Kevin Flint, of Thames Valley Police, and Sgt Colin Fox, of the Metropolitan Police.

The Blue Knights motorcyclists – long-time supporters of the Charity – were first to arrive at the soggy service on Sunday.

They were shortly followed by more than 400 cyclists from the Annual Police Unity Tour. The bumper event – with riders starting their journeys now from all across Britain – culminated at the Service and is expected to raise some £200,000 for the Charity.

New President of COPS Gill Marshall said the Charity is “so important.”

She added: “I’ve been involved since 2006 when my husband was killed. We’ve had such great support over the years, both myself and my kids who were 2 and 4 when they lost their dad. So, I guess I’m now in a position to give back.”

“The COPS weekend brings together families from all over the country. We can laugh. We can cry. Nobody will judge you and you are amongst people who know every step of the journey that you’ve been on.”