Page 25 - Federation magazine: October / November 2016

Fallen officers
remembered at COPS
service
P olice officers who have made the
ultimate sacrifice – and their
surviving family members – were
remembered at the Care of Police Survivors
(COPS) annual service of remembrance at
the National Memorial Arboretum in
Alrewas.
Tom Cuddeford, interim chairman of
West Midlands Police Federation, and Steve
Grange, secretary, attended the service
alongside more than 750 family, friends and
colleagues.
“It is a very moving service, it brings
home to you the unique role police officers
play in our society, no-one should forget
their sacrifice or the difficulties faced by the arrived in procession to pay
families they left behind,” says Tom.
During a 40-minute service at the end of
July, survivors – a daughter, two sons and a
wife – remembered their lost loved ones and
talked about how the COPS charity benefits
them.
Emma Carter, now secretary of
Bedfordshire Police Federation, also spoke of
her role as a family liaison officer following
the murder of colleague PC Jon Henry and
read out a poem written by his daughter
who was just 11-months-old when he died
in 2007.
Craig Mackey, Deputy Commissioner of
the Met, said: “I think anyone who heard any
of the speeches today, from the man who
lost his father 40 years ago [David Taylor] to
Emma Duncan who lost her father just a few
years ago, it just brings home to you what
an impact these things have, and it just
brings it home the sacrifice people make to
do the job that we so cherish.”
Police Service of Northern Ireland
Constables Clodagh Dunlop and John
Dunlop presided over the wreath laying
ceremony. Their uncle – Reserve Constable
Clifford Evans– was killed on duty.
Clodagh is recovering from locked-in
syndrome and received a moving ovation as
she returned to her seat at the end of the
segment.
The Roll of Honour for the three police
officers who have died on duty during the
past 12 months was read out by COPS
president Denis Gunn.
Those remembered this year were PC
David Phillips, of Merseyside Police; PC Sahib
Lalli, of the Met; and PC Dougie Wiggins, of
www.westmidspolfed.com
Police Scotland. He said: “It took me two years to become
A minute’s silence was involved with COPS because I went through a
held to remember all police real bad spell, months, and the support and
officers who have died on the help you get from the moment you arrive
duty. Chief officers from all means an awful lot to these new families
UK forces, the Home Office who are coming into this club that nobody
and staff associations were wanted to join.”
among those who took time
to pay their respects and lay
wreaths.
The West Midlands Police
band provided accompanying
music.
Before the service, The
Blue Knights motorcyclists
their respects. They were also
joined by some 120 members
of the UK Police Unity Tour
who had cycled in convoy
from London, Leicester,
Wales, Norfolk and
Cambridge.
Each cyclist wore a
wristband in memory of a
fallen officer, which was later
presented to the families of
the victims, some of which were from West
Midlands Police. The cyclists had raised
£50,000 for the charity.
COPS trustee Don Speakman’s son PC
Jonathan Speakman, of Cheshire Police, died
on holiday in Australia after rescuing a child
swept out to sea. Don outlined the
importance of the charity.
St Paul’s Cathedral
hosts Memorial Day
West Midlands Police Federation was represented at this year’s National Police
Memorial Day (NPMD) which was held at London’s St Paul’s Cathedral.
HRH The Prince of Wales attended to pay his respects.
Tom Cuddeford, interim chair, and Steve Grange, secretary, joined politicians,
chief officers and the families of fallen officers at the service on Sunday 25
September.
The memorial day service is held every year to honour police officers killed in the
line of duty and is open to all police officers to attend.
Last year’s event was held in Edinburgh and had a congregation of 1,200 people.
federation October/November 2016 25