True Heroism

The grimmest news this week from Essex was the fatal shooting of off-duty policeman Ian Dibell in Clacton.

As the Guardian reported:

A police chief has paid tribute to an officer who was shot dead after stepping in to protect a member of the public.
Jim Barker-McCardle, chief constable of Essex police, was speaking after visiting members of PC Ian Dibell’s family.
Barker-McCardle said: “Ian’s tragic death reminds us all that it’s not the uniform that makes a police officer but the instinctive, brave and selfless help to others.”
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Dibell, 41, was shot dead near his home in Clacton, Essex, on Monday. Another man was injured.
His suspected killer, Peter Reeve, 64, was found dead in a churchyard on Tuesday.
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Barker-McCardle said: “I have visited PC Ian Dibell’s family and loved ones to personally offer them my condolences and express the support of everyone at Essex police during this very difficult time.
“Since Ian’s murder, we have heard from fellow officers and staff how loved and respected our fallen colleague was.
“He was personable, charming, always immaculately dressed and very popular with his colleagues.”
He added that Dibell was “a very experienced and highly regarded neighbourhood policing officer” who was well-known in the seaside town, having served there since 2009.

The Sun has an interview with the man, Trevor Marshall, that PC Dibell saved:


The Sun quotes Mr Marshall as saying:

?I looked back and saw two men approaching the car. It turned out one of them was PC Dibell.
“He leaned into the car on the driver?s side. I saw them talking for about 30 seconds. Then Reeve shot the PC from point-blank range from the driver?s seat. I heard PC Dibell shriek ?Aargh? ? and he held his chest and then his face.

There have been suggestions that Pc Dibell should be posthumously awarded the George Cross. This medal is awarded for “… acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger.” and it is awarded sparingly – only 161 times since it was instituted in 1940. You can find a list of recipients here.

If you wish to support the campaign to award the GC to Ian Dibell, and you are on Facebook , there is a facebook group you can join: https://www.facebook.com/groups/422830837752664/ . It alraedy has 2,028 members. Or you can contact the group by email to : honourcampaign@hotmail.co.uk

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  • A tragic loss of life. My thoughts are with his friends and family.

    A police officer is never truly off duty. They are duty bound to intervene in incidents even when off shift. It’s the big commitment that the men and women who join the Police take. They deserve our thanks and admiration for this.

    I will join the facebook group

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