Clacton: Funeral For Murdered Police Officer

31 July 2012, 05:50 | Updated: 31 July 2012, 05:52

The funeral of a Clacton police officer shot dead as he tried to stop a gunman will take place today (Tuesday July 31st).

Pc Ian Dibell, 41, was killed near his home in Clacton when he was off-duty on July 9th.

It is thought he was coming to the aid of Trevor Marshall, 48, who was injured in the attack.

His suspected killer, Peter Reeve, 64, was found dead in a churchyard in Writtle, near Chelmsford, the following day.

The private funeral will take place this afternoon at Weeley Crematorium, near Clacton.

Jim Barker-McCardle, Chief Constable of Essex Police, has described Pc Dibell as a brave officer: "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,'' he said. 

Mr Barker-McCardle added that Pc Dibell was "a very experienced and highly-regarded neighbourhood policing officer'' who was well-known in the seaside town, having served there since 2009. 

Before that he had spent eight years working as both a neighbourhood and response officer based in Colchester.