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| Paul McKeever - May You Rest In Peace |
It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I heard the news of the passing of Paul McKeever.
A lifelong serving policeman, Paul gave everything to the service. He fought long and hard for the rights of the federated ranks, never shirking the challenges presented by this and previous Governments that threaten the livelihoods of our beloved officers.
Paul was a true gentleman. He bravely stood up to the Home Secretary and spoke passionately at the 2011 conference in defence of the troops.
I met with Paul on a number of occasions and was in regular contact. He was a keen supporter of the police blogs as a means of attempting to draw attention to the plight of the frontline officers. He was eloquent and educated in his often vociferous exchanges with senior officers and Government Ministers and there can be no doubt that he will be sadly missed by everyone who had the good fortune to meet and work with him.
Paul was just two weeks away from retirement, having announced his departure last summer. At the time he said: "I cannot stay within a service that is having the Office of Constable attacked, police officers denigrated and public safety put at risk." He had also accused Theresa May of being "on the precipice of destroying a police service that is admired and replicated throughout the world".
Pauls brave words and noble actions sum up the feeling within the service. The burden carried by Paul placed obvios strains on a good man who genuinely wanted the best for the service and the public it serves. He believed, as many do, that Mrs May and this Government treated the service in a despicable and undeserved fashion. Shame on you all.
Paul never gave up his part in the fight to bring justice to the killers of WPC Yvonne Fletcher. Let us hope that one day justice will be seen to be done.
Our thoughts and condolences at this sad time to his wife Charmian and their daughter Henrietta.
A Fed rep since 1992, he was a trustee to the Police Dependents Trust, Chairman of the National Police Memorial Day Trust and a Director of the Metropolitan Police Friendly Society.
Outside policing, he was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and the Royal Institution. He was also a member of the Institute of Directors.
He enjoyed hill walking and took many trips to the Tyrol region of Austria and walked on the Downs with his spaniel, Hetty. He also enjoyed the Telegraph crossword and watching Harlequins, West Ham and Celtic.
A condolence and tribute page has been created on the Police Federation website. Anyone wishing to send messages of tribute and condolence can do so by emailing: Tributes@polfed.org.
Thank you Paul for everything you gave in all your proud years.
God bless and may you rest in peace.
Steve Bennett
Retired West Midlands Police Officer
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