Who was Simon Cole and what was his cause of death?
SIMON Cole has been called the “epitome of a great Chief Constable” after a storied career on the force.
But who was Simon Cole and how did his life impact his fellow police?
Who was Simon Cole?
Simon Cole held the honour of being Britain’s longest serving police chief.
He became the youngest-ever chief constable of the Leicestershire Police.
He held that position for 12 years, rounding out his three decades with the department.
Cole was known for speaking up on the importance of mental health for officers during the Covid pandemic.
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He said: “If you go out in a police car you first check the tyres, the siren, the oil, the lights, to make sure they all work.
“People are all part of the toolkit as well and this stuff matters.”
He received the Queen‘s Police Medal in the New Year’s Honour List for 2014 and the Sir Robert Peel Medal for Outstanding Leadership in Evidence Based Policing in 2021.
What was Simon Cole’s cause of death?
Cole was found dead in his home only 12 days after retiring from the Leicestershire Police.
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A married father of two, he was just 55.
At the moment his cause of death has not been revealed, but the police confirmed it had been referred to the coroner.
Police and crime commissioner Rupert Matthews said in a statement: “Simon Cole was the epitome of a great Chief Constable whose commitment to public service has been unswerving.
“We live in a safer place thanks to his leadership.”
What has Priti Patel said on Simon Cole’s death?
Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted that she is “desperately saddened” to hear of Cole’s passing.
She wrote: “He was passionate about delivering for the people of Leicestershire, the area where he grew up, and dedicated his life to policing.”
Rob Nixon, the temporary chief constable of Cole’s former department, also shared his thoughts.
Nixon said: “It is hard to put into words how devastating this news is for the entire force who loved and respected Simon.
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“I know Simon had a great impact on many of the communities of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and his death will be a great loss to many of the people he worked with.”