PC Mathew Parker, a dad-of-two, was responding to an emergency on Wednesday 19 November on the A12 near Ingatestone, Essex when he was involved in a fatal collision
A police office who died in the line of duty has been laid to rest as his colleagues paid tribute and said their final goodbye.
PC Mathew Parker, of Essex Police, was responding to an emergency on Wednesday 19 November on the A12 near Ingatestone when he was involved in a collision. He died instantly and no other vehicle was involved, Essex Police confirmed.
The dad-of-two joined Essex Police in 2010 where he served his entire career in West Essex, including on the Loughton Local Policing Team and, most recently, the Chigwell Roads Policing Team. He was passionate about motorbikes and the proud owner of a much-loved Harley Davidson and a member of the Iron Order motorcycle club.
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On Monday, December 15 he was was escorted by his road policing colleagues on his final journey as he was laid to rest. Chief Constable BJ Harrington said: “It was the greatest privilege for Essex Police today to support Mat’s family in saying goodbye.
“Mat was loved deeply by his family and his Essex Police family. It was therefore only right today that we, Essex Police, stood shoulder to shoulder with his heartbroken loved ones and gave Mat and his family a full ceremonial policing funeral in tribute to his service to our county and of course his sacrifice in the line of duty.
“I cannot imagine the pain felt by Mat’s family, but today we stand united with them in grief and love for Mat. I would like to thank every single officer and member of our policing family, from Essex and beyond, who has made today possible. The funeral directors, our colleagues at fire and ambulance and the crematorium.
“I would also like to thank the public of Essex – true to form your support for us all since Mat’s death has been humbling, thank you. Like every single member of Essex Police, Mat proudly served the people of Essex. Officers willingly run into the face of danger every day, and they do so knowing they might not make it back.
“Mat died responding to an emergency call to help someone he never met – he is a credit to Essex Police and British policing. Mat, may you rest in peace and ride free, I will forever be grateful for your service.”
A spokesperson for Essex Police said: ” On Monday 15 December, our brave officer PC Mathew Parker, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, was escorted by his road policing colleagues on his final journey as he was laid to rest.
“PC Parker, known affectionately as Mat by all who knew and loved him, was a dedicated team member of the Chigwell Roads Policing Unit where he was a motorcycle officer. In tribute to his love of the job and motorbikes, the men and women of Essex Police, UK policing, blue light services and biker clubs turned out in force to honour Mat and accompany him and his loved ones to his final resting place.”
Mat and his family were taken from the family home in Loughton on a procession that took in: his favourite pub The Hollybush in Loughton; his policing base at Chigwell Roads Policing Unit where colleagues carried out a guard of honour; Loughton Fire Station where firefighters lined up and bowed to show their respect; and Loughton Police Station where colleagues also lined up and bowed to show their respect.
An Essex County Fire & Rescue engine and an East of England Ambulance Service vehicle also joined the convoy in tribute to Mat and his work to support road safety across Essex. The Blue Knights, the Iron Order and Copperheads biking clubs joined the procession and funeral in honour of Mat’s love of bikes.
The funeral cortege, which was accompanied by Mat’s motorcycle colleagues from Chigwell, then took Mat along with his family to the Parndon Wood Cemetery & Crematorium. Outside the crematorium there was a further guard of honour as dad-of-two Mat was carried in by his colleagues and members of the biking community, to be laid to rest.
A small delegation of colleagues from forces across the country including Kent, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, City of London, Norfolk, Suffolk and the Metropolitan Police also sent representatives to join Essex Police and Mat’s family as they said goodbye.
