Family of Essex PC shot dead offer condolences to families of murdered Manchester officers (From Gazette)

Family of Essex PC shot dead offer condolences to families of murdered Manchester officers

11:21am Thursday 20th September 2012 in News

The family of a police officer shot while coming to the aid of a member of the public have offered their condolences to the families of PCs Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes.

The officers were killed in a gun and grenade attack in Manchester on Tuesday morning.

PC Ian Dibell, 41, was killed while off-duty near his home in Clacton in July this year as he intervened in a neighbourhood dispute.

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

PC Dibell's brother Paul Dibell, a detective inspector at Essex Police, said: "My thoughts and those of my family are with the families, friends and colleagues of Fiona and Nicola during this terrible time and we send our deepest, heartfelt, condolences.

"We have lost another two of our fine officers.

"Having lost a brother, I feel their terrible loss and as a colleague in the policing family I understand the loss that is felt amongst colleagues in Manchester and across the country.

"The memory of dedicated officers like this will never be forgotten.

"This terrible news once again highlights the courage and professionalism which police officers demonstrate every single day as they work to protect the public from crime and disorder in an effort to keep our communities safe."

PC Dibell's partner, PCSO Louise Lilley, added her own message of support.

She said: "My heart goes out to them all. I was so shocked to hear of the tragic news so soon after losing Ian.

"I am deeply saddened that two more police families have to go through the pain and heartbreak that we have gone through and are continuing to endure."