The South Yorkshire Police officer who died yesterday (21st April) has been named as PC Matt Lannie.
PC Lannie was responding to a call for assistance made by his colleagues who were pursuing a BMW that had failed to stop for officers.
As PC Lannie made his way to assist his colleagues, he was involved in a collision with another vehicle.
PC Lannie’s marked police motorbike had its sirens and blue-lights activated at the time of the collision.
PC Matt Lannie was a highly decorated armed forces veteran
Chief Constable Stephen Watson paid tribute to the former armed forces veteran when he said:
“It is with great sadness that we today pay tribute to serving officer, PC Matt Lannie, who died in the line of duty. Dreadful events such as these serve to remind us of the great dangers that police officers confront every day in order to keep us all safe.
“Matt was a specialist motorcycle officer in our roads policing unit and prior to this was a response officer at Sheffield. He was a very popular member of the team and he will be greatly missed.
“The South Yorkshire police family is doing everything we can to provide support and comfort to Matt’s loved ones and his colleagues at what is a very difficult time.
“Matt’s family has asked for privacy and we ask their wishes are respected in order to allow them the time and space they so richly deserve.”
Emergency Services news has set up a memorial group on social media for PC Lannie.
Since the tragic death of PC Andrew Harper in August 2019, Emergency Services News has created a group for each member of the UK emergency services who have died while on duty.
To join the group that we have set up for PC Lannie, then please click HERE.
The other memorial groups set up since August 2019 include a group for Firefighter Josh Gardener, PC Andrew Harper, PC Nick Dumphreys and PC James Dixon.
Talking about the groups our Editor, John Johnson said:
“One of the reasons we have set these memorial groups up is to ensure that the general public never forgets the sacrifices made by the men and women who have died in the execution of their duties.
“Each group is ‘private’, but anyone can join them.
“They can be used as a place where colleagues, family and friends can share their work-related memories of their colleagues.
“We must never forget or take for granted the sacrifices which are made by the men and women who serve in the emergency services”.
