Philippa Reynolds described as ‘beautiful human being and brilliant police officer’ on 13th anniversary of death in Derry
Philippa Reynolds was described as a ‘beautiful human being and a brilliant police officer’ by former colleague Jon Burrows as he marked her 13th anniversary at Stormont on Monday.
The 27-year-old died on February 9, 2013, when her police car was struck by a speeding 4x4 at Dale's Corner in Derry.
The Ulster Unionist Party leader was the Derry police commander when Constable Reynolds was killed.
“I pay tribute to a fallen former colleague who died on duty in Londonderry at this time 13 years ago. Philippa Reynolds was on patrol in the dead of night, when most of us, including me, were asleep.
"Her car was T-boned by a stolen car driven by career criminal, Shane Frane, and, we believe, Philippa was killed instantly. I had the painful duty of bringing Philippa's family to see her remains in Altnagelvin Area Hospital.
"Philippa was a beautiful human being and a brilliant police officer. After her death, it became clear that the vivacious photograph that was released of Philippa changed a lot of perceptions of the police in 2013 in a city that still had an ambivalent relationship with the police. So many people contacted us to say that they no longer saw the police as behind armoured glass, in armoured cars and wearing body armour but as human beings. In that sense, Philippa's legacy is a powerful one,” Mr. Burrows said in the Stormont Assembly on Monday.
The new UUP leader said he has maintained contact with his late colleague’s family.
"It is worth noting that, when headlines move on after a crime, it is easy to forget the profound grief that the victims and families feel. They mourn Philippa every day.
"Tragically, they lost another daughter last year to cancer. However, what struck me about Philippa's family in the days after her death was that, when they spoke to the media, her father, who had served before her, in the Royal Ulster Constabulary, told the world's media that he had brought Philippa up to treat everyone the same and that he was proud that, when she went out in uniform as he had done, she left politics and people's religion behind,” he stated.