A former chief constable of an East Midlands police force has been found dead at home. His death will now be investigated by the coroner.
Leicestershire Police says former chief constable Simon Cole was found dead in Kibworth Harcourt, Leicestershire, on Wednesday, March 30. He had taken up his position back in June 2010 and retired just under two weeks ago.
He has been described as a "greatly respected man", LeicestershireLive reports. Temporary Chief Constable Rob Nixon said: “It is hard to put into words how devastating this news is for the entire force who loved and respected Simon.
Read more: Drug dealer with £90k under his floorboards
"Our hearts go out to his family at this difficult time and we will support them as much as we can. We want to respect their privacy and the Coroner’s process and would ask that the public and media do so, too.
“We are offering support to our staff and those who worked closely with Simon. 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. All we can do is pull together and mourn the loss of a greatly respected man.”
Mr Cole spoke to LeicestershireLive last month as he approached retirement. During the interview, he looked back on a policing career which was almost over before it had started - when the force he would lead for 12 years initially rejected his application on health grounds. Fresh out of university, he was told he could not join his home force because he had a form of colour blindness.
Other forces had the same rule in place, but West Midlands Police did not and Mr Cole, an English graduate, began his career there in 1988. After rising through the ranks, he moved to Hampshire Police before arriving, aged 43, as Leicestershire's new chief in April 2010.
He said a number of incidents and investigations would remain long in his memory. Recalling the “dreadful” murder of Kayleigh Haywood, the Hinckley Road explosion and the helicopter tragedy at the King Power Stadium, he said: "These are all things I will reflect on after I have retired.”
The discovery and subsequent reburial of King Richard III was a particular highlight, with the city the focus of intense national and international attention while it handled an unprecedented moment in history. "That was unique in the true sense of the word," he recalled.
Finally, he said: “Why did I join the police? I joined because I wanted to help people and I wanted a job that was different and would not, at least in the early days, involve being in an office all day. I wanted to do something which would present challenges and have value."
Organisations and figures from across the East Midlands have paid tribute to Mr Cole. East Midlands Ambulance Service said: "We’re sorry to hear this sad news. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues."
And Rupert Matthews, Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, added: "I am shocked and extremely saddened to hear this tragic news. 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."
