Police unite in tribute to on-duty officer who died in Sheffield motorcycle crash

Twitter and Facebook accounts of officers, police staff and forces around the country are all displaying a thin blue line image this morning in a touching tribute to the South Yorkshire officer killed while on-duty in Sheffield yesterday.

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The 40-year-old police motorcyclist, who has not yet been named, was involved in was a collision with a blue Toyota Avensis on Nether Lane, Ecclesfield, while responding to an incident at around 1pm.

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South Yorkshire Police said the police motorcyclist was responding to reports of a silver BMW failing to stop for officers.

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The officer was pronounced dead a short time later.

The driver of the Toyota, a 64-year-old man, was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

The South Yorkshire Branch of British Transport Police is among the teams, forces, organisations and individual officers and police staff members displaying the thin blue line image on Twitter.

Paying tribute, the branch said: “Devastating to hear one of our colleagues from South Yorkshire Police has died today whilst on duty keeping the public safe.

“We send our thoughts to his family, friends and colleagues during this tragic time.”

In an online tribute, Lincolnshire Police said: “Our thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of the police officer who sadly died while on duty in South Yorkshire last night.”

And the Police Memorial Trust tweeted: “Following the terribly sad news that a South Yorkshire police officer has been killed on duty we would offer our sincere condolences to the officer’s family, friends and colleagues.”

Police motorcyclist and accident investigator Sergeant Olly Tayler, from Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, tweeted: “The thin blue line got a little thinner today.

“Thoughts and prayers are with family and colleagues. Rest easy, your duty is done. RIP.”

Merseyside Police employee John Fleming tweeted: “Sad, sad news coming from South Yorkshire Police.

“An officer has been killed in the line of duty.

“All thoughts go out to their friends, family and colleagues. These are sad and horrendous times.”