Officer awarded gallantry medal

The Queen has awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal to a West Midlands officer who was tragically killed in the line of duty.

DC Michael Swindells was stabbed in the abdomen as he attended a report of a man armed with a knife in the Aston area of Birmingham. The knife wound penetrated his heart and he died almost immediately.

The Queen’s Gallantry Medal is the highest award ever to be given to an officer in the West Midlands.

Chief Constable Paul Scott-Lee paid tribute to DC Swindells: “In the police service every day you work with heroes but you do not know it. Every now and then something happens which shows you – and everyone else – there are still heroes around. The events surrounding this tragedy highlights the dangers that police officers put themselves in on a daily basis to protect members of the public.

“This officer did the right thing but the end was tragic. Michael’s family lost a brave son, father and husband, while colleagues within the police service lost a friend.”

Paul Tonks, chair of the West Midlands Police Federation, added: “It is with a great amount of pride that, on behalf of all federation colleagues within West Midlands Police, we acknowledge the award of the Queen’s Gallantry Medal to our fallen colleague, Mick Swindells.

“Mick Swindells’ actions on that fateful day of May 21 2004 epitomised all of the finest traditions of policing and it is gratifying to see that his extreme bravery has rightly been recognised by Her Majesty.

“Mick’s family, his friends and his colleagues will all no doubt share in this honour and they can feel extremely proud and privileged to have known such a fine man whose life and career was so tragically cut short.”

Commenting on the award, Michael`s wife, Carole, said: “I am very pleased that my husband`s bravery has been recognised with this award.”