Memory man officer is recognised for talent
The “outstanding skills” of an officer nicknamed the ‘memory man’ for his ability to spot crime suspects has been honoured by the Association of Super Recognisers.
Police community support officer (PCSO) Andy Pope has been made an honorary fellow of the Association, which consists of recognition experts from around the globe.
The West Midlands Police officer has spotted well over 2,000 wanted men and women in just under a decade, including some who were wearing masks during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 44-year-old has the ability to remember faces after scanning them from CCTV, video stills and police briefings. The officer, who works within the Safer Travel team, has even recognised some suspects years after seeing their image.
Now, “in honour of his outstanding skills”, the Association has formally made him an honorary fellow for his work in policing.
PCSO Pope – who has previously been honoured with a Chief Constable’s Award – said: “It’s always a proud moment when you’re recognised for what you do. I just focus on doing everything I can to keep people safe and assist in catching criminals. It’s impossible to explain how I remember faces, it’s just something that happens. The most important thing is I’ve been able to put it to good use over the years.”
