Killed Pc ‘will be greatly missed’
A POLICE motorcyclist who died on duty has been described as a “very popular, funny officer and a friend to many”.
Pc Matt Lannie, 40, died following a collision in the Ecclesfield area of Sheffield on Tuesday as he responded to reports of a car failing to stop for officers, police have said.
South Yorkshire Chief Constable Stephen Watson said: “It is with great sadness that we today pay tribute to serving officer Pc Matt Lannie, who died in the line of duty. Dreadful events such as these serve to remind us of the great dangers that police officers confront every day in order to keep us all safe.”
Mr Watson said Pc Lannie was a specialist motorcycle officer with the Roads Policing Unit and, before this, a response officer at Sheffield.
He said: “He was a very popular member of the team and he will be greatly missed.
“The South Yorkshire police family is doing everything we can to provide support and comfort to Matt’s loved ones and his colleagues at what is a very difficult time.”
Steve Kent, chairman of South Yorkshire Federation, said: “This is heart-breaking news.
“Matt was a very popular, funny officer and a friend to many in South Yorkshire Police.
“He loved his job in the roads policing group. He will be very sadly missed.”
He said: “The force and the everyone at South Yorkshire Police Federation will do our very best to support his partner, family, friends and close colleagues at this extremely difficult time.”
South Yorkshire Police said Pc Lammie was responding to reports of a silver BMW failing to stop for officers at about 1pm on Tuesday when his bike was in a collision with a blue Toyota Avensis.