Hundreds pay their last respects to detective
HUNDREDS of mourning police officers were asked to “take care of each other” at the funeral of a detective inspector who died on Christmas Eve.
More than 600 members of South Wales Police lined the streets in a guard of honour yesterday to pay their respects to Detective Inspector Terry Hopkins.
A father of three, Detective Inspector Hopkins joined the 9/12th Royal Lancers aged 16 before working his way through the ranks at South Wales Police.
His death, aged 40, has been met with an outpouring of grief from the policing community and members of the public, who have raised more than £14,000 for charity PTSD Resolution in his honour.
During the ceremony members of the force dressed in full uniform stood in silence as the hearse, laden with white flowers and a police cap, was escorted by police horses into Glyntaff crematorium in Pontypridd.
With many unable to find a seat inside the chapel, hundreds gathered in the crematorium courtyard to hear the service through speakers.
In a moving speech, Chief Consta- ble Matt Jukes told mourners he had visited the divisions where DI Hopkins had worked in Pontypridd, Barry and Cardiff on New Year’s Eve to learn about the memories colleagues and members of the public had shared with him.
He said: “As a husband, son, brother and father, [DI Hopkins] will be missed in ways I can’t imagine.
“In many ways I have got to know him better as a result of the conversations that have taken place since we lost him.”
Rising to the rank of detective only three years after joining the police force, DI Hopkins had recently been in charge of a successful operation protecting scammers.
But while he had been “loaned” to other divisions, colleagues described how his “heart” had remained in his first base in Pontypridd.
After thanking DI Hopkins for his work, Chief Constable Jukes told the congregation: “It is OK not to be OK.”
Last week friends and family wearing hats with the same phrase completed a walk up Pen-y-Fan to remember the inspector in one of his favourite places.
Chief Constable Jukes said: “The work we do is hard, the challenges are growing, and life, as they say, is a contact sport. the elderly from
“We need to be there for each other.
“Terry’s life and passing absolutely means something. Perhaps Terry lives in another legacy in the way his death has brought our police family even closer together.
“I didn’t know him as many of you did, but now I think I can ask something on Terry’s behalf.
“I would ask that we all do all we can to take care of each other.”
During the service, a special ceremony was held to present DI Hopkins’ police and army cap to his son, Oliver.
Anyone wishing to make a donation to PTSD Resolution may do so.