Colchester police are mourning the death of Paul Gibson, the division's administration manager.
Mr Gibson, 52, died last Monday night after battling pancreatic cancer for about 18 months.
He lived in Great Bentley and leaves a widow, Yvonne, and daughter Hannah, 15.
A former merchant seaman who had a great love of steam engines, he played a key role in the development of the town's police station in Southway.
He held the post of administration manager, the highest support staff position in the division, for 17 years.
Chief Supt Dave Murthwaite, Colchester police's divisional commander, paid tribute to Mr Gibson, saying it was a sad loss of a colleague and a friend.
He said: "He was a big man in every sense of the word. He has been really brave and so has his family over the last 18 months when he was fighting his illness."
He said Mr Gibson, who carried on working until he was too weak through his illness, had had a major impact on the way Colchester is policed.
Mr Gibson's funeral will be held at Great Bentley Church on Friday.
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Monday, February 7, 2005
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