THE family of heroic police officer PC Ian Dibell have lost the chance to find out why he was killed, according to a former cop.

Former chief superintendent Mick Thwaites said Peter Reeve’s decision to kill himself robbed PC Dibell’s family of any explanation of why he murdred him.

Mr Thwaites, who ran firearm teams during his career with Essex Police, said the desire to get answers and justice for the family would have meant every officer on the case would have wanted to catch Peter Reeve alive.

He said: “When I led the firearms team the priorities were always the safety of the public, the safety of police officers and the safety of the suspect in that order.

“Everyone would have been focused and professional to achieve those three things, to bring the suspect into custody and into the courts to get the full picture.”

Mr Thwaites, who is a candidate for the new post of Essex Police Commisioner, said the last time he knew of anything like this when he was in the force was when Sgt Brian “Bill” Bishop was killed 28 years ago in Frinton.

Since then, police officers have died in road crashes and other incidents but Mr Thwaites said PC Dibell’s death was “on another scale”.

He said: “When you lose a serving police officer it will have an impact and more so when it happens like this.

“This will be having a massive impact not just in Clacton but across Essex and the country within the policing family.”

He said senior officers will keep an eye on their junior colleagues and offer support.

Mr Thwaites knew Ian’s older brother Paul, who is a police officer, and said Ian’s younger brother Neil also works for Essex Police.

Speaking about the actions of PC Ian Dibell he added: “He reacted to the situation despite the risk to his life showing tremendous courage and bravery to respond to the needs of the community.

“Officers will respond when someone is in trouble. It is that quality which makes them decide to become police officers and to serve the community.”