The Met Police's head of operations in South West London today paid a personal tribute to the police officer killed in Berkshire on Thursday.
Sally Benatar, Leader of the Met's South West Borough Command Unit (BCU), issued a statement Friday (August 16) revealing her personal connection to PC Andrew Harper, who was named as the officer killed while attending the scene of a reported burglary in Berkshire yesterday evening.
So sad to read this. PC Harper was the officer in the case when my then husband was arrested for domestic violence in 2016. He was on @ThamesVP Response then. He was brilliant & gave me the courage to take steps to change my life. I can’t thank him enough. He was a top officer 💙 https://t.co/SLbhlWF6fP
— Sally Benatar (@MPSSallyBenatar) August 16, 2019
PC Harper was one of the officers involved in arresting Ms Benatar's former husband for domestic violence in 2016, the South West BCU leader said:
"So sad to read this.
"PC Harper was the officer in the case when my then husband was arrested for domestic violence in 2016.
"He was on Thames Valley Police Response then.
"He was brilliant and gave me the courage to take steps to change my life.
"I can’t thank him enough. He was a top officer," Ms Benatar said.
Ms Benatar leads the Met Police's BCU in South West London, covering Kingston, Richmond, Merton and Wandsworth boroughs.
Her tribute was one among many that poured in for PC Harper on Friday as news of the incident that lead to his death emerged.
Police said they were still establishing the circumstances in which he was killed while carrying out his duties.
Ten people have been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection to the incident.
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