The death of PC Andrew Harper to be recorded in the UK’s Police Roll of Honour
Thames Valley Police have said a post-mortem was carried out on the body of PC Andrew Harper and the cause of death has been recorded as multiple injuries.
Det Supt Ailsa Kent told a press conference ‘that is consistent with our current belief that Andrew was caught between a vehicle and the road and then dragged for a distance.’
PC Andrew Harper, 28, was responding to a report of a burgulary in Sulhamstead, Berkshire on Thursday, when he was dragged along the road by a vehicle. He was killed in the A4 Bath road.
Police have questioned at least 10 suspects so far. The ten males aged between 13 and 30 were arrested on suspicion of murder. They were arrested at Four Houses Corner, a council-run caravan and mobile home site about three miles from where PC Harper died.
Det Supt Kent said it remained unclear how PC Harper “came to be out of his vehicle and then caught under the suspect vehicle”.
John Campbell, Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police said the death of PC Harper had left the entire force “shocked and saddened”.
Mr Campbell said the officer was a “highly regarded, popular member of the team” and his death was a “significant loss” to the force and also to his colleagues and friends.
PC Harper joined the police service as special constable in 2010 and became a regular officer in 2011.
The Police Roll of Honour Trust in the UK has tweeted “The death of PC Andrew Harper of @ThamesVP will be recorded in the UK’s Police Roll of Honour, his service and sacrifice will ever be forgotten.”
One tribute, accompanied by an image of PC Harper smiling with a friend, said: “Harps, I am truly gutted. A great cop, a great man, a great friend.
“Pc Harper was a beautiful young soul. A brave man protecting us all and just doing his job.”
PC Harper, who became a regular officer in 2011 after joining as a special constable a year earlier, had attended the reported break-in at about 23:30 BST with a fellow officer.
The officer on duty with PC Harper was not physically injured but is being given emotional support, Thames Valley Police said.