"A privilege of a lifetime"

Two Essex Police officers were granted “the privilege of a lifetime” by taking part in Her Majesty the Queen’s funeral procession yesterday, Monday 19 September.

Sergeant Jonathan McDonald, who leads a response team in Colchester and is the head of ceremonial policing for the entire force, attended the procession as part of the Civil Services Contingent.

The Contingent included 88 people from across ten different services, from Police forces, Fire services, the Merchant Navy and St John’s Ambulance.
Sergeant McDonald was one of just 16 policing representatives to join the official Civil Services Contingent.

Sergeant Jonathan McDonald said:

“Walking behind the gun carriage and being a part of the official procession was a humbling experience.
“It's been an amazing but emotional experience for me and a true honour to represent policing, and Essex Police, for our late Queen.”

Sergeant McDonald has been leading ceremonial drill at Essex Police since 2017 and, along with his team, teaches all new Essex Police students ceremonial marching alongside his busy day job protecting and serving the county.

He worked in the South of the county at the start of his career, before moving on to become an officer with our Roads Policing Unit.

He now leads a Local Policing Team shift in Colchester, with his team attending to your 999 calls.

PC Rosie Finnis – a response officer working in Chelmsford – was nominated to attend on behalf of the force, and paid her respects alongside the procession route with policing colleagues from forces across the UK.

Speaking of the day’s events, PC Rosie Finnis said:

“As a police officer, you are a servant of the crown and it was a privilege to pay my respects to the reign of Her Majesty the Queen in this way.
“It has been the privilege of a lifetime to represent Essex Police at this pivotal moment in our country’s history.”

PC Finnis has been part of the Essex Police family since 2016, originally joining as a volunteer Special Constable whilst undertaking her degree.

She joined as a full-time police officer in 2018 and opted to miss her university graduation ceremony in favour of protecting and serving her county on a response shift.

Former Chief Inspector Alan Cook, who served with the force for 30 years, helped to lead the Contingent on the day.

He was appointed to co-ordinate all matters in relation to the Civil Service Contingent in 2018 and represented St John Ambulance Service, who he has been volunteering with for 47 years.

Flags across the Essex Police estate have remained at half mast – other than the rise to acknowledge the Accession Council – to honour and remember Queen Elizabeth II following her passing on Thursday 8 September.
They will be raised again today, Tuesday 20 September.

Deputy Chief Constable Andy Prophet led staff and officers in pledging their allegiance to King Charles III following his Proclamation on Sunday 11 September.

Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington led the force in a two-minute silence to pay our respects to Her Majesty the Queen, prior to her state funeral on Sunday evening (18 September) and again yesterday, Monday 19 September.

Chief Constable Harrington said:

“We continue to honour the memory of our Queen by proudly continuing our duty to protect and serve the public of Essex.”

We are proud to have sent officers to London and to every corner of our county to protect people and keep people safe over the last two weeks.

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