Acting Sergeant Brian 'Bill' John Bishop

• Served with Essex County Constabulary from 11 August 1966.
• Died on 27 August 1984.

Brian “Bill” Bishop served with Essex County Constabulary from 11 August 1966 until his death on 27 August 1984.

Bill was born on 24 July 1947 and joined Essex Constabulary as a cadet when he was just 15. Dog handlers gave him the nickname “Bill” because his hairstyle reminded them of Wild Bill Hickok.

He became Police Constable 389 on 11 August 1966 and was first posted to Colchester. Two years later, he joined the Dog Section as a handler. In 1975, he moved to the Force Support Unit and later became a firearms instructor. At 6ft 7in tall, he was known as “The Gentle Giant.”

The day of the incident

On 22 August 1984, Bill and other officers were called to Central Avenue, Frinton, near the seafront. Earlier that day, a man had robbed two post offices in Walton and Frinton using a sawn-off shotgun. He stole thousands of pounds and hid the money near a railway embankment.

Police had already spoken to the suspect after the first robbery, but he was released after his mother gave him an alibi. He then carried out the second robbery. Officers kept watch near the hidden cash. When the suspect returned carrying a bag, Bill shouted, “Armed Police. Stop!” The man pulled out a gun hidden in the bag and shot Bill in the head. Sergeant Mervyn Fairweather was also shot and injured. Another officer returned fire, hitting the gunman.

Bill was taken to St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London but died five days later. The suspect, a 35-year-old man from Brentwood, was arrested at the scene and later charged with murder.

The trial and sentence

On 19 July 1985, the suspect appeared at Norwich Crown Court in a wheelchair, as he was paralysed from the waist down. He was found guilty of Bill Bishop’s murder and wounding Sergeant Fairweather. He was sentenced to life in prison. The judge praised the bravery of the officers and said, “I only wish Bill Bishop was here to hear the commendation.”

Honouring his memory

On 19 February 1986, Home Secretary Douglas Hurd unveiled a memorial stone near the spot where Bill was shot. It was funded by the Police Memorial Trust, which honours officers killed in the line of duty. Bill’s memorial was the first outside London. Despite cold weather and snow flurries, hundreds attended, including Bill’s widow Sue, their 10-year-old son David, and his parents.

Since then, a small garden has been created around the memorial, and schoolchildren have planted spring bulbs nearby. A road in Walton-on-the-Naze was named “Brian Bishop Close,” and a walnut tree was planted at Sandon Dog Unit in his honour.

This article is based on Essex Police’s History Notebook Number 28, “A Gentle Giant,” written by Bill Bishop’s widow Susan in 1997.

Brain John Bishop 1947-1984
Essex Police
On 22nd August 1984 Brian Bishop, a member of the Tactical Firearms Group, was called to Frinton-on-Sea to await the return of an armed robber to collect stolen money which he had hidden. 'Bill' challenged the suspect who immediately opened fire causing extensive injuries from which 'Bill' subsequently died. Colin Richards was convicted of his murder.