Stephen 'Steve' Taylor

Served with Essex Police from July 30, 1979 and died on June 1, 1989.

Police Constable Stephen 'Steve' Taylor - affectionately known to his friends and colleagues as `Buck' - had married, adopting two children in the process, just three years before his death. Two years as a Special Constable in Wickford led him to join the force.

He began his service at Tilbury, where his interest in diving as a sport fostered a desire to qualify as a police diver. After transferring to the Force Support Unit in August 1983 Steve Taylor achieved that ambition, and also became a firearms officer. He had a great sense of fun and made friends easily, and after becoming a diving supervisor in August 1987 he set his ambitions even higher, studying for his sergeant's exam and possible service on police launches.

On 1st June 1989 the divers were on a routine exercise in some gravel pits near Dobbs Weir, close to Nazeing. While diving into the wreck of an old barge Steve Taylor and Andy Morrison got into severe difficulties which led to their deaths. Steve Taylor died at the scene.