PC Ian Dibell shooting death: 200 attend church service

PC Ian Dibell was shot while intervening in a row

A church service for people affected by the "heroic" death of a police officer has been held in the Essex town where he was shot.

Off-duty PC Ian Dibell was killed in Redbridge Road, in Clacton-on-Sea, on Monday after intervening in a dispute near his home.

Peter Reeve, 64, his suspected killer, was found dead the next day.

About 200 people attended the service at St John the Baptist Church, in Great Clacton, including many police staff.

Essex Police said any officers who wanted to attend were given the opportunity to do so.

'Extraordinary man'

The church said the gathering was for "all who have been affected by the shootings and heroic death of PC Ian Dibell".

Rev Guy Thorburn, who led the 35-minute service, said the church was packed.

Rev Guy Thorburn said about 200 people attended the service

"There were a number of police officers and many more in plain clothes," he said. "There were also about 12 members of Ian's friends and family present.

"The church felt that we should do something and decided we should have this service for the community.

"Quite a lot of the church family lives in the area where Ian lived and we felt this would be the right thing to do."

PC Dibell, 41, was shot after stepping in during a row between 48-year-old Trevor Marshall, his girlfriend and Mr Reeve in Redbridge Road.

Mr Marshall suffered leg injuries. His girlfriend was unhurt.

PC Dibell has been described as "an extraordinary man and an exceptional police officer" by Essex Police Authority.

Post-mortem tests show he died from a single bullet wound to the chest.

An inquest heard Mr Reeve, who was found dead with a handgun in a churchyard at Writtle, near Chelmsford, was seen to shoot himself in the head.