One of the country’s most senior police officers was discovered dead at his home in a suspected suicide just 12 days after retiring at the age of 55.
Simon Cole, a married father of two who spent over 30 years in policing, including 12 years as the chief of Leicestershire Police, was discovered dead yesterday at his rural home 10 miles south of Leicester.
His former force announced last night the death of its former chief constable, who also served as national president of the Association of Chief Police Officers’ mental health committee.
The force has not disclosed the cause of death, but has confirmed that the case has been referred to the coroner, who investigates sudden unexplained deaths such as suicides.
Temporary Chief Constable Rob Nixon stated that Simon was well-liked and respected throughout the force and that it is ‘difficult to put into words how devastating this news is.’ His wife Jo and children Ben and Emily survive him.
He became one of the country’s youngest chief constables in 2010, at the age of 43, but revealed in January that he was almost never a police officer due to medical concerns.
He applied to join Leicestershire Police as a PC following his graduation from university but was denied due to his colour blindness. Because West Midlands Police did not have the same policy, he began his career there in 1988 and rose through the ranks. Simon joined Hampshire Constabulary in 2008 as Deputy Chief Constable before moving to Leicestershire two years later as Chief.
After his retirement was announced, he told the Leicester Mercury that recent cases that shaped his life included the ‘heinous’ murder of Kayleigh Haywood, the Hinckley Road gas explosion that killed five people, and the King Power Stadium helicopter crash that killed the pilot and four passengers, including Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.
‘Our hearts go out to his family during this difficult time, and we will assist them in any way we can,’ he said.
‘I am aware that Simon had a significant impact on a number of communities in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland, and his death will be felt by a large number of the people with whom he worked.
‘All we can do now is come together and mourn the passing of a great man.’
Simon Cole, who grew up in Leicestershire, served in the force for 30 years and was the UK’s longest-serving Chief Constable, taking over in June 2010.
During the pandemic, he spoke out about the importance of officers discussing their mental health, saying, ‘When you go out in a police car, you check the tyres, the siren, the oil, and the lights to ensure they all work… people are also part of the toolkit, and this stuff matters.’
Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, tweeted: ‘I am heartbroken to learn of the passing of former Chief Constable Simon Cole QPM.
‘He was committed to serving the people of Leicestershire, the county in which he was raised, and devoted his life to policing.’
‘I am shocked and deeply saddened to learn of this tragic news,’ said Rupert Matthews, police and crime commissioner for Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland.
‘Simon Cole embodied the ideal of a great Chief Constable, unwavering in his commitment to public service. We live in a safer environment as a result of his leadership.’
‘Simon was a dedicated and committed public servant who made a significant contribution across Leicestershire and Rutland,’ Harborough MP Neil O’Brien tweeted.
Leicestershire County Council leader Nick Rushton said: ‘We have lost an exceptional public servant whose life mission was to strengthen and protect our communities.
‘At this difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with his police colleagues and family.’
In his farewell address to the force, he stated that it was ‘in good financial and operational shape’ and referred to his time serving as a ‘great honour.’
‘It has been an enormous privilege to lead Leicestershire Police since 2010 and to serve the communities in which I grew up,’ he said.
‘For more than a decade, their [his officers’] unflinching acts of bravery, compassion, and determination have inspired me on a daily basis.
‘They have served as a constant reminder of why I became a police officer and the positive difference I can make.
‘During my tenure as Chief Constable, I saw and experienced the full scope of what policing is expected to accomplish, as well as the unexpected.
‘From Covid lockdowns and high-profile emergency situations to Premier League celebrations and even the reburial of a mediaeval king.
‘Throughout, however, I’ve been most proud of the force’s ability to provide excellent service to the public and foster trust in neighbourhoods and communities – whether it’s safeguarding children, resolving complex investigations, apprehending county lines gangs and domestic abusers, or simply chatting over a samosa or a pork pie at a local event.’
Simon served as the force’s representative on the Strategic Partnership Board, where he collaborated with partners from across the force area to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.
According to the force, he had a significant impact on national policing portfolios and served in a variety of volunteer capacities, ranging from visiting university fellow to vice president of a Guides and Scouts group.
He was also an avid sportsman, chairing the Leicestershire Police Sports and Leisure Section, the Force Benevolent Fund, and the Lawn Tennis, Cricket, and Rugby Sections of Police Sport UK (PSUK).
Simon was ecstatic to receive the Queen’s Police Medal in the 2014 New Year’s Honours List, as well as an Honorary Doctor of Arts degree from De Montfort University. Simon was presented with the Sir Robert Peel Medal by Cambridge University’s Institute of Criminology in 2020.