A WEST Mercia officer who began his career in Bromsgrove headed down to Buckingham Palace this week to receive the prestigious Queen’s Police Medal.
Lee Davenport was given the accolade in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his dedication to policing.
After starting as a constable in September 1988 he was posted to Bromsgrove.
He then became detective constable in 1999 before stepping up to sergeant in 2001.
He moved to Hereford in 2006 where he became inspector, covering a variety of stations as in his role and as detective inspector.
He became detective chief inspector in 2008, superintendent in 2011 and chief superintendent in 2016 where he was based in Worcester.
And as a specialist firearms commander he was deployed to a number of national high profile incidents, including the search for Dale Cregan in 2012.
Before his retirement Lee was Head of the National Police Coordination Centre, co-ordinating the operational response across the service to threats such as terrorism, organised crime and national emergencies.
He built better relationships between agencies so they could more effectively respond to national emergencies and work closer across force and international borders.
Lee was nominated as a highly respected, experienced and resourceful senior police leader who is driven by his dedication to protecting the public and the significant impact he has had on improving the police so it is better placed to deal with major incidents.
Chief Constable Anthony Bangham congratulated the officer on his ‘significant achievement’ and said he was delighted Lee had received the QPM for his commitment to policing and to West Mercia.
“His dedication has never gone unnoticed by the force and we’re pleased that it is also now being celebrated on a national basis,” he added.
