Bromyard officers praised for finding boy

10:50am Thursday 7th August 2008

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TWO Herefordshire off-duty police officers have been praised by the county's top policeman for their efforts in finding a missing boy.

PC John Meek and Special Constable Charles Pudge, who are part of the Bromyard team, have been commended by chief superintendent Mark Turner for their prompt action in finding the missing 9-year old boy.

PC John Meek received a phone call at home from someone saying he had seen a boy cycling from Bromyard towards Hereford.

The officers found the boy asleep in a barn on a Moreton Jeffries farm after they used their local knowledge to ask local farmers to search outbuildings.

"The prompt action and extensive local knowledge of these two officers allowed us to bring matters to a swift and safe conclusion, saving the force considerable time and money," said chief superintendent Mark Turner.

"But more than that, it shows the dedication to duty that we hope all our staff aspire to.

"It might have been easy to take the call and just pass it on, but both men responded to the emergency in true West Mercia style, acting with professionalism and dedication, which ultimately saw the boy returned safely home to his family."

The two officers also conducted house-to-house enquiries while the search was on for the boy who was believed to be on his bike.

A police helicopter and a team of dogs took also part in the full-blown search on July 7.