A HEROIC police officer who was the last County Durham policeman to be killed in the line of duty was remembered at a special service on the 40th anniversary of his death.
DC James Brian Porter – known as Jim - was just 31 when he was shot dead by Eddie Horner on March 4, 1982.
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Horner, along with two other men, had raided a factory at Bishop Auckland and DC Porter was fatally wounded when he bravely confronted him whilst he was trying to escape across a field.
Today (March 4) around 100 people including DC Porter’s family, retired colleagues and serving officers gathered at Durham Police’s headquarters at Aykley Heads for a service and plaque unveiling in honour of the brave officer.
The plaque will be placed at the site of DC Porter’s death in Woodhouses later this year.
At the service, Deputy Chief Constable Dave Orford paid tribute to DC Porter, saying that he made the ‘ultimate sacrifice’ and that his courage would never be forgotten.
Retired policeman Jim Muter, 73, worked with DC Porter on traffic patrol for five years from 1975 and the pair were very close - being known as ‘Big Jim and Little Jim’ among their colleagues.
Mr Muter hailed his former partner’s policing skills, joking that they made a perfect partnership as he would doggedly chase suspects down and DC Porter would ‘sit on them’ and handcuff them once they were caught.
He said: “If he walked into a room everybody would know he was in the room, he just commanded attention and he was a jolly giant, that was a good way to describe him.
“But when we got to work he was a real, proper, professional police officer and we had loads and loads of good catches between us in five years.”
Mr Muter said the service and the plaque were a fitting tribute to his former friend and colleague, adding: “The lad should have been knighted.”
In a statement, DC Porter’s family said: “The death of Jim left a massive hole in our lives, and 40 years on this has not changed.
“He had his whole life ahead of him when he was taken from us.
“He loved his job, and his actions show the kind of courageous man he was.
“He would do anything to protect people but sadly made the ultimate sacrifice.
“It has been an emotional day, but we are grateful to have this opportunity to remember Jim with today’s service.”
Geraldine Winner, whose husband Michael founded the Police Memorial Trust which organised the service, said that although memorials for Forces personnel are commonplace, it was also important to remember that police officers ‘fight a war every day that never ends’.
Speaking at the service, she said: “Paying tribute by placing this plaque in honour of the sacrifice made by DC Porter is an enduring legacy to the kind of people this country relies upon.
“And there are thousands more police men and women no less heroic.
“They know, but for a twist of fate, it could be them one fateful day when their life ends.”
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DCC Orford said it was poignant that today’s anniversary of the last day DC Porter spent in uniform was also his own last day in uniform ahead of his retirement.
He told The Northern Echo: “Today is hugely emotional for us.
“Police officers are all one big family and lots of Jim’s friends, relatives and colleagues who served with him are here today.
“And even though it was many years ago, you never forget.
“Today is my last day in uniform for the force and when you join as a police officer you never know what you are going to face; you run into danger and Jim didn’t know what he was facing that day and we need to remember that.”
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