Tributes have been paid 'a truly amazing and inspiring' police officer who has died after a battle with cancer.
Sergeant Daniel Wakefield, 50, served with distinction in the Tameside division but had recently fallen ill. Colleagues say he 'remained positive' despite failing health.
Today (Friday) Greater Manchester Police confirmed the officer, who spent some time acting up as an inspector, has passed away following a battle with cancer. The married father-of-two, a renowned workplace joker, joined the force in 1996.
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One friend and colleague, Jim Forster, tweeted: "He was my Sgt, my Inspector but most of all he was my mate. Pushed me to do things I never thought I could and made me a better cop and person. Rest easy Dan, RIP."
Other colleagues described him as 'such a great guy' with 'a very loud laugh', and a family man.
Colleagues remember him as a practical joker. He once persuaded a young police officer that table tennis bats laying about at Hyde police station were to be used to help the approaching police helicopter to land, only to discover there was no helipad on the roof as had been suggested.
His boss on the Tameside division of GMP, Chief Superintendent Rob Cousen, said: "Dan was just a truly amazing and inspiring person. He was a dedicated officer, husband, and dad to Oli and Beth.
"He loved sport, was funny, witty and had a great smile and a very loud laugh. When he walked in a room he lit it up with his presence.
"Along with lots of other colleagues and friends, I spent time with Dan whilst he was fighting his illness and he remained positive and retained his great sense of humour. Even through his toughest days, he always wanted to help others, he was inspirational.
"Dan would want us to celebrate his life and the fact we had the honour of knowing him. He was a great friend and colleague, and he will be deeply missed by many."
Lee Broadbent, chair of the Greater Manchester branch of the Police Federation, which represents rank and file cops, said: "Dan was a much loved friend and colleague. A brilliant supervisor who put his people front and centre to ensure they were supported in doing the difficult job we ask of them.
"He was knowledgeable, thoughtful, kind and caring. Everything you want a supervisor to be. He’ll be greatly missed by all who knew him. A truly wonderful person."
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