This announcement was received last night from Rob Atkin, the acting borough commander:
PC Mark Parsons
It is with immense regret and sadness that I have to announce the death of a serving Croydon police officer.
PC Mark Parsons, who was only 43 years old, sadly died on Tuesday (6 November 2012), whilst off-duty after he had gone out in the morning to Beckenham. Mark collapsed whilst he was out and despite the best efforts of the paramedics and medical staff at Croydon University Hospital, he died later that morning. A cause of death has yet to be established at this time.
Mark was an experienced PC on the Fieldway Safer Neighbourhoods Team in New Addington, having previously served with Kent Police for several years and also with the MPS for eight years prior to this. He rejoined the MPS and spent the past five years serving as a Metropolitan Police officer on Safer Neighbourhoods Teams in Croydon – he was a true ‘Bobby on the Beat’.
He was an outstanding police officer who genuinely cared about the people and communities he served. Mark was held in the highest regard by his colleagues here in Croydon and also by the people who lived and worked in the wards of Fieldway and Heathfield, where he spent much of his time. He will be deeply missed by all of his friends and colleagues here at Croydon.
Our thoughts are with Mark’s wife, two children and family and we will be doing all we can to support them at this terrible time.
Funeral arrangements are yet to be made.
This is just so sad. I knew him well, when he was Acting Sergeant for the Heathfield SNT. We spoke often. A wonderful officer. RIP.