Tributes to a 'true gentleman' as Shropshire police chief Andy Rowsell dies at age of 50
Tributes have been paid to one of Shropshire's top police officers who has died at the age of 50. Chief Superintendent Andy Rowsell died suddenly on Wednesday.
West Mercia police colleagues today paid tribute, describing him as a "true gentleman".
Mr Rowsell, who was in the force for 27 years, was appointed head of Local Policing (West) in December 2014, covering Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin.
Sarah-Jane Lynch, spokeswoman for the force, said Mr Rowsell was a "much loved husband and father as well as being a very well respected colleague and friend".
"He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with his family who have asked that their privacy be respected at this very sad time."
Kirsty Smallman, former crime correspondent at the Shropshire Star, said: "Andy was a true gentleman and although always professional, he was always approachable and a lovely person to deal with throughout my career as the crime correspondent.
"I am sure his colleagues who thought so much of him are devastated."
Special Chief Inspector Chris Smith described Mr Rowsell as a "truly exceptional, dedicated and experienced policeman".
Mr Rowsell began his career in Ludlow, where he spent three years before being appointed detective constable at Leominster for a further three years.
He later undertook a secondment to the National Criminal Intelligence Service. Following promotion to chief inspector in 2002, he moved to Shrewsbury, initially in uniform and then as detective chief inspector, head of the Shropshire CID.
Two years later, he transferred to the Major Crime Investigation Unit as a full time senior investigating officer, running many murder and other serious crime inquiries.
In 2005 he was promoted to detective superintendent and in 2008 he was appointed divisional commander for Shropshire.
In December 2011 he became head of crime, with responsibility for Major Crime Investigations, Serious and Organised Crime, Counter Terrorism, Intelligence, Forensic Services, Protecting Vulnerable People and Force Operations.
