MBE FOR FORMER OMAGH POLICE CHIEF
MBE for former Omagh police chief
A FORMER Omagh police chief was awarded the MBE in the New Year's Honours List.
He is Detective Chief Supt. Wynnfield Hooke (54), who is presently head of the RUC's Criminal Justice Administration Branch, but who is retiring early next month.
And he told the Tyrone Constitution this week that the award was "a delightful way to end a wonderful career".
Chief Supt. Hooke is a nephew of the late Mr and Mrs. Sam Hooke, formerly of Sedan Avenue, Omagh. Mrs. Hooke worked as an optician and her husband assisted in the business. The couple were both well-known and highly respected in the community.
The chief superintendent has given long and continuous service to the RUC and the community in a variety of posts throughout Northern Ireland. He has combined operational posts with periods in the training branch and his professionalism has fostered stronger links with other agencies in the criminal justice system, particularly the DPP and NI Courts Service.
Having served in Omagh as sub-divisional commander from 1986 to 1990, where he made many friends in the community, the police officer then moved to Enniskillen as deputy divisional commander of L division, which envelopes Omagh, Enniskillen and Lisnaskea areas.
Following that Chief Supt. Hooke took up the post of deputy training officer at Garnerville, Belfast, and then his present post in the Criminal Justice Administration Branch.
In 1992 he attended the Federal Executive Institute in Virginia, which trains senior US civil servants. He is vice-chairman of the RUC Historical Society and is heavily involved in church work which recently took him to Zambia.
Chief Supt. Hooke said he was delighted but surprised to receive the award, particularly as there were hundreds of others in the police force who, he said, would be equally deserving of it.
Reflecting on his time in Omagh, he said it was definitely one of the most rewarding times of his career for both he and his wife.
But he said it was also tinged with sadness because of the Ballygawley bus bombing and other terrorist atrocities during his time based in the town.
Meanwhile, a former police inspector in Omagh in the mid-80s and later detective chief inspector based in Enniskillen has received the Queen's Police Medal.
He is Detective Supt. John Middlemiss (57) who transferred to the RUC in 1980 from the Metropolitan Police as a sergeant.
He was one of the founding members of the Serious Crime Squad, a member of the Anti-Racketeering Squad and divisional head of CID.
Dignity
An experienced investigator, he led a specialist Body Recovery and Identification Team in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing of August 15, 1998, with dignity and compassion which enabled families to bury the remains of their loved ones.
He has just completed 12 months in Kosovo where he was regional commander of the Pristina region of the UN Police. Working in difficult conditions, his team of 1,500 officers provided executive policing services including the implementation of joint patrolling and operations with military colleagues, which won international praise due, in considerable measure, to his wholehearted commitment.
The Queen's Police Medal has also gone to a former police sergeant in Castlederg around the mid-70s. He is Supt. Harry Cully (50) who is deputy divisional commander for J division, which includes Portadown, Lurgan and Banbridge.
Supt. Cully has been hailed as a "diplomatic, inspirational and influential leader who has provided sterling work to the police service and the community".
A FORMER Omagh police chief was awarded the MBE in the New Year's Honours List.
He is Detective Chief Supt. Wynnfield Hooke (54), who is presently head of the RUC's Criminal Justice Administration Branch, but who is retiring early next month.
And he told the Tyrone Constitution this week that the award was "a delightful way to end a wonderful career".
Chief Supt. Hooke is a nephew of the late Mr and Mrs. Sam Hooke, formerly of Sedan Avenue, Omagh. Mrs. Hooke worked as an optician and her husband assisted in the business. The couple were both well-known and highly respected in the community.
The chief superintendent has given long and continuous service to the RUC and the community in a variety of posts throughout Northern Ireland. He has combined operational posts with periods in the training branch and his professionalism has fostered stronger links with other agencies in the criminal justice system, particularly the DPP and NI Courts Service.
Having served in Omagh as sub-divisional commander from 1986 to 1990, where he made many friends in the community, the police officer then moved to Enniskillen as deputy divisional commander of L division, which envelopes Omagh, Enniskillen and Lisnaskea areas.
Following that Chief Supt. Hooke took up the post of deputy training officer at Garnerville, Belfast, and then his present post in the Criminal Justice Administration Branch.
In 1992 he attended the Federal Executive Institute in Virginia, which trains senior US civil servants. He is vice-chairman of the RUC Historical Society and is heavily involved in church work which recently took him to Zambia.
Chief Supt. Hooke said he was delighted but surprised to receive the award, particularly as there were hundreds of others in the police force who, he said, would be equally deserving of it.
Reflecting on his time in Omagh, he said it was definitely one of the most rewarding times of his career for both he and his wife.
But he said it was also tinged with sadness because of the Ballygawley bus bombing and other terrorist atrocities during his time based in the town.
Meanwhile, a former police inspector in Omagh in the mid-80s and later detective chief inspector based in Enniskillen has received the Queen's Police Medal.
He is Detective Supt. John Middlemiss (57) who transferred to the RUC in 1980 from the Metropolitan Police as a sergeant.
He was one of the founding members of the Serious Crime Squad, a member of the Anti-Racketeering Squad and divisional head of CID.
Dignity
An experienced investigator, he led a specialist Body Recovery and Identification Team in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing of August 15, 1998, with dignity and compassion which enabled families to bury the remains of their loved ones.
He has just completed 12 months in Kosovo where he was regional commander of the Pristina region of the UN Police. Working in difficult conditions, his team of 1,500 officers provided executive policing services including the implementation of joint patrolling and operations with military colleagues, which won international praise due, in considerable measure, to his wholehearted commitment.
The Queen's Police Medal has also gone to a former police sergeant in Castlederg around the mid-70s. He is Supt. Harry Cully (50) who is deputy divisional commander for J division, which includes Portadown, Lurgan and Banbridge.
Supt. Cully has been hailed as a "diplomatic, inspirational and influential leader who has provided sterling work to the police service and the community".
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0838
Published Date: 04-Jan-01
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