Former Staffordshire Police chief named as Queen's representative in county
A former police chief has expressed her delight at being named as one of the Queen's representatives in Staffordshire.
Jane Sawyers spent more than 30 years at Staffordshire Police and stepped down as Chief Constable in 2017.
She was one of 14 officers investigated by the police watchdog over the botched Kevin Nunes murder probe but was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing. Mr Nunes was gunned down in Pattingham in 2002 and five men later had their convictions overturned following the revelation of serious police failings in an embarrassing episode for the force, which overshadowed Mrs Sawyers' final years in the top role.
She has been named as one of six Deputy Lieutenants of Staffordshire, with the others including the former MP for Stafford Jeremy Lefroy. The honorary titles are awarded to those who have made significant contributions to their counties.
Mrs Sawyers, who was recently appointed as associate professor at Staffordshire University, said: “It is hard to put into words how delighted I am to be appointed a Deputy Lieutenant in the wonderful county of Staffordshire.
"I have lived in the county my whole life, served as a police officer here for over 33 years and now help educate future generations of young people at Staffordshire University.
Honour
"It is therefore an enormous honour to be able to help the Lord Lieutenant perform his duties and continue to serve the people of Staffordshire.”
The police watchdog recommended Mrs Sawyers had a case to answer for gross misconduct following the Nunes scandal but this was rejected by Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis.
She admitted in an interview with the Express & Star in 2017 that "mistakes had been made" by the force but strenuously denied there was ever a conspiracy.
The murder investigation was reopened by her successor as Chief Constable Gareth Morgan last year and is ongoing.
Detectives have pored over thousands of documents and re-tested evidence using new techniques since deciding to re-open the case. Witnesses from the original investigation have also been re-interviewed.
