TRIBUTES have been paid to a devoted father and "compassionate" police officer.

Dave Page, a serving officer with Cleveland Police, died this week.

The father-of-two had worked in policing for 13 years in a variety of roles. 

Chief Constable Richard Lewis paid tribute to police constable Page, while flags were flown at half mast this week.

He said: "Our thoughts remain with his family, friends and colleagues at this extremely difficult time. Cleveland Police has lost a hugely important member of our policing family with the sudden passing of a serving officer, Dave Page, PC 2217 this week.

It’s standard practice to place rank and collar number before an officer’s name but it feels inappropriate to me for one important reason; Dave was first and foremost a family man.

As such, his rank and collar number are secondary to the most important role he played; being a loving husband to Helen and devoted father to two wonderful young children.

"This devotion to what’s important in life had the effect of making Dave excellent at what he did, which was being a compassionate and effective police officer.

"As Chief Constable at Cleveland Police, my place is not to speak on behalf of his family; others who love him and knew him intimately will do a far more effective job of that.

"My role is to place on record our thanks for his work safeguarding communities and to tell people about the impact he had on people’s lives whilst at work.

"There is no more worthy way to spend your career than in the service of others and Dave was a model officer who served others every day by keeping the people of Cleveland, an area he loved, safe.

"In a career spanning 13 years, Dave worked tirelessly in various commands including Response, CID, neighbourhoods and offender management.

"Cleveland Police is a family which extends beyond those we employ to their loved ones. I know how invested the family of officers, staff and volunteers are in the work their loved ones do here.

"Dave’s family are an important part of our extended police family and we will always be here to lend a hand and be there for them – that’s what families do.

"There are also thousands of members of the public across the Cleveland area who will never know how much safer Dave made their lives through his work, which is a worthy legacy and I thank Dave on behalf of them all."

Cleveland Police has opened a book of condelences and has been flying its flags at half mast as a sign of respect. 

Wellbeing services have been made available to PC Page's team and the wider workforce.