Edward Tyrer
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Edward Tyrer QPM CPM (born Egg; Traditional Chinese: 戴磊華, formerly 邰華,[nb 1] 19 September 1917 – 24 August 2004) was a senior British colonial police officer who was Commissioner of Police, Hong Kong, from December 1966 to July 1967.
Edward Tyrer | |
---|---|
Commissioner of Police, Hong Kong | |
In office 19 December 1966 – 21 July 1967 | |
Governor | Sir David Trench |
Preceded by | Henry Heath |
Succeeded by | Ted Eates |
Personal details | |
Born | Edward Tyrer Egg 19 September 1917 British Guiana |
Died | 24 August 2004(2004-08-24) (aged 86) Bedfordshire, United Kingdom |
Profession | Police, civil servant |
When the leftist riots broke out in May 1967, he was unable to command the Force because he had been on vacation leave in Britain. Shortly after returning in mid-June, he suddenly flew to London on 14 July to report the latest development to the Commonwealth Office. And on 21 July, he was approved for early retirement on "health grounds", leaving many speculations as to the real reasons behind his decision. A few pieces of confidential official documents declassified and released in 2012 revealed that Tyrer was instructed to apply for immediate early retirement because he had refused to follow the instructions of the acting governor Michael Gass to suppress the riots.
Tyrer joined the Trinidad police force as a police cadet in 1937 and was promoted to the rank of Assistant Superintendent the next year. During World War II, he saw active service in the Army from 1939 to 1942 before serving briefly in British India's police force. In September 1945, he joined the British provisional military administration of Hong Kong as a captain, handling policing matters in the territories. He was later appointed an Assistant Superintendent of the Hong Kong Police in 1946, an Assistant Commissioner in 1953, and Deputy Commissioner in 1963. He was sent to Britain for advanced police training in 1952, 1956 and 1963 prior to becoming Commissioner.