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The officer killed himself before 3am on Wednesday morning, police said. Photo: HK Police Offbeat

Hong Kong police inspector kills himself in North Point police station

Tributes have been paid to an "experienced and well liked" police officer who died after he shot himself in North Point police station.

Tributes have been paid to an "experienced and well liked" police officer who died after he shot himself in North Point police station.

Chief Inspector Andrew Philips was found slumped in a chair in his second-floor office early yesterday with a single bullet wound to his head.

Philips, 50, a Hong Kong policeman for 27 years after joining in 1987, was a member of the Eastern district crime investigation division.

Senior Superintendent Ip Chi-keung said initial investigations indicated suicide, adding that Philips had no known financial or health problems.

A police spokeswoman said one shot was fired, leaving an entry wound on one side of Philips' head and an exit wound on the other.

A colleague found him in his chair at around 2.40am. His gun was on the floor next to his body. A doctor pronounced him dead at the scene.

Overseas Inspectors' Association chairman Ron Abbott described Philips as an experienced and well liked officer who had served in a variety of uniformed and CID posts.

"Andy joined the force in 1987 and went through the Police Training School around the same time as quite a few of us who are still serving," Abbott said.

"A keen sportsman, he was also a highly accomplished squash player. His friends and colleagues are going to miss his big smile and sense of humour. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this very difficult time."

Ip said Philips was not involved in any police operations related to Occupy Central.

"I don't think it's appropriate to pull [Philips' death] together with Occupy Central," he said. "We just lost a colleague here."

He said a short suicide note contained no information about why Philips killed himself.

The dead officer was married with a son, 15, and a daughter, 13.

The non-government Suicide Prevention Services charity operates a 24-hour hotline on 2382 0000. The Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention lists various other helplines.

 

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: 'Well liked' officer kills himself in police station
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