A BENCH in memory of a Barnsley police officer who died 30 years ago will finally take pride of place at a local police station.
Gina Corin Rutherford, 25, died on February 7, 1994.
She drowned in the early hours of the morning when the patrol car, in which she was the observer, skidded off an icy road and plunged upside down into the River Dearne at Wath-upon-Dearne, trapping her inside.
A memorial bench was subsequently fitted in her honour but had been stored at Goldthorpe Library until the refurbishment of the site began recently.
Couns Sue Bellamy and Martin Morrell decided to take in the bench and donated it to Wombwell Police Station on Wednesday, where it will take pride of place.
Sue told the Chronicle: “We don’t know how long it had been there.
“When the library was going to be refurbished, we decided to take it in because we didn’t want it to be skipped.
“We brought it to our house and then handed it over to Wombwell Police Station this week and it’ll be placed in their memorial garden.
“It’s good that it’s finally going to get a permanent home.”
