Michael J. Todd
Encyclopedia
Michael J. Todd QPM
(10 August 1957 — 11 March 2008), was Chief Constable
of Greater Manchester Police
from 2002 until his death.
and later attended the University of Essex
. He graduated with a first class honours degree in government in 1989 and a masters degree in politics
in 1994. The university named him the alumnus of the year in 2003 for his contributions to policing and the community. He joined Essex Police
in 1976, and the Metropolitan Police
on a management exchange programme, rising to the position of Assistant Commissioner
. Todd then became Assistant Chief Constable in Nottinghamshire
, before becoming the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police from 2002. In 2006 he became a vice president of ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers
), a post he held until his death.
the extraordinary rendition
flights conducted by the CIA to transport detainees.
in 2005 to demonstrate that the stun gun
s were safe; This was an effort to have them more widely issued to police officers. "I couldn't move, it hurt like hell," he said after recovering. "I wouldn't want to do that again."
, North Wales
, started a search for him at 01:00 on 11 March 2008. After being alerted by hill walkers who found personal possessions, they found Todd's body in the Bwlch Glas area of Snowdon
. The post-mortem
report initially found "no obvious cause" of death.
After his death, Manchester
Chamber of Commerce
Chief Executive Angie Robinson was reported to have been having an affair with Todd. Todd's widow Carolyn paid tribute to "a caring and loving father and husband."
The inquest
into his death was opened and adjourned on 13 March 2008. The inquest ruled that Todd had died from exposure
, essentially freezing to death having been only lightly clothed on the slopes of Snowdon.
Queen's Police Medal
The Queen's Police Medal is awarded to police officers in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth for gallantry or distinguished service. Recipients may use the post-nominal letters "QPM", although the right to use these was only granted officially on 20 July 1969...
(10 August 1957 — 11 March 2008), was Chief Constable
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
of Greater Manchester Police
Greater Manchester Police
Greater Manchester Police is the police force responsible for law enforcement within the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester in North West England...
from 2002 until his death.
Biography
Todd grew up in Essex where he attended the Billericay SchoolBillericay School
The Billericay School is a co-educational secondary comprehensive school with a mixed-ability intake and sixth form college in Billericay, England. The school is led by headmistress Sue Hammond. The enrollment of the school is 1655 The school has Artsmark and Sportsmark designations and is one of...
and later attended the University of Essex
University of Essex
The University of Essex is a British campus university whose original and largest campus is near the town of Colchester, England. Established in 1963 and receiving its Royal Charter in 1965...
. He graduated with a first class honours degree in government in 1989 and a masters degree in politics
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
in 1994. The university named him the alumnus of the year in 2003 for his contributions to policing and the community. He joined Essex Police
Essex Police
Essex Police is a territorial police force responsible for policing the county of Essex in the east of England.It is one of the largest non-metropolitan police forces in the United Kingdom, employing approximately 3,600 police officers and operating across an area of over and with a population of...
in 1976, and the Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan Police Service
The Metropolitan Police Service is the territorial police force responsible for Greater London, excluding the "square mile" of the City of London which is the responsibility of the City of London Police...
on a management exchange programme, rising to the position of Assistant Commissioner
Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, usually just Assistant Commissioner , is the third highest rank in London's Metropolitan Police, ranking below Deputy Commissioner and above Deputy Assistant Commissioner. There are usually four officers in the rank...
. Todd then became Assistant Chief Constable in Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
, before becoming the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police from 2002. In 2006 he became a vice president of ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers
Association of Chief Police Officers
The Association of Chief Police Officers , established in 1948, is a private limited company that leads the development of policing practice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.ACPO provides a forum for chief police officers to share ideas and coordinates the strategic...
), a post he held until his death.
Investigation of CIA extraordinary rendition flights
Todd investigated on behalf of the Association of Chief Police OfficersAssociation of Chief Police Officers
The Association of Chief Police Officers , established in 1948, is a private limited company that leads the development of policing practice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.ACPO provides a forum for chief police officers to share ideas and coordinates the strategic...
the extraordinary rendition
Extraordinary rendition
Extraordinary rendition is the abduction and illegal transfer of a person from one nation to another. "Torture by proxy" is used by some critics to describe situations in which the United States and the United Kingdom have transferred suspected terrorists to other countries in order to torture the...
flights conducted by the CIA to transport detainees.
Taser demonstration
Todd allowed himself to be hit by a TaserTaser
A Taser is an electroshock weapon that uses electrical current to disrupt voluntary control of muscles. Its manufacturer, Taser International, calls the effects "neuromuscular incapacitation" and the devices' mechanism "Electro-Muscular Disruption technology"...
in 2005 to demonstrate that the stun gun
Stun gun
Stun gun may refer to:*Electroshock weapon, an incapacitant weapon that momentarily disables a person with an electric shock*Directed-energy weapon, a weapon that emits energy in an aimed direction without projectile, if it causes unconsciousness...
s were safe; This was an effort to have them more widely issued to police officers. "I couldn't move, it hurt like hell," he said after recovering. "I wouldn't want to do that again."
Personal life
He was married with three children, a daughter and twin boys. His social interests included Warhammer (Space Marines), computer gaming and reading, particularly military and political biographies.Death
After Todd was reported missing by Greater Manchester Police, rescue teams from LlanberisLlanberis
Llanberis is a village in Gwynedd, North Wales, lying on the southern banks of Llyn Padarn in Snowdonia. It takes its name from Saint Peris, an early Welsh saint.According to the United Kingdom Census 2001, the population of Llanberis was 1,954...
, North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
, started a search for him at 01:00 on 11 March 2008. After being alerted by hill walkers who found personal possessions, they found Todd's body in the Bwlch Glas area of Snowdon
Snowdon
Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales, at an altitude of above sea level, and the highest point in the British Isles outside Scotland. It is located in Snowdonia National Park in Gwynedd, and has been described as "probably the busiest mountain in Britain"...
. The post-mortem
Autopsy
An autopsy—also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy , autopsia cadaverum, or obduction—is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present...
report initially found "no obvious cause" of death.
After his death, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
Chief Executive Angie Robinson was reported to have been having an affair with Todd. Todd's widow Carolyn paid tribute to "a caring and loving father and husband."
The inquest
Inquest
Inquests in England and Wales are held into sudden and unexplained deaths and also into the circumstances of discovery of a certain class of valuable artefacts known as "treasure trove"...
into his death was opened and adjourned on 13 March 2008. The inquest ruled that Todd had died from exposure
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a condition in which core temperature drops below the required temperature for normal metabolism and body functions which is defined as . Body temperature is usually maintained near a constant level of through biologic homeostasis or thermoregulation...
, essentially freezing to death having been only lightly clothed on the slopes of Snowdon.
External links
- Obituary in The Times, 12 March 2008