Undercover Officer's Life Changed Forever by Vicious Father-Son Attack
PC Ryan Davis, a dedicated officer from West Mercia Police, has shared his harrowing ordeal after being brutally attacked by a father and son duo, an incident he describes as "the day his life changed". The assault left him with multiple broken bones and enduring mental health challenges, highlighting the severe risks faced by emergency workers.
The Day That Changed Everything
On a routine plain clothes operation in Hereford, aimed at protecting women and girls, PC Davis and his colleagues intervened in a violent altercation on Union Street. A member of the public was being assaulted by Richard Quinn, 49, and his son Alex Quinn, 20, who were later convicted for this offence in September 2024. When the officers stepped in to help, the situation escalated dramatically.
Two officers were initially injured by Carolynn Quinn, Richard's wife and Alex's mother, who was convicted of assaulting emergency workers. However, the attack on PC Davis took a far more vicious turn. Richard and Alex Quinn launched a cowardly assault, leaving him with a dislocated and broken ankle, a fractured lower leg, multiple other fractures, and severe facial lacerations, including damage to his eye.
A Sustained and Brutal Assault
Even as PC Davis lay defenceless on the ground, outnumbered and physically disabled by his injuries, the Quinns continued their relentless attack. They punched, kicked, stamped on, and strangled him while his colleagues were simultaneously assaulted by other family members. This brutal episode has had a profound impact, forcing PC Davis into months of trauma during his physical and mental rehabilitation, which included multiple surgeries to rebuild his body and his life.
He is still in recovery, grappling with both the physical scars and the mental health repercussions of that fateful day. The attack serves as a stark reminder of the dangers police officers face while serving their communities.
Sentencing and Official Responses
On Friday, February 20, Richard Quinn of Bridge Street in Hereford was sentenced at crown court to four years and three months for assault causing grievous bodily harm on PC Davis and for the assault on the member of the public. Alex Quinn, from the same address, received a sentence of three years and ten months for the same offences.
Chief Constable of West Mercia Police, Richard Cooper, condemned the attack, stating, "An attack on a police officer or indeed, any other emergency service worker, is an attack on society." He emphasized that officers are ordinary people with families and should be recognized as victims when attacked while protecting others. Cooper added that such incidents strain police resources and impact public service, reaffirming that assaults on officers will never be tolerated.
Lesley Williams, Secretary of the West Mercia Police Federation, expressed ongoing support for PC Davis, calling the attack "brutal and cowardly." She noted that while PC Davis has shown extraordinary courage, the Federation believes the sentences do not fully reflect the attack's brutality and its lasting physical and psychological effects. Williams reiterated calls for the toughest possible sentences for those who assault police officers, stressing that such violence cannot be dismissed as part of the job.
This case underscores the critical need for stronger protections and support for emergency workers, as they risk their lives to ensure community safety.
