TRIBUTES have poured in for a much-loved and highly respected Inverclyde police officer who has tragically passed away just seven months after retiring from the job he loved.

Sergeant Danny Godfrey served for 30 years, with more than half of his career spent here in the district.

Danny passed away last Friday after a short battle against illness but will never be forgotten by those who knew him and worked with him.

Former Inverclyde area police commander Debbie Reilly led the tributes to her colleague and friend.

Retired Superintendent Reilly said: "Danny was a one-off, an incredibly intelligent man who really cared for the public and he was someone who would go the extra mile.

"He would light up a room and he would entertain everyone with his stories.

"Danny had so much experience of life, he was so respectful of colleagues of all ranks and of the roles councillors had to play.

"His loss is a big loss to everybody."

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Danny's passion was for community policing and he was also the local authority liaison officer and worked closely with the Telegraph on coverage of drugs raids, speeding campaigns and on seizures of alcohol from underage people.

Former Superintendent Reilly told how she had known Danny for at least 15 years and served alongside him when they were both sergeants.

She said: "Danny's passing has come as a great shock to everyone.

"He was really dedicated to the people of Inverclyde. It's so unfair that he only got seven months after he retired. I know he was looking forward to spending time with his family."

Danny hailed from Glasgow and worked with BT as a telecommunications engineer, with the company also sponsoring his electrical engineering degree at Glasgow University.

But he wanted a change, and to work with people in communities, so he joined the police at the age of 30.

At the time of his retiral, Danny told the Tele: "I like working with people, problem solving and helping them, so working in the police was fantastic. I had lots of different pathways and opportunities.

"It has been very varied working here and character building.  In Inverclyde, there are wealthy areas and areas that are very deprived but the most important thing is the people, they are great.

"It was a joy driving into Greenock every day."

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Danny received an accolade at the Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Divisional Police Awards in 2017 for ‘Making A Difference’. It was an honour recognising his dedication in all areas of policing, including major incidents, covert operations and campaigns.

Councillor Michael McCormick worked closely with Danny and said he 'was a larger than life character.'

Councillor McCormick said: "He was a great guy and a great help to me.

"He came to community council meetings and I remember him coming to Belville Tenants and Residents meetings and he was so passionate and became so emotional about what he was doing.

"Whenever I'm no longer involved in the council and I think back of the people who have made an impact, Danny will fall into that category.

"I am really saddened, he was a community cop who got to know his patch and had a way of dealing with incidents and members of the public. 

"I could pick up the phone to Danny and know that something would be in place to fix the problem."

Danny's dedication to the job and empathy for people came to the fore after an 83-year-old woman was mugged in the east end of Greenock.

He visited the woman, who was badly shaken by her ordeal, made sure she had money and took her shopping.

Councillor McCormick said: "I knew the lady, she used to come into the post office, and someone snatched her bag.

"Danny was dealing with it and he was as annoyed as the rest of the whole community. He was really supportive."

"We had a whip round, in the newsagents and post office and had a collection for her.

"I am really saddened by Danny's passing and want to pass on my condolences to his wife and children."

Danny lived in Renfrewshire and was married to Elaine, a retired teacher, and they have a grown up son and daughter.

In his spare time he played shinty and coached judo and hockey and also enjoyed hillwalking.

His daughter Molly paid tribute to him on social media, saying: "Dad, you were too kind for this world and you were loved by everyone who met and had the pleasure of knowing you. 

"Thank you for looking after our little family for your whole life and always putting us before yourself.

"Thank you for giving me the weird and wonderful parts of yourself especially your sense of adventure and the ability to chew the ear off anyone I meet .

"You will be missed by everyone in our world."