# Ronald Gregory

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{{Short description|British police officer}}
{{Infobox police officer
| name             = Ronald Gregory
| honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE|QPM|DL}}
| image            = Ronald Gregory.jpg
| caption          = Gregory in 1980
| birth_date       = 23 October 1921
| birth_place      = [Preston, Lancashire](/source/Preston%2C_Lancashire), England
| death_date       = {{death date and age|df=y|9 April 2010|23 October 1921}}
| death_place      = 
| service_label    = Force
| service          = {{hlist|[Plymouth City Police](/source/Plymouth_City_Police)|[Devon and Cornwall Police](/source/Devon_and_Cornwall_Police)|[West Yorkshire Constabulary](/source/West_Yorkshire_Constabulary)|[West Yorkshire Police](/source/West_Yorkshire_Police)}}
| service_years    = 1941–1983
| rank             = [Chief Constable](/source/Chief_Constable)
| module           =
{{Infobox military person
  |embed         = yes
  |allegiance    = United Kingdom
  |branch        = [Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve](/source/Royal_Air_Force_Volunteer_Reserve) <br /> [Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve](/source/Royal_Naval_Volunteer_Reserve)
  |unit          = [Fleet Air Arm](/source/Fleet_Air_Arm)
  |service_years = 1942–1944 (RAFVR) <br /> 1944–1946 (RNVR)
  |rank          = [Flying officer](/source/Flying_officer) <br /> [Sub-lieutenant](/source/Sub-lieutenant)
  |battles       = [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War)
  |awards        = 
}}
}}
'''Ronald Gregory''', {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|CBE|QPM|DL}} (23 October 1921 – 9 April 2010), was a British police officer who served as [chief constable](/source/chief_constable) of [West Yorkshire Constabulary](/source/West_Yorkshire_Constabulary) and then [West Yorkshire Police](/source/West_Yorkshire_Police) from 1969 to 1983. He was head of the police force during its five-year [manhunt](/source/Manhunt_(law_enforcement)) for the [Yorkshire Ripper](/source/Yorkshire_Ripper), [Peter Sutcliffe](/source/Peter_Sutcliffe). 

Having been born in [Preston, Lancashire](/source/Preston%2C_Lancashire), Gregory served in the [Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve](/source/Royal_Air_Force_Volunteer_Reserve) and the [Fleet Air Arm](/source/Fleet_Air_Arm), [Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve](/source/Royal_Naval_Volunteer_Reserve) during the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War). Having returned to civilian life in 1946, he served as a police officer and detective in his home town of Preston. In 1962 or 1963, he was appointed [deputy chief constable](/source/deputy_chief_constable) of [Blackpool](/source/Blackpool). He was then chief constable of [Plymouth City Police](/source/Plymouth_City_Police) before becoming deputy chief constable of the newly created [Devon and Cornwall Police](/source/Devon_and_Cornwall_Police). In 1969, he became chief constable of [West Yorkshire Constabulary](/source/West_Yorkshire_Constabulary), where he would spend the rest of his career.

==Early life==
Gregory was born on 23 October 1921 in [Preston](/source/Preston%2C_Lancashire), [Lancashire](/source/Lancashire), England.<ref name="obit G">{{cite news |last1=Wainwright |first1=Martin |title=Ronald Gregory obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/apr/18/ronald-gregory-obituary |access-date=26 September 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=18 April 2010}}</ref> He came from a family of policemen: his father, grandfather and great-grandfather had been officers.<ref name="obit Tele">{{cite news |title=Ronald Gregory |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/law-obituaries/7598699/Ronald-Gregory.html |access-date=26 September 2023 |work=The Telegraph |date=16 April 2010 |language=en}}</ref> He was educated at [Harris College](/source/University_of_Central_Lancashire), known for its vocational and technical courses.<ref name="obit G" /><ref name="WWW" />

===Military service===
In 1942, at the age of 20, Gregory volunteered to join the [Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve](/source/Royal_Air_Force_Volunteer_Reserve) (RAFVR) to serve in the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War).<ref name="WWW">{{cite web |title=Gregory, Ronald, (23 Oct. 1921–9 April 2010), DL; Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Metropolitan Police, 1974–83 |url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U18133 |website=[Who Was Who](/source/Who_Was_Who) |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=26 September 2023 |language=en |date=1 December 2016}}</ref> He then underwent [aircrew](/source/aircrew) training in South Africa.<ref name="obit Tele" /> On 18 December 1943, having reached the rank of [leading aircraftman](/source/leading_aircraftman), he was granted an emergency commission as a [pilot officer](/source/pilot_officer) on probation in the RAFVR.<ref name="LG 36378">{{London Gazette |issue= 36378 |date= 11 February 1944 |pages= 782-784 |supp= y |city= |title= |quote=}}</ref> On 18 June 1944, his commission was confirmed and he was promoted to [flying officer](/source/flying_officer) ([war substantive](/source/war_substantive)).<ref name="LG 36629">{{London Gazette |issue= 36629 |date= 25 July 1944 |pages= 3515-3516 |supp= y |city= |title= |quote=}}</ref> 

He transferred to the [Fleet Air Arm](/source/Fleet_Air_Arm) as an officer of the [Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve](/source/Royal_Naval_Volunteer_Reserve) (RNVR) on 21 November 1944.<ref name="obit Tele" /><ref name="LG 36882">{{London Gazette |issue= 36882 |date= 5 January 1945 |pages= 268-269 |supp= y |city= |title= |quote=}}</ref> He was granted the rank of [temporary](/source/Temporary_rank) [sub-lieutenant](/source/sub-lieutenant) (A) with seniority from 18 December 1943.<ref name="LG 36859">{{London Gazette |issue= 36859 |date= 26 December 1944 |page= 5921 |supp= |city= |title= |quote=}}</ref> With the RNVR, he saw active service in the [Far East](/source/Far_East).<ref name="obit YP">{{cite news |title=Obituaries: Ronald Gregory |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/obituaries/ronald-gregory-1978366 |access-date=26 September 2023 |work=The Yorkhisre Post |date=16 April 2010}}</ref> He flew [Hellcats](/source/F6F_Hellcat) and [Corsairs](/source/Vought_F4U_Corsair) while being based on the [aircraft carrier](/source/aircraft_carrier)s {{HMS|Ameer|D01}} and {{HMS|Empress|D42}}.<ref name="obit Tele" /> In July 1945, he was shot down over [Phuket Island](/source/Phuket_Island) by the Japanese: after an emergency landing offshore, the injured Gregory swam out to sea while under heavy fire, before being rescued by a [Walrus flying boat](/source/Supermarine_Walrus).<ref name="obit Tele" /> He was demobilised in 1946.<ref name="WWW" />

==Police career==
Gregory began his policing career as a police cadet with the [Blackpool](/source/Blackpool) borough force before joining Preston borough police as a constable in 1941.<ref name="obit YP" /><ref name="obit Tele" /> After completing his probationary period, he left the police to serve in the military for the rest of the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War).<ref name="obit G" /><ref name="obit Tele" /> He was demobilised in 1946 and returned to Preston to continue his police career.<ref name="obit YP" /> He became a [detective](/source/detective), and rose through the ranks of [CID](/source/Criminal_Investigation_Department) until he was a [detective chief inspector](/source/detective_chief_inspector).<ref name="obit Tele" />

In 1962 or 1963, he became a [chief officer](/source/Chief_police_officer), having been appointed [deputy chief constable](/source/deputy_chief_constable) of Blackpool.<ref name="obit G" /><ref name="obit Tele" /> He became [chief constable](/source/chief_constable) of [Plymouth City Police](/source/Plymouth_City_Police) in 1965.<ref name="WWW" /> However, only two years later, the city police was merged with its neighbouring forces into [Devon and Cornwall Police](/source/Devon_and_Cornwall_Police); he became deputy chief constable of the new force in 1967 or 1968.<ref name="obit G" /><ref name="obit Tele" />

In 1969, Gregory began his final police appointment: as chief constable of [West Yorkshire Constabulary](/source/West_Yorkshire_Constabulary).<ref name="WWW" /> Due to government restructuring, the city constabularies of Leeds and Bradford were merged into the wider county force in 1973, enlarging his constabulary and remit: this new force was called the [West Yorkshire Metropolitan Police](/source/West_Yorkshire_Metropolitan_Police).<ref name="obit G" /> This amalgamation created tensions and split loyalties throughout the force in the early years, and were cited as a major cause of issue relating to the hunt for the 'Yorkshire Ripper'.<ref name="obit Tele" /> He introduced a number of innovations to the force, including [armed response](/source/Firearms_unit) mobile units, [VASCAR](/source/VASCAR) speed detectors in patrol cars, and a [motorway](/source/motorway) patrol unit.<ref name="obit YP" /><ref name="obit Tele" /> 

On 30 October 1975, [Peter Sutcliffe](/source/Peter_Sutcliffe) killed the first of his 13 known victims: 28-year-old Wilma Mary McCann from [Scott Hall, Leeds](/source/Scott_Hall%2C_Leeds).<ref name="obit G" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Yorkshire Ripper death: People 'should focus on victims' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-54930118 |website=BBC News |access-date=26 September 2023 |date=13 November 2020}}</ref> Sutcliffe would not be arrested until January 1981, after which he confessed to 13 murders.<ref name="obit Tele" /> Gregory directly contributed to the delay in finding Sutcliffe through his support of the '[Wearside Jack](/source/Wearside_Jack)' cassette tape and letters; these were later revealed to be a hoax but diverted detectives for two years into chasing a non-existent lead.<ref name="obit G" /><ref name="obit Tele" /> The associated press and poster campaign which was fronted by Gregory himself cost the inquiry almost £1 million.<ref name="obit G" /> That line of inquiry produced "100 per cent rubbish",<ref name="obit Tele" /> and, in July 1979, Sutcliffe was interviewed for the fifth time but was dismissed as a suspect because his voice and handwriting did not fit 'Wearside Jack'.<ref name="CCC">{{cite web |last1=Summers |first1=Chris |title=Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/crime/caseclosed/yorkshireripper1.shtml |website=Crime Case Closed |publisher=BBC |access-date=27 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060822111149/http://www.bbc.co.uk/crime/caseclosed/yorkshireripper1.shtml |archive-date=22 August 2006}}</ref> Sutcliffe would go on to kill at least three more women.<ref name="CCC" /> He was finally arrested on 2 January 1981 by a neighbouring force for a traffic offence, although further investigation of the scene the following day revealed a hammer and knife: the 'Yorkshire Ripper' had been found and Sutcliffe readily confessed to 13 murders.<ref name="obit Tele" /><ref name="CCC" /> Gregory swiftly called a triumphant press conference, stating that he was "delighted with developments at this stage" and announcing the immediate scaling-down of the Ripper manhunt.<ref name="obit Tele" /> This would become known as the "laughing policeman" press conference,<ref name="obit YP" /> and he was criticised for both his jubilant behaviour and the possibility of prejudicing Sutcliffe's future trial.<ref name="obit Tele" /><ref name="obit YP" />

The later inquiry into the manhunt's failings was highly critical of Gregory's decision to appoint [George Oldfield](/source/George_Oldfield_(police_officer)) as senior investigating officer: he only undertook the role part-time in addition to his duties as assistant chief constable (crime), and he was not considered to have had the professional competence and charisma to effectively lead such a large inquiry.<ref name="staring">{{cite news |title=The Ripper truth was staring them in the face |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/the-ripper-truth-was-staring-them-in-the-face-mpdncrp0gzj |access-date=27 September 2023 |work=[The Times](/source/The_Times) |date=27 September 2023 |language=en}}</ref> In addition, when Oldfield took ill in 1979, Gregory was found to have not acted swiftly enough to ensure a clear replacement was appointed.<ref name="staring" />

Gregory retired early from the police in 1983, two years after Sutcliffe was apprehended.<ref name="obit Tele" /> He sold his memoirs to the ''[Mail on Sunday](/source/Mail_on_Sunday)'' for a reported £40,000.<ref name="obit G" /> This was widely criticised with the families of Sutcliffe's victims describing it as "blood money", [Leon Brittan](/source/Leon_Brittan), the Home Secretary, called it "deplorable", and the ''[Police Review](/source/Police_Review)'' called him a hypocrite.<ref name="obit G" /><ref name="obit YP" /> One survivor of an attack by Sutcliffe was only awarded £17,000 in compensation after a long legal fight,<ref name="Shadow">{{cite news |last1=O’Neill |first1=Sean |title=The Long Shadow: the drama that gives a voice to the Yorkshire Ripper's victims |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/the-plan-from-the-outset-was-that-we-wanted-to-use-him-as-little-as-possible-pqjkst2qt |access-date=27 September 2023 |date=27 September 2023 |language=en}}</ref> and as chief constable he had banned his officers from speaking to the press.<ref name="obit Tele" />

==Personal life==
In 1942, Gregory married Grace Ellison. Together they had two sons.<ref name="WWW" />

Gregory spent much of his retirement living in Portugal.<ref name="obit Tele" /> He died on 9 April 2010, aged 88.<ref name="WWW" />

==Honours==
In the [1971 New Year Honours](/source/1971_New_Year_Honours), Gregory was awarded the [Queen's Police Medal for Distinguished Service](/source/Queen's_Police_Medal_for_Distinguished_Service) (QPM) in recognition of his work as chief constable of West Yorkshire Constabulary.<ref name="LG 45262">{{London Gazette |issue= 45262 |date= 31 December 1970 |page= 28 |supp= y }}</ref> In 1977, he was made a [Deputy Lieutenant](/source/Deputy_Lieutenant) (DL) to the [Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire](/source/Lord_Lieutenant_of_West_Yorkshire).<ref name="LG 47343">{{London Gazette |issue= 47343 |date= 6 October 1977 |page= 12589 |supp= }}</ref> In the [1980 Queen's Birthday Honours](/source/1980_Queen's_Birthday_Honours), he was appointed [Commander of the Order of the British Empire](/source/Commander_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire) (CBE) in recognition of his work as chief constable of West Yorkshire Metropolitan Police.<ref name="LG 48212">{{London Gazette |issue= 48212 |date= 13 June 1980 |page= 8 |supp= y }}</ref>

==In popular culture==
Gregory is portrayed by [Michael McElhatton](/source/Michael_McElhatton) in ''[The Long Shadow](/source/The_Long_Shadow_(TV_series))'' (2023).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hibbs |first1=James |title=The Long Shadow cast: Full list of actors in ITV true crime drama |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/long-shadow-itv-cast/ |website=Radio Times |access-date=22 December 2023 |date=25 September 2023}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gregory, Ronald}}

Category:1921 births
Category:2010 deaths
Category:Chief Constables of West Yorkshire Police
Category:Military personnel from Preston, Lancashire
Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
Category:English recipients of the Queen's Police Medal
Category:Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II
Category:Royal Air Force airmen
Category:Royal Air Force officers
Category:Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II
Category:Fleet Air Arm personnel of World War II
Category:Alumni of the University of Lancashire
Category:Deputy lieutenants of West Yorkshire
Category:Royal Navy officers of World War II

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ronald Gregory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Gregory) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Gregory?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.