He joined the Army in 1981, serving with the 1st Battalion of The Black Watch until 1997. PC Gray served in Northern Ireland on seven occasions, and was also based in Germany, England, Scotland and Hong Kong. PC Gray began his policing career in 1997 with Cheshire Police, initially based at Warrington.

He qualified as an authorised firearms officer in 2000, and spent two years as part of an armed response vehicle team before transferring to West Mercia Constabulary in 2003.

PC Gray was gunned down when he attended an argument around 6.10am in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. The killer, named locally as Peter Medlicott, is believed to have shot himself moments later.

PC Gray had earned five commendations in his four years with the force.

Chief Constable Paul West today paid tribute to the life and career of PC Gray, who was 43 years old and had been an officer with West Mercia Constabulary for four years. He was posted in Shropshire Division, where he served as a response officer and an authorised firearms officer.

PC Gray married his longterm partner Jenny in a ceremony in Venice last August. The couple have been together for 16 years. He has two grown-up sons from a previous marriage.

Chief Constable Paul West, speaking at the Guildhall in Shrewsbury, said, “PC Gray was an excellent officer who was very popular with his colleagues, extremely well liked and held in the highest esteem.

“All his colleagues, both police officers and police staff, are devastated by his tragic death, particularly those who worked with him on his regular shift at Shrewsbury. He will be sadly missed by us all.

“In Ricky’s four years with us his bravery, determination and professionalism as a police officer saw him recognised with a total of five commendations, two from his divisional commander, Chief Superintendent Guy Rutter, two from me and a Judge’s Commendation. In itself that speaks volumes for the sort of man he was, and his dedication and commitment to duty.”

The first divisional commendation was for an incident in which he rescued a man trying to jump into the River Severn from a bridge, in Shrewsbury. Last October, Ricky was one of four officers to receive a divisional commendation for their ‘professionalism, decision making and team work under pressure’ for rescuing two women from the River Severn in Shrewsbury during the early hours of a day last July.

“Together with a colleague, Ricky also received a Chief Constable’s Commendation and a Judge’s Commendation for his part in the arrest of an unstable man with a firearm,” said Chief Constable West.

“Both a taser and a baton gun were discharged by officers in that particular incident. “Ricky was also to be awarded a Chief Constable’s Certificate of Commendation, the highest award given by the force. He was one of two officers to be recognised for their part in arresting a violent man who confronted officers with a semi automatic pistol and used extreme violence in an effort to escape from police, following a stop check in the early hours of April 22 last year in Shrewsbury.

“I was due to present this award to PC Gray in a ceremony later this year. My thoughts, and the thoughts of everyone working for West Mercia, are with PC Gray’s family at this extremely sad time.”

The family of PC Gray have asked to be left alone by the media to grieve. It is understood there are still relatives of PC Gray in Dundee.