Keith Palmer (police officer)

On 22 March 2017, Palmer was in New Palace Yard guarding the Palace of Westminster. At approximately 14:40, he was approached by Khalid Masood, who was armed with two knives. Though unarmed, Palmer confronted Masood in an attempt to stop him. Masood fatally injured Palmer during this encounter. By confronting Masood, Palmer delayed him long enough for an armed police officer to arrive and shoot Masood dead.

Palmer was granted the rare honour of lying in rest in the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft, Palace of Westminster; other recipients of this honour include: the former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in 2013 and the former Postmaster General Tony Benn in 2014. On 9 April 2017, his coffin was received into the chapel with a guard of honour of police officers. A private service was then held for his family. Officers kept vigil next to the coffin overnight.

In the 2017 Birthday Honours, Palmer was awarded the George Medal (GM) "for confronting an armed terrorist to protect others and Parliament". In recognition of his sacrifice, the Metropolitan Police Service retired his shoulder number (4157U) and stated that it would "not be reissued to any other officer". His name has been added to the United Kingdom's Police Roll of Honour by the Police Roll of Honour Trust. He was awarded the outstanding bravery of the year award at the 2018 Met Excellence Awards.

Palmer had served in the British Army as a Bombardier with the Royal Regiment of Artillery until August 2001 when he was discharged. In November 2001, Palmer joined the Metropolitan Police as a police constable (PC). From 2002 to 2009, he served in the London Borough of Bromley. He then joined the Territorial Support Group, a grouping that specialises in public order and operates across Greater London. In 2015, he was nominated as "best thief taker" at the Commissioner's Excellence Awards in recognition of making 150 arrests in twelve months. In April 2016, he joined the MPS's Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Group.

Keith David Palmer GM (3 October 1968 – 22 March 2017) was a British police officer who was posthumously awarded the George Medal, the second highest award for gallantry "not in the face of the enemy". Though unarmed, he stopped a knife-wielding terrorist from entering the Palace of Westminster during the 2017 Westminster attack; he died from wounds he received in this attack. He had worked for the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) for 16 years, and had joined the MPS's Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Group in April 2016.