[3][4] He had worked for the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) for 16 years, and had joined the force's Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Group in April 2016.
[3] Palmer had served in the British Army as a Bombardier with the Royal Regiment of Artillery until August 2001 when he was discharged.
[5] In 2015, he was nominated as "best thief taker" at the Commissioner's Excellence Awards in recognition of making 150 arrests in twelve months.
[10] It was attended by his family and friends, and a number of dignitaries including Cressida Dick, the newly appointed Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
[12] Dick read the poem "Funeral Blues" by W. H. Auden at the service which was her first public engagement since taking up the post.
[14] The club honoured him by replacing his regular seat at The Valley stadium with "a white chair bearing his warrant number 'P204752'".
[15] In the 2017 Birthday Honours, Palmer was awarded the George Medal (GM) "for confronting an armed terrorist to protect others and Parliament".
[16][7] 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".