Pc David Rathband who was left blinded by gunman Raoul Moat had planned a new life in Australia in the weeks before he died, his twin brother said today.
The 44-year-old considered leaving Northumbria Police and living in a specially-built home next to his identical twin Darren, who lives in Adelaide.
The grieving twin, who has been arranging a celebratory service at St Nicholas' Cathedral, Newcastle, this weekend, said they discussed the future while David was visiting him.
But just days after returning from Australia, Pc Rathband was found hanging at his home in Blyth, Northumberland.
He was believed to be devastated by the breakdown of his marriage to wife Kath, with whom he had a son Ashley, 19, and daughter Mia, 13, and was struggling to cope with the pain of his injuries and the loss of his sight.
Darren, a police officer in Australia, said: "We planned a future together.
"We looked at buying a house with some land. David could have his own independent living accommodation, with a pool.
"We discussed how we would have his own letter box, his own door, and he could have been independent.
"He was so positive in regards to that."
Darren Rathband, David's twin brother
Mr Rathband said he did not know what had changed in the days before his brother was found hanging.
"If I knew I could have done something about it," he said.
Chief Constable Sue Sim said last week Northumbria Police discussed Pc Rathband's return to work with the force in a road safety capacity next month.
But Mr Rathband said his brother discussed not going back to work there.
"I certainly think there were times when that attitude did change and there were times when he still wanted to get back to work. It was difficult for him," he said.
"He (sometimes) did not see he had a role he wanted to do in the police service."
Mr Rathband hoped his sister-in-law and the children would be at the cathedral service.
They have been helping arrangements for a separate memorial service nine days later which has been organised by Northumbria Police.
In between times a funeral for Pc Rathband will be held in his native Staffordshire on March 17.
Mr Rathband said: "I am hopeful that rank and file officers from all the emergency services will turn out and show their support."
The Liberal Democrat Spring Conference will be happening in Gateshead at the weekend, which may prevent some officers from being at the cathedral.
Mr Rathband said: "My priority is to my brother, it's not to the Liberal Democrat party.
"It is a chance for the people of the North East to turn out for David."
He added: "Hopefully, we are all going to be there - Kath, the kids and all the family together paying our respects to David.
"He is a real, common person. He is not a celebrity.
"He was a policeman who got paid a relatively average wage and it has ended up he has lost his life.
"His legacy is that we have to look after people who look after us. I know it is corny, but we have to protect the protectors."
Pc Rathband was left blind when he was blasted twice in the face by Moat while sitting unarmed in his patrol car in July 2010.
He battled to rebuild his life afterwards and became a national figure after setting up Pc David Rathband's Blue Lamp Foundation which helped 999 personnel injured in the line of duty.