Former Police Commissioner bids farewell to troops

Former Commissioner of Police Colin John bade farewell to hundreds of police officers who were in attendance at his final Commissioner’s Parade and Lecture at the Old Montrose Parade Ground, last Thursday, September 28.

The parade was under the command of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Frankie Joseph, and was attended by officers of all ranks, including the Gazetted Officers Corps.

As the commissioner inspected the officers on parade, he shook the hand of every police officer and thanked them for their support and service to the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) and the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

Following the parade, Commissioner John addressed the officers at the Old Montrose Lecture Hall. In a cheerful but reflective mood, the commissioner thanked the gathering for their support during his tenure and encouraged them to give that support and more to his successor whenever that person was appointed. He posited that except for a few “bad eggs”, the RSVGPF is a “good” Force with some of the most hard working and dedicated officers he has ever encountered. He took the time to congratulate all of the officers who were recently promoted and expressed comfort to those who were not.

Touching on the issue of personal and educational development in the organization, the Commissioner said that he was very happy to see several members of the constabulary pursuing studies in different areas. This he opined would benefit the RSVGPF.

“It is a very encouraging sign to see a number of young officers studying various subject areas. There are several advantages in doing so. I am speaking from experience. Very soon, I will literally and figuratively be walking away from this job and people are wondering and enquiring ‘What is he going to do next’;”. All I would say is that I have various options. I am happy to have served the people of SVG, the region and the world in this capacity” said Commissioner John.

Commissioner John reminisced on his early years as a police officer after enlisting on January 16, 1988. According to him, he worked at several stations, branches, and units including Beat and Patrol, Honour Guard, Immigration Office (Bequia, Mustique, and Canouan), Calliaqua, Mesopotamia, Biabou and Owia Police Stations, Police Canteen, Police Training School, Criminal Investigations Department and Narcotics Unit.

Commissioner John is a Barrister and Solicitor by profession. He obtained his law degree from Holborn College in the United Kingdom. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales on July 22, 2010, and then to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Bar in October of that same year.

He was later appointed as Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). On August 01, 2016, he was appointed as Deputy Commissioner of Police, then to Acting Commissioner of Police in 2017. He was confirmed in the rank of Commissioner of Police on December 31, 2018. He was the first Vincentian Commissioner of Police to be elected as President of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP) in 2019. He was re-elected to that position 2021.

Commissioner John has served for over 35 years as a Police Officer. The Gazetted Officers and rank-and-file members of the RSVGPF thank him for his service to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and extend best wishes and success in his future undertakings as he retires from the organization. (Police Public Relations)