Cecil Straker joined the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force in 1976 at the age of 19, with the intention of serving for only five years.{{more}} However, on Wednesday, when he announced his retirement, Straker, who achieved the rank of Superintendent, had spent thirty-six years in the police force.

“Superintendent Straker, I believe, is the longest serving Superintendent of Police,” said Commissioner of Police Keith Miller, at the short press briefing on Wednesday.

55-year-old Straker, who is presently on pre-retirement leave, was also commended by Miller for his dedication to serving in the police force.

He will officially retire on December 6.

“And 36 years at any work place is no easy feat. We have to tip our hats to persons who can stay on any job for 36 years and especially in the police force.

“We know the nature of the police organization. It is one that you must have guts and belly to do, given a number of circumstances. Not just to deal with law and order, but to manage personnel and especially in today’s world, where we’re having persons of a different kind…

“You have to approach law and order in a professional way and I think Superintendent Straker has done his part… and I want to wish him all the best in his future endeavours,” Miller added.

Miller urged Straker to continue being active in his daily life.

“I would be disappointed if Superintendent Straker thinks that he is retiring today, the 11th of July and that is it for him with life, I will be very disappointed,” Miller added.

An emotional Straker however, revealed that during his time as a police officer, he has had a mixture of “good and bad times.

“I think the good times outweighed the bad and if I had to do it all over, I would join the police force and I enjoyed the time I spent in the police force,” Straker told the media.

He further said that he has gained a lot of experience while being a police officer, which enabled him to successfully execute his duties.

“There are times when the job was really tough. There are times when you had a tiresome day at work and when you get home, you think you get away from the office, but the telephone still keeps ringing as if you’re still in office.

“People from the various stations calling for advice and other things that take place in the division, but as I said although it was rough at times, I enjoyed what I did,” he added.

As he proceeds on retirement, Straker says he has no immediate plans, but his intention is to take a few months to relax and “get rid of the stress” from the job as a police officer.(AA)