Full military send-off for fallen police officer

Last Sunday, Chateaubelair was perhaps the safest place to be, as hundreds of police officers converged to pay last respects to their fallen brother, Jamarlo Cato.

Cato, 28, died on June 4 at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) in Kingstown after a short illness.{{more}}

The funeral service took place at the New Testament Church of God at Sharpes Village, with Bishop Bess giving the homily. Addresses were made by others, including Commissioner of Police (COP) Michael Charles.

At the end of the service, the casket, wrapped in the national flag, was slow marched on the shoulders of six policemen between the firing party stationed at attention on both sides of the street.

The police band led the procession, followed by the Commissioner and gazetted officers, then the various departments of the police force.

At the burial ground at Fitz-Hughes, other ceremonies, rites and a gun salute took place, along with the burial.

COP Charles told SEARCHLIGHT that he was saddened by the loss of the young officer, who is the first serving officer to fall under his watch.

Charles said that Cato was an exemplary officer and he hoped that the people of the area were taking note of how the police force takes care of its own.

He said maybe residents of the area could learn something from Cato’s life.

Charles said normally an officer would only serve two years at an outstation, but Cato spent six years in Bequia, as the residents consistently called and recommended that he stay.

Cato was an eight-year veteran of the police force, and is survived by his parents and siblings.

More than 350 police officers, including all but two of the gazetted officers, attended the funeral, according to COP Charles.(TY)