Sixteen members of RSVGPF mark 20 years of service

Sixteen members of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force Course No.13 are celebrating a significant milestone in their careers.

On Tuesday, July 15, 2014, they marked their 20th anniversary since enlisting as members of the local constabulary.{{more}} The achievers are: Lt (Ag) Enus Hamlet, Coast Guard Base; CPO Dominique Stowe, Coast Guard Base; CPO Williams Theobalds, Coast Guard Base; S/Sgt Hesran Ballantyne, Calliaqua Police Station; Sgt 509 Brenton Smith, Police Canteen; Sgt 610 Juliana Browne, DARE; Sgt (Ag) 111 Daniel Robertson, Police Credit Union; PO (Ag) 300 Kenlet Francis, Coast Guard; Cpl 374 Phillip King, Traffic Branch; Cpl 358 Lorraine John, Public Relations and Complaints; Cpl 554 Dorothy Simmons, Telecom Office; Cpl 367 Nelica Kirby, CID; PC 267 Maurice Cupid, Union Island Police Station; PC 350 Derek Humphrey, CPS; PC 534 Verrol Thomas, Transport Office; and PC 608 Hanif Johnson, Study Leave.

To celebrate the occasion, the police officers have been participating in a week of activities, which runs from Friday, July 11, 2014, and will come to an end on Saturday, July 19, 2014, with most of it being slated for St. Lucia.

Sgt Browne, sharing her view on the achievement said that she is elated and plans to continue being a police officer for as long as possible.

“Some people say they’ll do ten years in the organisation and they’re gone. I never held that thought,” said Sgt Browne. She said that she always remembers that she is from a poor family and this was one of the driving forces that led her to pursue a career in policing.

Sgt Browne said that during her journey as a police officer there were times that she faced difficulties, but she never thought of “quitting”. During her tenure she has worked at the Narcotics Division, Beat and Patrol, Immigration and DARE.

Cpl Kirby said it is a great feeling to be celebrating her 20th anniversary as a police officer.

“I have experienced everything. It has been hard work and sacrifice. You don’t always get to achieve what you’ll like, but it’s good so far,” said Cpl Kirby, who works at the Major Crime Unit. She also had the opportunity to work at the Rapid Response Unit, Criminal Investigations Department, Process and several out stations.

“As a child growing up, policing is a career that I always wanted to pursue. Coming from humble beginnings and seeing things that less fortunate go through when they break the law, I always said I wanted to make a difference,” said Cpl Kirby.