Teary-eyed ASP mourns for ‘disciplined, respectful’ cop

Assistant Superinten­dent of Police (ASP) Timothy Hazelwood says that he blames himself for the recent passing of police constable 602 Giovanni Charles, the police officer who was fatally stabbed at Belmont on Monday.

“I blame myself; I don’t know what to do, but I miss him; I will always miss him,” a mournful Hazelwood said, when he sat down with SEARCHLIGHT yesterday, tears rolling down his cheeks.{{more}}

ASP Hazelwood, the officer in charge of the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) and the Port Security Officers, relived his working experience with the 25-year-old, describing him as passionate, disciplined and respectful.

“Charles was the pedigree of a disciplined and committed police officer. There was no task that you give Charles to perform, even when he is on leave and you call him back for duty, he always answer me and say whatever you say, sir,” the RRU head noted, while sitting in his office at the Central Police Station in Kingstown.

Hazelwood recalled that when Charles joined the organization, the young officer’s father, whom he knew, asked him to look out for the young man.

After joining the constabulary, Charles was attached to the Port Security Unit and was later moved to the RRU. Leading up to his death, he was attached to the RRU or Black Squad for five months.

“From the day Charles came to the Port Security Unit, I cannot tell you one day, one day that Charles have ever showed me any disrespectful attitude; he loved his job, he had passion for what he was doing,” Hazelwood observed.

The Assistant Superintendent, who is a 36-year veteran of the police force, noted that Charles was an officer whom he could assign to an area and never receive a complaint.

“I had to attach him to the Rapid Response Unit at times, where they can gain experience and to be able to become stronger and more efficient police officers.”

Hazelwood disclosed that he received the news of Charles’ passing on Monday, shortly after he returned to the country from a workshop.

“It was just like if the world had ended. I couldn’t think, I couldn’t comprehend, up to this day, the reality of losing one of my officers,” the teary-eyed lawman said.

“I am responsible for them and it hurts and it is still hurting, and it is hurting bad… there is no answer why such a disciplined, committed and honest police officer and individual had to lose his life trying to do the right thing… there is no answer, there is no answer.”

The RRU head said he views all officers under his supervision as his children, and with tears flowing freely during the interview, he recalled his last memory of Charles.

“I have lost another of who I take to be my son and it hurts, it hurts.”

Charles was expected to report back to the Port Security Unit the day following his death. August 7, 2016 would have made three years since he enrolled in the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force.

Commissioner of Police Michael Charles offered condolences to the family of the late officer and listed his achievements, via a press release. “May his soul rest in peace.” (AS)