Community thanks cop for contribution

FOR SEVERAL years while he managed the Alexandria Police Station, then Sergeant Ricardo Beckford earned the trust of community members through innovative and tried and proven community outreach programmes.

In the November 26, 2021 edition of The Gleaner, in an article titled, ‘Alexandria police showing how it’s done’, Beckford outlined some of the programmes he employed to improve police-community relations and to reduce the incidence of crime.

The formation of police youth clubs, church visits, social visits, and installation of closed-circuit television cameras were some of the effective methods employed to reduce the rate of serious crimes from double digit to single digit over a two-year period.

Beckford’s overall work saw him being promoted to inspector and transferred to the Browns Town Police Station, which he now manages.

But a grateful Alexandria Stakeholders Committee wouldn’t allow the goodly officer to leave their community without a proper “thank you”, not after giving such “exemplary service”, as the committee puts it.

An award ceremony at the Lifeline Deliverance Centre where the committee awarded 20 students from schools in and around Alexandria was a fitting occasion to also say thanks to the new inspector for his work in the community during his tenure.

A framed collage of photos taken during his tenure at Alexandria, with a message which read, in part, “Inspector Ricardo Beckford, thank you for the many years you dedicated to improving our lives with positive policing. We honour you today for leaving the Alexandria community a more police-friendly environment. The Alexandria Stakeholders Group, Inverness Police Youth Club, and Stepney Police Youth Club are examples of your vision and wisdom. You are the real hero of our community.”

The item was presented to the inspector by committee member, Ava Lawrence, on behalf of a grateful community.

Beckford was grateful for the recognition, saying he was honoured to receive it.

While at the function, Beckford assisted by helping to hand out gifts to several students whom the committee had targetted for assistance.