I was seated patiently awaiting my name to be called, as I look at the pride on the faces of the recipient who preceded me. The pride of being acknowledged for something they would have done; as they collected their award to the applause of the appreciative audience who attended the function. This was the end of year gifts and awards ceremony, which is an annual feature of the Bermuda Police Service.
After waiting for what seems to be a long while, my name was called, and the presenter read what was written on the pack. The next award goes to Allan Palmer; for excellent investigation work that led to the apprehension of a dangerous criminal. I proudly walk up to the stage, where the prices were being handed out to the civilian and enlisted staff, of the Bermuda Police Service for various accomplishments.
On that day I received two awards, the other was for perfect attendance; this was the Bermuda Police Service acknowledging; for working an entire year without missing a day of work. I got a perfect attendance award for two consecutive years, but miss getting one for the third year; because I missed one day of work; that was the day, I took off from work, to moan the passing of my beloved big brother Albert Palmer.
The events that led to the investigation award happened a week or two after my confrontation with Lady Vereker, the wife of Bermuda Governor John Vereker. It was my first day on the streets of Bermuda in active police service. I was assigned to "A" watch, which was working the grave yard shift. "B" watch was the team on duty that was to be relief. Sergeant (Sgt.) Gregory Grimes was the Sgt. In charged of B watch.
I got to the Hamilton Police Station at 42 Parliament Street, in the City of Hamilton, early to get a feel of the place. I did not want to feel like a wondered, getting there just in time and having to be blindly, and awkwardly asking questions in a rush to find out information or to avoid being late. I wanted to have a head start.
I was told where the briefing room was and I went there to await the None Commission Officer (NCO) who would be tasked with my supervision and the other members of the watch or team with whom I would be working. There were some members of B watch in the briefing room. They were on the computers, updating the incidents they attend during the course of their shift. There were also a few members of A watch present, like me, they also came to work early.
While we were all sitting there, some were engaged in conversation, while I quietly observing everyone trying to understand the personalities I will be working with. A call came in via the police radio, there was a robbery in progress, the name of the suspect, was given, the location of the robbery, the weapon that was used in the robbery as well as, the property that was stolen. Later I discovered that the alleged robber was one of Bermuda's most wanted.
After the transmission was completed the members of A watch, who were all equipped with police radio; immediately dashed out of the briefing room, scampered down the wooden stairs of the old renovated relic that housed the Hamilton Police Station which was located on 42 Parliament Street, in the City of Hamilton and off they went with flashing lights and blasting sirens. The few of us who were new went to the window to look at the police vehicles in urgent response.
We were just about to settle into a conversation, to occupy the time while we wait until we were paraded, assigned and dispatched on duty. Then Sgt. Grimes came into the briefing room and said, this is a serious incident and the suspect is dangerous, he is wanted for a series of crimes, we need you all to go and assist with the search, apprehension and arrest of the suspect.
He instructed us to go down stairs, drab a radio and join the waiting single man units outside. We all ran down stairs, I personally was uncertain about this. I was in a strange place, I did not know anyone, I only knew but a two roads on the island; it was night, the transmissions on the radio seems like a completely new language to me; I had to get use to the Bermudian accent, and I only knew a few of the 10 series code the police used to communicate with, and so much more.
Unfortunately, there were not enough radios, so I join the party without a radio. I went into a car and I saw a beautiful young lady seated in the driver’s seat; she had two years’ active police service including training. However, she was already a certified emergency response driver. This young lady will remain nameless.
When we got to the scene there were lots of marked police vehicles on the scene and even more police officers. Police units responded to the scene where the suspect was last seen: from St. Georges as well as the Somerset Police Stations. Everyone had their searchlights out and we were all searching the area. We all searched until the order was given to abandon the search. The combined efforts of all the police officers did not revealed the suspect or any hint that he was ever there.
However, there was a red T-shirt which was abandon in the area of the scene. The T-shirt was written off as garbage. By this time, everyone had returned to their cars, some of the cars left the scene. My partner had already returned to the car she drove; and she was anxiously awaited me to join her so we can get going. Her shift had ended and she wanted to return to the station, hand over the car key and her radio and go to her home. I was still outside in the general area of the scene; in the vicinity of where the suspect was last seen.
All of the artificial lights were turned off, the moon light lit up the area perfectly; as a result, the scene took on a new look under the moonlight. I knew we had over looked the obvious, but what was it. I stood there looking around in an unfamiliar place, asking myself one question over and over again. I asked a question my big brother Albert "the skipper" Palmer always asked himself, when he was trying to solve some problem. What am I missing! What am I missing! By this time my partner impatient was evident as she pressed the horn, to alert me it is time to go; after all her shift had ended some time ago.
The moonlight, the quiet and the lack of people traffic revealed a new dynamic I did not see before. And then a series of events, that I never discussed with anyone took place, after which, I stood absolutely still, not making a sound, observing a particular area; it was then I saw a man concealed in the bushy hedge; the man whose name I will not call in this forum. I along with other officers had searched that hedge before, but no one saw him. I had no radio so I could not transmit my discovery to the other units; so I did the next best thing; I shouted, "I find him come back come back." The other officers, who were still on the scene, sitting in their cars, herd me and they came running.
The suspect was believed to still have the weapon with which he carried out the robbery. I did not know this criminal and what he was capable of, what was his temperament; I knew nothing about this suspect. As a result, I stood in a manner to ensure he did not escape and then I shout instructions for the Prisoner to come from hiding place. While he was making his way out on all fours, my partner whose car was closest to me, was ahead of the other running officers, even before the man was out of the hedge, she rushed towards the suspect held onto him and then declared: “I made the arrests.” after which the suspect was put in hand cuff.
She was a rookie and was all excited about making the arrest. This taking credit for arresting someone in such situations was new to me. In St. Vincent I could not remember making an arrest took on so much value, I personally did not care who arrested a person as long as the person was arrested. I had arrested many people, who were a suspect in an offense, one of my colleagues were investigating and thought nothing of it. And others had done the same for me. It was just the way we worked.
However, what was shocking; when we return to the station; the young constable related the events to Sgt. Grimes, as if I was nowhere around. According to her story, she was the one who discovered and arrested the suspect. When I heard her story, all I did was smile. Later Sgt. Grimes called me into his office and asked if I was there when the suspect was arrested?
I said to the distinguished sergeant; well, let us put it this way; everyone on the scene including the arresting officer; were already in their cars when the suspect was discovered. Some of the units had already left the scene. I was the only person still looking; I am the one who discovered the suspect in the hedges; because I had no radio, I shouted and alerted the other units that was still on the scene of my discovery; I was the one who instructed the suspect to come out from his hiding place; and while the suspect was almost out of the hedge; the lady police rushed over to him, lay hands on the suspect and declared: "I made the arrest." Then Sgt. Grimes call the young constable over and told her to go and update the incident to reflect what actually happened.
Even after I had forgotten about the incident, I often wondered, why for almost five years my path and the paths of this young lady police officer has crossed on the job and in the community; yet she had never said hello or anything else to me for that fact. All the other police in the Bermuda Police Service, was very cordial and friendly with me; however, this young lady never spoke to me, unless her communication with me; was unavoidable police duties.
It was for this piece of work for which I was receiving a commendation. After I received my award, I was showered with appreciation by the attending audience.
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