Police Commissioner, Atlee Rodney wants rank and file members of the Royal
Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda to remain committed to their oath and to
always act as ‘police officers’.
Delivering his annual Christmas Message to members of the force, the Police
Service Commission and representatives of the Ministry of Justice, Comm. Rodney
noted that at the end of their training and orientation, police officers took
responsibility to ‘serve the organization and the country’ with distinction.
“You are now expected to ‘Act’ in a particular way- A Police Officer,” he
declared.
In doing this, Rodney told the officers that their actions must mirror their
professional ambitions. “If your approach is going to be contrary to Police
principles, quite obviously the outcome will be negative. Too often you allow the
simplest things to take you off course and lose focus of who you are and what you
represent. You must never allow yourselves to be tossed to and fro like the chaff
which the wind driveth away. As your leader, I implore you to stay on course and
let your career as a police officer be one with a lasting positive impact,” he urged.
In reflecting on the year that is now ending, the commissioner noted that Antigua
and Barbuda has been able to host several successful international events this year.
These include the SIDS4 conference in May as well as ICC Cricket World Cup
T20 matches and he congratulated the police officers for the role they played in
these events to make them successful.
Rodney also drew attention to new crime fighting methods that were deployed
during the year. “In 2024 the Police Force enhanced its technology component
with the introduction of drones and several other equipment for surveillance and
operation purposes. We also obtained additional vehicles to our fleet to improve
our efficiency,” he reported.
There were also improvements to the physical spaces within which police live and
work.
“Earlier this year, we saw the completion of the Bolans Police Station and officers
returning to the refurbished All Saints Police Station. We look forward to the
completion of St. Johns Police Station, which is crucial to the security of the
business sector in the city. I also look forward with much anticipation to see some
improvements to the Fire Department and to welcoming the new fire tenders,”
Rodney added.
