Top Brass Says Recognition is Well-Deserved

Dezerie Phillips

For the top brass the positive news is a boost to the Police Department, and the tribute today a necessary recognition to prompt the officers to always strive to perform above and beyond the call of duty.

ACP Dezerie Phillips, Regional Commander, Eastern Division North

“It’s a joyous moment for us as was alluded to by the Commissioner. Day after day Police Officers are out there risking their lives. They do an exceptional job but most of the time it goes unnoticed, it goes unreported. So we’re very happy today to see that we’re able to really recognize these outstanding officers. It really will give them a push and additional motivation for them to continue to do and go beyond the call of duty. I think it all has to do with the level of respect they have for life and the level of motivation that they have because they really have to be motivated in order to just jump into the water risking their own lives in order to save somebody else’s life. Of course they receive a lot of training and I am certain that in itself plays a vital role. It was an on the spur of the moment thing that they took that initiative without waiting for anybody. Normally we would get Coast Guard to come into the picture. That’s the reason we’re commending them because they risked their lives as well.”

Allen Whylie

Allen Whylie, Commissioner of Police

“As the Commissioner I am very proud for such an occasion today to recognize seven outstanding Police officers for bravery – three officers were involved in a search and rescue dive where a minor was reported to them having jumped in the sea in the Newtown Barracks area and had not resurfaced, and two of those officers without thinking of their own safety or security of equipment jumped in and conducted their own dive and search and were able to rescue that minor. He was administered CPR, transported to the K.H.M.H.  He was critical but it is my understanding that he is slowly recovering and may well be on the road to a complete recovery and so I am pleased with those officers.”