POLICE Commissioner Errol Alexander, who is set to vacate the post next Thursday, has given himself the thumbs up sign for his 30 years of service to the police force.
“Today I can proudly say that I have left the organization better than I found it. I believe that I have done my share to promote professionalism within our ranks. Presently, I believe that the organization is in capable hands and is poised to move forward,” Alexander said.
He was addressing his last Commissioner’s Parade last Friday at the Police Training School, at La Toc imploring the rank and file of the police force never to lose sight of the organization’s focus of providing a professional policing service in partnership with all communities to create a safer environment for all.
“We should always strive to continue improving on our service delivery. You should continue to foster a spirit of togetherness, camaraderie, unity and espirit de corps that is the hallmark of our organization. You will be amazed at how much we can accomplish if we all put our shoulders to the wheel,” Alexander said.
He called on police officers to accept responsibility for their actions, be accountable for their results and take ownership for their mistakes.
“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude,” Alexander said quoting deceased Maya Angelou, American author, poet and civil rights activist.
In what may very well be his final remarks to a gathering of police officers before demitting office next week, Alexander debunked talk of low police morale within the organization explaining that officers are resilient.
“And you will all admit that over the years we have had to deal with and adjust to a plethora of misfortunes and changes. Despite a myriad of challenges, constraints and limitations, the performance of the organization continues to trend upwards as evidenced by the most recent crime statistics and performance measures. We have had to resort to innovative and forward thinking measures to policing and these efforts have borne fruit,” Alexander said.
He called on long serving members of the Force to continue to steadfastly play their part in guiding the organization forward by being outstanding role models for junior officers, especially recruits.
He congratulated those officers moving up the ranks telling them that their promotion is but a small recognition of their hard work and commitment to the police force.
“As you stand here today, I urge you to be the change that you want to see in the organization. Along with your promotions come more stress, more hard work, more sleepless nights, more responsibility and most importantly more accountability,” Alexander said.
He implored them to repay his confidence in them by being ambassadors for the organization and to extend a hand downwards to uplift those below them.
“Remember that we rise not by trampling upon others but by uplifting them,” Alexander told police officers.
