– All speak of discipline and service to country

AFTER giving the Guyana Police Force (GPF) a dedicated thirty-two year of service, Superintendent Norman Timmerman retired effective May 01, 2017.

Also heading into retirement this year would be Assistant Superintendent, Lindon LaRose, Sergeant Audie Beckles, and Sergeant Joy Deborah Alexis Webster.

Mr. Timmerman would have joined the Guyana Police Force on the 10, October, 1985 with regulation number 13276 thereafter beginning his initial training in Course #176, which lasted for nine months at the Felix Austin Police College, Georgetown.
Before joining this noble organisation, Mr. Timmerman had worked at the Guyana Rice Development Board in Blackbush whilst residing at Manchester Village, Berbice.
He said for the fact that jobs were hard to get during that time, he decided to apply to become a policeman.

Prior to his retirement Mr. Timmerman would have served in all policing divisions, including the Criminal Investigations Department, Tactical Services Unit and Immigration.
He recalled that his stint in ‘F’ Division (Interior Locations) was his best because of its pristine nature and for the fact that he was fortunate to visit villages which he deemed as Guyana’s best. He also visited Brazil and Venezuela where he interacted with his counterparts.

“I thought of quitting the job many times but found the courage to motivate myself, although policing may seem easy, it’s not, it’s a very tough job and I want to urge young police officers to be focus, be discipline, to educate yourselves and to listen to your superiors” he reminded.
During his retirement he plans to use his time to do farming, cattle and poultry and spend quality time with his four grandchildren.

Meanwhile, after thirty-four years of dedicated service to the GPF, Assistant Superintendent Lindon LaRose proceeded on retirement effective April 01, 2017.
Before joining the profession ASP LaRose served in the National Service from 1977-1982 as

a Pioneer and a Surveyor.
On the 21st day of October in the year 1983 Mr. LaRose was enlisted in the GPF with regulation number 12546 as a direct intake to the Presidential Guard.

Whilst stationed as a Presidential Guard for almost 12 years, Mr. LaRose would have done several arms and tactics training courses with the Guyana Defence Force; he also took part in drills, since it was something he liked while serving in the National Service.
He was one of the security personnel attached directly to late Presidents Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham and Hugh Desmond Hoyte respectively, which was because of the training he would have received.
In the year 1995 Mr. LaRose was transferred to the Immigration Department after attaining the rank of Lance Corporal and has served in that department until retirement.

ASP LaRose, who hails from Cumberland Village, East Canje, Berbice, during an interview said that he enjoyed his time as a policeman; he said that he never regretted joining the Force and thanked everyone for their overwhelmed support.
“I am a man of all season; I worked at all the Border Locations in Guyana from Moleson Creek to Lethem and I enjoyed it , I never regretted being a police because I learnt a lot and since 1983 I have never been back home because every time I got my vacation leave I spent it overseas” LaRose reiterated.

He also said that he is honored to be the recipient of several medals during his career; those being the Force’s 150 and 175 Anniversary Medal, the Tactical Efficiency Medal, the Border Efficiency Medal and the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
The ever-pleasant looking retiree said that he will now be using his retirement to relax and travelled the interior of Guyana; he said that he will now be able to spend quality time with his family, more so his three children; two boys and one girl who are ages 25, 29 and 30 years respectively.

Further, after 34 years of dedicated service, the Police Sergeant, Audie Beckles retires. He was born on the 4, June, 1962 and joined the GPF the 07th day of February 1983 and after giving thirty-four years of his life to the force Sergeant 12228, Audie Beckles will retire effective 01st July 2017.
Working as a vendor at the Stabroek Market in the year 1982, Beckles was approached by a Depot Rank (now Tactical Services Unit) by the name of Brummell and was encouraged to join the force; Brummell was one of Beckles’ regular customers.

Whilst in training Beckles said he always wanted to become a Depot Rank because he loved the uniform, drills and most importantly their coordination when they are on parades. After completing the rigorous training for nine months, Beckles was posted at Traffic Headquarters, Eve Leary, where his sole duty was to do cash escorts which he described as his best working experience; he also said that it wasn’t an easy task because he always had to be focused while doing such.

Beckles almost spent his entire career in the Traffic Department except for about a year when he was posted to the Tactical Services Unit after which he was sent back to Traffic Headquarters and soon after to ‘B’ Division Traffic.
In the year 1989 he gained his first promotion to Lance Corporal; after spending eighteen (18) years in that rank he was subsequently promoted to the rank of Corporal in the year 2007; in 2014 he was promoted to his present rank of Sergeant. Beckles, described his time in the Force as one he will never forget but only one thing that he always scared of is being transferred to somewhere far.

“Even though transfer is a part of every Policeman’s kit, when I get a hint sometimes as a joke that I will be transferred I tend to take it on and it frustrates me a lot because I never wanted to be away from my family” he said.
“I want to urge the young ranks to take their work serious, don’t be frustrated, don’t give up and most importantly be discipline and listen to the public concerns and by doing those few things you will reach far ahead in the work,” Beckles reiterated.
A special congratulatory function in honour of the retiring rank was held at the Fort Welling Police Station at which he was presented with gifts of appreciations in recognition of his sterling contribution to the maintenance of the Force’s mandate of ensuring public safety and security.

In conclusion, Sergeant Joy Deborah Alexis Webster will proceed on retirement after 22 years of service.
“Whether rain or sun, I go out and perform my duties” she said.
Known as Sergeant Webster, a name every road user knows about and a woman with pride, dignity and always hardworking and on the go. It’s unfortunate but it is time that she leaves to proceed on retirement. Effective from 1st June, 2017.
Born on the 17, May, 1962 and joined the Force on 16, June, 1995 as a constable with regulation number 16851Sgt. Webster has served in the Traffic Department of the Force throughout her career since graduating from the Felix Austin Police College in 1996. She gained her first promotion to the rank of Corporal in the year 2004 which she described as her best memory in the Force.

“On that day I was at home on my off-duty when my Sergeant, Desiree Fowler, (retired Superintendent) called me and played a prank on me telling me that I have to report for duty immediately because someone is here making allegations that I assaulted them,” she recalled. “Immediately after hearing such I get dressed in my uniform and went and reported for duty; by surprise I saw all the ranks on duty was staring at me and all of a sudden I heard they were shouting congratulations; my sergeant then showed me my name on the list and congratulated me on my promotion.”

Before joining the force Webster had served in the Guyana National Service for eight years as a pioneer. In the National Service she worked at the Signal Corp, thence to the Plumbing and Arts Departments respectively.
In 2012 she was promoted to the rank of Sergeant until her retirement. Webster described the 2002 (Crime Wave) as the most challenging year, “It was very challenging and tough but I had to make use of what was there and go out there and execute my duties, I was very observant and very careful of the place I go at that time but nevertheless I made it and here am I.”

“Whether rain or sun, I go out and perform my duties and I want all of you young police to think the same way; I want you to take the work seriously, be discipline and do the right thing and you will reach far in this work” She alluded.
After retiring Sergeant Webster plan to spend more time with her four children three boys and a girl between the ages of 19-30 and her four grandchildren
, she will also venture into farming and poultry, which she finds pleasure in doing.
She also thanked the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Seelall Persaud, DSM and all other retired and serving ranks the support given during her tenure in the force and said that without God, Prayers and her family it would not have been possible to make it to the end.