PHILIPSBURG:--- The long awaited custom-made bulletproof vests, for every officer on the police force, have arrived. These vests were ordered by Toni M Impex located in Cole Bay and are the vests which the former Minister of Justice the honorable Dennis Richardson had ordered while in office. These vests are of lightweight and very strong material and are custom made for every individual officer. The vest can easily and comfortably be worn under the police uniform. These vests were ordered as part of the plan of approach to better protect the officers while carrying out their duty.
The management team of the KPSM is very happy to have received these vests for its officers and want to thank the Justice Minister for living up to his commitment in having these vests ordered. The new Chief of Police Carl John has made it mandatory for all his officers to wear his or her bulletproof vest while on duty. The custom made vests have been distributed among the officers and the temporary vests were returned and stored for use when necessary.
During the distribution of the new vests Mrs. Janice Philips representing, the President of the N.A.P.B. Mrs. Jeanine Peterson was present and stated that the police union was quite happy with this development and urge all colleagues to make proper use of the vests seeing the increase in violence used during crime in general. Mrs. Philips also wants to thank Minister Dennis Richardson for living up to his promise.
Police officer lay to rest with honor
Police officers Moceda Deann Egen who passed away on Saturday November 14th 2015 will be laid to rest with highest honor on Monday November 23rd 2015. As part of the ceremony, at 10.00 a.m. the body of the late Moceda Egen will be escorted by police from the Emerald Funeral Home in Cay Hill to Philipsburg for her last visit at the Philipsburg Police Head Quarters. At the police station a full uniformed honor guard will be awaiting her arrival. Family members who will be accompanying M. Egen will then enter the police station and in the presence of the police management team hang a picture of Mrs. Egen among those of other fallen colleagues of the police force. In connection with this ceremony traffic will be closed on the E. Camille Richardson Street for approximately 30 minutes
At approximately 10.20 a.m. the procession will leave the police station and escorted to the Good News Baptist Church on Sint Peter’s road where the body could be viewed and where the continuation of the ceremony and church service will take place.
During the church service traffic on this road will be diverted to get into and out of Sint Peters.
All drivers are advised to take good note of this information and use alternative routes to avoid any unnecessary inconvenience or delays.
Information regarding ongoing investigations
The police department is reporting that another male suspect with initials D.E. (34) in the ongoing human trafficking/human smuggling investigation has been arrested and taken into custody. The arrest took place on Thursday November 19th 2015 without incident and the suspect remains in custody for further investigation.
The extension of the incarceration of suspect with the initials M.H.A (34), who was arrested on Monday November 17th 2015, was extended with 8 days on Thursday by the Judge of Instruction. The investigation continues as the suspect remains in custody for questioning.
Police supports reading group at library
On Saturday November 21st 2015 Community Police Officers Helen Romeo and Steven Carty visited the Philipsburg Jubilee Library in support of the Saturday Story Time held every Saturday at the library.
For the past two and a half years Mrs. Joseanne Peterson has been a voluntary story time coordinator for the Philipsburg library. Mrs. Peterson believes that young children who become regular library users will develop the early literacy, communication and social skills needed and will play a positive role in their schools of which they spend most of their time.
One of the objectives of the weekly story times is to make literacy fun through the use of a wide range of high-quality picture books, songs, poetry, finger plays, puppets and crafts. Another objective is to encourage parents to play an active role in developing their children's interest in reading.
Every Saturday she invites children to join story time to enjoy literacy rich, hands on experience in a caring environment. Parents are provided, if requested, how to select and use age appropriate materials for the children. Aside form what is on the program, they always read a Dutch book and also practice (deaf) sign language spelling. A child that frequents the program knows the sign language alphabet and knows how to use it.
Mrs Peterson mostly keeps the story time in line with what is happening in our community. She said that as parents we often forget that whatever is happening around us, also affects our children. In our busy lives we tend to forget to share and break down important incidents in a language that they understand.
This year has been quite a challenging year for the Police Force and this December Story time would like to Honour and thank our men and women in blue for, in our children's own words: “Protecting our community.”
Our first session started Saturday November 21st 2015 with a Meet & Greet in the reading room where children got a chance to interact and ask questions and personally thank the Community Officers. The program flyer will be available at the Library front desk early December.
The session ended on a high note where all children pledged to always respect our officers at all time.
The Chief of police Carl John stated that the police force will support any organization and will continue to support any project or program that is in the benefit of the education of our youth.
KPSM Police Report.