Philipsburg: --- The St. Maarten Tours of Roman Catholic Church was filled to its capacity yesterday morning as family friends and colleagues of Alfred Ricardo Churchill Marsdin paid their last respects to man whom they described a friendly, caring and even loud. Marsdin perished on October 21 when the ill fated helicopter he was on disappeared at sea. Also present at the memorial service was leader of government Sarah Wescot Williams, and Commissioner Maria Buncamper Molanus, and the National Alliance family, since the late Churchill Marsdin was one of the candidates of the last Island Council Election on the National Alliance slate.
One of his daughters in her tribute said her father suffered this last year simply because that which he loved the most was taken away from him when the prosecutor's office decided they would charge him with forgery. His daughter said her father felt all of which he worked for was snatched away right before his eyes and he could do nothing. "My father felt that he was mocked and disrespected in this community and even though I am not here to point fingers instead they gather in memory of a husband, father, friend and officer of the law. She described her father as a caregiver, flamboyant but above all he was a loud man.
A close friend and colleague of Churchill in an emotional plea called on his colleagues to do something against the injustice they of the police force is go through. He said that just days prior to the tragic incident his friend and colleague shared his pain which he consider a cancer which took his life. He said he knew his friend very well and he knew exactly what was hurting him. His statements caused huge cheers from the audience on more than one occasion. 
Assistant Chief Commissioner of Police Richard Panneflek in his address expressed condolences to the family on behalf of the Minister of Justice David Dick. Panneflek said the last three weeks has been grueling since they had to wait on laboratory confirmations prior to giving their final farewell to their colleague and friend who left them very tragically and unexpected.
He called on the family to have faith, as they mourn the loss of their loved ones. The acting police chief said loosing an officer is looking a family member but they all have to seek God's face as they seek comfort. He said Churchill will not be forgotten dues to his personality. Panneflek also read a letter that was sent by the island chief of police Franklyn Richards who could not stay at the church for the final farewell.
