The Police Service's oldest retired officer, Detective Inspector Milton Marsh, died this week at the age of 102.Born in St Kitts, Mr Marsh came to Bermuda with his wife Gwendolyn in 1930 at the age of 21. He started work at the Bermuda Police Service in 1941.Mr Marsh received seven Commissioner's Commendations during his 21-year police career for various investigations, and was awarded the Colonial Police Medal when he retired in 1964.Among his notable achievements was the 1959 investigation into the murder of 29-year-old Dorothy Barbara Rawlinson, which led to the arrest of Wendell Lightbourne, who was sentenced to life in prison.In an interview in 2009, Mr Marsh told The Royal Gazette that he also fought discrimination during his time in the service, both inside the police service and out.“If you were coloured, promotion was very slow,” he said. “Coloured people only got promotions when they were about ready to retire.“People were in an uproar when I joined. I was severely beaten in Somerset because I was from St Kitts.“We knew who did it. Some of them went to prison for it.”After retiring from the service, Det Insp Marsh worked in the security department of the Castle Harbour Hotel and in the courts as a bailiff.On his 100th birthday, Det Insp Marsh was recognised for his service at the Bermuda Cathedral and was presented ‘The Baton of Honour' a cedar billy club by the Police Service.Det Insp Marsh is the father of Mrs Blanche Atkinson, a professional in the field of nursing, and Professor Milton Rudolph Marsh, a composer, arranger and saxophonist in the US.Commissioner of Police Michael DeSilva said today: "On behalf of the officers and staff of The Bermuda Police Service I extend sincere condolences to the family of former Detective Inspector Milton Marsh."I had the pleasure to meet Inspector Marsh on his birthday in February this year as well as some members of his family."I noted how sharp his memory was of his policing career and it was interesting to hear him relate his experiences."He commented that police officers today have it tougher than he did. But when he told me he used to carry prisoners to the police station slung over his shoulder, I remarked how grateful I was that times had changed. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Inspector Marsh's family at this sad time. We hope that they are comforted by our gratitude for the significant contribution to Bermuda's safety made by Inspector Marsh during his watch."