ACCORDING to Neville T. Darrell, , was nearly 30 years in the making. The experience was cathartic, he writes in the introduction to the book, as but for the grace of God he would have suffered a similar fate to Buck Burrows, the man who was hanged for the Governor's murder.

"No, I did not commit murder, although I had thought about it and had planned to murder one of my police administrators. One of the differences between Buck and me was the fact that Buck, because of frustration, took to the gun and committed murder, while I took to the pen and wrote this book."

A Bermudian, Mr. Darrell is married to Myrtle and has three children ? Karin, Neville and Jacque. In 1960 he joined the Police Force, remaining there until he was fired from his post in October of 1978. Other jobs followed, over which time he relocated from Bermuda to New York City. He returned to the island in 1995 and is now a self-employed home security consultant, self-defence instructor and part-time taxi driver. A candidate for the PLP in the 2003 General Election, he remains active in local politics and is in the process of writing a second book.

Hopefully, he says, it won't take as long to write as the first although its results were well worth the many years of effort he put into its creation.

"In the introduction of my book, I explain that there are three forces of the universe ? love, fear and hate," Mr. Darrell explained. "Another force that's also powerful is forgiveness. I had to go through a process before I could publish the book. I had to make sure that I didn't still harbour those sentiments.

"I think the result is colourful, it's challenging. I think, undoubtedly, it's something everyone can learn from. Most people who have read it have told me they couldn't put it down until they finished; that they found it very captivating."

hundred copies of the book were released to local stores on December 11, Mr. Darrell said. Publishers for the book were a company in British Columbia, Canada, Coastline Mountain Press Ltd.

"A number of questions have been asked about the assassination of the Governor," he wrote in the book's introduction. "Was it a conspiracy? Did Buck do it alone? Who were the people involved? Most of these questions will be answered in this document.

"As the title, , suggests, the book is about a scene of bloodshed; in this case, the untold story of the murder of one of the former Governors of Bermuda, Sir Richard Sharples," the author explained during an interview this week.

"The reason it has remained untold all this time is because I masterminded the capture of Buck Burrows, the man who hung for the murder of the Governor and this book reveals some of the aspects of that investigation that haven't been told."

Mr. Darrell, a former St. George';s Cup Match captain, pointed out that while Burrows had hanged for the murder ? confessed, even ? many questioned whether he had actually committed the crime.

"There are some unanswered questions relating to that," he said. "He was being sought because he had robbed a bank and after he was caught, confessed to the murder. I had a fairly good rapport with him. He spent most of his adult life in and out of prison. I believe he was capable of killing (however) he said that he was the commander in chief of the anti-colonialist movement in Bermuda."

Despite his success in capturing the most wanted criminal in Bermuda at the time and his many achievements in other police duties, Mr. Darrell said his time with the force was less than rewarding.

This, he explained, was largely because of the problems he had with the white police officers on the force. Promoted to the rank of Detective Sergeant, he was later demoted because, in his words: "I was working under a racist police administration."

He could not say, however, why if the administration was so racist he'd been promoted in the first place or the reason officers gave for his subsequent demotion.

"That's a good question that hasn't been answered," he said. "I was promoted because I deserved to be promoted. They really didn't give me any excuse for my (downgrade). During an interview with one police officer I was told that my thinking was far too advanced for the Bermuda Police Force (as were) my progressiveness regarding duties and seeking advancement. In the '60s, while it was everyone's ambition to receive promotion, any progressive thinking black was held back as a means of control. The real answer (regarding my demotion) comes to light in the book."

In chapter nine of the book, Mr. Darrell writes of his demotion: "On one occasion a local black inspector called me aside and asked me whether or not I had done anything to Supt. McMillen because during every meeting the officers had, McMillen brought my name up in a negative way . . . One day I was called up in front of the Police Commissioner and told that I was being demoted.

"I was informed that it was as a result of McMillen's recommendation. The Commissioner read off all these trumped-up charges and complaints that were on my file, most of which I knew nothing about."

In spite of his demotion, Mr. Darrell said his superior officers determined he was the only man capable of capturing Burrows.

"I received specific information concerning his whereabouts and I was given special assistance to capture Buck because they thought I was the only one on the force capable of capturing him because of my previous outstanding performance," he explained.

His anger ? and that of other black members on the force ? deepened to the point where a group of them formed an association to list some of their grievances regarding issue of race and the force's promotion policy.

Attendance at the meetings greatly reduced, however, after the Police Commissioner at that time, George Duckett, "sent out a directive to all police personnel holding the rank of sergeant and above, threatening to discipline them if they attended any more of these meetings".

the black officers who served with him and were members of the group, Mr. Darrell said the unpleasant work conditions caused two to leave the force ? they became Muslims ? and one was fired and sent back to Barbados, while some five key members of the organisation opted to remain on the force in spite of the way they were treated.

"I was very angry and very frustrated with what was happening to me as a police officer. I was genuinely concerned about what was happening in the community at the time. The average local black officer had to serve about nine years before he was promoted to the rank of sergeant.

"An English officer would be promoted within two or three years and would have done far less police work which would have been evidenced by their court appearances and the number of cases being forwarded."

He became so angry with the lack of attention given to the complaints of black officers ? and the treatment they received ? that Mr. Darrell said he planned a killing.

"I left the force in 1978 after I was fired. You really have to read the book, but in a nutshell it was because I bucked the system. I was asking too many questions relating to directives. Before I was fired, I was offered early retirement with full benefits. At that time, I had been there 16 years. I didn't want to accept it. I enjoyed doing police work despite what I had to endure.

"I figured I had to get away from Bermuda because of the racism that existed. I didn't have thoughts of killing every white person but I reached the point where I wanted to kill one of my police officials in particular ? he was an out-and-out racist ? and, I think, others."

His move to the United States helped ease his anger, Mr. Darrell said. As did writing his book.

"I lived in New York City, in Harlem, for over a decade," he explained. "I returned to Bermuda in the mid-'90s. I think my state of mind was such that I could perhaps move back and not commit mass murder.

"I think racism still exists in Bermuda today but it's a bit more subtle. I don't know where the (officer I wanted to kill) is now and I'm not interested in knowing. I felt when I returned, and I still feel, I can make a meaningful contribution to this community."

q, is now on sale for $25 at the Phoenix Centre, People's Pharmacy, True Reflections, Caesar's Pharmacy, Robertson's Drug Store, the Metaphysical Book Store, the Washington Mall Book Shop, the Children's Book Store and the Bermuda Book Store on Queen Street. Copies may also be purchased through the author, by calling 234-6711 or via e-mail, ntdibl.bm. Mr. Darrell will be signing copies of his book at the Phoenix Centre on Reid Street tomorrow between 10 a.m. and noon.