Give peace a chance was the mantra behind the first Police pedal cycle gymkhana held in Bermuda in the 1960s.

Four decades later, circumstances have changed, but Police motives are pretty much the same for organising the first Police Pedal Cycle Gymkhana in 18 years.

The event is designed for elementary and middle school students and will be held at the Police Field in Prospect as part of Police Week.

Back in the 1960s, the event was the brainchild of a young Police constable Ray Sousa.

Mr. Sousa, 67, now lives in Western Australia where he is the town of Kwinana's community emergency services co-ordinator and chief bush fire control officer.

He said he was thrilled to see the event revived.

"I am very proud to hear that the Police Service is reviving the Cycle Gymkhana," he said. "It's a simple formula, having volunteer Police officers interacting with children of all ages. I wish them every success."

The event was designed to create a better relationship between Bermuda's Police service and young people. It was also a way to unite the community — which was then still heavily racially divided.

When Mr. Sousa started with the Police there was no community policing, as it is known today, although there were parish constables and officers working with youth groups.

"As a young Police constable, I spent a lot of time visiting Spanish Point where I became a parish constable," he said. "I was struck by how many kids were very talented at riding their pedal cycles, doing 'wheelies', balancing on stationery bikes, and riding fast."

The idea for the Police gymkhana began to come to fruition when he met Everett Nance who had been brought to Bermuda to set up a Young Man's Christian Association (YMCA) in Hamilton.

Mr. Nance was a former basketball player and a youth leader. He and Mr. Sousa discussed the idea of organising a children's/youth pedal cycle competition run by Police.

Mr. Sousa put together an organising team consisting of himself, and young Police officers Roger Sherratt and Gary Perinchief.

When the event got off the ground, many people in the community supported the idea the Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) donated a trophy made by one of their members.

But the event was not supported by everyone. Rumours surfaced that the first gymkhana would be sabotaged at Bernard Park. A Police caravan was set up there and Mr. Sousa, Mr. Sherratt and Mr. Perinchief spent all night guarding the park and their equipment.

"A group of youths on motorcycles arrived very late at night in a threatening manner, and we scared them away with spotlights and by firing a starting pistol into their loud speaker system," said Mr. Sousa.

In the morning their sleepless efforts paid off when 500 children arrived in Bernard Park with their pedal cycles, all of which were examined by Police mechanics to make sure their brakes were properly adjusted.

"Spectators were said to number in the thousands, and I was finally able to relax as I saw our dream unfolding."

In the racially divided Bermuda of the time, a community event with a mix of races and ethnicities was almost revolutionary.

"I saw a lot of good sportsmanship, with the kids shaking hands after races," said Mr. Sousa. "I saw kids from both white and black families talking to each other. I saw kids checking out each other's bikes, giving minor first aid to those who got injured. I have no doubt that friendships were formed from that event, and at least for two days in Bermuda's history the Police were heroes in the eyes of the youth on the Island."

The event was a much anticipated one, until it was stopped 18 years ago.

Mr. Sousa said when he visited the Island last year, he was disappointed by the level of violence.

"To be honest, I prefer the Bermuda of my childhood with all its problems compared to the Bermuda of today," he said. "It hurts to hear about regular shootings on the Island when we fought so hard to keep firearms off the streets. To see Police armed in Bermuda, and I appreciate why, is disappointing."

Mr. Sousa grew up on Glebe Road in Pembroke in the area now known as 42nd Street. His father, Archie Sousa, ran a water trucking business.

"Both my parents were born in Bermuda," said Mr. Sousa. "My mother died when I was 11 years old. A year later my father got married to a girl from the Azores. This created culture conflict with the difference in thinking between my father, stepmother and myself. On the instructions of my father I left school age 13 to work in construction on the American military bases."

In his late teens, he became a scout leader with St. Michael's group led by Sergeant John Cafferkey, who became a father figure to him.

"He was approachable an excellent leader and cop," said Mr. Sousa. "He treated everyone with respect. He foresaw that with my teenage rebellion and culture issues I could easily end up in trouble. He offered me a lot of good advice and guidance and warned that if I ignored it and got into trouble his size eleven boot would end up stuck in my backside."

His family was less than pleased when he decided to join the Police service.

"It was as if I was joining the enemy who discriminated against the Portuguese," said Mr. Sousa. "I saw it as getting into the system and changing it for the better. I firmly believe in equal protection and justice for all. That is how I performed my duties. As to other 'Portuguese' on the Force, when I joined there was Ernie Moniz and Harold Moniz and maybe one or two others.

"They worked extremely hard and were highly respected by the community and the Force as a whole. I would be very surprised if they, like myself did not face some type of prejudice but once you prove yourself people grow to respect you."

Mr. Sousa moved to Australia in 1974, where he became local council ranger. Part of his job involved bush fire prevention duties. At this time, he also served two-and-a-half years in the 10th Light Horse Army Reserve Regiment.( Armour Vehicles Regiment).

A few years later he helped to form the Gosnell State Emergency Services Unit (SES), after the unit was pounded by a cyclone. He left the Gosnells Brigade in 1991 with the rank of captain and took up his present role in Kwinana.

"Besides managing my two volunteer brigades with over 120 members, I have to ensure plans are in place for all likely emergencies that could affect the town," said Mr. Sousa. "I run training courses for council staff, and council rangers so they can assist when a disaster occurs. We have recovery and evacuation plans, among other things."

In 2008 he was named in the Queen's Honours list and awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal, a high honour among the 25,000 Australians who service in volunteer bush fire brigades around the country.

He is married and has four children and six grandchildren with another on the way.

Today's Police Pedal Cycle Gymkhana is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Participants are asked to bring a bicycle and helmet.