Kudos and salutations were heaped on outgoing Police Commissioner Jean Jaques Lemay at the official command change ceremony on Thursday afternoon. He had after all achieved the goals he had been contracted to accomplish, namely to develop a strategic plan and a succession plan for the Bermuda Police Service.

Successor Johnathan Smith will find the service "in good shape'' said His Excellency the Governor, Thorold Masefield, who pointed to statistics which showed a 50 percent decline in almost every crime category over the last seven years -- four of which were under Commissioner Lemay's leadership.

"These figures are, I believe, without parallel anywhere else in the world,'' said the Governor.

But the pomp and circumstance that accompanied the occasion -- there were the parades accompanied by music provided by the Bermuda Regiment Band, a Royal salute and lots of fine rhetoric -- could not detract from the challenges that lie ahead for Commissioner Smith.

"We cannot look back for too long because if we do -- we'll collide with what's in front of us. The challenges of today are here and the challenges of tomorrow soon will be,'' said Mr. Smith -- Bermuda's 14th Police Commissioner.

Mr. Smith's address after the Governor handed over the ceremonial sword of office, made it clear that he knew the road ahead will be no walk in the park.

"I am ever conscious of the public's view of crime and drugs,'' he said.

New commisisoner sworn in "I am ever conscious of the demands placed on the Police. I am ever conscious of increasing public expectations. I am ever conscious of emerging Constitutional challenges to policing. And I am ever conscious of the environment around us that places a high value on human rights.

"The Bermuda Police Service is being pulled in two very different directions.

Upwards and outwards globally as we tackle the menace of international drug trafficking, international organised crime and the emerging trend of Internet crime; and downwards and outwards -- towards our local community who deserve the very best policing we can provide.

"No one Commissioner can achieve this on his own. We need to rely upon high performing officers committed to public service. We will need to rely upon our community to work with us to make Bermuda a safer place. The community has to be at the heart of what we do.

"We need to commit ourselves to an organisation that has a clear direction of where it is going.

"I welcome the opportunity to lead the Bermuda Police Service. Leaders must lead -- but they must also follow -- follow a vision. That vision will become apparent soon. Over the next few months you will hear much more about the future direction of the Bermuda Police Service.'' Mr. Lemay, for his part, thanked everyone he ever worked with during his tenure -- first as Deputy Commissioner, then Acting Commissioner before he was appointed Commissioner in April 1998.