Police honoured their fallen colleagues at a memorial service on Sunday afternoon.

The event at the Bermuda Police Service headquarters in Prospect was attended by dignitaries including Governor Rena Lalgie, Michael Weeks, the Minister of National Security, Karen Grissette, the US Consul-General, as well as Darrin Simons, the Commissioner of Police, family members and friends of service personnel, support staff and retired and serving police officers.

It was held at the end of Police Week 2022, which marks the 143rd year of service by the BPS to the Bermuda community. During the week, several events were held including a gymkhana, awards ceremony and inter-service sports day.

Mr Simons said: “It is more than fitting that we close out this week in recognition of our departed colleagues whose service to our community is to be remembered and cherished. This includes the support staff and the reserve police.

“Call me biased but I am firmly of the view that there is no other job like policing. No other job that, in the moment, carries with it the immense power to fundamentally impact a citizen’s life, and the necessity, the weight of responsibility and accountability to get it right. It is this crucible of risk, the expectation, the shared sacrifice and service that helps forge the bonds that is the Bermuda police community.

“We are here to mourn, to reflect, for fellowship together, to laugh and to cry. The thing that binds us together is the celebration of our departed loved ones’ service to our community in making Bermuda safer.

“On behalf of the Bermuda Police Service, I offer both my condolences to the passing of your loved ones and my sincere thanks for your sacrifice and support that has enabled them to give a lifetime of service.”

Mr Simon’s comments were followed by a moment of silence.

Michael DeSilva, the former commissioner of police, read the names of BPS colleagues who had died in the past two years.

At the end of the ceremony, wreaths were laid.