Members of the Anguilla community have been expressing sorrow and regret over the tragic death of Police Constable Ichal Tafari Mockett, 36, who died after a pickup truck he was driving collided with a utility pole at Sandy Ground.
The incident occurred on Saturday night, October 29. He was taken to the Princess Alexandra Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Constable Mockett, who was a national of St. Vincent & The Grenadines, is the second member of the Royal Anguilla Police Force to have died as a result of a vehicular accident.
The first was Constable Gerald Bardouille, formerly of the Commonwealth of Dominica. He died on April 8, 2006, when the police jeep he was driving collided with a section of the Magistrate’s Court. His colleague, Constable Rayfield Roberts, a Vincentian, suffered serious injury.
Two special messages of condolence have been sent to the media relating to Constable Mockett’s tragedy. The message from Acting Governor, Mr. Perin Bradley, reads as follows:
“It is with deep sadness I learned about the death of Police Constable Ichal Mockett, on the evening of Sunday 30 October. On behalf of myself and Governor Scott, I offer my sincere condolences and prayers to all PC Mockett’s family, loved ones and friends. My thoughts are with his children, who today are dealing with the sudden, tragic loss of their father.
“-The Royal Anguilla Police Force has lost a popular and dedicated officer. PC Mockett was held in high regard by those he worked with, a great many of whom kept vigil at the hospital and at Police Headquarters yesterday evening.
“I knew PC Mockett personally, and our conversations were always warm and friendly. In this time of sadness and loss, my hope is that his contribution, of faithfully serving our community, will help bring us all closer together and encourage us to better serve one other.
– Governor (Ag) Perin Bradley”
The message from Commissioner of Police, Mr. Paul Morrison, is as follows:
“It is with very deep sadness that we mourn the tragic death of our beloved officer, Ichal Tafarai Mockett who joined the RAPF in December 2004.
“Mockett an officer of the Drugs and Firearms Task Force was off duty when he was involved in a single vehicle collision on the Sandy Ground Main Road in the early evening of Sunday 30th October 2016. Mockett who suffered serious injuries in the collision was taken by the ambulance to the Princess Alexandra Hospital where he later died as a result of these injuries. Family, colleagues and friends were all in attendance at the hospital at the time of his passing.
“Mockett was a fine officer, a wonderful colleague and a great friend. He was someone who touched the hearts of many.
“We are through our Family Liaison Officers working with the family of our departed colleague to help them come to terms with the loss of their loved one.
“We the members of the RAPF have received exceptional support from Pastor Elmead Allen, Pastor James Harrigan and Minister Anthony Thomas of the Kingdom Vision Apostolic Church. They have been working with the officers and staff of the RAPF to help us to come to terms with this tragic loss.
“We are grateful for all the calls, the comments on Facebook and the other social media outlets that we have received from the public expressing their support, condolences and prayers for us at this time.
“As an organization we remain determined in our commitment to providing maximum service to the people of Anguilla during this very difficult time for us.
“We sincerely express deepest condolence to Constable Mockett’s extended family both here in Anguilla and in his homeland, St. Vincent and the Grenadines in his untimely passing.
“May his soul rest in peace.”
