Outgoing Commissioner of Police in Anguilla, Mr. Paul Morrison, told a large gathering, saying goodbye to him – after a five-year appointment – “I did it my way.”
The event, on January 22, 2021, was a memorable Parade & Farewell Ceremony held in his honour. It involved the participation of uniformed contingents from the Royal Anguilla Police Force; Special Constables; Her Majesty’s Prison; Anguilla Fire and Rescue Services; and the Cadets Corps.
They paraded from the Lands and Surveys Department to the back of The Valley Police Headquarters, a distance of about 300 yards, where the actual farewell ceremony took place. Commissioner Morrison, accompanied by Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Elliott Forbes, and Superintendent Haslyn Patterson, took the salute as the parade passed in front the Police Headquarters.
“It is a sad day,” Mr. Morrison commented to The Anguillian newspaper, as the parade approached. “It is not my last day but I guess it feels that way because of the pomp and ceremony. I am humbled by the support and the fact that they are doing this for me.”
“How do you leave the Anguilla Police Force?” he was asked.
“I leave it in good shape,” he replied. “It is being taken over by another Commissioner [Mr. David Lynch, a UK national]. He is one of the best persons whom I had the pleasure working with; and I am sure the future looks bright for the Royal Anguilla Police Force.”
He continued: “Elliot – the Deputy Commissioner – and I worked together for five years and he has been outstanding. Superintendent Patterson and all the others involved in the management of the Force have also been outstanding.”
As Mr. Morrison was summoned to the area of the ceremony, he met an invited group of persons awaiting his arrival. They included Premier Dr. Ellis Webster; former Premier, Mr. Victor Banks; Deputy Governor, Mr. Perin Bradley; Leader of the Opposition, Mrs. Cora Richardson-Hodge; her colleagues Mr. Cardigan Connor and Mr. Jose Vanterpool; and Senior Magistrate, Mr. Keithly Benjamin.
Following his inspection of the parade, and addresses by a number of persons, Commissioner Morrison addressed the gathering about his tenure of office; the development of the Royal Anguilla Police Force under his command; the support he had received; and the difficulties he and his team encountered – including Hurricane Irma and Covid-19.
“It is not just the officers and staff that made a difference. Many people have given support and words of encouragement along the journey,” he recalled. “Despite the few who might have sought to promote an alternative agenda, the weight of support completely overwhelmed the negativity…
“My time in office was not always one of smooth sailing. I have had to make decisions … that have not always been popular. I have dismissed officers for failing to meet the standards that I expected in serving the public. I have carried out promotions and selections that had been fair and transparent.”
He added: “It is never easy doing what is right so let the record show. I took a few blows, but ‘I did it my way’ [borrowing a line from the American singer, Frank Sinatra]. I expect that my officers will never bring shame on the Royal Anguilla Police Force; their uniforms; or their country.”
Both Premier Webster and former Premier Banks spoke highly about the outgoing Commissioner and his achievements. They observed that there was a lessening of crime in Anguilla during his leadership of the Police; that he encountered some negative experiences – but had risen above the difficulties in his work to develop the Force and to maintain law and order.
Several members of the Police Command paid glowering tribute to Mr. Morrison – including praising him for enabling the self-development and empowerment of officers who said he would be greatly missed. The speakers were: Woman Police Officer, Ms. Cherrydelle Goombs, who chaired the ceremony; Special Constable Shelder Lewis; Inspector Kenneth Millette; Detective Inspector Shem Wills; Inspector Randolph Yearwood; Superintendent Haslyn Patterson; and Deputy Commissioner Elliott Forbes.
Towards the end of the ceremony, Commissioner Morrison was the recipient of several gifts from the rank and file of the Force.
He stayed on in Anguilla for the observance of Police Week –the 49th Anniversary of the Force – which commenced on Sunday, January 24. He leaves Anguilla on Sunday, January 31, to return to the United Kingdom.
Mr. Morrison was recruited to the island in October 2015 from the Sussex Police Force where he served as Chief Superintendent and Head of Operations. He initially headed the Royal Anguilla Police Force for three years and eventually continued for five years, with two extensions.
He will be succeeded in Anguilla by Mr. David Lynch in early February. Mr. Lynch spent thirty years as a Superintendent of the Lincolnshire Police Force. He is coming to Anguilla from his previous post in St. Helena.
