Members of the Community Policing Department
delivering care packages to senior citizens
 
 

It's difficult finding positive stories at a time when the world is struggling with the devastation being caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, but the Royal Gazette reported this morning (25th April 2020) on an extremely uplifting initiative being carried out by members of the Community Policing Department of the Bermuda Police Service,  led by Inspector Scott Devine, who are assisting Age Concern in the delivery of packages  to some 30 seniorss who live alone.  The Royal Gazette reports:- 

"Elderly people unable to leave their homes because of the risk of Covid-19 got a doorstep deliveries this week, from a team of police officers.

Police joined forces with charity Age Concern to deliver necessities to about 30 seniors who live alone.

Inspector Scott Devine, who organised the effort on Wednesday, said that the team travelled from Sandys to Devonshire and that it is likely the drop-off scheme would probably become a weekly event.

He added: “It was really heart-warming — I think a lot of these folks get deliveries from time to time, but their response to seeing a uniformed police officer show up in their front yard was really nice.

“Initially, there were a few houses with a bit of trepidation where people went ‘what have I done wrong?’, but they were extremely grateful and very thankful for the efforts of the officers involved.”

Mr Devine, who is in charge of the community policing department, said he volunteered his team after Age Concern announced there was a shortage of delivery drivers.

He said it was a good opportunity for parish constables, part of the department, to get more involved in the areas they worked in.

Mr Devine, originally from Scotland and a former officer in the Strathclyde Police, explained: “It was really good for the officers to meet their parishioners. That’s people they have now built a relationship with, that they can maintain and hopefully continue to check in on, now that we know where they are.”

Mr Devine said that Age Concern had packed the bags and chosen the delivery routes.

He added that the experience also helped boost the spirits of the parish constables.

He said: “For them to be able to go out and just do something like that — particularly to look after people who have come before us and the people who are the bedrock of the community — I think for all of us involved, it was just really heart-warming.

“It’s one of the bright spots in what’s been a pretty dark time for everybody worldwide.”

CLICK HERE to read the full report in the Royal Gazette