Commissioner Michael DeSilva hosted an Officers Mess event earlier this week to honour retired Commissioner Fred “Penny” Bean who is celebrating his 80th birthday on Friday 29th July.
The event was well attended by senior officers along with retired and former police officers, including no less than three other retired Commissioners - Clive Donald, Jonathan Smith and George Jackson.
Commissioner DeSilva acknowledged that his own career had been made possible in 1985 when he was hired as a police cadet by then Commissioner Bean. He said Mr. Bean's impact on the police was legendary, and that Mr. Bean's name was still spoken today in the halls of the police stations by officers who remembered him fondly and respected him greatly. Commissioner DeSilva presented Commissioner Bean with a silver pocket watch bearing the crest of the Bermuda Police Service, as a token of appreciation from his former colleagues, and to mark the occasion of his 80th birthday.
Young P.C. Bean joined the Bermuda Police Force in June 1956 at a time when local recruits were required to spend a week at Hamilton Police Station studying law books and reading through basic notes on police procedures. After 18 months on the beat in Hamilton Penny spent 3 months as an aide to CID and was then transferred to Traffic as a driver and motor cycle patrol officer.
In March 1959 young Penny was posted to CID where his talents quickly came to the attention of his senior officers. He worked under Inspector “Bo” Swainson (the first cricketer to score a century in Cup Match and the first coloured officer to be promoted to the rank of Inspector), Chief Inspector Oliver Trott, Milton Murray Marsh, Sinclair Bean, Leon Bean and John Joe Sheehy.
After attending a CID course in the UK, Fred was promoted to Sergeant and remained in CID until December 1965 when he was transferred to the newly formed Narcotics Department where he was promoted to Inspector and led a team that made major drug arrests and seizures.
Inspector Bean rose rapidly through the ranks, being promoted to Chief Inspector in 1971 and was transferred to Special Branch where he was appointed Superintendent just 2 years later.
His next move was into Uniform as second in command of Uniform Personnel, and in 1979 he was appointed ACP Crime; to DCOP in 1980, and in March 1981 he was appointed Commissioner of Police - the first Bermudian officer to do so. He held this position for 9 years until his retirement 9 years later after a total of 35 years in the Police Service.
Mr. Bean was a founder member of the Bermuda Police Choir, and during his time as a senior officer he took special interest in the health and welfare of personnel. During his service he was awarded 6 Commissioner Commendations, one from the Supreme Court, the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, the Colonial Police Medal for Meritorious Service, the Queen’s Police Medal, and in 1991 he was awarded the OBE.
Although now retired Penny stays active doing community Service work, especially with senior citizens and with the sick and shut in. He also attends some of our ExPo events.
