Past and present officers of the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) stood together today in final salute to their former comrade Sergeant David Ricardo Leacock, who died suddenly earlier this month.
They joined family and friends at the Chapel of the Coral Ridge Memorial Gardens, The Ridge, Christ Church for the military-styled funeral for the late policeman.
Leacock, who was also a former teacher and draftsman, was described as a man who touched many lives.
Inspector Christine Stanford presenting Sergeant David Leacock’s daughter Teal (third left) with one of his awards, as she sits among his wife Michelle (left), son Taurel (second left) and daughter Davelle (right), at the graveside.
Superintendent Livingston Eversley, in delivering remarks on behalf of the acting Commissioner of Police Tyrone Griffith, said it was out of respect that the Force had paused to publicly acknowledge the contribution of Leacock, who rose to the rank of sergeant while doing what he loved most – paying service to his country.
The deceased police officer spent nearly 30 years in the Force, which he entered on July 29, 1985. This came after a brief stint as a relief teacher at the then St Lucy Secondary School (now Daryl Jordan Secondary). Leacock had also served as a draftsman before joining the Force.
Superintendent Eversley noted that during his lengthy tenure with the Force, Leacock was attached to the Criminal Investigations Department, the Criminal Records Office and the Crime Statistics Department. He said his former colleague always stood ready to provide requested information to his superiors.
He also recalled that Leacock often boasted about being apart of the local security detail during the official visit of then United States President Bill Clinton to Barbados in 1997, which was one of the hallmarks of his career.
At every juncture of his career, Leacock impressed his peers and supervisors with his attention to detail and general loved the profession, Superintendent Eversley said, adding that his willingness to share and show compassion could never be appropriately rewarded.
“David Leacock loved people. More importantly, he enjoyed being of service to his fellow man. Leacock’s dedication to duty is unquestionable and is reflected in the fact that during his almost 30 years of service he recorded extremely little sick leave.
“For him, it was not just enough to be present on the job, he was driven by a commitment to equality, performance and spent time ensuring that whatever he did was done to the best of his ability.”
“The norm for him was to arrive for work shortly after seven [in the morning] and leave after six in the evening.
“It is with a tinge of irony that I note that his devotion to duty and interest in efficiency is reflected in the fact that on the morning shortly before he took his final rest, he was on the phone with one of his staff members seeking to ensure that he was taken on a particular assignment.
“All of this took place while he was in the midst of providing care for one of his children,” the police official told the packed congregation, which spilled over to the outside of the chapel.
In her eulogy, Leacock’s younger sister Wendy Babb, who resides in Canada, said the last time she saw her brother was in August when he travelled from New York to Toronto for a visit .
She said her brother was very devoted to family, and dearly loved his wife Michelle and his three children Davelle, Teal and Taurel.
The late police sergeant, who also loved music and sports, was focused on life and went after whatever he wanted to achieve, she added.
anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb