Byron McDaniel, Gleaner Writer
COMMUNITY POLICING in Manchester just got a much-needed shot in the arm because of an initiative started by female officer, Yvette Burgess.
Detective Corporal Burgess, a 15-year police veteran stationed at Christiana in Manchester, went beyond the call of duty to play a key role in the initiative to construct adequate housing facilities for Margaret Reid, a mentally-challenged victim of abuse.
A few weeks ago, Burgess had occasion to visit the home of Ms. Reid, who was once a victim of phsyical abuse at the hands of a male. The officer saw the need for repairs to be effected to her house, as well as an absence of a bathroom and kitchen, and so she resolved to do something about it.
NEW DIRECTION
"I think mentally-challenged people should be helped, and not abused, and because the police force is going in a new direction of community policing, I saw her need and wanted to help her, so I did," she explained.
She mobilised the police youth club and the business community to build a kitchen, a bathroom and repair the lady's house
When The Gleaner visited the 40-year-old woman's house on Sunday, December 18, Detective Burgess and the 23-member youth club were hard at work, while a denim-clad Inspector R.M. Hardie, the officer-in-charge of Christiana, not only gave encouragement, but personally rolled up her sleeves, and plaited the hair of the unusually sedate Reid.
Corporal Burgess told The Gleaner that she wishes to publicly thank members of the police youth club and the business community, especially Patmore's Hardware and Rennie's Block Factory for their assistance in the humanitarian gesture. However, further assistance is needed to complete the project.
Corporal Burgess can be contacted at the Christiana Police Station at 964-2250.
On the way out, a bystander was heard to say, "Police a good people."
