Commissioner of Police Glenroy Everton Jeffers and Assistant Commissioner of Police Desmond Dinard have each been awarded the King's Police Medal for Distinguished Service, honouring a combined eight decades of commitment to the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda. According to Antigua Observer, Governor-General Sir Rodney Williams presented both honours during separate investiture ceremonies held at Government House.
Jeffers' award forms part of the King's New Year's Honours 2025, while Dinard's forms part of the King's New Year's Honours 2026.
Addressing guests at Jeffers' ceremony, Sir Rodney said the medal recognised service of exceptional quality, marked by professionalism, integrity, leadership and devotion to duty. He noted that Jeffers had risen steadily through the ranks to the highest office within the force — a journey reflecting consistency, discipline and the confidence placed in his judgement. The Governor-General added that policing demanded courage, restraint and fairness, often requiring officers to make difficult decisions under pressure and without public recognition, observing that the public was often quick to criticise but slow to acknowledge good work.
A citation read during Jeffers' investiture traced his career from his enlistment on December 16th, 1982, through service in the Narcotics Department, the Immigration Department and the Sir Wright F. George Police Academy. The citation noted that his work in the Narcotics Department placed him at the forefront of efforts to combat drug trafficking, contributing to complex investigations and fostering regional and international cooperation against organised crime. He also served as Deputy Commissioner of Police with Responsibility for Administration, overseeing personnel, policy implementation and organisational planning.
Jeffers' professional development includes advanced training in narcotics investigations, financial crime, leadership and management, and psychophysiological deception detection. His investigative work has drawn commendation from New Scotland Yard, and among his previous honours is the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
At Dinard's ceremony, Sir Rodney said the medal similarly recognised exceptional service marked by leadership, professionalism, courage, discipline and sustained devotion to duty. He noted that Dinard's career had spanned frontline policing, criminal investigations, specialised operations, training, administration and major event coordination. The Governor-General added that Dinard's work with the Regional Security System had helped strengthen law enforcement capacity beyond Antigua and Barbuda's borders.
A citation read during the ceremony detailed Dinard's career from his enlistment on January 15th, 1982, through service in the Criminal Investigations Department, the Special Patrol Group, the Criminal Records Office and Major Events and Operations, before his promotion to Assistant Commissioner of Police in 2018. The citation credited him with extensive regional training, including the Regional Security System Instructor's Course, the British Overseas Territories Commander's Course, and specialised study at Louisiana State University in the United States covering explosive incident response and terrorism-related interviewing techniques. It also noted his contribution to Operation Lost Pearl in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 2001, for which he received the Regional Security Medal of Participation.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Vivian Parker, a longtime colleague, offered personal reflections on Dinard's career, describing more than 40 years of service marked by pride, courage, integrity and unwavering commitment. Parker praised Dinard as a leader who never asked officers to go where he would not go himself.
In his response, Dinard thanked his family, friends and colleagues, describing their support as the backbone of his years of service. He affirmed that the Royal Police Force remained committed to national safety, while stressing that public cooperation was essential to that mission.
"We will do what we have to do to ensure that our citizens, our residents, and our visitors are safe," Dinard said. "However, we can't do it alone. We need your help. If you see something, say something."
