The Bermuda Police Service recognised the first Bermudian woman to join the organisation during a special tea at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club today.

Darrin Simons, the Commissioner of Police, and Deputy Commissioner Na’imah Astwood presented Jean Vickers with flowers during the Police Week seniors tea.

Ms Vickers, 92, joined the BPS in 1962 and was promoted to inspector and officer-in-charge of the Police Women’s department 15 years later.

She helped implement the now-defunct Juvenile Liaison Scheme, which addressed juvenile crime, and founded the Black Stockings, a charity comprising female police officers and traffic wardens that assisted senior citizens and young people.

Ms Vickers received the Colonial Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 1984 and the Colonial Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1987, when she retired from police work.

Ms Astwood noted that there were 18 female officers in the Bermuda Police Force — as the BPS was then known — when Ms Vickers retired, but women now comprise one third of police officers.

She told Ms Vickers: “It’s because of you that we have so many women officers on the service now … it’s not just because of your leadership, it’s because of who you are.”

The Deputy Commissioner added: “I know the barriers you had to break down felt really insurmountable at the time, but they had no test against you and you broke them down.”

Ms Vickers thanked those who helped her along her journey and advised police officers: “Stand your ground and let them know you’re the boss.”

She added: “I want to thank God for my life, I’m serving Him to the end and when He comes, I’m ready for Him.”

Ms Astwood described how policing for women changed since she joined the BPS in 1994.

She explained: “When I joined, we had to have “W” before our titles, for Women Police Constables, and we were not allowed to patrol by ourselves, now we’re just police officers.”

Mr Simons said the almost-400 attendees at the tea worked to build the Bermuda that the BPS protects today.

He said: “I would not have even thought of going into policing had it not been for my parents and people like yourselves who plant seeds and see opportunity in young people you are bringing along.”

Discussing why more women should consider becoming police officers, Mr Simons said: “Women make up 51 per cent of the world’s population, so it’s really important that we stack the deck for success for better outcomes when it relates to crimes that are typically committed against women.”