George Jackson, a former Commissioner of Police, has died after a period of illness at the age of 73.

The Bermuda Ex-Police Association announced on Facebook that Mr Jackson had died on New Year’s Day.

Mr Jackson was born in Bequia, an island in St Vincent and the Grenadines, and first came to Bermuda as a constable in 1973 at the age of 20.

He spent most of his career in the Criminal Investigations Department and Narcotics Department and was seconded to the Metropolitan Police in London as part of a six-month focus on drug investigations in 1997.

Mr Jackson became the second in command at the BPS in 2000 and was named Commissioner of Police in 2005 at the age of 53.

When he was appointed, he said he would “strive to serve the community” to the best of his ability and work to make Bermuda “peaceful and tranquil”.

Mr Jackson said then: “It’s all about me providing a level of service to the community. It’s not about myself, it’s about the organisation as a whole.”

During his time as commissioner, Mr Jackson found himself on the front line of not only the fight against gun crime and fatal traffic collisions but of major news stories such as an investigation into leaked police documents.

He held the post until he retired in December 2009, when he was succeeded by Michael DeSilva.

The association’s statement said: “He was the first and our only Bermuda Commissioner of Police from the West Indies.

“George was very active in police sporting activities, representing the BPS in softball, darts and cricket.

“When interviewed a few years ago, he fondly recalled playing in a Central Counties Cup game for the police team in which he and Adrian King scored a record 10th wicket partnership of 127 runs against Devonshire Recreation Club to seize the coveted Central Counties Cup from DRC.

“He was also the winner of the annual BPS ‘Athlete of the Year’ award in 1973-1974.”

The association said that since his retirement, Mr Jackson had continued to work with a private security company and spent time in both Bermuda and St Vincent while enjoying fishing and gardening.