An overseas Police officer sacked for refusing to resign his post in Trinidad and Tobago had written permission from the Bermuda Police service to merely take a leave of absence, The Royal Gazette has learned.

Richard Williams, who arrived in June on a five-year contract, has issued a writ against the Bermuda Police after he was dismissed for refusing to resign from the force in Trinidad and Tobago.

The officer had taken a five year leave of absence - comprising of a three-year career break and two years' unpaid leave - which was confirmed in writing by his home force.

The Royal Gazette understands Mr. Williams, and three other Trinidad and Tobago officers who arrived in June, were told at interview when they were recruited that they would have to resign their posts and they agreed.

But Mr. Williams did further research and was able to obtain leave from his home force, which he communicated to Bermuda Police Service.

The officer has a letter from Bermuda Police confirming it would be acceptable to take a leave of absence rather than resign.

The final firm offer of a contract letter states that the Trinidad and Tobago officers could either resign from their home force or take leave of absence.

Difficulties are understood to have emerged because some of the other officers had already tendered their resignations back home before the final letter from Bermuda gave them the option to take leave of absence.

Once in Bermuda, some of the officers tried to withdraw their letters of resignation and take leave of absence.

But Bermuda Police then made the officers sign a letter confirming they were resigning from the Trinidad and Tobago force.

When Mr. Williams refused to resign, he was sacked.

The officer is said to be unhappy because overseas officers from Britain were not required to resign from their home forces for the duration of their time in Bermuda.

The effect of the Bermuda Police demand is that officers from Trinidad and Tobago will have to end their Police careers once they finish their five year contracts on the Island because they have resigned from the force back home.

Mr. Williams, who was sacked at the end of September, has issued a writ against Bermuda Police and Public Service Commission to try to get the courts to rule the sacking was wrong.

He is being supported by Bermuda Police Association and remains on the Island, living in Police barracks at the Prospect headquarters.

Bermuda Police has refused to comment because the matter is in the hands of the force lawyer.