An American gang expert brought to Bermuda as part of a $350,000 Government initiative to stem a rising tide of youth violence has left the Island after his contract was not renewed.

Retired New Jersey Police Sergeant De Lacy Davis told The Royal Gazette that new Public Safety Minister David Burch had not yet decided if he would return but had promised to tell him before the end of the year.

Meanwhile, the former cop's programme of public forums, school visits and work in the community has stopped and a social worker from his team, Gloria Long-Groves, who has been based permanently in Bermuda for the last six months, will leave today.

Community members told of their dismay at the news yesterday — including a young man who was inspired by Mr. Davis to change his behaviour.

Steven (Buck) Burchall, 25, from Somerset, said he was hanging around on street corners before he started attending Mr. Davis' forums. "I think his contract should get renewed because he was a big influence on me. He motivated me.

"I wouldn't call myself a gang member but I was sitting around. I did hang out on the streets. Our community is messed up right now. It's up to us to fix that community. He was helping me."

Mr. Burchall is now co-chairman of a community youth club which has re-launched in the West End and which is holding a public meeting this evening for anyone interested in joining its committee.

Mr. Davis was due to speak at the meeting. "I'm really disappointed that he can't be there," said Mr. Burchall.

Gerald Fubler, director and founder of the West End Youth Community Club, added: "I think they should have allowed him to continue because he was making an impact.

"There is disappointment. I think he was just employed by Government for them to say they were doing something. He was very effective, I can assure you of that."

Mr. Davis was brought to the Island earlier this year by then-Home Affairs Minister Randy Horton as part of a high-profile anti-gang action plan.

Mr. Davis, a 21-year veteran of East Orange County Police and founder member of Black Cops Against Police Brutality in the US, said yesterday that his six-month contract began in April and was extended for an extra month at no extra cost to the Government.

But he said the reshuffle of Ministries following Ewart Brown becoming Premier last month led to uncertainty over whether his programme would continue.

"We have been under three different Ministers," he said. "The third Minister we have had is Minister Burch. I was told by the Minister that they would review everything and advise me by the year's end. I have no indication as to whether the contract will be renewed."

He said he felt there was still work to be done on the Island, adding: "No matter how you slice this, there is a loss. When you build relationships with people, specifically children, there's a loss there. When we left two weeks ago I felt the hurt. It's a labour of love."

Takbir Sharrieff, spokesman for Bermudians Against Narcotics (BAN), which worked with Mr. Davis' Voices of Inspiration Community Enrichment Services team, said: "I thought he did a lot of excellent work while he was here. He did develop a very close relationship with BAN.

"We thought it was a very positive excellent job that he has done in Bermuda. There is most definitely a need for him. I think he is the ideal person."

Sheelagh Cooper, chairman of the Coalition for the Protection of Children, said she found it "amazing" that the Government would stop such a programme considering its relevancy to "the kinds of conflicts" the Island is experiencing.

"There were indications that he was starting to do some good things," she said. "I would have expected that to be something that the Government would have supported."

But UBP Senator Gina Spence-Farmer claimed in the summer that Mr. Davis did not understand the Island's youth.

She said: "He understands the American gangs, such as the Crips, but he doesn't understand what is going on here. He can't relate to the Bermuda gangs."

Sen. Burch and the Ministry of Public Safety did not respond to requests for comment yesterday.