recently changed, the spirit of its participants remains as noble as when it first began. According to its present Commandant, John Moore, the Bermuda Reserve Police was established in the early part of the 1940's, sometime during World War II. "It was known in those days as the Bermuda Special Constabulary,'' he said, "but that organisation finished in 1950. The Bermuda Reserve Constabulary actually started in 1951. It was made up of a cross-section of Bermudians. The officers of the unit for the most part were ex-military men and ex-policemen. The constables were Bermudian. They were reserve constables trained to be auxiliary aid to the Bermuda Police Force as it was called at that time. That went on pretty much until the arrival of (the present Police Commissioner Colin) Coxall.'' It was upon Mr. Coxall's arrival, and with the aid of the five senior members which comprised the executive body of the Bermuda Reserve Constabulary, that changes were made, he said. "With the changing time and environment in Bermuda, and the change of lifestyle, it was decided that the Bermuda Reserve Constabulary should undergo a facelift.

Through the auspices of Commissioner Coxall, a plan was put together by the executives of the Bermuda Reserve Constabulary. "That plan was presented and discussed and changes were made. The name of the organisation was changed to the Bermuda Reserve Police and it was decided to change the uniform from the A true gift from the heart! uniform. "In 1951, the Police Force was made up of a large number of ex-patriates. The feeling was that the Bermuda Reserve Constabulary, being mainly Bermudian, could act as a buffer between the public and the Bermuda Police Force. In those days, the public would never put a hand on a reserve officer because he was one of their own. That is not the case today. Whether a regular or reserve, you take some chances.'' Reserves exist to provide the Service with extra manpower. "We are not a professional police organisation.

Our mandate is to serve the people of these Islands as an auxiliary service to the Bermuda Police Service. (We) serve in almost every section of the Service and we number 135 very dedicated people. "Since Mr. Coxall's arrival in Bermuda, and with his assistance and commissionership, (we) are now an integral part of the Service and we're very grateful to him and his officers for making us what we are today.'' Interested persons must must first apply.

If accepted, they undertake a three-month training course in basic police work before beginning their three-year service. Capt. Moore joined the Service in 1971 and said he believes most volunteers get the same boost that he does from the work. "It is very interesting,'' he explained. "We're really no different than a community service organisation except that we have Police powers when we're on duty. "Service to the community is the reason why we're here. We are so happy about the community-policing concept that the Commissioner has instituted. This way, it's not an us-them situation. The concept of working with the public to create a better environment and it will work. It's proven to be very effective in many jurisdictions. It is a service organisation. We are there to serve the public of Bermuda. It's very rewarding I think. And I think if you ask any of the other volunteers, they would tell you the same thing.'' PHOTO Capt. John Moore MINI SUPPLEMENT SUP