In the Royal Gazette's continuing series on the Police, Karen Smith tomorrow profiles Reserve Police Commandant Eugene Vickers on the part-timers who keep the thin blue line intact. Also in today's newspaper, see Page 38 for Police Crime Prevention Officer Sgt. Chris Wilcox's latest article of stopping burglaries.

Miami vice detective Joan Clarke was in Bermuda at the weekend to train volunteers of the Island's crime-busting organisation Crime Stoppers.

Det. Clarke, who for many years was at the cutting edge of fighting Miami's drug and prostitution problems, is now a full-time call-taker for Crime Stoppers in the major US city.

She is one of a number of Police officers at the centre in Miami who take anonymous calls to Crime Stoppers from Bermuda.

And as the operator who took the most Bermudian calls last year, she was invited to the Island at the weekend to meet the organisation's directors and volunteers, as well as to familiarise herself with different locations.

Det. Clarke, who worked in vice in Miami's Dade County corp for about 15 years, said Crime Stoppers in Miami is operated by full-time Police officers.

And she said after working in vice for so long, it was good to get away from the front line and assist in the battle against crime from a different perspective.

Det. Clarke, who also privately worked as an advisor for the hit 1980s television series Miami Vice with actor Don Johnson, said her trip to Bermuda had been a great experience.

She said: "As we answer all of the Crime Stoppers calls from Bermuda, it has been invaluable for me to come to the Island and see how things are set up and where everything is.

"I have been all over the Island, including to some of the known trouble spots, so have a greater geographical knowledge of Bermuda, which will help in future when I am taking the calls, and will enable me to ask more intelligent questions.

"Bermuda is beautiful and everyone has been very helpful. It has been a great trip -- I would love to come back.'' While here at the weekend, Det. Clarke held training workshops and seminars for members of the Bermuda branch and other law enforcement groups, so they could become more aware of what the call-takers in Miami need to help them in their work.

And she was also invited to Government House last Thursday night where she met Governor Thorold Masefield, Deputy Premier Eugene Cox and Opposition Leader Pamela Gordon.

Det. Clarke said she was enjoying her behind the scenes role with Crime Stoppers and said she could see from the number of calls she took what a benefit the organisation was to Bermuda.

She added: "I worked in vice for 15 years, doing a lot of under cover work, mainly associated with prostitution, gambling and pornography.

"But now I feel like I have a normal life again. I'm still solving crime, but it is a more civilised role, which I like.''.

Bermuda Crime Stoppers co-ordinator Alex MacDonald refused to say how many calls Det. Clarke had taken from Bermuda, but in total there were 250 anonymous calls about local issues in 2000.

And Mr. MacDonald said he hoped that number would continue to increase.

He said: "We wanted to bring Det. Clarke over here so she could see for herself what Bermuda is all about and where some of the areas are that she is hearing about.'' People with information about crime can call Crime Stoppers anonymously, and may qualify for a cash reward, on 1-800-623-8477.