Police Commissioner Colin Coxall's departure could be the one factor needed to restore good and wholesome relations between the Bermuda Regiment and the Police Service.

And, outgoing Regiment commanding officer Lt. Col. David Burch said, the vacancy that will emerge at the top of the Police Service is a golden opportunity to set matters right as the millennium approaches.

Lt. Col. Burch made these statements to The Royal Gazette yesterday as he prepares to step down from the helm of the 600-strong defence force on November 1.

"My biggest disappointment has been steady deterioration in relations between the Police and the Regiment,'' he said.

"I have watched it slide over the last three years and I attribute it to the opinions and beliefs of senior officers in the Bermuda Police Service who do not believe the Bermuda Regiment serves any useful purpose.

"They have been able to spread those beliefs widely and I disagree with it quite strongly.'' As a consequence, he said both services are at odds with each other when their constitutional role stipulates that the Regiment act in a supportive capacity for the Police.

"We have been pro-active participants,'' he continued. "We do more to foster a working relationship with them. We believe in the process that says that they are the front line and our leaders and we act in support of them.'' Lt. Col. Burch also heaped scorn on politicians and senior civil servants who question whether the Bermuda Regiment would be able to meet its commitments in a time of civil unrest.

"I would say that 90 percent, no, more than 90 percent of our soldiers would do their duty. There is no monopoly on love of Bermuda.

"But I find it interesting that those who question whether we can meet our commitments are the same ones who use their influence to get their children out of the Regiment. That is a short-sighted option to take.

"If they have no confidence in those of us in leadership positions then they should picket Cabinet Office to make sure that we, as irresponsible as they perceive us to be, are not in charge of all of the legal guns on this Island.'' Moreover, he said that despite the criticisms of the Regiment, Bermuda could not find any other organisation within the civil service that produced as much value for a scant $4 million investment.

"There have been recent challenges to the things that we do because much of it is not military, but I see that as a reinforcement of a desperate need to have a Regiment.

"A significant factor in our ability to help is that we are a military organisation.'' Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Burch said he was pleased with where the Regiment stood today.

On November 1 he said he intends to hand over a defence force in "excellent shape,'' to CO-designate Patrick Outerbridge.

"No-one should be able to recognise any blip in the process,'' he added.

"There will not be any great void when I leave.'' Among his achievements, Lt. Col. Burch pointed to the expansion of the Regiment's training experience with the inclusion of two Sergeant Majors from the Jamaican Defence Force.

"That's not a criticism of the British soldiers that we have or have had on staff,'' he said. "But what it has allowed is for us to expand our experience base.

"When I took over, I wanted to improve the standard of the Regiment's training and use of personal property.

"And I wanted to get people to realise that what they do in life is in their own control.'' Nevertheless Lt. Col. Burch waxes philosophical when asked about the legacy he leaves behind.

"I hope that they take from it that there has been stability, consistency and a fair approach to my responsibilities and that I have done a reasonable job.''