Dear Editor,
The late Senior Superintendent of Police, Edmond Cooper, epitomised second chances. I met ‘Rocket’ as he was fondly called, in 2009, at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court. Together with the presiding magistrate, Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, Cooper set-forth an early roadmap for my entry into the legal profession. This support continued throughout our years at the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and until he fell ill.
The greater portion of the many life lessons Cooper taught, was focused on his love for his daughters, the law and the Guyana Police Force (GPF). This love for the GPF was most evident during the summer of the year 2015 while ranks were practicing on the Seawall Bandstands for the 176th anniversary of the GPF. We were assigned to the boardroom of the DPP’s chamber, which offered a great view of the Kingston Bandstand. Throughout the week, Cooper’s face sported a bright smile of admiration as he gazed on the glorious vista of his colleagues in service marching onward in rhythm and strides around the Bandstand.
I was especially touched by Cooper’s story. He came to Georgetown from a quiet village in the Corentyne, and joined the Police Force by virtue of a divergent route facilitated by Assistant Commissioner Conway, (Ret’d). It was a second chance given to a youth steadfast on a path to becoming wayward. He diligently applied himself to books, and mastered the art of reading and writing for academic degrees. He used this experience to father many in and outside the police force. During his law undergraduate programme, he was faced with insurmountable setbacks; specifically, at the hands of a deceased Commissioner, who vowed that he would never become a lawyer as long as that deceased Commissioner held office. By this time, Cooper was reassigned to work in the most remote part of Guyana’s hinterland, restricting his ability to access classes at the Univeristy.
It was former Assistant Commissioner David Ramnarine et al, who on a brief visit, learnt of the young officer’s ambition and plight, and ranged fire in Georgetown for his return. There were other good men that helped Cooper to become the Rocket he was. This included Commissioner Clifton Hicken, to whom he held in great esteem in our conversations throughout the years. Cooper failed not to pay homage to the contributions many hands played in his success story. The younger generation of Guyanese law students in Trinidad were constantly reminded through the telling of these many stories, to be grateful for the opportunities we had, and that we were not an island unto ourselves.
Where discord arose, Cooper was the anchor that held us firm. This tenacity and goodwill saw him developed an excellent relationship with the administration of the Hugh Wooding Law School, and Law Enforcement of Trinidad, whom he traveled with on education exercises relative to crime and security. I reserve no accolade in saying that Cooper has left his footprints on the sands of time. The younger members of the GPF are urged, even in the face of adversity and doubt, to use the story of Rocket as their roadmap to overcome challenges and leave their footprints in the sands of time as we serve the country we love.
Sincerely,
Kevin Morgan
Attorney-at-Law
