Last Updated on August 25, 2023, 1:26 AM AST by Anthony Morris
Three Police Constables, Darren Harry, Ricky Isaac and Christian Samaroo have been applauded by the members of the community for their act of service and kindness after they rescued a family during the davastating floods in the Pleasantville area.
The officers were on mobile patrol duty in the Pleasantville area on July 29. They had just recovered a stolen vehicle and were waiting to be towed to the station. Mere nanoseconds later, the officers saw a villager running towards them, yelling that a family was trapped in a home that was close to a riverbank.
The officers mounted a rescue operation. PC Harry would stay at base to secure state property and radio for additional assistance. At the same time, PCs Isaac and Samaroo would swim to the location as the water outside of the house was estimated to be over waist high.
The officers swam and were guided by the residents, who pointed out where the bridge to the house was located. At the house, the officers entered and asked the lone adult where the switch breaker box was found to turn off the electricity to the house. They then made their way to rescue the children.
The officers observed the four children all standing on individual tables. The youngest had fallen off the table and into the water but managed to make his way back on top of the table. When he saw the officer approaching him, he said in his scared little voice,
“Police, police, don’t let me fall in the water.” They reassured him before the officers rescued him and his siblings and escorted them to safety.
PC Isaac described the water as choppy and thanked God they safely found their way back to solid land.
He shared that the residents of Moruga and Pleasantville have often found themselves on the opposite side of the police, and there has been a standing conflict between the police and the residents. This simple act, he shared, “allowed the community to see the Police in a different light.”
According to PC Isaac, the entire community praised the officers.
When PC Isaac was asked how he felt about being commended for their actions, he said, “It felt great that he, along with PCs Ricky Isaac and Christian Samaroo, was acknowledged for what they would have done that day. He shared that there is so much more that frontline officers do that is unseen, that usually goes unnoticed, so he and his colleagues truly feel appreciated.”
The children’s father visited the station later and thanked the officers for their service. He was not at home at the time of the incident and could not reach his family. This made him grateful for the assistance of his officers.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
