In a formal, heartfelt ceremony hosted at St. John’s Police Headquarters on November 9, 2026, the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda gathered to pay tribute to Assistant Commissioner of Police Desmond Dinard, KPM, who officially commenced his retirement leave three days prior on November 6, capping an extraordinary 44-year-and-10-month tenure of unwavering public service.
Leading the tributes, Commissioner of Police Everton Jeffers emphasized that no standard expression of gratitude could fully capture the magnitude of Dinard’s lifetime of dedication to national law enforcement. Over his decades of service, Dinard mentored successive cohorts of police personnel, leaving an indelible mark on policing practices not only across Antigua and Barbuda but throughout the wider Caribbean region. Jeffers also extended formal recognition to Dinard’s family, acknowledging the years of personal sacrifices and unwavering support that allowed the senior officer to prioritize his duties to the force without reservation.
Dozens of senior ranking officers in attendance shared personal anecdotes of working alongside Dinard, recounting his steady leadership, collaborative spirit, and formative influence on their own professional growth. In his remarks to the assembled force, Dinard urged all active officers to anchor their daily work in three non-negotiable core values: mutual respect for colleagues and members of the public, uncompromising personal integrity, and radical honesty in every official interaction. He noted that the vast majority of his personal and professional milestones were forged during his time with the force, and called on current personnel to prioritize collective collaboration to strengthen the institution for future generations.
Dinard first enlisted in the Royal Police Force on January 15, 1982, and rotated through high-priority postings across the Criminal Investigations Department, elite Special Services Unit, and Major Events Department over the course of his career. He also led multiple high-stakes regional deployments under the Regional Security System framework, including a critical 2004 deployment to Grenada to coordinate search-and-rescue and post-disaster security operations in the wake of catastrophic Hurricane Ivan. His decades of exceptional service were formally recognized earlier in 2026, when he was awarded the prestigious King’s Police Medal as part of the 2026 King’s New Year Honours list, presented to him at a July 2026 ceremony at Government House.
The entire leadership and rank-and-file membership of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda concluded the event by extending unified well-wishes to Dinard for a peaceful, joyful, and fulfilling retirement.
ACP Desmond Dinard, KPM, honoured for nearly 45 years of distinguished service
