Mourners who attended the funeral for murdered Cpl Sheldon Peterson yesterday expressed their anger that he was not given a military send-off.
While his family, friends and batchmates gathered to pay their final respects at the Bethel World Outreach Ministries, Arima, many openly remarked about the absence of any First Division officers.
One man shook his head sadly as he asked, “Is this all that we are worth to them?”
He said while Peterson had not been convicted of any crime, the hierarchy of the TTPS had made it appear he was guilty, even without being tried.
Peterson, 54, of Arima, was killed last Saturday, after three bandits attempted to rob the Awesome Food and Drinks Supermarket, Olton Road, Arima, where he had been working as a security guard.
Peterson had been on suspension from the TTPS since 2014, jointly charged with three other officers. They were accused of taking a quantity of cash allegedly belonging to a Chinese businessman during a search of his property and had been waiting for the matter to begin at the High Court.
Peterson’s wife and children stood together as daughters Joenessa and Khadine, along with son Jaden, read the emotional eulogy they had penned in memory of a man they called their “soldier, protector and provider.”
Members of the congregation wept quietly as Joenessa and Khadine recalled Peterson’s love for their mother and their parents’ habit of praying about everything first.
They said, “Your heart was so big, always overflowing with love, always ready to help anyone in need.”
Holding each other, they said, “You would always go out of your way to make things better for everyone around you.”
Peterson’s son Jaden caused tears to flow as he read a part of the eulogy which stated, “I wish you were still here to see me grow up. I know you were looking forward to seeing me pass for my first choice in school and I am going to keep pushing myself just like you taught me.”
Peterson’s son Jaden caused tears to flow as he read a part of the eulogy which stated, “I wish you were still here to see me grow up. I know you were looking forward to seeing me pass for my first choice in school and I am going to keep pushing myself just like you taught me.”
Peterson’s friends and colleagues Sgt Roman Newton and Insp Kurt Callender both delivered heartfelt tributes in which they remembered his early days as a young recruit and then his rise through the ranks.
They described his uncanny ability to remember details which often led to the arrest of many criminals.
“An excellent police officer,” was how they described him, as they both agreed his 27 years of service had cemented his contribution to crime fighting.
Both men reaffirmed their commitment to finding Peterson’s killers as they pledged to relentlessly hunt them down and ensure they were held to account.
Reverend Vernon Arthur urged the grieving family to understand that while they would be seeking answers to rationalise why this had happened, he encouraged them to grieve as he said, “It’s okay, it’s alright to cry.”
When Guardian Media contacted a senior police official about the lack of a full military funeral for Peterson, the official said the decision would have been based on the discretion of Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher.
The official, who asked not to be named, explained that one would have to consider the gravity of the offence for which Peterson had been suspended.
Despite this, the official extended condolences to Peterson’s family.
“Our heart still goes out as he was a brother in arms.”