The Police Band
Headquarters: Parade, St. George’s
Telephone number: +1 (473) 440-3611
Commander: Inspector of Police Ethorn Francis
Mandate:
The Band provides musical accompaniment for ceremonial and official Police functions and occasionally plays for private engagements. When not engaged in rehearsals or engagements, the members of the Band perform regular police duties in support of beat patrols and other operational duties of the force.
Between the periods 1905 - 1907 The National Band of Grenada was established (Bugle and Drums). It was then called the Government Band, which comprised volunteers including Tradesmen, Carpenters, Stevedores and Shoemakers. On August 1, 1967 the Band was renamed The Royal Grenada Police Force Band having Mr. Switch De Couteau as its first Inspector of Police as Band Master. Its present Band Master is Inspector of Police #784 Ethorn Francis.
The RGPF Band is part of the support arm of the RGPF, which support’s and improve the effectiveness of the RGPF strategic plan, which facilitates and enhance levels of service to all of our communities within Grenada. The Band materially strengthens the “Exprit de Corps” of the RGPF and earnestly strives to bring a large portion of the Community more in touch with the Police by showing a different side of policing using the power of music and positive interaction.
The Police Band fulfills approximately one hundred and twenty (120) engagements yearly for a variety of Government and private functions, which includes military parades, cocktails, parties, parish festivals, church processions, National carnival shows, weddings, sports, open –air and school concerts. Apart from the many public and private engagements as mentioned, the RGPF Band also provides support services to other Stations/Departments within the RGPF in the areas of Beat and mobile Patrols, Field officer, Inspector on call, Security, Guard duty etc. The Band also acts as a reserve unit to SSU in times of national emergency.
The Band can be contacted ideally between the hours of 08:00 am - 4:00 pm on +1 (473) 440-3611/405-3155.
The Band obtains its membership by the volunteering of young and vibrant men and women from the age of sixteen (16) coming forward and expressing their desire to play an instrument through application, interview and Audition. There is someone specially tasked with the responsibility to train persons for the Band In the areas of Drills, Practical musicianship, Theory of music and work ethics.
Over the past decades the Police Band through its renowned musical performances was ranked and still ranked the best performing Band on the Island of Grenada and the Caribbean. This is mainly as a result of its Dance Section that was introduced between the periods of 1970-1971. The Police Band has produced five (5) National calypso Monarchs that included a female; Miss Keturah George and one Groovy king. It has also produced local and regional musical Icons such as Mr. James Clarkson, Mr. Bryan Hurst, Bruce, Isaac Frederick, Paul Alexander, just to name a few. Due to the Band’s musical standard and popularity, it has made a number of international and regional tours to the U.S.A, England, Barbados, Suriname Guadeloupe, Antigua, St. Vincent, and St. Lucia.
The activities of the RGPF Band over the past years have undoubtedly projected a proactive image of the RGPF. It also provides a fantastic public relations tool for the RGPF in helping to show a different side of policing to the community through music and other support services. These activities have strengthened existing co-operation and collaboration between communities and various government departments. It expanded a greater public awareness of RGPF activities and gave the various RGPF programs and projects a more meaningful impact as there occur.
The Police Band continues to grow from strength to strength under the leadership of ASP (Ag) Andy Lewis and continues to rank among the best both locally and regionally.