Sugar Ray Thomas
The daughter of fifty-three-year-old Inspector Mark Gibbs, who was hit by a motorcar, while conducting spot checks in front of the Clark’s Town Police Station, has hailed her father as her hero.
Inspector Gibbs succumbed to injuries he received on Friday, August 19, after the driver of a burgundy Toyota Corolla motorcar reportedly failed to obey the inspector’s command when signaled to stop.The incident happened on the Clarks Town main road in Trelawny.The second child of Inspector Gibbs, Markeisha Gibbs, explained that even though her father was strict, she respected him.“My dad was my hero. Though he was strict, I always respected him. He always ensured his kids were okay. He made sure we had all we wanted and needed. He loved us very much. I wouldn’t trade him for the world,” Ms Gibbs explained.Her father, who was from Lucea, Hanover, but resided in Cornwall Courts, Montego Bay, had three children; two daughters and a son.Ms Gibbs said that her father had dedicated over 30 years to the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).At the time of his tragic death, Inspector Gibbs was the sub officer in-charge of the Clarks Town Police station in Trelawny.Ms Gibbs remembers that the last conversation that she had with her father was last Tuesday night, when she told her father about her sister’s CXC results.
“It’s very hard… It’s not easy for some of us to feel better. Even though he won’t come back to us, we are trying to be strong. As for me I still cry, and I am still awaiting his call.” Ms Gibbs noted.She explained that she understands that the car that killed her father was a privately owned motorcar. She said the family is now awaiting a date for the post mortem to be conducted.
In the meantime, personnel from the Jamaica Constabulary Force Chaplaincy Unit and the Community Safety and Security branch have conducted grief counselling sessions at police stations in Trelawny following the tragic death of Inspector Gibbs last Friday.
The sessions were held between Friday night, August 19 and Saturday, August 20 at the Clark’s Town Police Station and stations within Falmouth.
Colleagues of the officer and several others had taken to social media to express their grief at the passing of the officer. They remembered him as “a good police, who was very dedicated and easy to get along with.”
The police have in their custody a man, who they suspect to be the driver of the motorcar that hit down Inspector Gibbs. Two occupants that were in the vehicle at the time are also in police custody.
