Late Police Inspector given grand send off

Amid torrential rainfall, hundreds of mourners turned out at the Sea Cows Bay Methodist Church today to pay their last respects to late Police Inspector, Francia James-Liburd during a thanksgiving service.

Inspector James-Liburd who served in the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) passed away on October 6, after a brief illness.

Police Commissioner, Michael Matthews, during the church service described the late inspector as a humorous person who was dedicated to family and her duties as a cop.

He urged mourners to remember the good times they shared with her.

“Like many of the officers and staff of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, I was both shocked and saddened by the news of officer Francia James-Liburd untimely passing,” he said.
“While regrettably, I only knew her for the time I have been in the post of Commissioner of Police, she left an indelible mark on me. She was a no-nonsense, down to earth and professional police officer. Without exception, she has never one day left my presence without putting a smile on my face. Not only did her quick wit and dry humour brighten the moment, but she made our encounters memorable. She was always engaging and encouraging.”

He also mentioned that he was proud of her achievements with the RVIPF, noting that she recently successfully completed the police promotion process.

“She will be greatly missed by me. However, I am sure I speak for the entire RVIPF family, colleagues, and friends when I say her absence will be felt for a very long time. How could we ever forget Francia? I don’t want you to focus on forgetting her, I want you to focus on the wonderful times we had with her. We need to focus on the 27 years that she served as a loyal police officer. I want us to focus on the wonderful times we had as a family and friends,” he added.

James-Liburd, 50, was the wife of retired police sergeant Lincoln Liburd and the mother of two children.

She worked in various capacities in the RVIPF including the Beat Patrol Unit, Intelligence Unit, Major Crimes Unit and Task Force.

Among the mourners were His Excellency Governor Augustus Jaspert and Hon. Premier Dr D Orlando Smith.