Detective Sergeant Alexander Arnfield
EDITORS NOTE - The following tribute to the Late retired Detective Sergeant Alex Arnfield has been kindly submitted to our ExPo website by retired Detective Sergeant Franz Williams.
Retrospectively, I consider myself one of the lucky ones, having joined the then Bermuda Police Force commencing 1976.
The ranks were teaming with street cops; many of the Sergeants and senior Officers, were persons who had been there and done
that. Experience was exuded, rendering paths to learn, follow and replicate. In essence, the Police Force had created a successive rank structure of street cops; not management who were never street cops. Many of the supervisors had climbed the ranks after historical physical toil, to earn their visible arm chevrons, through disturbances, 10/55’s, riots, or otherwise; ascending beyond the foundation of a mere paper exam. Mindful of their own negative or positive experiences, they made decisions leading their teams frontally, circumventing physical hazards and legal pitfalls.
Each Sergeant and beyond, presented their own attributes and motivational leadership. One such individual was Detective Sergeant Alexander Arnfield. Vacating his position at Narcotics Prospect Devonshire, he was transferred from there to supervise the Warwick Team at Central C.I.D., whereupon he became my supervisor. Police Narcotics from whence he came, had an impactful penetration on the street; their street team were a force to reckon with. It was not unusual to see Narco Officers drive into drug haunts and persons scampering, before detectives even left their vehicles.
Many of the Narco and C.I.D. detectives were household names. Even if you did not know them visually, many names were legendary on the street, or frequently read about in the local newspaper. When serious crimes occurred, the Police intendants would often reach into their toolbox and unleash their sharpest tools/ officers on the street. Their names were legendary – Hamlett, Gordon, Arnfield, Farley, Socky Adams, and others. Each brought with themselves their own persona to resolve situations in the field.
Today however, it has mutated into a collective palatable non deterrence label namely - Community Policing.
I am reminded of one of my early patrols with D.S. Arnfield at C.C.I.D., when he mentioned to me – “WHEN SOMEONE THREATENS ME, I CAN FEEL THE HAIR STAND UP ON THE BACK OF MY NECK, THEN I KNOW I’M READY”. From that interval onwards, I knew I was working with someone special. Futuristically, sometimes Arnfield and I would visit or drive through the Court Street Pembroke area.
On one occasion when I attended ‘C’ Street on my own, a group of men verbally boasted to me – “WERE GOING TO KILL THAT BASTARD ARNFIELD”.
I never told Arnfield about these utterances, as I knew his potential was not to back down from anything. However a few days later, Arnfield and I patrolled back to the Court Street area, where Arnfield coincidentally stopped the car beside the same group of men. So Arnfield utters – “YOU HAVE ANY DRUGS ON YOU TODAY?” and the response was a subdued – “NO MR. ARNFIELD”.
So thereafter I understood – he was both loathed and feared on the street; that they understood, that he would not retreat from anything; that when Arnfield told you you were under arrest, you were coming in.
On the fateful night that D.S. Patrick Hamlett was attacked at his residence in Hamilton Parish, D.S. Arnfield and I were working together. We had just come from attending crimes and I was tasked with having to do the reports. Hamilton Police Station was then located on the hill of Parliament Street at the junction with Reid Street. Arnfield and I had just driven to park in front of the station and I was the front seat observer. As I egressed the vehicle a message was broadcast over the Police radio, that DS Hamlett was being attacked at his residence. I pivoted to get back into the car when D.S. Arnfield exclaimed – “NO, I’M GOING BY MYSELF. I’M LEAVING THE FORCE SHORTLY AND THIS MIGHT BE MY LAST CHANCE TO HAVE A GOOD HOOK”. Thereafter he sped away revving through the gears, destination Hamilton Parish to support DS Hamlett.
From that time onwards Arnfield always reminded me of the character in the movie ‘Walking Tall’. Not that he carried a big stick, rather he was the big stick – courageous, fearless and walking tall.
Earlier this year (2025) I casually met with Arnfield in retirement, at a local supermarket. I had not seen him for some time, and we reminisced briefly about the past. I remember telling him – be proud of your efforts; that people like you contributed to suppressing contraband drugs in Bermuda.
Arnfield replied – “YOU STILL LIVING UP ON THE HILL MATE, I THINK I’LL COME AND PAY YOU A VISIT”. I was looking forward to meeting him again, but we never again crossed paths. I don’t believe Arnfield realized how much he was respected by his departmental subordinates and the local community. Thirty years on, whilst he was in retirement, locals would sometimes mention to me in response to publicised serious crimes– they need to bring back Arnfield, or namely one of the other previously aforementioned sharp tool detectives.
His obituary says – He will be greatly missed and never forgotten.
This is true; they don’t make them like that anymore; I highly respected him; may he Rest in Peace.
