R.I.P. Sergeant Raphael 'Crazy John' John – A pillar in the community!

By: Jenise Ferlance, SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (SKNVibes) - HARD WORKING, respectful, knowledgeable, precise and a pillar in the community are just a few of the words friends, family members and former colleagues used to describe the late Sergeant (SGT) Raphael Thomas John.

SGT John known to many as ‘Crazy John’ passed away in the wee hours of Wednesday (Apr. 18) morning after battling with an ailment for over four years.

The first of nine children born to his mother, and the father of two boys and one girl, SGT John worked as a police officer in the Traffic Department of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) for 32 years before retiring.

Born and raised in Grenada, SGT John grew up in Mount Rose, Saint Patrick where he did farming and learned trades such as Masonry, Carpentry and Plumbing as a young boy.

Living in one of the poorest parts of Grenada, SGT John saw it fit to do something greater with his life and thus enrolled as a Police Officer.

SGT John was enlisted in Grenada in the RSCNPF on 16 October 1968 when the then Chief of Police went through the Caribbean islands recruiting persons for the Force.

He then traveled to Barbados on October 21, 1968 where he successfully completed the Police Basic Training Course before moving to St. Kitts as a Police Constable on April 19, 1969 after he graduated.

He worked at Police Headquarters as a beat and patrol officer as well as an orderly to the then Chief of Police until 1989.

In December 1972, SGT John was highly commended for outstanding devotion to duty for single-handedly capturing and arresting the occupant of a moving vehicle, with complete disregard for his personal safety.

SGT John was promoted to the rank of acting Corporal on April 1, 1984 and that rank was confirmed in 1987.

He continued working at the Basseterre Police Station and was transferred to the Traffic Department in 1989 where he became notorious for his risk taking on police motor cycles, earning himself the alias "Crazy John". 

The father of three was also known for his severity in the examination of new applicants for driver's license and his general approach to the enforcement of the traffic laws, all of which made him an officer that was feared by most but respected by all, even his own colleagues.

SGT John worked in both St. Kitts and Nevis, serving short stints at the Stapleton, Sandy Point, Basseterre and Charlestown Police Stations as well as the Police Training School. He also worked for two years at the Basseterre Fire Station.

He was the officer in charge of the Traffic Department in Nevis on the occasions that he worked there.

In 1991, SGT John successfully completed the Junior Caribbean Traffic Course in Barbados.  He completed a number of other courses, both locally and regionally; these included training in Basic computer skills, time management, Supervisory Development training, Physical Development Planning, Radar Operations and more.

He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1994.

He received the Commissioner's commendation and award for outstanding contribution in the field of Traffic Control and Enforcement in 1993 and he also successfully completed his Sergeant's General Duties Course in 1997.

In his spare time, SGT John took correspondence courses in mechanical engineering as well as in English. 
He served as a member of the Police Brass and Band Leader of the Police Band.

SGT John continued to work in the Traffic Department until his retirement in November 2000, having completed 32 years of unbroken and loyal service to the Police Force, and the citizens of the Federation.

He, however, stayed in the Traffic Department as a civilian employee for two years and according to Deputy Commissioner of Police Stafford Liburd, the Department requested that he stay on in a civilian capacity and this was due to his expertise and knowledge of traffic laws.

DCP Liburd described SGT John as a "very knowledgeable, calm and cool but also fair."

He said that those who went for their driver's license were fearful of him because they saw him as being too serious.

SKNVibes also spoke with Head of Traffic Department Inspector Cromwell Henry who described SGT John as one who was a hard worker who devoted all of his time to his duties as a Police Officer.

"He was a hard worker, he devoted all of his time to duty; he was one that took his job very seriously to the point where he was feared by most and respected by many. He was a no nonsense person who always had a stern look which made his job a lot easier. No one wanted to get on his bad side for just by the look on his face, they could imagine what he would do if they were to cross his path."

Inspector Henry recalled: "I learned that being firm on the job makes your work easier. Whatever you say, you ensure that it is carried out and you must not leave room for negotiation. You must be firm and fair at the same time, you do not violate people's rights.

"I also learned a lot from him in terms of the administrative part of the job. He was not only a person who was strict on law enforcement, he was also a person who did a lot of administrative work at the office and so I learned a lot of the administrative aspect of traffic from him."

Inspector Henry elucidated that many persons do not know about the administrative work that SGT John did, "they think that he was just a guy who rode his motorcycle and bullied everybody."

SGT John, after retirement, made bus driving his new full time job - a profession he had part time while he was in the police force.

‘God is Love’ was the name of his bus which he drove with a passion even after he fell ill.

Raphael Jacobs, SGT John's second son described him as a perfectionist, a thorough person who was respectful and respected.

"He was a perfectionist; he was very precise; when it came to timing he was always punctual; he was well respected but at the same time he always respected others. He was feared in the field of granting licenses to others. Folks both younger and older than him feared him greatly. 

"He was a very hard worker; he spent most of his time building one house in Conaree, and when it was completed he blessed it in the way that anything that was worked hard on should be blessed." 

Jacobs explained that his father loved his job and would have, if given the chance, worked in the Force for all of his life. He said that SGT John was disappointed when the time for his retirement came and that that "took a toll on him."

All in all Jacobs said his father was one who set the standards for a lot of police officers today.

DCP Liburd and Inspector Henry both extended condolences to the family of the late SGT John on behalf of the RSCNPF.

SKNVibes also extends condolences to the family, friends, colleagues and former colleagues alike. May you find comfort in the fond memories you have of him.