An outstanding police officer, a father figure, a friend, a mentor, a family man, an advisor.
Acting Senior Supt Terrance Nobbee was described as all of these things and much more during his funeral service in San Fernando, on Wednesday.
His death caused reverberations far and wide, said his close friend Dr Marlene Attz during the eulogy at the Open Bible Church in San Fernando yesterday.
Attz said Nobbee was fully vaccinated but became a statistic of COVID-19 on January 10 due to his comorbidities.
She recalled that he landed his dream job as a police officer in 1988.
“Terrance Shaun Nobbee was a gift to us all. His gift to the people of Trinidad and Tobago was his commitment to change the landscape of crime in our country,” she said.
Attz said he loved his family and was a father figure and pillar of strength to his sister Dianne Nobbee-Roberts.
“He had love and utmost respect for mother, aunts, uncles, and interactions with nieces and nephews who could get him to do practically anything for them.”
Recalling her last conversation with Nobbee, whom she fondly called Terry, she said on December 27 he told her he was at the Mt Hope Hospital but not to panic because he would be okay.
She said he later messaged her to say that he was being transferred to Couva Hospital. Recalling that God protected him when he was shot at Besson Street Police Station, when he got into a motor vehicle accident in 2020, she said, “There is no doubt in my mind that he is at peace.”
Attz said rumours circulating once he was hospitalised were self-serving and reflected a disturbing national past-time where fake news is the order of the day.
“It is sad to say that these rumours showed little or no regard for either Terry’s well being or his loved ones. They actually caused a lot of pain and anguish,” she added.
Remembering his colleague in glowing terms, acting Superintendent Clint Arthur, who was in Nobbee’s batch, said Nobbee was a ‘leader among leaders’, a man of integrity and to his word, who showed commitment and dedication to his job despite setbacks in his life.
He said, “Terrance and I formed a bond that lasted throughout the entire service. He was a mentor and counsellor to me. Our friendship was a special one that I will always treasure. Terrance Nobbee from the start of his career as a police officer was always a man of an impeccable standard and the batch here can say that one of the things that we first noted with Terry was that he was always neatly and well dressed. His shirts and pants had razor cutting seams. His boots, buttons and belts always shiny.”
Arthur recalled that Nobbee worked in the Port- of-Spain Criminal Investigations Department, the Guard and Emergency Branch, Southern Division and in the Port-of-Spain Division where he served as the Senior Superintendent.
He added, “Upon hearing of his death, officers were heavily impacted. This indeed is a testimony of a remarkable man.”
Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Daniel Moore, Municipal Police Superintendent Glen Charles, acting Superintendent Karen Lancaster-Ellis and acting Superintendent Sampooran Kissoonlal were among the officers who also gave tributes.
Acting Commissioner of Police McDonald Jacob also made a presentation to Nobbee’s sister on behalf of the TTPS.
Following the service, officers and family members walked behind the hearse from the top of Cipero Street to the JE Guide Funeral Home and Crematorium Limited where a private cremation was held