He was known as the Black Knight of the South Western Police Division, a humble police officer whose gut instinct and superb crime detection skills led to the incarceration of over 100 criminals.
On Tuesday morning before his colleagues, friends and family, Police Sargeant Adesh Gookool was given a military sendoff at his Darsan Trace, Siparia home.
Members of Gookool’s batch and his colleagues including Senior Supt Deonarine Basdeo and ASP Peter Ramdeen broke down in tears as the casket was opened.
Ramdeen who delivered the eulogy said Gookool joined the TTPS in 1999 and was teamed up with him at the Siparia Police Station. Together as young constables, Ramdeen said they became known as “Batman and Robin”.
“Within one-month serious crimes and minor offences went down by 75 per cent,” Ramdeen recalled.
For years, the Division had highest crime detection rates and Ramdeen said Gookool came to be feared by criminals.
“Adesh took it personally whenever a crime happened under his watch,” Ramdeen said.
Recently, a woman was robbed, raped and kidnapped before being dropped off in Oropouche.
Ramdeen said Gookool mobilised a team and went in search of the suspect. “He later found a man fitting the description driving a car and he recovered a firearm, the victim’s clothes and valuables,” he added.
Out of 100 cases that they brought before the courts, Ramdeen said they lost only one matter. He said Gookool was always eager to share his knowledge and always trusted his gut instinct.
“He never took a single day of sick leave in all the years I knew him. He was a motivator to us and I have never seen him vex. He always kept his emotion in check,” Ramdeen recalled.
He said even when Gookool was accidentally shot in the chest by a colleague, he displayed restraint.
“The bullet barely missed his heart and when the doctor told him he joked that it was a good thing he had no heart. He used to say the Devil has his work and I have mine. He was so pleasant, he never held on to grudges and he believed in getting justice,” Ramdeen added.
Ramdeen said apart from his regular police duties, Gookool worked with the youths of his neighbourhood.
He also served as a mentor to the victims of crime.
MP Dr Lackram Bodoe said the officer was involved in community sports.
“I knew him long before I became an MP. He played his role as a husband, father and police officer very well,” Bodoe said.
He urged the mourners to be cognisant of their health.
“Exercise proper health care and be sure to do proper screening and watch your diet,” Bodoe said.
Gookool died on Saturday morning after succumbing to a heart attack.
He had gone to a football match which he organized after work for the youths of his community.
He leaves to mourn his wife Mintra and their two children, Mickel and Chelsea.
