A chestnut-colored coffin draped with the Bahamian flag attracted the stares of every eye in the packed auditorium, where solemn crowd of uniformed officers, family members, friends and fraternity brothers gathered to say their final good-byes to Corporal 2453 Desmond Burrows. The thirteen-year police veteran was honored in a full military funeral at the Church of God Auditorium on Joe Farrington Road yesterday. His burial comes just over one week after he drowned in a mishap during a police training exercise at Goodman?s Bay.

The deceased was part of a group of 31 officers taking part in the physical aspect of a firearms training course at sea, when he and four others plunged into a sinkhole. Yesterday, hundreds of people gathered to say farewell to the man they
called an officer, father and friend. Shortly after the two-hour service began at 10 a.m., there was only standing room left as mourners spilled outside into the parking lot. Inside, uniformed officers dressed in navy blue, tan and white with red trim, sat stoically as the tearful gaze of mourning family members rested on Burrows? coffin.

Mario Wright, a fraternity brother of Burrows, read an emotional ?As I Knew Him? speech. Wright, along with dozens of Chi Psi Beta members, paid their respects to their deceased frat brother by adorning signature black and blue T-shirts dedicated to the late officer?s memory. ?He was always the voice of reason,? said Wright. ?He had very strong morals and was a man that believed in building a very strong legacy, and his legacy will live on forever with us. We may have lost the physical man, but his spirit lives on. ?To his parents, you may have lost a son but you have gained more than a hundred living, breathing personalities with his values,? he continued. ?To his daughter, we?ll be here for you for the rest of your life.? High-ranking officials also paid their respects to the fallen officer. Minister of National Security Tommy Turnquest and Acting Commissioner of Police Reginald Ferguson both commended Burrows? service in the Royal Bahamas Police
Force.

According to Acting Commissioner Ferguson, the 31-year-old father of one was a driving force in the police department.
?Today it is with a deep sense of sadness that we gather to bid our final farewell and final tribute to our colleague Corporal 2453 Desmond Burrows,? said the top police official. ?One who has served our country with courage, integrity and loyalty, I wish on behalf of myself, my family and the entire membership of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, to extend our heartfelt condolences to you, the family of Corporal Burrows.? Minister Turnquest added that Burrows was a true patriot who served his country well. ?Corporal Burrows was a young man,? said Minister Turnquest. ?He was drawn to join the Police Force because of the fine example of his father.

?I am told that by 1990, the quality and character of this young man was at a high level. And just three years after joining the Force his exemplary work earned him a certificate of appreciation from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.? The military motorcade that left the auditorium just after noon yesterday, made its way to Lakeview Memorial Gardens.
Family and friends of the departed wept openly as Burrows was given the customary gun salute. Those closest to
him said good-bye as they placed single roses atop the descending casket.