A pioneering figure in Bermuda's policing history was celebrated this week as the Bermuda Police Service paid tribute to Jean Vickers, the first Bermudian woman to join the organisation, during the annual Police Week Seniors' Tea held at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club.

Ms Vickers, who is 92 years old, was presented with flowers by Commissioner of Police Darrin Simons and Deputy Commissioner Na'imah Astwood in recognition of her groundbreaking service. Her decision to join the police at a time when the organisation was overwhelmingly male opened the door for generations of Bermudian women who have since pursued careers in law enforcement on the island.

The Seniors' Tea, a longstanding fixture of Police Week, brings together retired officers and community elders to acknowledge their contributions to the service and to the wider community. This year's event carried added significance as it shone a spotlight on a woman whose career helped reshape the face of policing in Bermuda.

Today, women serve at every level of the Bermuda Police Service, including in its senior command, a reality made possible by trailblazers such as Ms Vickers. Police Week continues with a series of public events celebrating the service's history and its relationship with the community it serves.