ROTARY GLOBAL HISTORY FELLOWSHIP HEROES
www.rghfheroes.org |
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GEOFFREY BERNARD WILLIAM LITTLE |
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RGHF member Geoffrey Bernard William Little,
JP, PHF, KCR (Phils), is better known around the
world as "The Smiling Policeman" a term which did not in the
early days, endear him to the local Australian constabulary
which adhered to the convention that law enforcement officers
were not meant to be "joyful fellows".
There are many
references to G.B.W. Little, many web sites detailing his
achievements, many stories, too many to relate here. After much
research, we obtained consent from "The Ambassadors" to copy an
article from one their correspondents first penned in 1999.
The
followings details and information relating to this remarkable
Rotarian are just a small part of the world-wide reputation
and dedication of one of Rotary Global History Fellowship's heroes.
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"The 51 years-old Australian
Ambassadorial Chairman of the Rotary Peace City Project,
Geoffrey B.W. Little has benefited from his 33-years
community-based policing. Little was formally appointed to the
prestigious position of Ambassador of Goodwill for the UN's
declared "International year of the child" in 1979. The
Ambassadors Magazine present the profile of the man commonly
known as the "Smiling Policeman," Sergent Geoffrey B.W. Little.
In his 33 years long police career, he has
been engaged in most phases of Police duty including - General
Duties, Divisional Cyclist and Traffic Branch, Community Based
Policing, School Lecturing, Prosecuting Branch (like the
District Attorney) and a number of other Specialist Units within
the New South Wales Police Service. Within Harbourside Local
Area Command (North Sydney), in addition to General Duty
Supervision Duties, he currently supervises the Community Safety
Officer, Schools and Youth Liaison Officer (including Student
Work Experience programs) and Domestic Violence. He is also
responsible for all specialist programs and events which pertain
to the Harbourside Local Area Command including `Police Open
Days', local gala occasions and Promotions and Marketing.
Sergeant Little also has expertise in `Local Emergency
Management' and `Operational Command'. As a Captain (Officer of
Cadets-OOC) in the Australian (Army) Cadet Corps attached to
North Sydney Boys' High School and Eastern Command Military
District Headquarters, Paddington, Captain Little further
developed the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme to afford greater
access for Cadets to the Bronze, Silver and Gold levels of
achievement.
He currently occupies the rank of
`Incremental' Sergeant (three chevrons and a crown) and is an
Honorary Deputy Sheriff-Lieutenant in Ozaukee County Sheriff's
Department, Wisconsin, U.S.A., Honorary Sergeant, Northern
Constabulary, Inverness, Scotland, and an Honorary Lieutenant
Colonel (Superintendent) in the Philippine National Police,-
attached to the Office of the Presidential Consultant on Police
Affairs, Presidential Security Group, Malacanang Palace, Manila,
Philippines.
"The Smiling Policeman"
Geoffrey Little is a longstanding member of
the Australian Section of the International Police Association
(IPA*) and founding International Chairman and CEO of the
Police/Law Enforcement Professionals Fellowship of
Rotarians (Polepfor). Little is an associate Member
of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).
The "Smiling Policeman" is a member of RC Wollstonecraft
District 9680,
Special Ambassador and Dean of the Ambassadorial Chair - Rotary
Peace City Project, as well being an Honorary Member in:
RC Wagga
Wagga -Kooringal, D9700,
RC Makati - Edsa, Manila, Philippines
D3830, and
RC Zamboanga City, Philippines, D3850. Over the years
he has developed a number of schools related programs e.g.,
Schools Work Experience and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.
Rotary Peace Cities
As a Special Ambassador and Dean of the
Ambassadorial Chair of the `Rotary Peace City Project ' Wagga
Wagga, New South Wales, "The Smiling Policeman" promotes and
facilitates the establishment of his Rotary based and
vocationally driven programs which include establishing Rotary Peace Cities/Towns and
Municipalities around the world, along with accompanying programs (Peace Conferences, Conflict Resolution
Programs etc.). Los Angeles was declared the eleventh `Rotary
Peace City' and conducted the first `Rotary Peace City
Conference' June 1998.
"The Smiling Policeman" currently serves in
the New South Wales Division of the United Nations Association
as an Executive Member and is Convener/Organizer of Sydney's
Annual United Nations Day Wreath Laying Ceremony conducted each
October 24 in recognition of the valiant service performed by
members of the United Nations Civilian Police (UNCIVPOL)
Association of Australasia, and members of the Armed Services of
Australia who are currently serving, or who have served, on past
peacekeeping duties around the world.
In 1979 The Smiling Policeman was appointed the United Nations Association
"Ambassador of Goodwill" for the International Year of the Child, and over
a three month period directed traffic in Kathmandu, Delhi and Agra outside the Taj Mahal, and met Delhi's Dancing Policeman; to Jerusalem (where the drivers
totally ignored him) also organising and participating in fundraising marathons
for "child oriented programmes".
Geoffrey travelled overland from Kathmandu to London via Afghanistan, Turkey
and Israel, where through the Rotary Club of Netanya - (initiated and followed
up upon over the next three years), as the only person in recorded history, jogged thirty seven kilometres (at one thousand metres in
elevation), from the lowest point on earth - Jericho on the Dead Sea - to the
Wailing Wall of the "most Holy City of Jerusalem".
To crown this epic undertaking, Geoffrey, then assisted with a lift
from London to Brighton by Australian Entertainer Rolf Harris, jogged
eighty kilometres from Brighton to London as part of a children's
fundraiser in collaboration with the London Fire Brigade.
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The "Smiling
Policeman" with Dr. Keith Sutter the President of the
United Nations Association, New South Wales Division in
Sydney, Rotarian (Rotary Club of Sydney).
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"Just Say NO to Drugs and Polio!"
 The
"Smiling Policeman" has been strongly involved in drug awareness
campaigns in Cebu in the Philippines (`Just Say No to Drugs')
under the Chairmanship of Rotarian Oscar C. Mabilog of the
Rotary Club of Metro Cebu. Rotarian Oscar Mabilog is an Honorary
Mayor of Cebu City and Chairman of COSAP (Cebu City Office of
Substance Abuse Prevention). Geoffrey has also allied himself
with a Project called `Polio Past' (inspired by President Niels
Colov of the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya, Thailand) which assists polio sufferers to
live a better life and provides educational scholarships. Sergeant
Geoffrey Little has been honoured as a Knight Commander in the
Order of the Knights of Rizal (KCOR) within the Philippines. He
is a member of the Sydney Chapter. The Order of the Knights of
Rizal is a Civic and Patriotic honour and an Act of the
Philippine Congress, raised in recognition of the national hero
- Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal.
| At a Gala evening hosted by the
Rotary Club of Makati-Edsa in the Philippines, Chairman
Geoffrey was honoured by his PNP colleagues and
Rotarians in the spirit of Rotary Vocational Excellence
by receiving an honorary appointment to the Philippine
National Police (PNP). To the right, Lt. Colonel Little
is receiving the honorary shield from Major General
Ramond Montano with President Manny Lim, Charter
President Dr.`Resty' Cornejo, and Rotarian Major General
`Billy' Villareal. |
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The Smiling Cop and Traffic Control
Sergeant Geoffrey Little of COPS* has controlled
traffic all around the world, promoting better relations between Police
and the community.
* Computerised Operational Policing System -
the Police Service Unit where Sergeant Little participated in and performed
duties during the introduction of computerisation to the New South Wales Police Service.
- Article published in the Police Service Weekly
He has visited many cities in the
world promoting the Fellowship and Rotary's `Peace
City' Project of Wagga Wagga. To encourage press
coverage, Sergeant Little goes on traffic control
duty with local Police. He has controlled traffic in
London, Delhi, Agra, Jerusalem, Manila, Bangkok,
Singapore, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Belfast and Moscow.
In Moscow, he promoted a project for `Russia's
Forgotten Children' (Rotary Club of Hurstville -
Australia), which helps young people through
donations of clothing, toys, medical supplies and
vocational training. In Belfast, he assisted with a
project titled 'Towards a Better Understanding'
(TABU), which is being promoted by the Rotary Club
of Belfast.
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"The Smiling Policeman" Sergeant
Geoffrey Little directing traffic in Red Square,
Moscow/font>
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The Smiling Policeman in the USA
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The Smiling Policeman doing
his 'thing' at the Monument Roundabout, City of
Indianapolis,
Indiana, USA. June 1998.
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Sergent Little is
interested, as part of his traditional program around
the world, to engage in a traffic control exercise in
the host city or town being visited. Friends from the
Indianapolis Police Department and Lieutenant Tim Hortey
did a great job in marshalling television and media
coverage backed up by a contingent of uniformed Police
from the Traffic Branch and Bicycle Unit. The Monument
is the centerpiece of the City of Indianapolis standing
95 meters high and is a memorial to those who have
served in America's Armed forces since Indiana became a
State back in 1816. |
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Pictured
with Deputy Mayor the Hon John R. Hall and Lieutenant
Timothy J Halligan, North District, Indianapolis Police
Department, on the occasion of being presented the "Key
to the City' and made an Honorary Citizen of the City of
Indianapolis.
My second
host for my stay in Indianapolis was Lieutenant Timothy
J. Halligan and his dear family. Tim
is Administrative Assistant to North District and
through whose `good officers' I was able to see Policing
in Indianapolis from the `ground up'.
I
accompanied my new friend on a number of errands and a
friendly lunch, later going on a memorable visit to the
Indianapolis 500 Museum. We visited the
Indianapolis Police Training Academy where I met Academy
Commander Major John Bent.
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Left to
right. Sergeant Pete Mungovan of the chief's Office,
Detective Gregg Arkins, Police Chief Michael Zunk and
Lieutenant Tim Horty of Media Relations, Indianapolis
Police Dept - on the occasion of the appointment of
Geoffrey Little as an Honorary Deputy Chief of the
Indianapolis Police Department.
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Note - Geoffrey is a financial member of Rotary Global History
Fellowship and has facilitated in establishing RGHF Headquarters
for the 2012 Bangkok World Rotary Convention.
He is Past President and Member of the Rotary Club of North Sydney
Sunrise D9680
His latest international initiative on behalf of his friends and
associates in the Law Enforcement profession is a collaboration between
Polepfor and
"Philippine Rotary Watch", a program, initiated in 1999 by the Rotary Club of Makati Forbes Park D3830, under the Chairmanship of Rotarian Albert Garcia, in concert with the Makati Police Department, and latterly the Philippine National Police (PNP). Geoffrey says enthusiastically; "Rotary Watch is a world beating Community Based Policing initiative which is unprecedented, and like never before, represents a potential template International Programme
designed and initiated out of the Philippines to encourage and
foster cooperation between the Rotarians of the Philippines and the
communities they serve, with the enthusiastic support and
involvement of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
After forty years, Past President Geoffrey (RC's East Sydney D9750
and RC North Sydney Sunrise D9680) retired from the New South Wales Police
in 2001, and recognising you can't keep a good man down, served in all
facets of the Private Security Industry, complementing his former very
active Police career as a Master Licence holder, Security Risk Management
Consultant and Workplace Trainer and Assessor - and in PP Geoffrey's third
career move, he currently serves as a full time casual Officer within the
Court Security Unit (CSU) of the Department of Corrective Services.
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acknowledgements to "The Ambassadors"
and an article by Essam Farag in July 1999.
gratitude to
Geoffrey B.W. Little for his permission to publish and for his
editing contributions
researched and posted by
RGHF webmaster
Greg Barlow, Malaysia. August 2011 |
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