THE AMBASSADORS
THE AMBASSADORS
Summer
Issue
PROFILE
Volume 2,
Issue 3
July 1999
"Peace, Growth and Development"
- Jim Farquhar, Edinburgh 1976
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Peacebuilding with a smile: An Australian Policeman’s international initiative By Essam Farag |
| Sergent Geoffrey B.W. Little |
The 51 years-old Australian Ambassadorial Chairman of the Rotary Peace City Project, Geoffrey B.W. Little, has benefited a 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 on behalf of the Police/Law Enforcement Professionals Fellowship of Rotarians Chairman, 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, Founding International Chairman and C.E.O., 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 D3810, 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 Rotary Peace Cities, Towns and Municipalities throughout the world. His Rotary Based and Vocationally driven programs 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 last.
"The Smiling Policeman" currently serves in the New South Wales Division of the United Nations Association as an Executive Member and is Convenor/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.
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). |
"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') and a project called `Polio
Past' (Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya - Thailand) which assists
polio sufferers to live a better life under the Chairmanship of
Rotarian Oscar C.Mabilog of the Rotary Club of Metro Cebu.
Rotarian Oscar Mabilog is an Honorary Deputy Mayor of Cebu City
and Chairman of COSAP(Cebu City Office of Substance Abuse
Prevention). 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 Phillippines, 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
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 in the USA
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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. |
Pictured with Deputy Major the Hon John R. hall and Lieutenant Timothy J Hallican, 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 offices' 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. |
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. |
Invitation
We are pleased to send our congratulations to the "Smiling Policeman" for joining The Ambassadors as one of its International Correspondents. With these mere few words, we have only scratched the surface of a life journey of an elegant policeman who devoted his life to establish a better world, enriched with peace, growth and development.
All are invited to visit his
Rotarian Website at http://rotarnet.com.au/users/P/PLEPFR/index.htm.
His email is polepfor@onaustralia.com.au .
