James Bartley Obituary, Death – We are deeply saddened to report that our very good friend, close colleague and long-serving member of our ExPo Committee, retired Inspector James “Reese” Bartley, passed away suddenly yesterday, Friday 26th May 2023.
This has come as a shock to us all, and we offer our sincere condolences to his wife, Gilda, and to their family.
Reese joined the Bermuda Police in July 1966, and after attending Training School he was posted to Central (Hamiton) for 2 years before being transferred to Narcotics where he remained for the next 5 years.
In 1974 Reese transferred to Marine Section.
He was promoted to Sergeant in 1975 and transferred to Western Division (Somerset). In late 1977 – early 1978 he attended the Metropolitan Police Training School in London followed by an attachment to the Hertfordshire Constabulary, after which he returned to Bermuda, and had spells in Eastern Division, Traffic Division (including Radar) before transferring to Central Division where he remained for 7 years before returning to Eastern Division.
Reese was promoted to Inspector in 1988 and spent the rest of his Service in Central Division until his retirement in 1991`. In his younger days Reese was a member of the Police Cricket Team and he was also an active member of the Police Choir. For many years he served on the Police Boxing Committee even after his retirement.
Reese has provided sterling service on our Bermuda Ex-Police Officers Association Committee, including serving as our Vice Chairman. He and his lovely wife Gilda, have always been strong supporters of ExPo and have helped to organize many of our social events. Reese will be sorely missed by all of our ExPo team and all those who worked with him and who knew him. Again, we offer our sincere condolences to Gilda and to all of Reese’s family.
