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He would undoubtedly have preferred to slip away quietly. A modest man, Rosmon Gréaux has no desire to be in the spotlight. Both as a person and as a local police officer, he prefers to stay in the background rather than seek the limelight. But as he prepared to step down from his role as head of the local police force—a department where he has served for nearly 35 years—he had to temporarily set aside his usual reserve.
On Monday, October 5, Rosmon Gréaux thus “hung up his uniform”—figuratively speaking, of course. He did, however, make one final appearance at a small ceremony held on the terrace of the Territorial Collectivity’s headquarters. It was a discreet tribute, just like the man himself.
A Love for the Uniform
Rosmon Gréaux was born in Saint-Barthélemy in 1965. He grew up in the Saint-Jean neighborhood at a time when the airstrip was still just a strip of dirt and grass running alongside a small soccer field. Not to mention a few Sunday motocross sessions! He attended elementary school in Lorient, middle school in Gustavia, and then left for high school in Guadeloupe. Afterward, Rosmon Gréaux flew to mainland France to complete his military service. There, he discovered a world that left a lasting impression on him. “I liked the uniform, and the discipline too,” he confides. “That probably pushed me toward a career in law enforcement.” In fact, when he returned to his island, he wasted no time in approaching the mayor at the time, Daniel Blanchard, to express his interest in community policing, which was still a municipal function back then. “On weekends, I’d head to Orange for the three-month initial training,” Rosmon recalls. “When I came back, I joined the municipal police.” It was January 1992.
“Not Really a Routine”
Over the course of his many years with the department, Rosmon Gréaux has seen the powers of the territorial police expand. Nevertheless, he assures us, the work remains much the same as it was in the 1990s. “Whether it’s municipal or territorial police, it’s still the same thing,” notes the soon-to-be retiree. “Back then, we did day and night patrols. There isn’t really a routine. No two days are ever quite alike. When we finish in the evening, we don’t know what awaits us the next day. During peak season, for example, the work is more intense. ” Rosmon Gréaux maintains an unwavering interest and commitment to his work. “It’s a great job,” he says. “You have to enjoy working closely with the community and collaborating closely with the gendarmerie. Police work is very demanding.”
When it comes time to talk about his most memorable experiences, Rosmon Gréaux immediately thinks of the most dramatic episodes. “There was the hurricane in ’95 (Luis, ed.), which was a disaster,” he recalls. “And then there was Irma in 2017. Those were very difficult times. There was the pandemic, too…” He won’t say any more. Reserve, as always.
Although he will no longer wear the territorial police uniform, Rosmon Gréaux is already planning to don another one: that of a runner. “But I’ll take it slowly,” he adds, flashing the broad smile of someone who views his retirement the same way he approached his career: with serenity and discretion.
