Members of the Police Corps yesterday celebrated the 193rd anniversary of the establishment of the corps. The two-week long activities draw to a close on Sunday.

Today, an open day will be held at the Victoria Police Station. A mass for retired Gozitan pensioners will be held at the St Mary cemetery chapel in Victoria, Gozo at 6pm, while the Police Band, the Precision Drill Team and the Police Dog Section will perform in Marsalforn at 8pm.

Yesterday, Pontifical Mass was first celebrated at the Police Headquarters in Floriana, which was followed by a parade, a defile and shows by the Police Band, the Precision Drill Team, the Police Cavalry Section and the Police Dog Section.

This year’s guests were 85 members of the Italian state police band.

A total of 41 members of the corps were later awarded medals for long and efficient service, while 30 constables were promoted to the rank of sergeant. These are:

Edward Zammit, Clifton Pulis, Robert Azzopardi, Valerie Farrugia, Rachel Caruana, Clive Brimmer, Joseph Farrugia, Jack Farrugia, Alfred Abela, Roderick Zammit, Kylie Borg, Rita Compton, Warren Magri, Jean Paul Formosa, Timothy J Zammit, Oscar Baldacchino, Charlene Ann Ciantar, Andrea Grech, Noel Said, Norbert Said, Jonathan Ransley, Antoine Cilia, Antoine Sacco, Colin Sheldon, Janice Giordmaina, Herman Mula, Omar Caruana, Lucienne Zammit, Jennifer Mallia, Janet Zammit.

The following police officers were awarded the medal for long and efficient service: Inspector Domenic Micallef, Sergeants Joseph Farrugia, Alphonse Mifsud, Winston Micallef, Rita Micallef, Constables Brian Bonello, Robert Saliba, Anthony Francalanza, Julian Saliba, Ivan Brincat, Francis Grima, Alfred Micallef, John Stivala, Noel Frendo, Edwin Cassar, Raymond Gatt, Domenic Bugeja, Saviour Chircop, Emanuel Sciberras, Christabel Mallia, Antonella Busuttil, Monica Deguara, Josette Pace, Florence Grech, Georgia Schembri, Caroline Tabone, Josephine Buttigieg.

Police sergeant Martin Bugeja was awarded the 1st and 2nd Clasp.

The following were awarded the 1st Clasp:

Major Raymond Zammit, Constables Carmel Lia, Joseph Chircop, Francis Farrugia, Leonard Formosa, Felix Vella, Raymond Mallia, Pierre Bugeja, Mario Bonnici and Joseph Cassar.

The following were awarded the 2nd Clasp:

Sergeant Sebastian Psaila, Constables Thomas Farrell and Saviour Sammut.