Retired Senior Superintendent of Police Gladstone Wright, formerly of the Special Branch, Protective Services Division and Narcotics Division, is dead.

Wright reportedly passed away on Wednesday.

A longtime bodyguard of late Prime Minister Hugh Shearer, Wright was well-known for being the founder/director of the Rehabilitation of Offenders through Music Programme (formerly Rehabilitation through Music). He was also a music producer, who worked closely with artistes like Jah Cure, Noddy Virtue and Jodian Pantry among others

Wright was well-known for his advocacy towards prison rehabilitation through music, developing a programme that would allow inmates to record while behind bars, geared towards their rehabilitation and integration back into society.

“SSP Wright was passionate about his work and was very persistent in devising security measures to support the implementation of the several initiatives. SSP Wright was also instrumental in leveraging resources to support the rehab through music programme by having a number of artistes perform inside the prisons. All these artistes performed music with transformative messages and gospel themes,” Major (Ret’d) Richard Reese, a former Commissioner of Corrections, told Observer Online.

Major Reese said that the programme included all aspects of music production which included composing, arranging, recording and performance, and had a component that included a prison radio which provided FM radio within the confines of the Tower Street correctional facility.

“It was very effective at the time because a significant number of the inmates were interested in music so what we sought to do, enrol (them) in English and Mathematics classes as a gateway to the music lab. Interestingly, there were a number of correctional officers who had significant talent so it complemented the programme and it had the support of the staff,” Reese said.

The programme was conceptualised in 2004 by Wright and the Department of Correctional Services who were searching for new ways to reform inmates. In 2007, the recording aspect of the programme deteriorated but has recently been revamped.

Behind These Prison Walls by Jah Cure is the most popular song produced by the programme. Co-written by Wright, it came out in 2005 and preceded the singer’s release in 2007.

“The programme also motivated others such as Professor Charles Nesson of Harvard Law School, Carla Gullata, Carlene Davis and Mr Josef Bogdanovich to become interested in the programme. It is hoped that the music industry, Edna Manley School for the Visual and Performing Arts and key players will seek to build on the successes gained so far,” Reese added.

Wright retired from his post as superintendent of police in 2008 after serving for over 40 years. He has produced two albums for Noddy Virtue and worked on projects with Morgan Heritage.