FORMER deputy superintendent of police Kenneth James Woodworth will be remembered as a loving friend, strict teacher and outstanding officer, said his former comrades in the police force.

He died of old age in Petaling Jaya on Sunday. He was 89.

Woodworth is also described as a hero for arresting notorious robber Botak Chin and killing two of his henchmen in a shoot-out in 1976.

Former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan remembers Woodworth as a firm-but-fair officer during their time in the force.

“I knew him when I was attached to the Criminal Investigation Department in Kuala Lumpur,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

“He was a crime buster and solved many cases together with DSP S. Kulasingam, another former officer with ‘hero’ status.

“I worked with him (Woodworth) for only a short while as we were from different divisions.

“He was friendly to the young officers and taught us to do the right thing.”

On operations to arrest Botak Chin, Musa said his division was not directly involved but called in to provide assistance.

“After the shoot-out, Woodworth was calm and composed. He contributed a lot to the country by keeping the people safe.

“We can say that he is a national hero as he was a very brave man. We all respected him as a senior officer.”

There has been an outpouring of condolences by officers and close family friends following Woodworth’s death.

Family friend Karen Goonting, 60, said Woodworth was born in Singapore but grew up in Penang.

“He joined the police force in 1953 and married Joan Sylvia Maureen in 1955. We were close family friends,” she said at the wake held at the Church of the Holy Rosary in Brickfields.

“He was my father’s best friend after they met in Sabah. I have known Uncle Ken, as he was fondly called, since I was 6 years old.”

She said Woodworth and his wife were always around for family functions and knew her extended family well.

“He used to live in Cheras. But after his wife passed away in 2017, he lived with me in Kajang.

“He later needed constant care as he was aging and decided to reside in an old folks home.”

Woodworth and his wife had no children.

Goonting said Woodworth was a very modest man, caring and kind.

“He was a gem of a man as he never asked for anything and always gave everything, which was love and kindness.

“He will be sorely missed by all his family and friends.”

Ex-colleague Wan Faizah Che Din, 56, who worked with Woodworth in the private sector after his retirement, said he was a father figure to her.

“I first met him when he joined Danaharta as head of security in 1999, and advised us on how to secure our properties.

“We remember him fondly as he was such a gentleman and looked out for us.

“He was a fatherly figure and protector not only to me, but my children as well.”

Woodworth a hero in his own right

Bukit Aman Senior Assistant Commissioner Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal, who met Woodworth for the first time in 2020, said he was in awe of how pleasant the latter was.

“We met for tea at the old folks home as I wanted to visit all the former police officers living in Petaling Jaya, where I was previously posted.

“I wanted to learn about their experiences in the force. We wanted to get feedback. That is how we can learn and improve ourselves.”

Nik Ezanee said Woodworth lived a life of discipline and for someone who had completed his service, he did it with a full heart and was a hero in his own right.

Woodworth’s funeral will be conducted at the Church of the Holy Rosary in Brickfields at 11am tomorrow, followed by a cremation. – May 24, 2022.