Competence v/s medocrity

Yet another young Bermudian have lost his life at the hands of one of his country men, once again another senseless murder have occurred, an unwanted event that send shock wave throughout the Island and send the citizen into a state of fear just like what happened in December and so many times before that. Yet again the Citizen of this normally tranquil island has justified reason for concern.

And once again the Bermuda Police Service (BPS) will embarked on one of its many stop and check operation and give it some fancy name such is operation take back the streets, or protect the community; literally turning Bermuda into a “Police State” all of which is just window dressing, this is just the BPS way of convincing the community and themselves that they are really making a difference, but in the process they only seek to inconvenience law abiding citizen who make a remarkable contribution to the development of this very economically stable community. Yes a few people will be arrested for some fifty dollars warrants, and they will suffer the indignity of being put into hand cuffs, placed into a police car, and taken to the nearest police station where they will be detained until that fine is paid.

I must say that these operations do not help in making Bermuda a safer place to be. It only makes the community who may have possible information which can or may help in their investigation even more reluctant to come forward and provide the necessary information. Tell me, how can the Bermuda Police Service justify setting a chap to snag an individual for a fifty dollar warrant while a murderer is out there on the loose. In other words these operations are only opportunity to get press coverage, thus giving the community the impression that the police are doing something to make the island safer. The Bermuda Police Service specializes in window dressing. I see the present Bermuda Police Service as a reactionary institution rather then a proactive institution.

Another quality I observed in the Bermuda Police Service is, although the service has a systematic method of promoting individuals, the people who put themselves up for promotion (by doing the police promotions examination) are the mediocre constables and other ranks who are looking for a way out of performing duties they do not feel/or is not competent doing. And so they look for quick upward mobility hoping to get away from the responsible of their present rank. In other words although the present promotion system is very unambiguous, it leaves to much room for the promotion of incompetence.

Take for example Sergeant of Police Gregory Grimes and Inspector of Police Hillary Beckles. These are the two most knowledgeable police officers in the BPS unfortunately these two men work at a standard that upset a lot of the higher ups. (they are not perfect don’t get me wrong) These are two men who perform their duties by the book, and in the process they ensure the community rights are safeguarded and the officers under their supervision develop a standard of professionalism that is synonymous with a good police officer. I must confess these two men are even more competent then most of the officers above their rank. Police officers from every department call these two men for advice and information as it regards to the law the application of law and court and police procedures.

Mr. Grime’s reluctance to seek upward mobility has placed him in a position where he is supervised by men and woman far less competent than he is; when a difficulty arises or when the shit hits the fan, these people can be seen locked inside Mr. Grime’s office seeking his advice, his opinion and his expertise.

The Bermuda Police Service is totally afraid of competence, innovative or independent thinkers; but most of all they are afraid of people who have a keen sense of their human rights and are willing to confront any issue of that nature and in the process maintain their dignity. Take for example Michael Hayles a Jamaican national, who have stood up on two occasion for his rights, once when he was asked to perform undignified duties (duties that the Bermuda Police Service have contracted a private/independent contractor to deal with) and the other where he file a report against a white police (inspector) officer who had allegedly use racial slurs and discriminated against him. For confronting these two issues Michael contract renewal is threaten. Yet the Bermuda Police Service is willing to renew the contract of less competent officers but not Michael Hayles. In this era of increase criminal activities, Bermuda wants only competent, independent, innovative Police Officers to enforce the law in this blessed country.

The management of the Bermuda Police Service must put away their personal petty feelings and do what is best for Bermuda. After all the exempt companies who invest millions of dollars in this island, the tourist who visits Bermuda and spends their hard earn money, who in turn expects to be safe, the local business community who invest in this country, also every citizen and resident deserved the best police officers working on this island that Bermuda can afford. Not mediocrity. The national security of a country and the protection of it’s’ citizens is not a game for small men with tiny mind and big egos; it is a job for intelligent mature adult that are able to make hard decisions even at the sacrifice of their personal preference and ego. After all we are speaking about matters of life and death for the whole community.

The post of commissioner will be made vacant soon, and there are a few ambitious men who are willing to do anything for that job, I know three of these men. I will take time out to give my opinion on two of them; these are the two who are willing to sell their souls to the devil for the post of Commissioner of Police of the Bermuda Police service. I will start with Superintendent Mike Jackman Then I will deal with Randolph Liverpool. then I will deal with My candidate will be a surprise and I will deal with him last. (all this is dependant on if there is no further development)

Understanding your Responsibility will Preserve the Rights of others

There are a large number of police officers who are practicing policing and are totally at a lost as to why they follow the procedures they follow in the daily practice. This is so because, they are unaware of the history behind why, certain steps were taken to introduce the procedures and the principles that are outlined in such document as the judges Rules, PACE etc. The Judges Rules and PACE are standardized practice and procedure that an officer must follow to ensure that the investigating or arresting officer do not violate the suspects rights and in the process protection him or her self.

It is important to note that if you have an understanding of why such procedures were put into place, it will give one a greater respect for the rights of the accused person and the way evidence is collected. Most police officer are aware of what to and what not to do in the collection and presentation of prosecution evidence, but do not have any idea of the leverages that is awarded to the collection and presentation of defense evidence.

You have got to remember that the principles and restriction as to what a police officer can and cannot do is bases on the principles that it is better for forty guilty people to go free that for one innocent man to be unfairly convicted. You see our founding legal father had experience where the police officer had forgotten the core values and responsibilities of their office. For them Justice took a back seat, and a conviction at all cost became important, hence many innocence people were convicted by over ambitious police officers. In this era police were manipulating evidence and taking advantage of the ignorance of the suspected/accuse person; which also includes collecting evidence unlawfully etc. all in an effort to secure a conviction. Hence the birth of the rules of evidence, the judges rules etc.

It is expected that when police follow these guidelines that are outlined in the Judges Rules and PACE, they ensure that the police do not infringed on the rights of the accuse person. I will suggest that we all abreast our self not only with what is expected, but why these were implemented.

It is also important to note, that the burden of proof lies with the prosecution and the prosecution has an obligation to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accuse person commit the offence that he was accused of committing. If there is a shadow of a doubt that, then that accuse person must be found not guilty. Although the prosecution are limited as to what they can do, the manner in which evidence are collected and presented, the defense has the right to do all in its power to prove their innocence. This includes the manner in which they collect and present evidence. If that evidence can aid any court in proving the defendant is innocence of the allegation, then that evidence will be admissible.

This is because that the court is interested in the truth, and it is in the truth you can and will find justice, thus ensuring that an innocence person is not convicted and suffer the consequence of an offence or crime he did not commit. Remember it is favorable for twenty guilty men to go free than for one innocent man to be convicted.

A higher standard is expected from the prosecution. You see the court is only interested in the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

It is so easy for an over zealous officer (who have personalize the offense or is under presure form a senior officer to gain a conviction in a matter or to bring an end to the investigation) to violate the rights of an accuse person during the process of the investigation. If such violation is brought to the courts attention or the unlawful collection of evidence is discovered, such events may render that evidence inadmissible (unusable) and if the violation of an accused person rights is also discovered, nine out of ten times such will cause the case to be dismissed on a technicality.

It is important that you understanding your responsibility and learn why you are expected to follow the procedure you are required to follow, and in the process preserved the rights of others.