The Royal Bahamas Police Force is considering approaching the Government to enact legislation against persons who make false reports against police officers.
During “The 3rd Annual Meet the Press Briefing and Luncheon” held at Police Headquarters, East Street, where the Annual Police Report was presented, Assistant Commissioner Ellison Greenslade said that in too many instances, when reports are made against police officers, investigations prove to be unfounded.
Mr. Greenslade said that all allegations made against any police officer are investigated, regardless of their rank.
However, the reputation and integrity of that officer becomes tarnished whether the accusation is true or fictitious, said Mr. Greenslade.
It is also a grave embarrassment to the officer, his family and also to the Force itself, he said.
Mr. Greenslade said that it is unfair that officers are confronted with allegations that would later be found to be false, while the complainant or source guilty of trying to ruin an officer’s career, gets away scotfree.
In the report by Assistant Superintendent of Police Franklyn Dames of the Complaints and Corruption Branch, it was noted that of the 3,000 officers employed by the Force, there was a total of 398 complaints lodged against officers, but only 255 were identified.
There were 138 officers who were not positively identified, 224 had one complaint lodged against them, 32 officers had two complaints against them, eight officers had three complaints lodged, one officer had four complaints and another officer had seven complaints lodged against him.
Some of these matters relate to minor misconduct or assault. There were also allegations of false arrest and imprisonment as well, said Mr. Dames.
There are still 170 matters which are still under active investigation, 140 have been completed, and 88 are under judicial consideration, he said.
He said that 54 per cent of these matters were substantiated, while 46 per cent lacked sufficient evidence.
Corruption matters reported to the branch for 2002, he said, totaled 31, of which 24 are under active investigation, with seven being completed, he said.
Four of those corruption matters emanated from another law enforcement agency, he said.
Also during 2002, three police officers appeared before the magistrate’s court for criminal offences, one of whom was sent to prison, another was dismissed as a result of a conviction by the Police Court of Enquiry Tribunal, and one officer who had multiple complaints against him reported, resigned, Mr. Dames said.
Counseling was also recommended for two officers as a result of complaints against them, he advised.
Mr. Dames also disclosed that Commissioner Paul Farqhuarson had agreed that early this year, remedial courses for officers against whom numerous complaints have been lodged, would commence at the Police College.
“The course will have as its mandate remedial education geared towards assisting the officers to be more sensitive to the rights of members of the public as they discharge their duties,” he said.
Topics to be discussed include: Ethics in Policing; The Rights and Freedom of the Individual; Police Law and the Courts; Servant Leadership; Stress Management and Rehabilitation Therapy; The Challenges of Policing in an Educated Society; and Development in Bahamian Sociology.
“Once officers would have participated in the Remedial Educational Programme, there should be a greater awareness on their part, as to the expected behaviour when dealing with members of the public. Such a programme should be the solution to a reduction in complaints against the organization,” Mr. Dames said.
“All members of the Force being accused by members of the public, or by their colleagues of corruption, dishonesty, abuse of authority or unethical behaviour, will be investigated fairly, but vigorously,” he said.
“There are persons, who for reasons known to them, may seek to harm the integrity of an officer. In instances such as these, every effort will be made to prosecute those found to be maliciously maligning the character of a member of the Royal Bahamas Police Force,” he said.
By Vanessa Rolle, The Nassau Guardian
