Don’t be a hero because you might be a dead hero, police are warning Bahamians.
Inspector Ken Strachan cautioned fellow Rotarians against being rash when approached by an armed assailant, and urged them give the robber what he wants.
“If only for your family’s sake and God’s sake give them what they want, be that coward if only for that minute and allow yourself to take another breath.”
Insp. Strachan, speaker at a Rotary Club meeting held at Super Clubs Breezes, told his fellow Rotarians the weekend death of businessman James Bethel was a wake up call to Bahamian society.
Mr. Bethel, 43, was the country’s ninth homicide for the year. Three more people have been shot dead since then.
Mr. Bethel and the 6-year-old daughter of a friend were walking in the parking lot of Tropical Nursery, Village Road, on Saturday, when two gunmen approached him. Mr. Bethel struggled with the men before he was shot.
Insp. Strachan said he was at the Wulff Road police station when he received the call of the shooting.
He said Mr. Bethel, originally from Canada, but settled in Nassau, married in 1987 and lived just off Village Road.
Insp. Strachan said Mr. Bethel and his wife became foster parents to 6-year-old Rosaria after her father died in a car accident several years ago.
He said Mr. Bethel placed Rosaria in Nassau Christian Academy School.
Insp. Strachan said when one of the officers at the scene asked little Rosaria whether she knew Mr. Bethel, she answered yes.
“His name is James,” he said of little Rosaria’s response to the officer’s question.
Insp. Strachan said every Saturday Mr. Bethel and his wife would pick her up to spend the day with them.
He said before taking Rosaria back to her mother, who work at John Chea at East Street South, Mr. Bethel stopped at Tropical Nursery to get Rosaria a gift.
Insp. Strachan told his fellow Rotarians that witnesses saw what happened and tried to assist Mr. Bethel, but retreated after hearing gunshots.
Mr. Bethel’s sister and his brother-in-law were returning to Canada.
“They had already boarded the plane, ready to leave, and having found out what happened, were able to stop the plane,” he said.
Insp. Strachan said the shock of her husband’s death had not sunk in when he visited Mrs. Bethel later that evening.
He said she had already made plans for Rosaria to receive counseling after such a traumatizing event.
Insp. Strachan told the Rotarians that criminal evil touches every one of them.
He said that last year, during the same time period there were 11 homicides.
“Are we still going to have another gruesome homicide count,?’ he asked.
He said while no plan is fail-safe, an investment in security measures and proper lighting can go a long way to deterring crime.
Insp. Strachan said the wealthiest people in the world have fallen victim to crime.
Earlier Commissioner Paul Farquharson, in presenting commendations to police officers, thanked them for taking time from their families to serve the country.
Insp. Strachan said it would be very scary if police stopped when faced with the realities of a Kemp Road and Bain Town scenario when responding to their duty.
Commenting on the debate regarding tinted car windows, Insp. Strachan recalled many times approaching a vehicle and not knowing who or what was on the other side of the glass.
By Sean Inniss, The Nassau Guardian
