Witnesses were shocked by the reluctance of four police officers to respond to reports of a violent dispute that resulted in a gun being drawn.
Bystanders called the police to report a man brandishing a gun in public: Eventually they had to go to a nearby police station for help when officers failed to arrive.
Upon arriving at the South Beach Police Station, the concerned members of the public were surprised to see four officers – who admitted being aware of the incident – sitting at a desk eating pizza and drinking sodas.
According to the sergeant on duty, there were not enough officers at the station for anyone to be dispatched.
When officers from the Central Detective Unit (CDU) finally arrived, an half-hour after the incident was reported, the man with the gun had already disappeared.
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When informed of, the incident, Assistant Commissioner of Police Reginald Ferguson apologised to the public for the station’s failure to respond quickly.
He said an investigation into the matter would be launched as soon as possible.
[BahamasB2B Editor’s Note: Who else is tired of all the ‘investigations’ and ‘commissions’. ﾠHow about justice and good governence for a change.]
A Tribune reporter witnessed the entire incident. At around 5.30pm on Saturday, while a passenger in a taxi, the reporter saw a group of young men standing on the roadside when an argument started.
One of the young men then pulled a hand gun from his waist, band, showed it off, and then put it back.
The reporter called 919 and alerted the police. When no officers arrived, the reporter and the taxi driver went to the South Beach Police Station, but left and returned to the scene after the officers refused to respond to the incident.
The taxi driver implored the officers to take action, and even offered to drive one of them to the scene. However the officers seemed reluctant to do anything.
“Just wait on the CDU officers,” said the sergeant, adding that this was the best he could do.
A young officer pointed out that by the time they got to the scene, the persons involved in the altercation would most likely have left anyway.
An ex-police officer, who was on the scene, said that if he were still in uniform, he would have left the station immediately on receiving such a call.
Mr Fergurson said any nonchalant response by any police officer will not be tolerated.
“That was very slack of the officers. It is discouraging to me to hear that this is how my officers handled the situation.”
By ANASTACIA MOREE, The Tribune
