The police administration should use the opportunity of the recent incident in San Fernando to retrain the officers involved, and others as well, in their responsibilities to citizens. Clearly the exhibited behaviour is indicative of a mindset that puts the police officer above the law, and that is the real problem.
Dismissal of the officers would satisfy the national desire for revenge against them but would do little to adjust the attitude of police officers. There would be a temporary abatement of such practices and other officers would be careful for a while. But the attitude would not change and would resurface after a period. Because, you see, many police officers believe that this is the way to assert their authority.
The Commissioner has to use the opportunity to reissue the orders that officers on duty be dressed in official uniform so that they are immediately identifiable even from a distance. The exceptions which apply to certain officers on special exercises would continue but such circumstances are rare and limited, or should be so.
Senior officers must be charged with responsibility for ensuring the good conduct of their subordinates and be held liable where breaches occur. For example, could the conduct of the officers in the incident have been influenced by the conduct they may have observed in their senior of more experienced colleagues?
The officer in charge of these offenders should be required to explain what could have led to his/her officers believing that they could behave in this way and get away with it. How many more of his/her subordinates are in fact doing this and getting away? What controls does he/she have in place to monitor and control such misfeasance? What other acts of abuse have gone unnoticed? Does he/she have his senior officers on the beat observing the operations of junior officers?
In the Chaguanas area it is normal to see khaki-clad officers walking the beat and often engaging in police work as they are expected to do. That is not to suggest that Chaguanas is perfect or that instances of police abuse do not occur, but it is less likely in the presence of a senior officer.His invitation to members of the public to take photo and video clips of police officers in action is a good starting point. Now he just has to ensure that the process continues.
Karan Mahabirsingh
Carapichaima