Garth Rattray
SEVERAL POLICE personnel have been murdered since the start of the year. The Commissioner has warned his charges that times have changed compared to 20 years ago and that it's no longer safe for anyone (including policemen and women) to let their guard down while visiting accustomed haunts or traversing our streets. However, the circumstances surrounding several cop killings suggest that the crimes were not indiscriminate.
If the investigators are to prevent such future occurrences, they must explore several possibilities. Perhaps the murdered police were random victims of rampant criminality. Perhaps they were the victims of gun-toting vermin on some vendetta or anxious to make names for themselves. Or perhaps there's some veracity to the subdued mumbling that some of them were killed in the line of (extra-curricular) 'duty' or as a direct result thereof.
TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET
I hope that the police hierarchy is trying to ascertain whether or not some of these unfortunate cops were moonlighting as security personnel or couriers. No one is suggesting that they were doing something unethical or illegal; in fact they may have been trying desperately to make ends meet by honest means.
A senior police source informed me that as far back as 1994, the Police Federation negotiated with government for police personnel to engage in approved after-work projects dubbed the Police Extra Work Programme. At that time, Police Federation Chairman, James Forbes, presented the proposal based on existing successful programmes in the United Kingdom and the United States.
Under the proposal, large business establishments wishing to have extra security patrols (for instance) would make arrangements for set rates per hour with the Superintendent for the parish and he/she would choose from a roster of qualified policemen and women.
The cops would be allowed to use their police vehicles, firearms, other equipment and uniforms. For this, the government would be paid a stipend of 20 per cent and the other 80 per cent would go to the cops on duty (from which the usual statutory deductions would be paid). This way, everybody gains something. All this came about as a suggested compromise for the Government's inability to properly satisfy the financial needs of our policemen and women.
I understand that the plan went as far as Parliament but it has been stalled there indefinitely, suspended in time, awaiting lobbyists to resurrect the idea and seek legislation on the proposal.
Our constabulary is especially needy of a good income for several reasons. Police personnel cannot reside in very low rent communities because they often contain criminals with no compunction about murdering cops.
Furthermore, the standing orders stipulate that members of the constabulary force must practice proper deportment at all times and their attire must always exude tidiness on and off duty. Although they and their families are expected to be community leaders, their salaries are not commensurate with the lifestyle mandated by the job.
AD HOC 'SECURITY-TYPE'
It is believed that for these reasons and because of the high cost of living, an unknown number of cops engage in ad hoc 'security-type' activities and that these may be costing them their lives.
Some government doctors, nurses, therapists, lecturers and members of the Island Special Constabulary Force are permitted to do private jobs so the Government should revisit the idea of a Police Extra Work Programme and seriously consider allowing policemen and women to take part in properly structured and regulated income-earning sessions. This would cut down considerably on corruption and the suspected instances of dangerous lone ranger type security activities.
Garth Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice.
