Comments on: ‘Separate Body To Oversee Police Needed’

By: Tuba

Tuba — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 23:53:09 +0000

Exactly. And one could always have sent the helmet away at their own expense to have a DNA profile produced..and then what? In an ideal world everything would be sent away for DNA testing. Let’s be realistic and just buy a new helmet and don’t leave it places where people may mistake it for a toilet.

By: OMG

OMG — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 13:23:54 +0000

Ok so if someone was to do the same to you, you are saying that you wouldnt bother going to the police? This is why there are so many people taking justice into their own hands. If they are not here to help the people then what they hell are they here for? To serve and protect right? Well, when are they going to start protecting instead of only serving? Tell me that.

By: Erica

Erica — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 01:59:39 +0000

Wow. I was watching a program on tv the other day that showed people getting processed in American jails…the simplest wrong move had the people thrown to the ground and jumped on by no less than 3 or 4 officers it did not matter if the person was male or female large or small…they have restraining chairs where people are held down like animals and have masks placed over there faces when the prisoners spit….I thought thank God it is not that bad here….people make me laugh always complaining about the police. When people are asked to stop and continue to ride and are then chased you have no right to complain about being pushed to the ground when arrested…you put the lives of those chasing you and innocent members of the public in danger too. As far as arresting the young lady I cannot comment and if you have witnessed something untoward there is a Police complaints department. I was a junior cadet in high school and wanted to become an officer…thank goodness that I didn’t because it truly is a thankless job….people love to find fault in everything they do. And we have foreign officers because we need them for manpower….if they don’t come from the islands or England where on earth would you suggest they be recruited from? A non English speaking country?! So many people with so much negativity towards the police…well I for one am THANKFUL to the men and women Bermudian or not who bust their arses day and night….answering everything from domestic disputes to traffic accidents and everything in between!!

By: KMFL

KMFL — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 14:06:50 +0000

I understand your concern, but do you really think is fiscally responsible to spend over 2,000 because someone urinated in your helmet? the BPS falls into the same budget restraints as the rest of the island.

By: True

True — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 04:09:19 +0000

FACT

The BPS also comes under the Ministry of National Security.
They may be two separate bodies but they are under control by one Government.

By: Free Thinker

Free Thinker — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 22:15:01 +0000

You are threading in very dangerous waters, with that naive way of thinking. You are only saying that because being in this little box, you have not experience the real world. You have no idea how dangerous that can be in the hands of a very corrupt individual.

Please get yourself aware of what goes on throughout the rest of the world and you will be enlightened. And don’t think for a minute it wont happen here.

By: Free Thinker

Free Thinker — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 22:07:04 +0000

That’s what the upper class in Jamaica use to say in the eighty’s when poor folks were the only ones being slathered by the police. They used to say you are all criminals that’s why the polices are killing you. Now that the police has turned to guns on them, now they know what it feels like.

You do not combat crime by abusing people’s rights, this is very counter productive and only serves to alienate the same people you are trying to get info from.

Police can be aggressive without abusing their authority. People are calling for more aggressive policing when dealing with criminals, they are not asking the police to violate the rights of everyone who is a suspect.

Remember, violence begets violence. So be careful what you ask for, you might just get it, literally.

By: Nzumba Ndombe

Nzumba Ndombe — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 21:55:12 +0000

Since the BPS is so enthusiastically sequestering DNA from what I would assume are predominantly black males, perhaps they could go a step further and tell us what tribes in Africa we are from

By: LUJ

LUJ — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 20:50:13 +0000

FACT

The Police Conduct Unit – PCU comes under the BPS and complaints can be given there.
The Police Complaints Authority – PCA comes under the Ministry of National Security.

They are 2 separate bodies.

By: BdaPapa

BdaPapa — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 20:31:28 +0000

I agree with a separate organization to police the police. BUT why would he say that he wants his fingerprints and DNA taken off the list? This sounds like someone who may have something to hide. I think everyone should submit their fingerprints and DNA and guess what would happen to the crime rate? Drop like a sack of stones!

By: Terry

Terry — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 19:53:48 +0000

SMDH……..You’ll be shakin more than that. You guys don’t get ir do you.

It’s by design…( not the Police)

It’s all kept in “CABINETS”…get it?

Old Mother Paula went to the cupboard………………

Whale Bones on beaches and footprints in the sand covered by a rising tide………………………………………….Classic………………….

By: Concerned Bermudian

Concerned Bermudian — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 19:45:21 +0000

I really hope you are being sarcastic? I mean, yes, they can beat these thugs up who deal with these guns but when it comes to a woman, or a good citizen who does not start trouble, then they need to be more gentle.

By: frustrated 2

frustrated 2 — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 19:39:55 +0000

Two years ago I had a burglary/theft from my home. I gave the police more assistance than they could have ever dreamed of. Despite two visits from them after the incident, by accident I find out that they had not , and still to this day , taken an official statement … That’s what I would like an independant overseer for .
Four months ago another theft of property outside the house was reported to the police. During the (one) visit I got I virtually solved the case for them.
Haven’t heard a word back since … Another reason I’d like an independant overseer body !

And as far as how wonderful Bermudian cops are .. have you ever had to really convince them that you want to report an incident and then watch them take notes ?

Sorry , but it doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.
(And yes , I’m more Bermudian than anyone who might be tempted to pull that crap about ‘go back to where you came from’ or ‘you must be a foreigner ’cause Bermies don’t say things like that)

By: SMDH!!

SMDH!! — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 19:24:19 +0000

Police the Police!! I agree!!

By: Terry

Terry — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 19:21:52 +0000

“Foreigners”……..

Listen up you speak truth. Your comments cover so much. These officers that pushed down and assaulted this girl were they balck, white, …but you already covered that with your comment that they were not Bermudian.

Would it make a differance if it were a white office, black officer who showed his warrant card with country of birth?

And why would you Patricia say that one bad apple screws it up for all.

By: Face the Nation

Face the Nation — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 19:14:28 +0000

Maybe a self governing body such as the court of appeals ; made up of retired judges , lawyers and civil servants from every jurisdiction in the commonwealth .

By: Riley B King

Riley B King — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 19:13:50 +0000

I don’t agree with any of this. I’d rather the Police were given more powers to use against the nasty thugs who are breaking into houses, robbing tourists and locals, and carrying knives and guns.

Complaining about the Police is classic looking in the wrong direction.

By: Chart

Chart — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 19:01:30 +0000

Such a body already exists: The Police Complaints Authority, set up in 98.

By: Ganja mon

Ganja mon — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 19:01:21 +0000

WELL!!! Some people say I always make things racial..so I left my opinion as to why…out!

By: Concerned Bermudian

Concerned Bermudian — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 18:30:44 +0000

I have also had a bad incident with Bermuda Police Service. A very immature woman/child took it upon herself to urinate in my helmet and I took it to the police station and the woman there told me that they could not help me because it would cost too much money to send it away to have the dna tested. So they can send the dna for other crimes away but not this one? I wonder what other cases they have aquitted because they do not want to spend the money to send the dna away?

By: YouSPEAKtruth

YouSPEAKtruth — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 18:30:19 +0000

Spelling correction: Male *

By: Truth (Original)

Truth (Original) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 18:30:05 +0000

Imagine. I slap you. You have a problem with that but the only person you can complain to about it, is me. That is an inherent problem and flaw in the system. I believe that an independent body should have long been set up to police the police as it were, the issue now is that there is no money in the pot to fund our current responsibilities. There is definitely no money to start a new initiative.

By: YouSPEAKtruth

YouSPEAKtruth — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 18:29:38 +0000

OMG!! You have hit the nail on the head. I was at this incident you speak of and saw the young girl get forcefully pushed to the ground. It was absolutely ridiculous. I stood aside and spoke to another officer about the rights that officer has to do that and like always they defend each other. Not to mention the mail officer who had forcefully pushed the girl to the ground was VERY much a man on the chunky side compared to her small frame. I could not believe my eyes, I believe I saw you get arrested as well.

Take this to the fullest extent that you can because I saw first hand how dirty those police operate. Outside work needs to be done.

Not to always mention the foreigners but, they take the most aggressive approach to the members of our community. It’s more than refreshing to have a BERMUDIAN police officer deal with an issue.

TAKE THIS TO THE HILLS AND GO TELL IT ON A MOUNTAIN !

By: Govnamon

Govnamon — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 18:29:20 +0000

thats cause ur black… half of america’s cops are racist

By: Patricia

Patricia — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 18:25:58 +0000

Mr. Simmons, your comments have substance and sound logical to me. One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch.

By: Ganja mon

Ganja mon — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 18:21:30 +0000

Well imagine being viewed as a criminal how they would treat you! I think Mr. Simmons is %110 correct! We do need a dept. that can help the people against corrupt police who love their jobs too much . These police officers nowadays have ZERO respect for Bermudians and feel they are better then us.

Then people wonder why todays youth have no respect for officers. Personally, I think the English and Caribbean officers are the worst with their personal remarks towards young people.

Secondly, he his absolutely right that police officers wont go against another officer even though they know the cop could be wrong. With that said, at least we dont have the police brutality like the US. Now they are crazy! Everytime I got pulled over in the US (3x) while driving I got a good look at a standard Police edition 9mm tool. After I said I’m from Bermuda in college, the gun was put back in his holster, smfh.

By: Jus' Askin'

Jus' Askin' — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 18:16:36 +0000

I have been saying it for years. “Who protects Us, from the BPS”. Thank You Carlton and Bernews. And to find out the governor is in charge of them and we pay all of them. My tax payer dollars pay them and we have No Say, No Protection from those that abuse their position.

By: Can you handle this

Can you handle this — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 18:06:49 +0000

@ Much Agreed I totally know where your coming from as I was privy to a similar exchange when I accompanied a friend of mine to lodge a complaint! All I can say is “Things that make you say hmmm? unbelievable!

I have friends that are on the force some are great but two of them are as wicked as the day is long and I am always telling them about themselves..CYOA is what they always say..Cover Your Own Ass!! and they see nothing wrong with their behavior…..

By: Terry

Terry — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 17:36:47 +0000

Bwahaaaaaaaaaaaa

Looks like someone is looking for a Gover(n)ment funded job……..Things are tight but this is bull%hit.,………Friends and family……………………

By: True

True — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 17:26:57 +0000

I agree we need somoneone to Police the Police.

By: Much Agreed

Much Agreed — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 17:14:50 +0000

I once tried to make a formal complaint at the police station about somthing I personally witnessed one evening and the sergeant on duty (who was not witness to the event) took me outside of the station on the street and wispered to me that no matter what i said about his officers it would be his word against mine. Basically he asked me about what i had seen and i told him, then he retold my story back to me and changed all the details! I was so shocked and confused and said to him ‘but thats not what I just said’ and his response was ‘who’s going to believe you? its my word against yours’, then he walked back inside. Before this incident I had faith in ‘the system’ and complete faith that police officers worked with integrity but now I dont know what to believe unfortunately.