First let me make it clear, that this report is not about name calling or finger pointing, as name calling and finger pointing only aid in transferring blame that may or may not be attributed to the people responsible. Name calling and finger pointing are also childish actions and are very often done out of hurt and regret.
I must make it clear that I have no regrets over starting the blog, Crushing Fools, and I do not have any regrets about the outcome, which resulted in me submitting of my resignation and leaving the Bermuda Police Service (BPS). My resignation is an opportunity to move on and do new things. Most people are afraid of changes, but a lack of change only seeks to contribute in the stagnation of one life.
Now that I have explained what this document is not, I will endeavourer to tell you what its objective is.
1. To highlight administrational and other shortcomings that exist in the Bermuda Police Service
2. To address common operational flaws that hinder the proper policing of the 22 square miles that make up Bermuda
3. To address the recruitment and retention of Bermudans in the Bermuda Police Service
4. address flaws in the selection and operations of supervisors
5. To discuss how the Bermuda Police Service efforts to gain foreign police association accreditation how it is affecting the efficient running of the Bermuda Police Service
6. To suggest a proper mentoring program for new and locally trained officers
7. Most important, to make recommendations and provide possible solutions to the problems described
It is no secret that Bermuda is a very affluent country. Although this is an established fact more than half (a large percent) of the Bermuda population (sixty five percent of the population is Blacks) has to do a second or third job to ensure a comfortable life for themselves and their family. In the process, these people sacrifice the proper and effective parenting/nurturing of their children.
Most parents, who sacrifice the nurturing of their children, for the ability to gain financial affordability fail in their roles to provide the community with good law-abiding citizens. They ensure that their children are fed, clothed, housed etc. but they neglect the nurturing aspect of parenthood. Here is the beginning of the problems that the Bermuda Police Service is asked to deal with on a daily basis; antisocial behaviors, such as gang violence, school violence, domestic violence etc. Most of the children have not learned the necessary conflict-resolution skills which should have been thought in the homes by their parents. The parents are to busy to teach their children the simple skills that every child should have.
We very often expect the school and the church to succeed where there has been parental neglect over many years. There is only one institution capable of preparing a child to be a decent, law-abiding citizen: the family.
Unfortunately, ninety (80) percent of the people the Bermuda Police Service interacts with in a negative way are black people. The Members of the black community are victims as well as offenders. It is also true that at least eighty (80) percent of the crimes that are committed are committed by members of the black community, and eighty (80) percent of the victims of crimes are also members of the black community.
In service to humanity
Allan H. F. Palmer
